Azhuthu Azhuthu Sornthu
From Kudumbam · 1954
- Lyricist
- M. S. Balasubramaniyam
- Singer
- P. Leela
- Music director
- Pendyala Nageswara Rao
- Details
- Kudumbam1954
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Azhuthu azhuthu sornthathaiyaa paappa | Crying and crying, the baby is exhausted, my child. |
| Azha iyalaadhu kannum moodinadho paappa | Unable to cry anymore, have its eyes closed, my child? |
| Thaazhavae iyalaadha kodum pasiyaalae | Due to severe hunger that cannot be alleviated, |
| Female | |
| Vazhiyae illaiyaa vaazha vazhiyae illaiyaa | Is there no way to live, is there no way to live? |
| Ilam seiyin kodum paasi theera | To quench the severe hunger of this young child, |
| Vazhiyae illaiyaa vaazha vazhiyae illaiyaa | Is there no way to live, is there no way to live? |
| Female | |
| Poonavae thangamum nagai kettara | Did it ask for gold or jewelry to wear? |
| Vaazhndhida maaligai yedhum kettara | Did it ask for a palace to live in? |
| Theerappasi pini theera kanjiyae podhum endraalum | Even when asking just for rice gruel to cure this agonizing hunger, |
| Vazhiyae illaiyaa vaazha vazhiyae illaiyaa | Is there no way to live, is there no way to live? |
| Female | |
| Kodiya pasiyinaal yengum pillaikku | For the child yearning out of extreme hunger, |
| Kadhaigal sollinum nithirai poguma | Will telling stories bring it sleep? |
| Paalukku badhil en kaneer thandhaal | If I offer my tears instead of milk, |
| Kodum pasi theerndhiduma | Will that severe hunger be satisfied? |
| Female | |
| Vazhiyae illaiyaa vaazha vazhiyae illaiyaa | Is there no way to live, is there no way to live? |
| Ilam seiyin kodum paasi theera | To quench the severe hunger of this young child, |
| Vazhiyae illaiyaa vaazha vazhiyae illaiyaa | Is there no way to live, is there no way to live? |
அழுது அழுது சோர்ந்ததையோ பாப்பா
அழ இயலாது கண்ணும் மூடினதோ பாப்பா
தாழவே இயலாத கொடும் பசியாலே
Crying and crying, the baby is exhausted, my child.
Unable to cry anymore, have its eyes closed, my child?
Due to severe hunger that cannot be alleviated,
வழியே இல்லையா வாழ வழியே இல்லையா
இளம் சேயினின் கொடும் பசி தீர
வழியே இல்லையா வாழ வழியே இல்லையா..
Is there no way to live, is there no way to live?
To quench the severe hunger of this young child,
Is there no way to live, is there no way to live?
பூணவே தங்கமும் நகை கேட்டாரா
வாழ்ந்திட மாளிகை ஏதும் கேட்டாரா
தீராப் பசிப்பிணி தீரக் கஞ்சியே போதுமென்றாலும்
வழியே இல்லையா வாழ வழியே இல்லையா..
Did it ask for gold or jewelry to wear?
Did it ask for a palace to live in?
Even when asking just for rice gruel to cure this agonizing hunger,
Is there no way to live, is there no way to live?
கொடிய பசியினால் ஏங்கும் பிள்ளைக்கு
கதைகள் சொல்லினும் நித்திரை போகுமா
பாலுக்கு பதில் என் கண்ணீர் தந்தால்
கொடும் பசி தீர்ந்திடுமா.......
For the child yearning out of extreme hunger,
Will telling stories bring it sleep?
If I offer my tears instead of milk,
Will that severe hunger be satisfied?
வழியே இல்லையா வாழ வழியே இல்லையா
இளம் சேயினின் கொடும் பசி தீர
வழியே இல்லையா வாழ வழியே இல்லையா..
Is there no way to live, is there no way to live?
To quench the severe hunger of this young child,
Is there no way to live, is there no way to live?
Azhuthu azhuthu sornthathaiyaa paappa
Crying and crying, the baby is exhausted, my child.
Azha iyalaadhu kannum moodinadho paappa
Unable to cry anymore, have its eyes closed, my child?
Thaazhavae iyalaadha kodum pasiyaalae
Due to severe hunger that cannot be alleviated,
Vazhiyae illaiyaa vaazha vazhiyae illaiyaa
Is there no way to live, is there no way to live?
Ilam seiyin kodum paasi theera
To quench the severe hunger of this young child,
Vazhiyae illaiyaa vaazha vazhiyae illaiyaa
Is there no way to live, is there no way to live?
Poonavae thangamum nagai kettara
Did it ask for gold or jewelry to wear?
Vaazhndhida maaligai yedhum kettara
Did it ask for a palace to live in?
Theerappasi pini theera kanjiyae podhum endraalum
Even when asking just for rice gruel to cure this agonizing hunger,
Vazhiyae illaiyaa vaazha vazhiyae illaiyaa
Is there no way to live, is there no way to live?
Kodiya pasiyinaal yengum pillaikku
For the child yearning out of extreme hunger,
Kadhaigal sollinum nithirai poguma
Will telling stories bring it sleep?
Paalukku badhil en kaneer thandhaal
If I offer my tears instead of milk,
Kodum pasi theerndhiduma
Will that severe hunger be satisfied?
Vazhiyae illaiyaa vaazha vazhiyae illaiyaa
Is there no way to live, is there no way to live?
Ilam seiyin kodum paasi theera
To quench the severe hunger of this young child,
Vazhiyae illaiyaa vaazha vazhiyae illaiyaa
Is there no way to live, is there no way to live?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant lullaby-dirge expresses the immense sorrow and helplessness of a mother watching her infant suffer from severe hunger. The baby has cried continuously until falling asleep out of sheer physical exhaustion. The mother laments that her child does not demand luxurious items like gold, jewelry, or a grand palace; it merely needs basic sustenance like rice gruel to survive. The mother questions the cruelty of fate and poverty, asking if her tears could ever replace milk to satisfy the child's hunger. Through recurring melancholic refrain, she desperately asks whether there is any viable way left for them to survive in a world filled with hardship.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Azhuthu azhuthu sornthathaiyaa paappa”
The word 'Azhuthu' (crying) is repeated continuously to highlight the prolonged suffering of the child.
Rhetorical Question
“Vazhiyae illaiyaa vaazha vazhiyae illaiyaa”
The recurring question highlights despair and social inequality, asking if there is truly no path to survival.
Contrast / Imagery
“Poonavae thangamum nagai kettara / Vaazhndhida maaligai yedhum kettara”
Contrasts extravagant desires (gold, palace) with basic needs (rice gruel) to highlight the baby's modest demand for basic survival.
Pathos & Emotional Metaphor
“Paalukku badhil en kaneer thandhaal”
Compares milk with tears, creating a deeply emotive image of extreme poverty and motherly anguish.
Did you know?
Trivia
The 1954 film 'Kudumbam', directed by A. Kasilingam, featured iconic music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. Singer P. Leela was renowned for her ability to convey deep maternal emotion and pathos through classical and light music compositions during the Golden Era of South Indian cinema.
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