Elavu
From Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu · 2013
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Enna petha raasa puttuknu poitta | My king-like father who birthed me has suddenly died |
| Enna petha raasa puttuknu poitta | My king-like father who birthed me has suddenly died |
| Male | |
| Poda.. indha boomiyil steady-yaai | Get lost.. in this world, steadily |
| Staying yaarada.. yaarada | Who stays forever.. who stays? |
| Elagandapuramum jalagandapuramum.. | Elagandapuram and Jalagandapuram.. |
| Female | |
| Enna petha ayyaa…. | Oh father who birthed me.... |
| Male | |
| Paada kattuvena | Will I build the funeral bier? |
| Paalu oothuvena | Will I pour milk for the funeral ritual? |
| Sondhakaaran vandhu ninna | If relatives come and stand around, |
| Soru poduvena | Will I serve them food? |
| Satti thookuvena | Will I carry the earthen fire pot? |
| Sangu oodhuvena | Will I blow the funeral conch shell? |
| Male | |
| Sondha kaaranga yaarupa | Who are these relatives anyway? |
| Sheekkka vekkaravangalaam | All those who make people cry, |
| Seekiram vaiyunga | Wail quickly! |
| Peran pethi mukkiyama vaiyunga | Grandson and granddaughter, make sure to mourn properly! |
| Chorus | |
| Elavu… | Bereavement... |
| Male :Yaaraymae | Male: Anyone at all, |
| Summa vidaadhu | It will not spare! |
| Chorus :Elavu.. | Chorus: Bereavement.. |
| Male :Eppa varumnu | Male: When it will come, |
| Theriyaadhu | No one knows! |
| Chorus :Elavu | Chorus: Bereavement |
| Male :Thaali arukkama | Male: Without severing the sacred thali, |
| Pogaadhu | It won't leave! |
| Chorus :Elavu | Chorus: Bereavement |
| Female | |
| Agni pandatha kodukaama | Without giving the fire torch, |
| Satti thooki poriyae | You are carrying the earthen pot and leaving! |
| Male :Raava kudipiyae | Male: You used to drink raw liquor, |
| Wrong wrongaa pesuviyae..ae…ae… | You used to speak wrong and absurd things... |
| Female :Enna…persu pooducha… | Female: What... did the old man pass away... |
| Chorus | |
| Ayyo ayyo | Alas alas |
| Ippadi alpaaisula poityae | You left at such a short lifespan |
| Ayyo ayyo | Alas alas |
| Ippadi naandukinu poitiyae | You hanged yourself like this |
| Ayyo ayyo | Alas alas |
| Ippadi puttukinu poitiyae | You suddenly dropped dead like this |
| Male | |
| Elavu | Bereavement |
| Pattu padinu irukka solla enna….. | While asking you to sing a song, why did you... |
| Call panna | Make a phone call? |
| Engayavathu poi sethu tholada | Go die somewhere and get lost! |
| Male | |
| Kilikku rekkai mulachuduthu | The parrot grew wings, |
| Male :Seri approm | Male: Okay, what next? |
| Male :Aatha vittu paranthu poiduthu | Male: It flew away leaving the nest, |
| Male :Athu onnu illa thatha | Male: It's nothing, grandfather, |
| Kilikku vayasu aiyuduthu | The parrot grew old, |
| Athaan aathukullae sethu poiduthu | That is why it died inside the house, |
| Sethu poiduthu…sethu poiduthu | It died... it died... |
| Chorus | |
| Elavu… | Bereavement... |
| Male :Yaaraymae | Male: Anyone at all, |
| Summa vidaadhu | It will not spare! |
| Chorus :Elavu.. | Chorus: Bereavement.. |
| Male :Eppa varumnu | Male: When it will come, |
| Theriyaadhu | No one knows! |
| Chorus :Elavu | Chorus: Bereavement |
| Male :Thaali arukkama | Male: Without severing the sacred thali, |
| Pogaadhu | It won't leave! |
| Chorus :Elavu | Chorus: Bereavement |
| Female :Aiyaiyoo aiyaiyoo | Female: Alas alas, alas alas |
| Aiyaiyoo aiyaiyoo aiyaiyoo | Alas alas alas alas |
| Male | |
| Elavuuuuu…. | Bereavement... |
| Male :Ennada stuck aayidichaa | Male: What man, did you get stuck? |
| Vaayilayae motor vidura | You're revving your mouth like a motor! |
| Male :Elavu…. | Male: Bereavement.... |
| Ho..ho ho | Ho..ho ho |
| Elavu…. | Bereavement.... |
| Male | |
| Enaada english patta | What man, an English song, |
| Appadiyae adichirukkan | He copied it as it is! |
| Male :Thoda periya columbus | Male: Look at this big Columbus, |
| Kandupudichitaar…mooditu aadu | He discovered it... shut up and dance! |
| Male | |
| Mogatha mooda porom | We are going to cover the face, |
| Pakkuravangal ellam mogatha | Everyone who is looking, look at the face |
| Pathuko bhaa | Take a look, bro! |
| Female :Aiyo aiyo aiyo raasaaa | Female: Alas alas alas my king, |
| Female | |
| Aiyo aiyo aiyo aiyo | Alas alas alas alas, |
| Male :Elavu….elavu..elavu… | Male: Bereavement... bereavement.. bereavement... |
| Chorus | |
| Elavu… | Bereavement... |
| Male :Yaaraymae | Male: Anyone at all, |
| Summa vidaadhu | It will not spare! |
| Chorus :Elavu.. | Chorus: Bereavement.. |
| Male :Eppa varumnu | Male: When it will come, |
| Theriyaadhu | No one knows! |
| Chorus :Elavu | Chorus: Bereavement |
| Male :Thaali arukkama | Male: Without severing the sacred thali, |
| Pogaadhu | It won't leave! |
| Chorus :Elavu | Chorus: Bereavement |
| Female | |
| Aiyo aiyo aiyo aiyo | Alas alas alas alas |
| Aiyo aiyo aiyo aiyo | Alas alas alas alas |
| Male | |
| Aiyoo naan enna seiven | Alas, what will I do? |
| Chinnammakku eppadi naan | To my younger aunt, how will I |
| Arudhal solla poren | Go offer words of comfort? |
| Chitappa…chitappaaaa…. | Uncle... uncle.... |
| Male | |
| Swami kannu kaalam aitaar | Swami Kannu has passed away, |
| Aduthu aaya nee thaan | Next is your turn, grandma! |
| Elavu…. | Bereavement.... |
விஷ்லிங் :
.....................
My king-like father who birthed me has suddenly died
My king-like father who birthed me has suddenly died
என்ன பெத்த
ராசா புட்டுக்குன்னு
போய்ட்டா என்ன
பெத்த ராசா புட்டுக்குன்னு
போய்ட்டா
Get lost.. in this world, steadily
Who stays forever.. who stays?
Elagandapuram and Jalagandapuram..
போடா இந்த
பூமியில் ஸ்டெடியாய்
ஸ்டெயிங் யாரடா யாரடா
எலகண்டபுரமும்
ஜலகண்டபுரமும்
Oh father who birthed me....
என்ன
பெத்த அய்யா
Will I build the funeral bier?
Will I pour milk for the funeral ritual?
If relatives come and stand around,
Will I serve them food?
Will I carry the earthen fire pot?
Will I blow the funeral conch shell?
பாட கட்டுவேனா
பாலு ஊத்துவேனா சொந்த
காரன் வந்து நின்னா சோறு
போடுவேனா சட்டி
தூக்குவேனா சங்கு
ஊதுவேனா
Who are these relatives anyway?
All those who make people cry,
Wail quickly!
Grandson and granddaughter, make sure to mourn properly!
சொந்த காரங்க
யாருப்பா சீக்கா
வைக்கிறவங்கலாம்
சீக்கிரம் வையுங்க
பேரன் பேத்தி முக்கியமா
வையுங்க
Bereavement...
Male: Anyone at all,
It will not spare!
Chorus: Bereavement..
Male: When it will come,
No one knows!
Chorus: Bereavement
Male: Without severing the sacred thali,
It won't leave!
Chorus: Bereavement
இலவு
யாரயுமே
சும்மா விடாது
குழு :
இலவு
எப்ப
வரும்னு தெரியாது
குழு :
இலவு
தாலி
அறுக்காம போகாது
குழு :
இலவு
Without giving the fire torch,
You are carrying the earthen pot and leaving!
Male: You used to drink raw liquor,
You used to speak wrong and absurd things...
Female: What... did the old man pass away...
அக்னி பண்டத்த
குடுக்காம சட்டி தூக்கி
போறியே
ராவா குடுப்பியே
ராங் ராங்கா பேசுவியே
பெண் : என்ன பெர்சு
போயிடுச்சா
Alas alas
You left at such a short lifespan
Alas alas
You hanged yourself like this
Alas alas
You suddenly dropped dead like this
ஐயோ ஐயோ
இப்படி அல்பாய்சுல
போய்டியே ஐயோ
ஐயோ இப்படி நாண்டுகின்னு
போய்டியே ஐயோ ஐயோ
இப்படி புட்டுகின்னு
போய்டியே
Bereavement
While asking you to sing a song, why did you...
Make a phone call?
Go die somewhere and get lost!
இலவு பாட்டு
பாடின்னு இருக்க சொல்ல
என்ன கால் பண்ண
எங்கயாவது போய்
செத்து தொல டா
The parrot grew wings,
Male: Okay, what next?
Male: It flew away leaving the nest,
Male: It's nothing, grandfather,
The parrot grew old,
That is why it died inside the house,
It died... it died...
கிளிக்கு
ரெக்கை முளைச்சுடுது
செரி அப்புரம்
ஆத்த விட்டு
பறந்து போய்டுது
அது ஒன்னு இல்ல
தாத்தா கிளிக்கு வயசு
ஆயிடுது அதான்
ஆத்துக்குள்ளே செத்து
போய்டுது செத்து போய்டுது
செத்து போய்டுது
Bereavement...
Male: Anyone at all,
It will not spare!
Chorus: Bereavement..
Male: When it will come,
No one knows!
Chorus: Bereavement
Male: Without severing the sacred thali,
It won't leave!
Chorus: Bereavement
Female: Alas alas, alas alas
Alas alas alas alas
இலவு
யாரயுமே
சும்மா விடாது
குழு :
இலவு
எப்ப
வரும்னு தெரியாது
குழு :
இலவு
தாலி
அறுக்காம போகாது
குழு :
இலவு
அய்யய்யோ
அய்யய்யோ அய்யய்யோ
அய்யய்யோ அய்யய்யோ
Bereavement...
Male: What man, did you get stuck?
You're revving your mouth like a motor!
Male: Bereavement....
Ho..ho ho
Bereavement....
இலவு
என்னடா ஸ்டக்
ஆயிடுச்சா வாயிலயே
மோட்டார் விடுற
இலவு ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ இலவு
What man, an English song,
He copied it as it is!
Male: Look at this big Columbus,
He discovered it... shut up and dance!
என்னடா இங்கிலீஷ்
பாட்ட அப்படியே அடிச்சிருக்கான்
தோடா பெரிய
கொலம்பஸ்
கண்டுபிடிச்சுடாரு
மூடிட்டு ஆடு
We are going to cover the face,
Everyone who is looking, look at the face
Take a look, bro!
Female: Alas alas alas my king,
முகத்த மூட
போறோம் பாக்குறவங்கள்
எல்லாம் முகத்த
பாத்துக்கோ பா
அய்யோ
அய்யோ அய்யோ
ராசா
Alas alas alas alas,
Male: Bereavement... bereavement.. bereavement...
அய்யோ
அய்யோ அய்யோ
அய்யோ
இலவு
இலவு இலவு
Bereavement...
Male: Anyone at all,
It will not spare!
Chorus: Bereavement..
Male: When it will come,
No one knows!
Chorus: Bereavement
Male: Without severing the sacred thali,
It won't leave!
Chorus: Bereavement
இலவு
யாரயுமே
சும்மா விடாது
குழு :
இலவு
எப்ப
வரும்னு தெரியாது
குழு :
இலவு
தாலி
அறுக்காம போகாது
குழு :
இலவு
Alas alas alas alas
Alas alas alas alas
அய்யோ அய்யோ
அய்யோ அய்யோ அய்யோ
அய்யோ அய்யோ அய்யோ
Alas, what will I do?
To my younger aunt, how will I
Go offer words of comfort?
Uncle... uncle....
அய்யோ நான்
என்ன செய்வேன்
சின்னமாக்கு எப்படி
நான் ஆறுதல் சொல்ல
போறேன் சித்தப்பா
சித்தப்பா
Swami Kannu has passed away,
Next is your turn, grandma!
Bereavement....
சுவாமி கண்ணு
காலம் ஆய்டார் அடுத்து
ஆயா நீ தான் இலவு
Enna petha raasa puttuknu poitta
My king-like father who birthed me has suddenly died
Enna petha raasa puttuknu poitta
My king-like father who birthed me has suddenly died
Poda.. indha boomiyil steady-yaai
Get lost.. in this world, steadily
Staying yaarada.. yaarada
Who stays forever.. who stays?
Elagandapuramum jalagandapuramum..
Elagandapuram and Jalagandapuram..
Enna petha ayyaa….
Oh father who birthed me....
Paada kattuvena
Will I build the funeral bier?
Paalu oothuvena
Will I pour milk for the funeral ritual?
Sondhakaaran vandhu ninna
If relatives come and stand around,
Soru poduvena
Will I serve them food?
Satti thookuvena
Will I carry the earthen fire pot?
Sangu oodhuvena
Will I blow the funeral conch shell?
Sondha kaaranga yaarupa
Who are these relatives anyway?
Sheekkka vekkaravangalaam
All those who make people cry,
Seekiram vaiyunga
Wail quickly!
Peran pethi mukkiyama vaiyunga
Grandson and granddaughter, make sure to mourn properly!
Elavu…
Bereavement...
Male :Yaaraymae
Male: Anyone at all,
Summa vidaadhu
It will not spare!
Chorus :Elavu..
Chorus: Bereavement..
Male :Eppa varumnu
Male: When it will come,
Theriyaadhu
No one knows!
Chorus :Elavu
Chorus: Bereavement
Male :Thaali arukkama
Male: Without severing the sacred thali,
Pogaadhu
It won't leave!
Chorus :Elavu
Chorus: Bereavement
Agni pandatha kodukaama
Without giving the fire torch,
Satti thooki poriyae
You are carrying the earthen pot and leaving!
Male :Raava kudipiyae
Male: You used to drink raw liquor,
Wrong wrongaa pesuviyae..ae…ae…
You used to speak wrong and absurd things...
Female :Enna…persu pooducha…
Female: What... did the old man pass away...
Ayyo ayyo
Alas alas
Ippadi alpaaisula poityae
You left at such a short lifespan
Ayyo ayyo
Alas alas
Ippadi naandukinu poitiyae
You hanged yourself like this
Ayyo ayyo
Alas alas
Ippadi puttukinu poitiyae
You suddenly dropped dead like this
Elavu
Bereavement
Pattu padinu irukka solla enna…..
While asking you to sing a song, why did you...
Call panna
Make a phone call?
Engayavathu poi sethu tholada
Go die somewhere and get lost!
Kilikku rekkai mulachuduthu
The parrot grew wings,
Male :Seri approm
Male: Okay, what next?
Male :Aatha vittu paranthu poiduthu
Male: It flew away leaving the nest,
Male :Athu onnu illa thatha
Male: It's nothing, grandfather,
Kilikku vayasu aiyuduthu
The parrot grew old,
Athaan aathukullae sethu poiduthu
That is why it died inside the house,
Sethu poiduthu…sethu poiduthu
It died... it died...
Elavu…
Bereavement...
Male :Yaaraymae
Male: Anyone at all,
Summa vidaadhu
It will not spare!
Chorus :Elavu..
Chorus: Bereavement..
Male :Eppa varumnu
Male: When it will come,
Theriyaadhu
No one knows!
Chorus :Elavu
Chorus: Bereavement
Male :Thaali arukkama
Male: Without severing the sacred thali,
Pogaadhu
It won't leave!
Chorus :Elavu
Chorus: Bereavement
Female :Aiyaiyoo aiyaiyoo
Female: Alas alas, alas alas
Aiyaiyoo aiyaiyoo aiyaiyoo
Alas alas alas alas
Elavuuuuu….
Bereavement...
Male :Ennada stuck aayidichaa
Male: What man, did you get stuck?
Vaayilayae motor vidura
You're revving your mouth like a motor!
Male :Elavu….
Male: Bereavement....
Ho..ho ho
Ho..ho ho
Elavu….
Bereavement....
Enaada english patta
What man, an English song,
Appadiyae adichirukkan
He copied it as it is!
Male :Thoda periya columbus
Male: Look at this big Columbus,
Kandupudichitaar…mooditu aadu
He discovered it... shut up and dance!
Mogatha mooda porom
We are going to cover the face,
Pakkuravangal ellam mogatha
Everyone who is looking, look at the face
Pathuko bhaa
Take a look, bro!
Female :Aiyo aiyo aiyo raasaaa
Female: Alas alas alas my king,
Aiyo aiyo aiyo aiyo
Alas alas alas alas,
Male :Elavu….elavu..elavu…
Male: Bereavement... bereavement.. bereavement...
Elavu…
Bereavement...
Male :Yaaraymae
Male: Anyone at all,
Summa vidaadhu
It will not spare!
Chorus :Elavu..
Chorus: Bereavement..
Male :Eppa varumnu
Male: When it will come,
Theriyaadhu
No one knows!
Chorus :Elavu
Chorus: Bereavement
Male :Thaali arukkama
Male: Without severing the sacred thali,
Pogaadhu
It won't leave!
Chorus :Elavu
Chorus: Bereavement
Aiyo aiyo aiyo aiyo
Alas alas alas alas
Aiyo aiyo aiyo aiyo
Alas alas alas alas
Aiyoo naan enna seiven
Alas, what will I do?
Chinnammakku eppadi naan
To my younger aunt, how will I
Arudhal solla poren
Go offer words of comfort?
Chitappa…chitappaaaa….
Uncle... uncle....
Swami kannu kaalam aitaar
Swami Kannu has passed away,
Aduthu aaya nee thaan
Next is your turn, grandma!
Elavu….
Bereavement....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Elavu' from the movie 'Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu' (2013) is a satirical and dark-comedic track composed in the style of a traditional Tamil funeral mourning song (Oppari). It uses dark humor to reflect on the inevitability of death, mock funeral traditions, and poke fun at hypocritical relatives who gather only during mourning.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Kilikku rekkai mulachuduthu... Aatha vittu paranthu poiduthu”
Comparing a human soul aging and passing away to an old parrot growing wings and flying away from its nest.
Emonai (Tamil Alliteration)
“Paada kattuvena / Paalu oothuvena”
Repetition of initial consonants/sounds in paired lines for rhyming rhythm in folk Oppari style.
Refrain
“Elavu…”
The word 'Elavu' (Death / Bereavement) is repeatedly chanted throughout as a chorus anchor.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Simon K. King, 'Elavu' gained popularity for blending authentic Tamil folk funeral lamentations (Oppari) with modern electronic beats, satire, and self-referential meta-dialogue.
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