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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Ippadiyor Thalattu

From Avargal · 1977

Lyricist: Kannadasan
Singer: S. Janaki
Music director: M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name: Avargal
Movie release year: 1977
Lyrics added on: 28 Feb 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Ippadi orr thaalaattu paadava

Athil appadiyae en kathaiyai koorava

Athil appadiyae en kathaiyai koorava

Ippadi orr thaalaattu paadava

Athil appadiyae en kathaiyai koorava

Athil appadiyae en kathaiyai koorava

Kaippiditha naayaganum

Kaaviyathu naayaganum

Kaippiditha naayaganum

Kaaviyathu naayaganum

Eppadiyo verupattaar

En madiyil nee vizhunthaai

En madiyil nee vizhunthaai

Ippadi orr thaalaattu paadava

Athil appadiyae en kathaiyai koorava

Athil appadiyae en kathaiyai koorava

{Neela vaanam kobam kondaa

Nilavu theynthathu

Kannaa neram paarthu marupadiyum

Yen valarnthathu} (2)

Idaiyinilae innilavu engirunthathu

Athu irunthiruntha veettinilae

Thangi vanthathu

Ippadi orr thaalaattu paadava

Athil appadiyae en kathaiyai koorava

Athil appadiyae en kathaiyai koorava

{Androru naal meeravum

Kannanai ninaindhaal

Yeno avaludaiya thalaiyezhuthu

Mannanai manandhaal} (2)

Athu varai thaan

Than kathaiyai ennidam sonnaal

Naan athil irukkum en kathaiyai

Unnidam sonnen

Ippadi orr thaalaattu paadava

Athil appadiyae en kathaiyai koorava

Athil appadiyae en kathaiyai koorava

{Kannan avan kaiyinilae

Kuzhal irunthathu

Antha gaanam thaanae meeravai

Kavarnthu vanthathu} (2)

Indru varai antha kuzhal

Paadukindrathu

Antha innisaiyil

En kuzhanthai thoongukindrathu

Shall I sing a lullaby like this?

And tell my story through it, just as it happened?

And tell my story through it, just as it happened?

Shall I sing a lullaby like this?

And tell my story through it, just as it happened?

And tell my story through it, just as it happened?

The man who took my hand in marriage

and the hero in the story of my heart,

The man who took my hand in marriage

and the hero in the story of my heart,

turned out somehow to be different people,

and then you came into my lap.

and then you came into my lap.

Shall I sing a lullaby like this?

And tell my story through it, just as it happened?

And tell my story through it, just as it happened?

Was it because the blue sky grew angry

that the moon waned away?

Waiting for the right moment,

why did it grow full again?

In between, where was this moon?

It wandered and stayed in homes along the way

before arriving here.

Shall I sing a lullaby like this?

And tell my story through it, just as it happened?

And tell my story through it, just as it happened?

Once upon a time, Meera too

thought only of Krishna,

yet by some strange twist of fate,

she was married to a king.

Only up to that point

did she tell her story to me;

and the part of it that mirrors mine,

I have shared with you.

Shall I sing a lullaby like this?

And tell my story through it, just as it happened?

And tell my story through it, just as it happened?

In Krishna's hands,

there was a flute;

wasn't it that very music

that drew Meera's heart away?

Even today, that flute

keeps singing on,

and to that sweet melody,

my child falls asleep.

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In this classic lullaby from the movie 'Avargal', a mother sings her child to sleep while weaving the story of her own turbulent life into the song. She compares the contrast between her real-life husband and her ideal dream hero, noting how reality differed vastly from expectation. Using mythological allegories, she compares her fate to Saint Meera, who loved Lord Krishna devoutly but was destined to marry a king. She reflects on the phases of her life using the waxing and waning moon as a metaphor for sorrow and renewed hope. Ultimately, she finds solace in mothering her child, putting the baby to sleep through the timeless, soothing melody of Krishna's flute.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allegory / Mythological Parallel

“Androru naal meeravum Kannanai ninaindhaal Yeno avaludaiya thalaiyezhuthu Mannanai manandhaal”

Metaphor & Imagery

“Neela vaanam kobam kondaa Nilavu theynthathu”

Edukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Kaippiditha naayaganum / Kaaviyathu naayaganum”

Rhetorical Question

“Ippadi orr thaalaattu paadava / Athil appadiyae en kathaiyai koorava”

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ippadi Orr Thaalaattu' is a iconic track from K. Balachander's 1977 film 'Avargal', featuring music composed by M. S. Viswanathan, lyrics by Kannadasan, and vocals by S. Janaki. The song beautifully captures the emotional burden and resilience of the female protagonist played by Sujatha.

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