Alaikadal
From Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1 · 2022
- Lyricist
- Siva Ananth
- Singer
- Antara Nandy
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Ponniyin Selvan – Part 12022
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Haa..aaa..aaa..aaa…aaa.. | (Vocalizing refrain) |
| Alaikadal aazham nilavu ariyaadhoo | Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean? |
| Yeloo yel yeloo | Yeloo yel yeloo |
| Adi mana dhaagam vizhil theriyaadhoo | Isn't the deep thirst of the heart visible in the eyes? |
| Yeloo yel yeloo | Yeloo yel yeloo |
| Female | |
| Paadha maarum megam | Like a cloud that changes its path, |
| Engo tholaindhaval thaano | Is she someone lost somewhere? |
| Vaanum neerum serum | Where the sky and ocean merge, |
| Endro orr naal thaano… | Will that meeting happen only on some distant day? |
| Female | |
| Aazhiyilae thadam edhuvum illa | There are no tracks left behind in the deep ocean, |
| Yeloo yel yeloo | Yeloo yel yeloo |
| Vaan veliyin meen oliyil sella | Navigating by the starlight in the open sky, |
| Yeloo yel yeloo | Yeloo yel yeloo |
| Alaikadal aazham nilavu ariyaadhoo | Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean? |
| Yeloo yel yeloo | Yeloo yel yeloo |
| Female | |
| Inbam thunbam rendum idam porul maarum | Both joy and sorrow change their place and meaning, |
| Iravugal pagal aagum | Nights turn into day, |
| Mugil mazhai aagum | Clouds turn into rain, |
| Muruvalum neer aagum | Even a smile turns into water (tears), |
| Vaan engum saayaadha senjuriyan | The red sun that never tilts anywhere in the sky, |
| Varadhoo oru malai nam boomiyil | Will an evening not arrive on our earth? |
| Female | |
| Naan oru murai vaazhndhida | For me to live just once, |
| Maru karai yerida | To reach the opposite shore, |
| Pala pala piravigal kolveno | Must I undergo many, many births? |
| Sollidu | Tell me, |
| Female | |
| Alaikadal aazham nilavu ariyaadhoo | Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean? |
| Yeloo yel yeloo | Yeloo yel yeloo |
| Female | |
| Pesadha mozhi ondril kaaviyama | Is it an epic written in an unspoken language? |
| Thaanaga uruvaana oviyama | Is it a painting created all on its own? |
| Thaai indri karuvaana oor uyira | Is it a life conceived without a mother? |
| Aadharam ilaadha kaaadhala | Is it a love without any foundation? |
| Kana idai velyil karam pidipaaiyo | Will you hold my hand in the space of a dream? |
| Karai thodum varaiyil manam mudipaaya | Will you unite our hearts until we touch the shore? |
| Orr paarvaai oor vaaku thaarayoo | Will you grant me a single glance and a word of promise? |
| Female | |
| Alaikadal aazham nilavu ariyaadhoo | Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean? |
| Yeloo yel yeloo | Yeloo yel yeloo |
| Adi mana dhaagam vizhil theriyaadhoo | Isn't the deep thirst of the heart visible in the eyes? |
| Yeloo yel yeloo | Yeloo yel yeloo |
| Female | |
| Paadha maarum megam | Like a cloud that changes its path, |
| Engo tholaindhaval thaano | Is she someone lost somewhere? |
| Vaanum neerum serum | Where the sky and ocean merge, |
| Endro or naal thaano… | Will that meeting happen only on some distant day? |
| Female | |
| Aazhiyilae thadam edhuvum illa | There are no tracks left behind in the deep ocean, |
| Yeloo yel yeloo | Yeloo yel yeloo |
| Vaan veliyin meen oliyil sella | Navigating by the starlight in the open sky, |
| Yeloo yel yeloo | Yeloo yel yeloo |
| Alaikadal aazham nilavu ariyaadhoo | Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean? |
| Yeloo yel yeloo | Yeloo yel yeloo |
ஹா..ஆஅ..ஆஅ..ஆ..ஆஆ...
(Vocalizing refrain)
Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean?
Yeloo yel yeloo
Isn't the deep thirst of the heart visible in the eyes?
Yeloo yel yeloo
அலைகடல் ஆழம் நிலவு அறியாதோ
ஏலோ ஏலேலோ
அடி மன தாகம் விழியில் தெரியாதோ
ஏலோ ஏலேலோ
Like a cloud that changes its path,
Is she someone lost somewhere?
Where the sky and ocean merge,
Will that meeting happen only on some distant day?
பாத மாறும் மேகம்
எங்கோ தொலைந்தவள் தானோ
வானும் நீரும் சேரும்
என்றோ ஓர் நாள் தானோ
There are no tracks left behind in the deep ocean,
Yeloo yel yeloo
Navigating by the starlight in the open sky,
Yeloo yel yeloo
Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean?
Yeloo yel yeloo
ஆழியிலே தடு மெதுவு எள்ள
ஏலோ ஏலேலோ
வான் வெளியின் மின் ஒளியில் செல்ல
ஏலோ ஏலேலோ
அலைகடல் ஆழம் நிலவு அறியாதோ
ஏலோ ஏலேலோ
Both joy and sorrow change their place and meaning,
Nights turn into day,
Clouds turn into rain,
Even a smile turns into water (tears),
The red sun that never tilts anywhere in the sky,
Will an evening not arrive on our earth?
இன்பம் துன்பம் ரெண்டும்
இடம் பொருள் மாறும்
இரவுகள் பகல் ஆகும்
முகில் மழை ஆகும்
முறுவலும் நீர் ஆகும்
For me to live just once,
To reach the opposite shore,
Must I undergo many, many births?
Tell me,
வான் எங்கும் சாயாத செஞ்சூரியன்
வரதோ அருங்காலையில் நம் பூமியில்
Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean?
Yeloo yel yeloo
நான் ஒரு முறை வாழ்ந்திட
மறு கரை ஏறிட
பல பல பிறவிகள் கொள்வேனோ
சொல்லிடு
Is it an epic written in an unspoken language?
Is it a painting created all on its own?
Is it a life conceived without a mother?
Is it a love without any foundation?
Will you hold my hand in the space of a dream?
Will you unite our hearts until we touch the shore?
Will you grant me a single glance and a word of promise?
அலைகடல் ஆழம் நிலவு அறியாதோ
ஏலோ ஏலேலோ
Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean?
Yeloo yel yeloo
Isn't the deep thirst of the heart visible in the eyes?
Yeloo yel yeloo
பேசாத மொழி ஒன்றில் காவியமா
தானாக உருவான ஓவியமா
தாய் இன்றி கருவான ஓர் உயிரா
ஆதாரம் இல்லாத காதலா
Like a cloud that changes its path,
Is she someone lost somewhere?
Where the sky and ocean merge,
Will that meeting happen only on some distant day?
கண இடை வெளியில் கரம் பிடிப்பாயா
தரை தொடும் வரையில் மணம் முடிப்பாயா
ஓர் பார்வை ஓர் வாக்கு தாராயோ
There are no tracks left behind in the deep ocean,
Yeloo yel yeloo
Navigating by the starlight in the open sky,
Yeloo yel yeloo
Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean?
Yeloo yel yeloo
அலைகடல் ஆழம் நிலவு அறியாதோ
ஏலோ ஏலேலோ
அடி மன தாகம் விழியில் தெரியாதோ
ஏலோ ஏலேலோ
பாத மாறும் மேகம்
எங்கோ தொலைந்தவள் தானோ
வானும் நீரும் சேரும்
என்றோ ஓர் நாள் தானோ
ஆழியிலே தடு மெதுவு எள்ள
ஏலோ ஏலேலோ
வான் வெளியின் மின் ஒளியில் செல்ல
ஏலோ ஏலேலோ
Haa..aaa..aaa..aaa…aaa..
(Vocalizing refrain)
Alaikadal aazham nilavu ariyaadhoo
Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean?
Yeloo yel yeloo
Yeloo yel yeloo
Adi mana dhaagam vizhil theriyaadhoo
Isn't the deep thirst of the heart visible in the eyes?
Yeloo yel yeloo
Yeloo yel yeloo
Paadha maarum megam
Like a cloud that changes its path,
Engo tholaindhaval thaano
Is she someone lost somewhere?
Vaanum neerum serum
Where the sky and ocean merge,
Endro orr naal thaano…
Will that meeting happen only on some distant day?
Aazhiyilae thadam edhuvum illa
There are no tracks left behind in the deep ocean,
Yeloo yel yeloo
Yeloo yel yeloo
Vaan veliyin meen oliyil sella
Navigating by the starlight in the open sky,
Yeloo yel yeloo
Yeloo yel yeloo
Alaikadal aazham nilavu ariyaadhoo
Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean?
Yeloo yel yeloo
Yeloo yel yeloo
Inbam thunbam rendum idam porul maarum
Both joy and sorrow change their place and meaning,
Iravugal pagal aagum
Nights turn into day,
Mugil mazhai aagum
Clouds turn into rain,
Muruvalum neer aagum
Even a smile turns into water (tears),
Vaan engum saayaadha senjuriyan
The red sun that never tilts anywhere in the sky,
Varadhoo oru malai nam boomiyil
Will an evening not arrive on our earth?
Naan oru murai vaazhndhida
For me to live just once,
Maru karai yerida
To reach the opposite shore,
Pala pala piravigal kolveno
Must I undergo many, many births?
Sollidu
Tell me,
Alaikadal aazham nilavu ariyaadhoo
Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean?
Yeloo yel yeloo
Yeloo yel yeloo
Pesadha mozhi ondril kaaviyama
Is it an epic written in an unspoken language?
Thaanaga uruvaana oviyama
Is it a painting created all on its own?
Thaai indri karuvaana oor uyira
Is it a life conceived without a mother?
Aadharam ilaadha kaaadhala
Is it a love without any foundation?
Kana idai velyil karam pidipaaiyo
Will you hold my hand in the space of a dream?
Karai thodum varaiyil manam mudipaaya
Will you unite our hearts until we touch the shore?
Orr paarvaai oor vaaku thaarayoo
Will you grant me a single glance and a word of promise?
Alaikadal aazham nilavu ariyaadhoo
Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean?
Yeloo yel yeloo
Yeloo yel yeloo
Adi mana dhaagam vizhil theriyaadhoo
Isn't the deep thirst of the heart visible in the eyes?
Yeloo yel yeloo
Yeloo yel yeloo
Paadha maarum megam
Like a cloud that changes its path,
Engo tholaindhaval thaano
Is she someone lost somewhere?
Vaanum neerum serum
Where the sky and ocean merge,
Endro or naal thaano…
Will that meeting happen only on some distant day?
Aazhiyilae thadam edhuvum illa
There are no tracks left behind in the deep ocean,
Yeloo yel yeloo
Yeloo yel yeloo
Vaan veliyin meen oliyil sella
Navigating by the starlight in the open sky,
Yeloo yel yeloo
Yeloo yel yeloo
Alaikadal aazham nilavu ariyaadhoo
Doesn't the moon know the depth of the wavy ocean?
Yeloo yel yeloo
Yeloo yel yeloo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Alaikadal is a soulful sea-shanty style song sung from the perspective of Poonguzhali, the brave boatwoman in Mani Ratnam's epic adaptation 'Ponniyin Selvan: I'. The song captures her deep inner solitude, unfulfilled longing, and spiritual connection to the ocean. She compares the unreachable depths of her ocean love to the distant moon, asking if her silent emotions will ever be understood or answered before reaching the distant shore.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Extended Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Alaikadal aazham nilavu ariyaadhoo”
The ocean depth and the moon are used as an extended metaphor for deep, unexpressed love and a distant, unreachable beloved.
Rhetorical Question (Aandugol)
“Adi mana dhaagam vizhil theriyaadhoo”
Poetic questions that highlight yearning and philosophical mystery rather than seeking literal answers.
Contrast & Transformation (Muran / Edhirnillai)
“Inbam thunbam rendum idam porul maarum”
juxtaposing night and day, clouds and rain, smile and tears to depict the impermanence and fluidity of life.
Second-Letter Rhyming (Edhugai)
“Pesadha mozhi ondril kaaviyama / Thaanaga uruvaana oviyama”
The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines ('Pesadha' / 'Thaanaga' / 'Thaai').
Did you know?
Trivia
This marks singer Antara Nandy's breakthrough Tamil debut. The song showcases the character Poonguzhali (played by Aishwarya Lekshmi), popularly known as 'Samudrakumari' (Daughter of the Ocean) in Kalki Krishnamurthy's legendary 1955 novel Ponniyin Selvan.
Keep listening
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