Andho Puvimel
From Macha Rekai · 1950
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- T. R. Mahalingam
- Music director
- C. R. Subbaraman
- Details
- Macha Rekai1950
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga | Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth? |
| Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae | Is everything governed by fate? |
| Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga | Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth? |
| Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae | Is everything governed by fate? |
| Agilameedhae sagada vaazhvae | In this world, life is like a turning wheel, |
| Anithyamaagum ellaam vidhiyae | Everything is impermanent; all is fate. |
| Agilameedhae sagada vaazhvae | In this world, life is like a turning wheel, |
| Anithyamaagum ellaam vidhiyae | Everything is impermanent; all is fate. |
| Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga | Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth? |
| Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae | Is everything governed by fate? |
| Male | |
| Igal mel veenae sugaboganthaanae | In this earthly life, pleasure and luxury are in vain, |
| Pagal kanavagum vaazhnaalil maaya vinodham | A magical illusion, a daydream in life. |
| Yaeno manamae idhanaalum neeyae | Why, oh mind, even after knowing this, do you... |
| Ennaalum maaradha thuyar konduthaanae | ...hold onto everlasting, unchanging sorrow? |
| Male | |
| Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga | Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth? |
| Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae | Is everything governed by fate? |
| Male | |
| Anbu ahimsai sathyam yaavaiyum | Love, non-violence, and truth—all of these... |
| Izhandhae naan | ...I have lost. |
| Ariyaamai rathathil janithitta ulagamae | Oh world, born out of the blood of ignorance! |
| Thunbam yaavum inba vaasal endrarindhae | Realizing that all suffering is the threshold to joy, |
| Thunbam yaavum inba vaasal endrarindhae | Realizing that all suffering is the threshold to joy, |
| Thukkam sugam oru thaayin makkal endru unarndhae | Understanding that sorrow and happiness are children of the same mother, |
| Haaa aaa | Haaa aaa |
| Male | |
| Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga | Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth? |
| Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae | Is everything governed by fate? |
| Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga | Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth? |
| Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae | Is everything governed by fate? |
அந்தோ புவிமேல் அடிமையாக
தவிப்பதேனோ எல்லாம் விதியே
அந்தோ புவிமேல் அடிமையாக
தவிப்பதேனோ எல்லாம் விதியே
அகிலமீதே சகட வாழ்வே அநித்யமாகும்
எல்லாம் விதியே.......
அகிலமீதே சகட வாழ்வே அநித்யமாகும்
எல்லாம் விதியே
அந்தோ புவிமேல் அடிமையாக
தவிப்பதேனோ எல்லாம் விதியே
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Is everything governed by fate?
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Is everything governed by fate?
In this world, life is like a turning wheel,
Everything is impermanent; all is fate.
In this world, life is like a turning wheel,
Everything is impermanent; all is fate.
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Is everything governed by fate?
இகமேல் வீணே சுகபோகந்தானே
பகல் கனவாகும் வாழ்நாளில் மாயா வினோதம்
ஏனோ மனமே இதனாலும் நீயே
எந்நாளும் மாறாத துயர் கொண்டுதானே
In this earthly life, pleasure and luxury are in vain,
A magical illusion, a daydream in life.
Why, oh mind, even after knowing this, do you...
...hold onto everlasting, unchanging sorrow?
அந்தோ புவிமேல் அடிமையாக
தவிப்பதேனோ எல்லாம் விதியே
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Is everything governed by fate?
அன்பு அஹிம்சை சத்யம் யாவையும்
இழந்தே அறியாமை ரத்தத்தில் ஜனித்திட்ட உலகமே
துன்பம் யாவும் இன்ப வாசல் என்றறிந்தே
துன்பம் யாவும் இன்ப வாசல் என்றறிந்தே
துக்கம் சுகம் ஒரு தாயின் மக்கள் என்று உணர்ந்தே ஹா
Love, non-violence, and truth—all of these...
...I have lost.
Oh world, born out of the blood of ignorance!
Realizing that all suffering is the threshold to joy,
Realizing that all suffering is the threshold to joy,
Understanding that sorrow and happiness are children of the same mother,
Haaa aaa
அந்தோ புவிமேல் அடிமையாக
தவிப்பதேனோ எல்லாம் விதியே
அந்தோ புவிமேல் அடிமையாக
தவிப்பதேனோ எல்லாம் விதியே
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Is everything governed by fate?
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Is everything governed by fate?
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Is everything governed by fate?
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Is everything governed by fate?
Agilameedhae sagada vaazhvae
In this world, life is like a turning wheel,
Anithyamaagum ellaam vidhiyae
Everything is impermanent; all is fate.
Agilameedhae sagada vaazhvae
In this world, life is like a turning wheel,
Anithyamaagum ellaam vidhiyae
Everything is impermanent; all is fate.
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Is everything governed by fate?
Igal mel veenae sugaboganthaanae
In this earthly life, pleasure and luxury are in vain,
Pagal kanavagum vaazhnaalil maaya vinodham
A magical illusion, a daydream in life.
Yaeno manamae idhanaalum neeyae
Why, oh mind, even after knowing this, do you...
Ennaalum maaradha thuyar konduthaanae
...hold onto everlasting, unchanging sorrow?
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Is everything governed by fate?
Anbu ahimsai sathyam yaavaiyum
Love, non-violence, and truth—all of these...
Izhandhae naan
...I have lost.
Ariyaamai rathathil janithitta ulagamae
Oh world, born out of the blood of ignorance!
Thunbam yaavum inba vaasal endrarindhae
Realizing that all suffering is the threshold to joy,
Thunbam yaavum inba vaasal endrarindhae
Realizing that all suffering is the threshold to joy,
Thukkam sugam oru thaayin makkal endru unarndhae
Understanding that sorrow and happiness are children of the same mother,
Haaa aaa
Haaa aaa
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Is everything governed by fate?
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Alas, why am I suffering as a slave on this earth?
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Is everything governed by fate?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from Macha Rekai (1950) is a deeply philosophical lament on the human condition, karma, and destiny. The singer questions why human beings suffer as slaves to circumstances in this earthly realm, contemplating whether fate dictates all outcomes. Life is described as a constantly turning wheel where worldly pleasures and luxuries are nothing more than transient daydreams and magical illusions.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Metaphor)
“Agilameedhae sagada vaazhvae”
Compares the transience and cyclic nature of human life to a turning wheel ('sagadam').
Personification / Metaphor
“Thukkam sugam oru thaayin makkal endru unarndhae”
Personifies sorrow and happiness as twin children born of the same mother, highlighting their inseparable nature.
Egal / Refrain
“Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga”
Repetition of the opening lines throughout the song to reinforce the central theme of existential helplessness against fate.
Did you know?
Trivia
Macha Rekai (1950) was produced with music scored by the celebrated composer C. R. Subbaraman and featured vocals by T. R. Mahalingam. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass embedded Gandhian principles ('Anbu', 'Ahimsai', 'Sathyam') into the song's reflective verses.
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