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Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Azhutha Kanneerum Paalaagumaa

From Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar · 1960

Lyricist
Jeyakanthan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. B. Sreenivas
Movie name
Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
29 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Azhutha kannerum paalaguma
Adhanaal unadhu pasi theeruma
Adhanaal unadhu pasi theeruma
Inba sumaiyaai irunthavanae…ae…
Thunba sumaiyaai piranthavanae
Thunba sumaiyaai piranthavanae
Thaai oru ezhai ariyaamal
Thuyar thandhida vandhaai en maganae
Nee oru selvam endriduvaar
En nenja kumuralai solliduvaai
Azhutha kannerum paalaguma
Adhanaal unadhu pasi theeruma
Chinnanchiriya kudisaiyilae oli
Sindhida vandha theru vilakkae
Ennai illamal pon vilakkil sudar
Aadi thudikkudhae aandavanae
Azhutha kannerum paalaguma
Adhanaal unadhu pasi theeruma
Natta nadutheru orathilae
Pani kottidum kuliril nadungugiraai
Ottiya maarbinil mugam pudhaithu
Nee urangidadaa en kanmaniyae
Azhutha kannerum paalaguma
Adhanaal unadhu pasi theeruma
Adhanaal unadhu pasi theeruma
Can the tears I cry turn into milk?
Will that satisfy your hunger?
Will that satisfy your hunger?
You who once lived as a sweet burden,
Now born as a burden of sorrow...
Now born as a burden of sorrow...
Unaware that your mother is poor,
You came to bring her grief, my son.
People may say you are a treasure,
Go tell them the deep anguish in my heart!
Can the tears I cry turn into milk?
Will that satisfy your hunger?
To spread light in this tiny little hut,
O sacred lamp who arrived to shine,
With no oil, the flame in this golden lamp
Flickers and shivers, O Lord!
Can the tears I cry turn into milk?
Will that satisfy your hunger?
Right by the edge of the open street,
You shiver in the freezing cold dew.
Bury your face against my sunken chest,
And go to sleep, my precious child.
Can the tears I cry turn into milk?
Will that satisfy your hunger?
Will that satisfy your hunger?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song depicts an impoverished mother's heartbreaking grief as she cradles her starving child on a cold night. She laments that her sorrowful tears cannot transform into milk to satisfy her baby's hunger, questioning the irony of society viewing a child as a blessing when she cannot even afford to feed him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

“Azhutha kannerum paalaguma”

The opening line asks if tears can turn into milk, highlighting the tragic helplessness of extreme poverty.

Antithesis / Oxymoron

“Inba sumaiyaai irunthavanae... Thunba sumaiyaai piranthavanae”

Contrasts 'Inba sumai' (joyful burden) with 'Thunba sumai' (sorrowful burden) to show the conflict between maternal love and painful poverty.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Ennai illamal pon vilakkil sudar Aadi thudikkudhae aandavanae”

Compares a starving, dying child to a flame flickering in an oil-less lamp.

Did you know?

Trivia

Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar (1960) was a realistic, left-leaning Tamil film directed by Nemai Ghosh with music composed by M. B. Sreenivasan. The lyrics were penned by acclaimed writer Jayakanthan and sung beautifully by P. Susheela.

Keep listening

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