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Lyrics & meaning

Azhuvatharku Vazhvetharku

From Panchavarnam · 1982

Lyricist
Na. Kamarasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Raghuraj Chakravarthy
Movie name
Panchavarnam
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
3 Aug 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Azhuvatharkku vaazhvedharkku
Aasaigalthaan yaen namakku
Idhayamelaam erivatharkku
Iraivaa yaen thiruvilakku
Iraivaa yaen thiruvilakku
: Azhuvatharkku vaazhvedharkku
Aasaigalthaan yaen namakku
Idhayamelaam erivatharkku
Iraivaa yaen thiruvilakku
Iraivaa yaen thiruvilakku
Aalayaththil dheepam ittean
Aandavanae anaiththu vittaan
Aaraathanai seithu vanthaen angu
Dhevathaigal sevidaanaar
Aaraathanai seithu vanthaen angu
Dhevathaigal sevidaanaar
Kodaanakodi uyir aadugindra naadagamaa
Poovai indru pooththa malar
Poojaikkullae udhirnthathammaa
Azhuvatharkku vaazhvedharkku
Aasaigalthaan yaen namakku
Idhayamelaam erivatharkku
Iraivaa yaen thiruvilakku
Kaanalilum meen kidaikkum
Oru kaagithappoo thaen kodukkum
Kaanalilum meen kidaikkum
Oru kaagithappoo thaen kodukkum
Kadhaliththu maalaiyittu
Avan karam pidikka vazhiyumillai
Pooparikkum velaiyilae
Poonaagam cholaiyilae
Bhoomiyenum jaadhi malar
Punnagaiyai naan izhanthaen
Azhuvatharkku vaazhvedharkku
Aasaigalthaan yaen namakku
Idhayamelaam erivatharkku
Iraivaa yaen thiruvilakku
Iraivaa yaen thiruvilakku
Iraivaa yaen thiruvilakku
Why live just to cry?
Why do we even have desires?
When the whole heart is burning,
O God, why light a sacred lamp?
O God, why light a sacred lamp?
Why live just to cry?
Why do we even have desires?
When the whole heart is burning,
O God, why light a sacred lamp?
O God, why light a sacred lamp?
I lit a lamp in the temple,
But God Himself put it out.
I kept offering my prayers,
Yet the gods turned deaf.
I kept offering my prayers,
Yet the gods turned deaf.
Is life just a drama acted by millions of souls?
The flower that blossomed today
Has withered away during the prayer.
Why live just to cry?
Why do we even have desires?
When the whole heart is burning,
O God, why light a sacred lamp?
You might even find fish in a mirage,
A paper flower might even yield honey,
You might even find fish in a mirage,
A paper flower might even yield honey,
But to fall in love, exchange garlands,
And hold a lover's hand—there is no way.
While picking flowers,
A snake appeared in the garden;
Like a tender blossom on this earth,
I lost my smile.
Why live just to cry?
Why do we even have desires?
When the whole heart is burning,
O God, why light a sacred lamp?
O God, why light a sacred lamp?
O God, why light a sacred lamp?
Male
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Male
Male
Male
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Azhuvatharkku vaazhvedharkku is a sorrowful philosophical track sung by T. M. Soundararajan for the film Panchavarnam (1982). The song voices the deep agony of a soul suffering from heartbreak and betrayal by fate, questioning God on why humanity was given desires and life if it is all meant to end in suffering and grief. The lyricist questions the divine purpose of kindling hope when it is ultimately snuffed out. Through striking metaphors—like finding fish in a mirage or honey from a paper flower being more likely than finding lasting bliss in love—the protagonist laments the tragedy of lost love and the utter silence of the heavens in the face of human suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Idhayamelaam erivatharkku / Iraivaa yaen thiruvilakku”

Life and hope are metaphorically represented as a sacred lamp ('thiruvilakku') lit by God, which ends up scorching the heart instead of bringing light.

Hyperbole / Paradox (Anidhayamaana Uvamai)

“Kaanalilum meen kidaikkum / Oru kaagithappoo thaen kodukkum”

The lyrics use extreme paradoxes—finding fish in a mirage or honey in a paper flower—to emphasize the absolute impossibility of attaining happiness or union with her beloved.

Alliteration (Monaai)

“Kaanalilum meen kidaikkum / Oru kaagithappoo thaen kodukkum”

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Kaa' in 'Kaanalilum' and 'Kaagithappoo', creating a rhythmic lyrical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is penned by Na. Kamarasan, a prominent Tamil poet associated with the 'Pudhu Kavidhai' (modern poetry) movement, known for blending surrealist metaphors with traditional Tamil poetic sorrow. The music for Panchavarnam (1982) was composed by Raghuraj Chakravarthy.

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