Alai Meethu Thadumaruthe
From Anbulla Malare · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Anbulla Malare1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae | Stumbling upon the waves |
| Siru odam | Is a small boat |
| Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae | Stumbling upon the waves |
| Siru odam | Is a small boat |
| Sumai thaangaamalae karai thaedum | Unable to bear the heavy burden, it searches for the shore |
| Sendru serum varai ival paavam paavam | Until she reaches her destination, she is truly pitiful |
| Male | |
| Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae | Stumbling upon the waves |
| Siru odam | Is a small boat |
| Male | |
| Kannil innum sindha kanneer illai | There are no more tears left in the eyes to shed |
| Yedho konjam inimai | There is still a little sweet comfort left |
| Female :Pennai pennaai kaanum kaalam illai | Female: This is not an era that sees a woman for who she truly is |
| Podhum podhum thanimai | Enough, enough of this loneliness |
| Male | |
| Pillai ennum kodi mullai kan valara | As the child, like a delicate jasmine creeper, slumbers |
| Illai illai kavalai | There are no worries anymore |
| Female :Aa… indha naesam sugam aagumae | Female: Ah... this affection becomes a comforting joy |
| Ival vaazhkkai niram maarumae | Her life's color will surely change |
| Male | |
| Endraalum kannoram or sogamae | Yet, at the corner of her eyes lingers a deep sorrow |
| Female | |
| Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae | Stumbling upon the waves |
| Siru odam | Is a small boat |
| Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae | Stumbling upon the waves |
| Siru odam | Is a small boat |
| Sumai thaangaamalae karai thaedum | Unable to bear the heavy burden, it searches for the shore |
| Sendru serum varai ival paavam paavam | Until she reaches her destination, she is truly pitiful |
| Female | |
| Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae | Stumbling upon the waves |
| Siru odam | Is a small boat |
| Female | |
| Jannal engum kangal paarkkindradhae | Eyes are watching critically from every window |
| Yedho solli chirikkum | Whispering something judgmental and laughing |
| Male :Dharmam pesum indha oor ulladhae | Male: This town that preaches righteousness exists |
| Saagum munbae erikkum | Yet it burns a person alive before they die |
| Female | |
| Thaanaai yeni tharum melae yera vidum | It gives a ladder itself and lets one climb up |
| Meendum yeri parikkum | Then climbs back up to snatch the support away |
| Male :Aa… thadumaarum ingu nyaayangal | Male: Ah... justice falters and stumbles here |
| Idhanaal thaan pala kaayangal | Because of this, there are numerous wounds |
| Female | |
| Kanneeril thallaadum | Swaying helplessly in tears |
| Penn dheepangal | Are the living lamps that are women |
| Female | |
| Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae | Stumbling upon the waves |
| Siru odam | Is a small boat |
| Male :Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae | Male: Stumbling upon the waves |
| Siru odam | Is a small boat |
| Female | |
| Sumai thaangaamalae karai thaedum | Unable to bear the heavy burden, it searches for the shore |
| Male :Sendru serum varai ival paavam paavam | Male: Until she reaches her destination, she is truly pitiful |
| Female | |
| Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae | Stumbling upon the waves |
| Siru odam | Is a small boat |
ஆ.....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ...ஆஅ...
ஆ.....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ...ஆஅ...
Stumbling upon the waves
Is a small boat
Stumbling upon the waves
Is a small boat
Unable to bear the heavy burden, it searches for the shore
Until she reaches her destination, she is truly pitiful
அலை மீது தடுமாறுதே
சிறு ஓடம்
அலை மீது தடுமாறுதே
சிறு ஓடம்
சுமை தாங்காமலே கரை தேடும்
சென்று சேரும்வரை இவள் பாவம் பாவம்
Stumbling upon the waves
Is a small boat
அலை மீது தடுமாறுதே
சிறு ஓடம்
There are no more tears left in the eyes to shed
There is still a little sweet comfort left
Female: This is not an era that sees a woman for who she truly is
Enough, enough of this loneliness
கண்ணில் இன்னும்
சிந்தக் கண்ணீர் இல்லை
ஏதோ கொஞ்சம் இனிமை
பெண்ணை பெண்ணாய்க்
காணும் காலமில்லை
போதும் போதும் தனிமை
As the child, like a delicate jasmine creeper, slumbers
There are no worries anymore
Female: Ah... this affection becomes a comforting joy
Her life's color will surely change
பிள்ளை என்னும் கொடி முல்லை
கண் வளர இல்லை இல்லை கவலை
ஆ....இந்த நேசம் சுகம் ஆகுமே
இவள் வாழ்க்கை நிறம் மாறுமே
Yet, at the corner of her eyes lingers a deep sorrow
என்றாலும் கண்ணோரம் ஓர் சோகமே
Stumbling upon the waves
Is a small boat
Stumbling upon the waves
Is a small boat
Unable to bear the heavy burden, it searches for the shore
Until she reaches her destination, she is truly pitiful
அலை மீது தடுமாறுதே
சிறு ஓடம்
அலை மீது தடுமாறுதே
சிறு ஓடம்
சுமை தாங்காமலே கரை தேடும்
சென்று சேரும்வரை இவள் பாவம் பாவம்
Stumbling upon the waves
Is a small boat
அலை மீது தடுமாறுதே
சிறு ஓடம்
Eyes are watching critically from every window
Whispering something judgmental and laughing
Male: This town that preaches righteousness exists
Yet it burns a person alive before they die
ஜன்னல் எங்கும் கண்கள் பார்க்கின்றதே
ஏதோ சொல்லிச் சிரிக்கும்....
தர்மம் பேசும் இந்த ஊர் உள்ளதே
சாகும் முன்பே எரிக்கும்....
It gives a ladder itself and lets one climb up
Then climbs back up to snatch the support away
Male: Ah... justice falters and stumbles here
Because of this, there are numerous wounds
தானாய் ஏணி தரும் மேலே ஏறவிடும்
மீண்டும் ஏணி பறிக்கும்
ஆஅ......தடுமாறும் இங்கு நியாயங்கள்
இதனால்தான் பல காயங்கள்
Swaying helplessly in tears
Are the living lamps that are women
கண்ணீரில் தள்ளாடும்
பெண் தீபங்கள்
Stumbling upon the waves
Is a small boat
Male: Stumbling upon the waves
Is a small boat
அலை மீது தடுமாறுதே
சிறு ஓடம்
அலை மீது தடுமாறுதே
சிறு ஓடம்
Unable to bear the heavy burden, it searches for the shore
Male: Until she reaches her destination, she is truly pitiful
சுமை தாங்காமலே கரை தேடும்
சென்று சேரும்வரை இவள் பாவம் பாவம்
Stumbling upon the waves
Is a small boat
அலை மீது தடுமாறுதே
சிறு ஓடம்
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Stumbling upon the waves
Siru odam
Is a small boat
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Stumbling upon the waves
Siru odam
Is a small boat
Sumai thaangaamalae karai thaedum
Unable to bear the heavy burden, it searches for the shore
Sendru serum varai ival paavam paavam
Until she reaches her destination, she is truly pitiful
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Stumbling upon the waves
Siru odam
Is a small boat
Kannil innum sindha kanneer illai
There are no more tears left in the eyes to shed
Yedho konjam inimai
There is still a little sweet comfort left
Female :Pennai pennaai kaanum kaalam illai
Female: This is not an era that sees a woman for who she truly is
Podhum podhum thanimai
Enough, enough of this loneliness
Pillai ennum kodi mullai kan valara
As the child, like a delicate jasmine creeper, slumbers
Illai illai kavalai
There are no worries anymore
Female :Aa… indha naesam sugam aagumae
Female: Ah... this affection becomes a comforting joy
Ival vaazhkkai niram maarumae
Her life's color will surely change
Endraalum kannoram or sogamae
Yet, at the corner of her eyes lingers a deep sorrow
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Stumbling upon the waves
Siru odam
Is a small boat
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Stumbling upon the waves
Siru odam
Is a small boat
Sumai thaangaamalae karai thaedum
Unable to bear the heavy burden, it searches for the shore
Sendru serum varai ival paavam paavam
Until she reaches her destination, she is truly pitiful
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Stumbling upon the waves
Siru odam
Is a small boat
Jannal engum kangal paarkkindradhae
Eyes are watching critically from every window
Yedho solli chirikkum
Whispering something judgmental and laughing
Male :Dharmam pesum indha oor ulladhae
Male: This town that preaches righteousness exists
Saagum munbae erikkum
Yet it burns a person alive before they die
Thaanaai yeni tharum melae yera vidum
It gives a ladder itself and lets one climb up
Meendum yeri parikkum
Then climbs back up to snatch the support away
Male :Aa… thadumaarum ingu nyaayangal
Male: Ah... justice falters and stumbles here
Idhanaal thaan pala kaayangal
Because of this, there are numerous wounds
Kanneeril thallaadum
Swaying helplessly in tears
Penn dheepangal
Are the living lamps that are women
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Stumbling upon the waves
Siru odam
Is a small boat
Male :Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Male: Stumbling upon the waves
Siru odam
Is a small boat
Sumai thaangaamalae karai thaedum
Unable to bear the heavy burden, it searches for the shore
Male :Sendru serum varai ival paavam paavam
Male: Until she reaches her destination, she is truly pitiful
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Stumbling upon the waves
Siru odam
Is a small boat
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song uses the central metaphor of a tiny boat tossed around on turbulent ocean waves to reflect a woman's difficult journey through life. She carries a heavy emotional burden and searches for a safe haven amidst societal scrutiny, loneliness, and prejudice. The lyrics highlight the hypocrisy of a society that preaches morality yet judges vulnerable women harshly, offering temporary hope only to pull the rug out from under them. Despite the prevailing darkness and judgment from onlookers, finding solace in her child gives her strength to keep moving forward. The song captures the delicate balance between maternal hope and persistent sorrow, depicting women as flickering lamps struggling to stay lit amidst a sea of tears.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai / Metaphor (உவமை)
“Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae / Siru odam”
Compares a helpless woman struggling through societal hardships to a small boat ('Siru odam') tumbling in ocean waves ('Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae').
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Pillai ennum kodi mullai kan valara”
Refers to a sleeping child as a delicate jasmine creeper ('kodi mullai').
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Kanneeril thallaadum / Penn dheepangal”
Compares women to lit oil lamps ('penn dheepangal') flickering and struggling to stay afloat in tears.
Edhugai (எதுகை - Second Letter Rhyme)
“Aa… thadumaarum ingu nyaayangal / Idhanaal thaan pala kaayangal”
The second letters 'dha' in 'thadumaarum' and 'dha' in 'idhanaal' form a subtle rhyming rhythm across lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Anbulla Malare' (1984) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song vividly portrays social judgment and female resilience, a recurring thematic strength in Vairamuthu's 1980s film poetry.
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