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Anbulla Malare album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Alai Meethu Thadumaruthe

From Anbulla Malare · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Anbulla Malare
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
17 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Siru odam
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Siru odam
Sumai thaangaamalae karai thaedum
Sendru serum varai ival paavam paavam
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Siru odam
Kannil innum sindha kanneer illai
Yedho konjam inimai
Female :Pennai pennaai kaanum kaalam illai
Podhum podhum thanimai
Pillai ennum kodi mullai kan valara
Illai illai kavalai
Female :Aa… indha naesam sugam aagumae
Ival vaazhkkai niram maarumae
Endraalum kannoram or sogamae
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Siru odam
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Siru odam
Sumai thaangaamalae karai thaedum
Sendru serum varai ival paavam paavam
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Siru odam
Jannal engum kangal paarkkindradhae
Yedho solli chirikkum
Male :Dharmam pesum indha oor ulladhae
Saagum munbae erikkum
Thaanaai yeni tharum melae yera vidum
Meendum yeri parikkum
Male :Aa… thadumaarum ingu nyaayangal
Idhanaal thaan pala kaayangal
Kanneeril thallaadum
Penn dheepangal
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Siru odam
Male :Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Siru odam
Sumai thaangaamalae karai thaedum
Male :Sendru serum varai ival paavam paavam
Alai meedhu thadumaarudhae
Siru odam
Tossing upon the waves,
a little boat
Tossing upon the waves,
a little boat
Unable to bear its burden, it searches for the shore
Until she reaches safety, she is a pitiful soul
Tossing upon the waves,
a little boat
There are no more tears left in the eyes to shed
There is a little sweetness now
Female: No one sees a woman for who she is in these times
Enough, enough of this loneliness
As the child, like a tender jasmine vine, sleeps peacefully
Worries are gone, truly gone
Female: Ah... this affection brings comfort
Her life will find new colors
Yet, in the corner of her eyes, a sorrow lingers
Tossing upon the waves,
a little boat
Tossing upon the waves,
a little boat
Unable to bear its burden, it searches for the shore
Until she reaches safety, she is a pitiful soul
Tossing upon the waves,
a little boat
Eyes are watching from every window
Whispering something and mocking with laughter
Male: This town that preaches righteousness
Burns you alive before you even die
It willingly offers a ladder and lets you climb
Then climbs up behind you to pull it away
Male: Ah... justice falters here
That is why there are so many wounds
Trembling in tears
are the fragile lamps of women's lives
Tossing upon the waves,
a little boat
Male: Tossing upon the waves,
a little boat
Unable to bear its burden, it searches for the shore
Male: Until she reaches safety, she is a pitiful soul
Tossing upon the waves,
a little boat
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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