Indha Vazhkai
From Amma Kanakku · 2016
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- Shashaa Tirupati
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Amma Kanakku2016
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Indha vazhkaiyai | Can you take this life |
| Un kaiyil | into your own hands? |
| Edukka mudiyumaa | Is it possible to take control of it? |
| Adhu pogum | The direction it travels, |
| Vazhiyai maattri | can you alter its course |
| Amaikka mudiyumaa | and reshape it? |
| Female | |
| Adhu unakku | Do you know the destination |
| Vidhiththa idaththai | that has been destined for you? |
| Nee arivaayo… | Will you ever know it... |
| Illai kurukkum nedukkum | Or will you wander aimlessly |
| Alaindhu nee thirivaayo | back and forth in confusion? |
| Female | |
| Kadalae nee | Oh vast ocean, go on... |
| Nadhiyai thedi .. po po | go in search of the river! |
| Chorus | |
| Namm vazhvaai | Was this life of ours |
| Dheivam thandhadhaa | bestowed upon us by God? |
| Illai thaai vazhiyil | Or did it come naturally |
| Thaanai vandhadhaa | through the path of a mother? |
| Siru kaattrai pola | Like a gentle breeze passing by, |
| Kanavai pola | like a fleeting dream, |
| Mannil povadha | is it destined to dissolve into the earth? |
| Female | |
| Indha vazhkaiyai | Can you take this life |
| Un kaiyil | into your own hands? |
| Edukka mudiyumaa | Is it possible to take control of it? |
| Adhu pogum | The direction it travels, |
| Vazhiyai maattri | can you alter its course |
| Amaikka mudiyumaa | and reshape it? |
இந்த வாழ்க்கையை
உன் கையில் எடுக்க முடியுமா
அது போகும் வழியை மாற்றி
அமைக்க முடியுமா
Can you take this life
into your own hands?
Is it possible to take control of it?
The direction it travels,
can you alter its course
and reshape it?
அது உனக்கு விதித்த
இடத்தை நீ அறிவாயோ
இல்லை குறுக்கும் நெடுக்கும்
அலைந்து நீ திரிவாயோ
Do you know the destination
that has been destined for you?
Will you ever know it...
Or will you wander aimlessly
back and forth in confusion?
கடலே நீ
நதியை தேடி போ போ
Oh vast ocean, go on...
go in search of the river!
நம் வாழ்வை
தெய்வம் தந்ததா
இல்லை தாய் வழியில்
தானாய் வந்ததா
சிறு காற்றை போல
கனவை போல
மண்ணில் போவதா
Was this life of ours
bestowed upon us by God?
Or did it come naturally
through the path of a mother?
Like a gentle breeze passing by,
like a fleeting dream,
is it destined to dissolve into the earth?
இந்த வாழ்க்கையை
உன் கையில் எடுக்க முடியுமா
அது போகும் வழியை மாற்றி
அமைக்க முடியுமா
Can you take this life
into your own hands?
Is it possible to take control of it?
The direction it travels,
can you alter its course
and reshape it?
Indha vazhkaiyai
Can you take this life
Un kaiyil
into your own hands?
Edukka mudiyumaa
Is it possible to take control of it?
Adhu pogum
The direction it travels,
Vazhiyai maattri
can you alter its course
Amaikka mudiyumaa
and reshape it?
Adhu unakku
Do you know the destination
Vidhiththa idaththai
that has been destined for you?
Nee arivaayo…
Will you ever know it...
Illai kurukkum nedukkum
Or will you wander aimlessly
Alaindhu nee thirivaayo
back and forth in confusion?
Kadalae nee
Oh vast ocean, go on...
Nadhiyai thedi .. po po
go in search of the river!
Namm vazhvaai
Was this life of ours
Dheivam thandhadhaa
bestowed upon us by God?
Illai thaai vazhiyil
Or did it come naturally
Thaanai vandhadhaa
through the path of a mother?
Siru kaattrai pola
Like a gentle breeze passing by,
Kanavai pola
like a fleeting dream,
Mannil povadha
is it destined to dissolve into the earth?
Indha vazhkaiyai
Can you take this life
Un kaiyil
into your own hands?
Edukka mudiyumaa
Is it possible to take control of it?
Adhu pogum
The direction it travels,
Vazhiyai maattri
can you alter its course
Amaikka mudiyumaa
and reshape it?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song from 'Amma Kanakku' reflects deeply on human free will versus destiny. It questions whether an individual has the autonomy to shape their own life path or if they are bound to wander aimlessly towards an already ordained destination. Through profound poetic reflections, the song ponders the ultimate source of human existence—whether derived from divine creation or maternal sacrifice—and compares life to ephemeral elements like a passing breeze or a dream.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamaani)
“Siru kaattrai pola / Kanavai pola”
Compares the transient and elusive nature of life to a gentle breeze ('Siru kaattrai pola') and a fleeting dream ('Kanavai pola').
Paradoxical Imagery
“Kadalae nee / Nadhiyai thedi .. po po”
Urges the ocean to search for the river, inverting the natural phenomenon where rivers flow into the ocean, symbolizing an inverted, complex quest for purpose.
Rhetorical Questioning (Vina Porul)
“Edukka mudiyumaa / Amaikka mudiyumaa / Nee arivaayo…”
Uses repetitive introspective questions about control, destiny, and divine origin to evoke deep contemplation in the listener.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Amma Kanakku' (2016) is a Tamil drama written and directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, serving as a remake of her own Hindi film 'Nil Battey Sannata'. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja composed the film's music and personally penned the lyrics for this song, which was rendered by Shashaa Tirupati.
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