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Macha Rekai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Andho Puvimel

From Macha Rekai · 1950

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
T. R. Mahalingam
Music director
C. R. Subbaraman
Movie name
Macha Rekai
Movie release year
1950
Lyrics added on
8 Jan 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Agilameedhae sagada vaazhvae
Anithyamaagum ellaam vidhiyae
Agilameedhae sagada vaazhvae
Anithyamaagum ellaam vidhiyae
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Igal mel veenae sugaboganthaanae
Pagal kanavagum vaazhnaalil maaya vinodham
Yaeno manamae idhanaalum neeyae
Ennaalum maaradha thuyar konduthaanae
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Anbu ahimsai sathyam yaavaiyum
Izhandhae naan
Ariyaamai rathathil janithitta ulagamae
Thunbam yaavum inba vaasal endrarindhae
Thunbam yaavum inba vaasal endrarindhae
Thukkam sugam oru thaayin makkal endru unarndhae
Haaa aaa
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Andho puvi mel adimaiyaaga
Thavipadheno ellam vidhiyae
Alas, on this earth, like a slave,
Why must I suffer? Is it all fate?
Alas, on this earth, like a slave,
Why must I suffer? Is it all fate?
In this world, life turns like a wheel,
Nothing lasts forever; is it all fate?
In this world, life turns like a wheel,
Nothing lasts forever; is it all fate?
Alas, on this earth, like a slave,
Why must I suffer? Is it all fate?
Worldly pleasures on this earth are all in vain,
They are merely daydreams and strange illusions of life.
Why then, oh my heart, even because of this,
Do you carry endless, unchanging sorrow?
Alas, on this earth, like a slave,
Why must I suffer? Is it all fate?
Love, non-violence, and truth,
Having lost them all,
Oh world born from the blood of ignorance!
Knowing that all sorrow is the doorway to joy,
Knowing that all sorrow is the doorway to joy,
Realising that pain and pleasure are children of the same mother,
Haaa aaa
Alas, on this earth, like a slave,
Why must I suffer? Is it all fate?
Alas, on this earth, like a slave,
Why must I suffer? Is it all fate?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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Ellorum Sollu Pattu1993
MarupadiyumFateImpermanence
Aandavan Mugatha Parkkanum1970
Kalyana OorvalamGriefMelancholic
Indha Padhai2010
Aayirathil Oruvan (2010)ImpermanenceFate
Sogangal Geethangalo1986
Kannukku Mai EzhuthuGriefFate

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Macha RekaiMournful
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