♫ Tanglish lyrics	↻ English translation
Male
Mozhiyae mozhiyae tholainthaalum	Even if speech and language are lost,
Idhayam idhayam ulaiyadhae	Let not the heart tremble.
Ulagin porulgal maraindhaalum	Even if worldly possessions disappear,
Unarvin alaigal midhanthaadum	The waves of emotion will float and dance.
Appa appa	Father, father...
Male
Thaayae thaayae enbargal	People always speak of 'Mother, Mother',
Thandhaiyin thiyagam marandhargal	They forgot the sacrifice of the father.
Paalaai thanthaval thaai endraal	If mother is the one who gave milk,
Aal aai seidhavan nee dhaanae	You are the one who sculpted me into a complete person.
Male
Indha elambum indha sadhaiyum	These bones and this flesh,
Undhan viththil dhaanae	Originated from your seed alone.
Uravu aachu	A bond was established.
Ennai koduthu un ninai vidupaai	I will give myself to release your distress,
Ennakulla sabatham elunthaachu	A solemn vow has arisen within me.
Male
Appa enbadhu motha ulagam	Father means the whole world,
Appa illaiyael sethha naragam	Without a father, it is like a dead hell.
Appa anbudhaan thanga surangam	A father's love is a gold mine,
Thanga surangam	A gold mine.
Male
Appa en appa enaku nayagan	Father, my father is my hero,
Appa en appa unaku sevagan	Father, my father is a humble servant to you,
Appa en appa enadhu kaavalan	Father, my father is my protector,
Appa en appa	Father, my father...
Male
Appa en appa enaku nayagan	Father, my father is my hero,
Appa en appa unaku sevagan	Father, my father is a humble servant to you,
Appa en appa enadhu kaavalan	Father, my father is my protector,
Appa appa appa	Father, father, father...
Male
Sokka tamizh mozhiyil	In the sweet, pure Tamil language,
Sorkal pala	Though there are many words,
Vaai mozhiyil vazhanga	To express his worth verbally,
Vaaipae illa	There is no way / words fall short.
Male
Appan pera sollanum	To speak my father's name proudly,
Mella mella	Softly and gently,
Adha vida enakku	More than that, for me,
Aasai illa	There is no greater desire.
Male
Thandhaiyin ulangai	When holding the father's palm,
Thodum bodhu	When touched,
Singathin balam serum	The strength of a lion fills one up.
Thandhaiku magan dhaan	To the father, the son,
Uyir thandhaaan	Gave his very life,
Thalaimuri jeyam kaanum	Generations will behold victory.
Male
Appa en appa enaku nayagan	Father, my father is my hero,
Appa en appa unaku sevagan	Father, my father is a humble servant to you,
Appa en appa enadhu kaavalan	Father, my father is my protector,
Appa appa appa	Father, father, father...
Male
Malaiyae madiyil sarindhaalum	Even if a mountain collapses into the lap,
Manamae manamae kalangaadhae	O mind, O mind, do not be distressed,
Kadalae thalaiyil kavizhdhaalum	Even if the ocean crashes over the head,
Maganae maganae	O son, O son,
Mayangadhae …mayangadhae	Do not faint... do not faint.
Male
Aandavanai tamizhan appan enbaan	A Tamilian addresses God as father,
Appanaiyum tamzihan aandavan enbaan	And a Tamilian addresses his father as God.
Ennoda kanakkil rendum onnu	In my calculation, both are one and the same,
Solla pona kadavul rendaangannu	In fact, God comes second.
Male
Piravi koduthaai edharkaaga	Why did you grant me this life?
Per sola adharkaagaa	To bring glory to your name, that is why.
Perunkonda tholgal edharkaaga	Why do you have such broad, grand shoulders?
Pagai vella adharkaaga	To conquer all enemies, that is why.
Male
Appa en appa enaku nayagan	Father, my father is my hero,
Appa en appa unaku sevagan	Father, my father is a humble servant to you,
Appa en appa enadhu kaavalan	Father, my father is my protector,
Appa en appa	Father, my father...
Male
Appa en appa enaku nayagan	Father, my father is my hero,
Appa en appa unaku sevagan	Father, my father is a humble servant to you,
Appa en appa enadhu kaavalan	Father, my father is my protector,
Appa appa appa	Father, father, father...

Lyrics & meaning

Song interpretation

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navirtchi)

Antimetabole / Chiasmus

Trivia

More from Thiruvin Kural