Ellu Vaya Pookalaye
From Asuran · 2019
- Lyricist
- Yugabharathi
- Singer
- Saindhavi
- Music director
- G. V. Prakash Kumar
- Details
- Asuran2019
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ellu vaya pookalayae | The sesame field hasn't flowered, |
| Yereduthum paakalayae | You haven't looked up to see, |
| Aalala un sirippu koththuthaiyaa | Your smile pierces through me, my dear, |
| Acharuntha raattinam pola suthuthaiyaa | Spinning like a giant wheel whose axle broke, |
| Female | |
| Kollaiyila vaazha yela | The banana leaves in the backyard, |
| Kottadiyil kozhi kunju | The little chick in the coop, |
| Aththanaiyum un mugatha solluthaiyaa | Everything reflects your face, my dear, |
| Aadum maadum verum vaaya melluthaiya | The cattle chew on empty air, |
| Female | |
| Kaathoda un vaasam | Your fragrance blends with the wind, |
| Kaadellaam un paasam | Your love fills the whole forest, |
| Oothaattam on nenappae ooruthaiyaa | Your thought wells up inside like a spring, |
| Salsaappu venam vandhu nillaiyaa | Don't make excuses, come and stand before us, |
| Saavaiyum kooru pottu kollaiyaa | Slay even death by chopping it to pieces! |
| Female | |
| Kallaaga ninnaaiyo | Did you stand like a stone statue? |
| Kaal nooga ninnaaiyo | Did you stand until your legs ached? |
| Kannae nee thirumbi varanum | My darling, you must return back |
| Veettukku | To our home! |
| Female | |
| Mallandhu ponaalum | Even if fallen flat on the back, |
| Mannodu saanjaalum | Even if merged with the soil, |
| Aiyaa nee perumai saadhi | Sir, you are the pride of our community |
| Sanaththukku | And our people! |
| Female | |
| Thalachan pullai illaama | Without a firstborn child, |
| Sarinjathu yethena aatchi | How many kingdoms have fallen and crumbled? |
| Neeyae enga raasa vaa vaa kalaththikku | You are our king, come to the battleground! |
| Thaaiyoda baaram maasam paththaiyaa | A mother carries her burden for ten months, |
| Thaangaama neeyum ponaa thappaiyaa | If you leave unable to bear it, isn't it wrong? |
| Female | |
| Ellu vaya pookalayae | The sesame field hasn't flowered, |
| Yereduthum paakalayae | You haven't looked up to see, |
| Aalala un sirippu koththuthaiyaa | Your smile pierces through me, my dear, |
| Acharuntha raattinam pola suthuthaiyaa | Spinning like a giant wheel whose axle broke, |
| Female | |
| Vaal yendhi vanthaalum | Even if coming with a sword in hand, |
| Vaazhaama seththaalum | Even if dying without living a full life, |
| Gambeeram koranjidatha | Without losing your grandeur, |
| Neruppu nee | You are fire! |
| Female | |
| Aiyonnu ponaalum | Even if ruined and lost, |
| Aagasam ponaalum | Even if reaching up to the skies, |
| Thanneera kolaththil serkkum | The ridge that gathers water into the pond, |
| Varappu nee | Is what you are! |
| Female | |
| Uzhaikka ennura aala | Against a town that kicks away |
| Udhaichi thallura oora | The hard-working poor people, |
| Kaiya kaala vetti veesum | Hacking limbs and striking back, |
| Karuppu nee | You are the protective deity Karuppusamy! |
| Katteri unnai kanda odaatho | Won't blood-sucking vampires flee upon seeing you? |
| Kaapaatha deivam vandhu seraadho | Won't a protecting deity arrive to join us? |
| Female | |
| Ellu vaya pookalayae | The sesame field hasn't flowered, |
| Yereduthum paakalayae | You haven't looked up to see, |
| Aalala un sirippu koththuthaiyaa | Your smile pierces through me, my dear, |
| Acharuntha raattinam pola suthuthaiyaa | Spinning like a giant wheel whose axle broke, |
| Female | |
| Kollaiyila vaazha yela | The banana leaves in the backyard, |
| Kottadiyil kozhi kunju | The little chick in the coop, |
| Aththanaiyum un mugatha solluthaiyaa | Everything reflects your face, my dear, |
| Aadum maadum verum vaaya melluthaiya | The cattle chew on empty air, |
| Female | |
| Kaathoda un vaasam | Your fragrance blends with the wind, |
| Kaadellaam un paasam | Your love fills the whole forest, |
| Oothaattam on nenappae ooruthaiyaa | Your thought wells up inside like a spring, |
| Salsaappu venam vandhu nillaiyaa | Don't make excuses, come and stand before us, |
| Saavaiyum kooru pottu kollaiyaa | Slay even death by chopping it to pieces! |
எள்ளு வய பூக்கலையே
ஏறெடுத்தும் பாக்கலையே
ஆலால ஒன் சிரிப்பு கொத்துதய்யா
அச்சறுந்த ராட்டினம் போல சுத்துதய்யா
The sesame field hasn't flowered,
You haven't looked up to see,
Your smile pierces through me, my dear,
Spinning like a giant wheel whose axle broke,
கொல்லையில வாழ எல
கொட்டடியில் கோழி குஞ்சு
அத்தனையும் உன் மொகத்த சொல்லுதய்யா
ஆடும் மாடும் வெறும் வாய மெள்ளுதய்யா
The banana leaves in the backyard,
The little chick in the coop,
Everything reflects your face, my dear,
The cattle chew on empty air,
காத்தோட உன் வாசம்
காடெல்லாம் ஒம் பாசம்
ஊத்தாட்டம் ஒன் நெனப்பே ஊறுதய்யா
சால்சாப்பு வேணாம் வந்து நில்லய்யா
சாவையும் கூறு போட்டு கொல்லய்யா
Your fragrance blends with the wind,
Your love fills the whole forest,
Your thought wells up inside like a spring,
Don't make excuses, come and stand before us,
Slay even death by chopping it to pieces!
கல்லாக நின்னாயோ
கால் நோக நின்னாயோ
கண்ணே நீ திரும்பி வரணும்
வீட்டுக்கு
Did you stand like a stone statue?
Did you stand until your legs ached?
My darling, you must return back
To our home!
மல்லாந்து போனாலும்
மண்ணோடு சாஞ்சாலும்
அய்யா நீ பெருமை சாதி
சனத்துக்கு
Even if fallen flat on the back,
Even if merged with the soil,
Sir, you are the pride of our community
And our people!
தலைச்சம் புள்ளை இல்லாம
சரிஞ்சது எத்தன ஆட்சி
நீயே எங்க ராசா வா வா களத்துக்கு
தாயோட பாரம் மாசம் பத்தய்யா
தாங்காம நீயும் போனா தப்பய்யா
Without a firstborn child,
How many kingdoms have fallen and crumbled?
You are our king, come to the battleground!
A mother carries her burden for ten months,
If you leave unable to bear it, isn't it wrong?
எள்ளு வய பூக்கலையே
ஏறெடுத்தும் பாக்கலையே
ஆலால ஒன் சிரிப்பு கொத்துதய்யா
அச்சறுந்த ராட்டினம் போல சுத்துதய்யா
The sesame field hasn't flowered,
You haven't looked up to see,
Your smile pierces through me, my dear,
Spinning like a giant wheel whose axle broke,
வாள் ஏந்தி வந்தாலும்
வாழாம செத்தாலும்
கம்பீரம் கொறைஞ்சிடாத
நெருப்பு நீ
Even if coming with a sword in hand,
Even if dying without living a full life,
Without losing your grandeur,
You are fire!
அய்யோன்னு போனாலும்
ஆகாசம் போனாலும்
தண்ணீர கொளத்தில் சேர்க்கும்
வரப்பு நீ
Even if ruined and lost,
Even if reaching up to the skies,
The ridge that gathers water into the pond,
Is what you are!
உழைக்க எண்ணுற ஆள
உதைச்சி தள்ளுற ஊர
கைய கால வெட்டி வீசும்
கருப்பு நீ
காட்டேரி உன்னை கண்டா ஓடாதோ
காப்பாத்த தெய்வம் வந்து சேராதோ
Against a town that kicks away
The hard-working poor people,
Hacking limbs and striking back,
You are the protective deity Karuppusamy!
Won't blood-sucking vampires flee upon seeing you?
Won't a protecting deity arrive to join us?
எள்ளு வய பூக்கலையே
ஏறெடுத்தும் பாக்கலையே
ஆலால ஒன் சிரிப்பு கொத்துதய்யா
அச்சறுந்த ராட்டினம் போல சுத்துதய்யா
The sesame field hasn't flowered,
You haven't looked up to see,
Your smile pierces through me, my dear,
Spinning like a giant wheel whose axle broke,
கொல்லையில வாழ எல
கொட்டடியில் கோழி குஞ்சு
அத்தனையும் உன் மொகத்த சொல்லுதய்யா
ஆடும் மாடும் வெறும் வாய மெள்ளுதய்யா
The banana leaves in the backyard,
The little chick in the coop,
Everything reflects your face, my dear,
The cattle chew on empty air,
காத்தோட உன் வாசம்
காடெல்லாம் ஒம் பாசம்
ஊத்தாட்டம் ஒன் நெனப்பே ஊறுதய்யா
சால்சாப்பு வேணாம் வந்து நில்லய்யா
சாவையும் கூறு போட்டு கொல்லய்யா
Your fragrance blends with the wind,
Your love fills the whole forest,
Your thought wells up inside like a spring,
Don't make excuses, come and stand before us,
Slay even death by chopping it to pieces!
Ellu vaya pookalayae
The sesame field hasn't flowered,
Yereduthum paakalayae
You haven't looked up to see,
Aalala un sirippu koththuthaiyaa
Your smile pierces through me, my dear,
Acharuntha raattinam pola suthuthaiyaa
Spinning like a giant wheel whose axle broke,
Kollaiyila vaazha yela
The banana leaves in the backyard,
Kottadiyil kozhi kunju
The little chick in the coop,
Aththanaiyum un mugatha solluthaiyaa
Everything reflects your face, my dear,
Aadum maadum verum vaaya melluthaiya
The cattle chew on empty air,
Kaathoda un vaasam
Your fragrance blends with the wind,
Kaadellaam un paasam
Your love fills the whole forest,
Oothaattam on nenappae ooruthaiyaa
Your thought wells up inside like a spring,
Salsaappu venam vandhu nillaiyaa
Don't make excuses, come and stand before us,
Saavaiyum kooru pottu kollaiyaa
Slay even death by chopping it to pieces!
Kallaaga ninnaaiyo
Did you stand like a stone statue?
Kaal nooga ninnaaiyo
Did you stand until your legs ached?
Kannae nee thirumbi varanum
My darling, you must return back
Veettukku
To our home!
Mallandhu ponaalum
Even if fallen flat on the back,
Mannodu saanjaalum
Even if merged with the soil,
Aiyaa nee perumai saadhi
Sir, you are the pride of our community
Sanaththukku
And our people!
Thalachan pullai illaama
Without a firstborn child,
Sarinjathu yethena aatchi
How many kingdoms have fallen and crumbled?
Neeyae enga raasa vaa vaa kalaththikku
You are our king, come to the battleground!
Thaaiyoda baaram maasam paththaiyaa
A mother carries her burden for ten months,
Thaangaama neeyum ponaa thappaiyaa
If you leave unable to bear it, isn't it wrong?
Ellu vaya pookalayae
The sesame field hasn't flowered,
Yereduthum paakalayae
You haven't looked up to see,
Aalala un sirippu koththuthaiyaa
Your smile pierces through me, my dear,
Acharuntha raattinam pola suthuthaiyaa
Spinning like a giant wheel whose axle broke,
Vaal yendhi vanthaalum
Even if coming with a sword in hand,
Vaazhaama seththaalum
Even if dying without living a full life,
Gambeeram koranjidatha
Without losing your grandeur,
Neruppu nee
You are fire!
Aiyonnu ponaalum
Even if ruined and lost,
Aagasam ponaalum
Even if reaching up to the skies,
Thanneera kolaththil serkkum
The ridge that gathers water into the pond,
Varappu nee
Is what you are!
Uzhaikka ennura aala
Against a town that kicks away
Udhaichi thallura oora
The hard-working poor people,
Kaiya kaala vetti veesum
Hacking limbs and striking back,
Karuppu nee
You are the protective deity Karuppusamy!
Katteri unnai kanda odaatho
Won't blood-sucking vampires flee upon seeing you?
Kaapaatha deivam vandhu seraadho
Won't a protecting deity arrive to join us?
Ellu vaya pookalayae
The sesame field hasn't flowered,
Yereduthum paakalayae
You haven't looked up to see,
Aalala un sirippu koththuthaiyaa
Your smile pierces through me, my dear,
Acharuntha raattinam pola suthuthaiyaa
Spinning like a giant wheel whose axle broke,
Kollaiyila vaazha yela
The banana leaves in the backyard,
Kottadiyil kozhi kunju
The little chick in the coop,
Aththanaiyum un mugatha solluthaiyaa
Everything reflects your face, my dear,
Aadum maadum verum vaaya melluthaiya
The cattle chew on empty air,
Kaathoda un vaasam
Your fragrance blends with the wind,
Kaadellaam un paasam
Your love fills the whole forest,
Oothaattam on nenappae ooruthaiyaa
Your thought wells up inside like a spring,
Salsaappu venam vandhu nillaiyaa
Don't make excuses, come and stand before us,
Saavaiyum kooru pottu kollaiyaa
Slay even death by chopping it to pieces!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Ellu Vaya Pookalaye from the movie Asuran is a deeply poignant maternal lament and tribute sung by a mother mourning and remembering her slain eldest son, Murugan. Set against the harsh backdrop of rural caste oppression, the song captures the agonizing grief of a mother who sees her lost child in every detail of their everyday farm life—from the banana leaves in the backyard to the cattle chewing quietly. Beyond sorrow, the song elevates the son to a heroic, almost mythic stature. He is celebrated as the fire, the pride of his people, and a protective deity (Karuppusamy) who stood up against tyranny. The lyrics blend heartbreak with righteous indignation, yearning for his return to lead and protect his family.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Acharuntha raattinam pola suthuthaiyaa”
Compares the mother's disorienting, spinning grief to a giant wheel (raattinam) whose central axle has snapped.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Neruppu nee / Karuppu nee”
Directly equates the deceased son to fire (Neruppu) and to Karuppusamy (Karuppu), the fierce guardian deity of Tamil rural folk culture.
Alliteration (Monnai)
“Kallaaga ninnaaiyo / Kaal nooga ninnaaiyo”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of consecutive lines to create a rhythmic, solemn mournfulness.
Rural Imagery (Thinai / Nature Imagery)
“Kollaiyila vaazha yela / Kottadiyil kozhi kunju”
Uses vivid domestic and pastoral imagery (banana leaves, chicks, wind, water ridges) to illustrate how deeply embedded the son was in everyday village life.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar with lyrics by Yugabharathi and sung by Saindhavi, 'Ellu Vaya Pookalaye' served as one of the emotional centerpieces of Vetrimaaran's critically acclaimed film Asuran (2019). Saindhavi's soul-stirring vocal performance won widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike for conveying raw maternal grief.
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