Iruttu Kaattula
From Viduthalai Part 2 · 2024
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- Suganthi
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Viduthalai Part 22024
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Iruttu kattula | In the dark forest, |
| En karuppu minmini | My dark firefly, |
| Unakku solluren | I am telling you, |
| Kadha kelu kanmani | Listen to my story, my precious child. |
| Female | |
| Solladha vaazhkaiyilae | In an unsaid life, |
| Sollum padi onnum illa | There is nothing worth telling. |
| Kannae naa enna solla | My darling, what can I say? |
| Kanner sindhi palanum illa | There is no use in shedding tears. |
| Kai serum kaalam varumoo..ooo | Will a time come when our hands unite? |
| Ellamae maari vidumooo ..ooo | Will everything change? |
| Female | |
| Iruttu kattula | In the dark forest, |
| En karuppu minmini | My dark firefly, |
| Unakku solluren | I am telling you, |
| Kadha kelu kanmani | Listen to my story, my precious child. |
| Female | |
| Naadaala nooru peru | A hundred people rule the nation, |
| Namma kakka yaaru thangam | But who is there to protect us, my dear? |
| Aagaayam boomi vitta | Except the sky and the earth, |
| Yaarum illa sondham bandham | We have no relatives or relations. |
| Magalae en magalae | My daughter, oh my daughter. |
| Female | |
| Naal ezhuthu nee padicha | If you learn a few letters of education, |
| Nalladhellaam serum amma | All good things will come to us, my dear. |
| Kai ezhuthu pottu namma | By signing our names, |
| Kavala pokka venum amma | We must erase our worries, my dear. |
| Magalae en magalae | My daughter, oh my daughter. |
| Female | |
| Thaenaaru paayum munnu | Believing that a river of honey would flow, |
| Naama nambhi vazhndhirukka | We lived in hope, |
| Kanaalu neeru aagi poochae | But it turned out to be just mirage water. |
| Kai ooni mel elumbha | To lean on our hands and rise up, |
| Kaalam vandhu serumunnu | A right time will arrive, |
| Oor mulukka pesudhamma pechae | So says the talk across the entire town. |
| Female | |
| Vaadkae soolam adha paakadhae | Do not look at the hardship as a curse, |
| Poo payanam | Life is a journey of flowers. |
| Female | |
| Thukkathilae polamburathu | Lamenting in deep sorrow, |
| Thookathilum thodaruthamma | Continues even in sleep, my child. |
| Kakkathilae raavum pagalum | Tucked under our armpits day and night, |
| Kastam namma sumakkudhamma | We carry our hardships, my child. |
| Magalae en magalae | My daughter, oh my daughter. |
| Female | |
| Kaataruvi odi vandha | When the mountain stream comes rushing, |
| Kallum mannum uruludhamma | Stones and soil roll along with it. |
| Mottu valai kauvili satham | The sound of budding shoots and birds, |
| Saedhi solli serumudhamma | Arrives bearing messages, my child. |
| Magalae en magalae | My daughter, oh my daughter. |
| Female | |
| Ethanaiyo katti irukku | So many things have been built, |
| Ezhaikkadhil enna irukku | But what is there in it for the poor? |
| Irukkanum idhu kulla thaan naamae | Yet we must live within this system. |
| Namakkaunnu paadu pada | To strive for our cause, |
| Nallavanga munnae vandha | If good people step forward, |
| Sarkaaru pinnae varum thaanae | The government will surely follow behind. |
| Female | |
| Idhu maaradhu solli maaladhu | This will not change, words are not enough to explain it, |
| En magalae | Oh my daughter. |
| Female | |
| Iruttu kattula | In the dark forest, |
| En karuppu minmini | My dark firefly, |
| Unakku solluren | I am telling you, |
| Kadha kelu kanmani | Listen to my story, my precious child. |
| Female | |
| Solladha vaazhkaiyilae | In an unsaid life, |
| Sollum padi onnum illa | There is nothing worth telling. |
| Kannae naa enna solla | My darling, what can I say? |
| Kanner sindhi palanum illa | There is no use in shedding tears. |
| Kai serum kaalam varumoo..ooo | Will a time come when our hands unite? |
| Ellamae maari vidumooo ..ooo | Will everything change? |
| Female | |
| Iruttu kattula | In the dark forest, |
| En karuppu minmini | My dark firefly, |
| Unakku solluren | I am telling you, |
| Kadha kelu kanmani | Listen to my story, my precious child. |
இருட்டு காட்டுல
என் கருப்பு மின்மினி
உனக்கு சொல்லுறேன்
கத கேழு கண்மணி
In the dark forest,
My dark firefly,
I am telling you,
Listen to my story, my precious child.
சொல்லாத வாழ்க்கையிலே
சொல்லும் படி ஒண்ணும் இல்ல
கண்ணே நா என்ன சொல்ல
கண்ணீர் சிந்தி பலனும் இல்ல
கை சேரும் காலம் வருமோ ..ஓ
எல்லாமே மாறி விடுமோ ..ஓஓ
In an unsaid life,
There is nothing worth telling.
My darling, what can I say?
There is no use in shedding tears.
Will a time come when our hands unite?
Will everything change?
இருட்டு காட்டுல
என் கருப்பு மின்மினி
உனக்கு சொல்லுறேன்
கத கேழு கண்மணி
In the dark forest,
My dark firefly,
I am telling you,
Listen to my story, my precious child.
நால் எழுத்து நீ படிச்சா
நல்லதெல்லாம் சேரும் அம்மா
கை எழுத்து போட்டு நம்ம
கவல போக்க வேணும் அம்மா
மகளே என் மகளே
A hundred people rule the nation,
But who is there to protect us, my dear?
Except the sky and the earth,
We have no relatives or relations.
My daughter, oh my daughter.
தேனாறு பாயும்முன்னு
நாம நம்பி வாழ்ந்திருக்க
கானலு நீரு ஆகி போச்சே
கை ஊனி மேல் எழும்ப
காலம் வந்து சேருமுன்னு
ஊர் முழுக்க பேசுதம்மா பேச்சே
If you learn a few letters of education,
All good things will come to us, my dear.
By signing our names,
We must erase our worries, my dear.
My daughter, oh my daughter.
வடகே சூலம் அத பாக்காதே
பூ பயணம்
Believing that a river of honey would flow,
We lived in hope,
But it turned out to be just mirage water.
To lean on our hands and rise up,
A right time will arrive,
So says the talk across the entire town.
இருட்டு காட்டுல
என் கருப்பு மின்மினி
உனக்கு சொல்லுறேன்
கத கேழு கண்மணி
Do not look at the hardship as a curse,
Life is a journey of flowers.
துக்கத்திலே பொலம்புறது
தூக்கத்திலும் தொடருதம்மா
கக்கத்திலே ராவும் பகலும்
கஷ்டம் நம்ம சுமக்குதம்மா
மகளே என் மகளே
Lamenting in deep sorrow,
Continues even in sleep, my child.
Tucked under our armpits day and night,
We carry our hardships, my child.
My daughter, oh my daughter.
காட்டருவி ஓடி வந்தா
கல்லும் மண்ணும் உருளுதம்மா
மோட்டு வல கவுலி சத்தம்
சேதி சொல்லி செருமுதம்மா
மகளே என் மகளே
When the mountain stream comes rushing,
Stones and soil roll along with it.
The sound of budding shoots and birds,
Arrives bearing messages, my child.
My daughter, oh my daughter.
எத்தனையோ கட்டி இருக்கு
ஏழைக்கதில் என்ன இருக்கு
இருக்கணும்இதுக்குள்ளதான் நாமே
நமக்குன்னு பாடு பட
நல்லவங்க முன்னே வந்தா
சர்க்காரு பின்னே வரும் தானே
So many things have been built,
But what is there in it for the poor?
Yet we must live within this system.
To strive for our cause,
If good people step forward,
The government will surely follow behind.
இது மாறாது சொல்லி மாளாது
என் மகளே
This will not change, words are not enough to explain it,
Oh my daughter.
இருட்டு காட்டுல
என் கருப்பு மின்மினி
உனக்கு சொல்லுறேன்
கத கேழு கண்மணி
In the dark forest,
My dark firefly,
I am telling you,
Listen to my story, my precious child.
சொல்லாத வாழ்க்கையிலே
சொல்லும் படி ஒண்ணும் இல்ல
கண்ணே நா என்ன சொல்ல
கண்ணீர் சிந்தி பலனும் இல்ல
கை சேரும் காலம் வருமோ ..ஓஓ
எல்லாமே மாறி விடுமோ ..ஓஓ
In an unsaid life,
There is nothing worth telling.
My darling, what can I say?
There is no use in shedding tears.
Will a time come when our hands unite?
Will everything change?
இருட்டு காட்டுல
என் கருப்பு மின்மினி
உனக்கு சொல்லுறேன்
கத கேழு கண்மணி
In the dark forest,
My dark firefly,
I am telling you,
Listen to my story, my precious child.
Iruttu kattula
In the dark forest,
En karuppu minmini
My dark firefly,
Unakku solluren
I am telling you,
Kadha kelu kanmani
Listen to my story, my precious child.
Solladha vaazhkaiyilae
In an unsaid life,
Sollum padi onnum illa
There is nothing worth telling.
Kannae naa enna solla
My darling, what can I say?
Kanner sindhi palanum illa
There is no use in shedding tears.
Kai serum kaalam varumoo..ooo
Will a time come when our hands unite?
Ellamae maari vidumooo ..ooo
Will everything change?
Iruttu kattula
In the dark forest,
En karuppu minmini
My dark firefly,
Unakku solluren
I am telling you,
Kadha kelu kanmani
Listen to my story, my precious child.
Naadaala nooru peru
A hundred people rule the nation,
Namma kakka yaaru thangam
But who is there to protect us, my dear?
Aagaayam boomi vitta
Except the sky and the earth,
Yaarum illa sondham bandham
We have no relatives or relations.
Magalae en magalae
My daughter, oh my daughter.
Naal ezhuthu nee padicha
If you learn a few letters of education,
Nalladhellaam serum amma
All good things will come to us, my dear.
Kai ezhuthu pottu namma
By signing our names,
Kavala pokka venum amma
We must erase our worries, my dear.
Magalae en magalae
My daughter, oh my daughter.
Thaenaaru paayum munnu
Believing that a river of honey would flow,
Naama nambhi vazhndhirukka
We lived in hope,
Kanaalu neeru aagi poochae
But it turned out to be just mirage water.
Kai ooni mel elumbha
To lean on our hands and rise up,
Kaalam vandhu serumunnu
A right time will arrive,
Oor mulukka pesudhamma pechae
So says the talk across the entire town.
Vaadkae soolam adha paakadhae
Do not look at the hardship as a curse,
Poo payanam
Life is a journey of flowers.
Thukkathilae polamburathu
Lamenting in deep sorrow,
Thookathilum thodaruthamma
Continues even in sleep, my child.
Kakkathilae raavum pagalum
Tucked under our armpits day and night,
Kastam namma sumakkudhamma
We carry our hardships, my child.
Magalae en magalae
My daughter, oh my daughter.
Kaataruvi odi vandha
When the mountain stream comes rushing,
Kallum mannum uruludhamma
Stones and soil roll along with it.
Mottu valai kauvili satham
The sound of budding shoots and birds,
Saedhi solli serumudhamma
Arrives bearing messages, my child.
Magalae en magalae
My daughter, oh my daughter.
Ethanaiyo katti irukku
So many things have been built,
Ezhaikkadhil enna irukku
But what is there in it for the poor?
Irukkanum idhu kulla thaan naamae
Yet we must live within this system.
Namakkaunnu paadu pada
To strive for our cause,
Nallavanga munnae vandha
If good people step forward,
Sarkaaru pinnae varum thaanae
The government will surely follow behind.
Idhu maaradhu solli maaladhu
This will not change, words are not enough to explain it,
En magalae
Oh my daughter.
Iruttu kattula
In the dark forest,
En karuppu minmini
My dark firefly,
Unakku solluren
I am telling you,
Kadha kelu kanmani
Listen to my story, my precious child.
Solladha vaazhkaiyilae
In an unsaid life,
Sollum padi onnum illa
There is nothing worth telling.
Kannae naa enna solla
My darling, what can I say?
Kanner sindhi palanum illa
There is no use in shedding tears.
Kai serum kaalam varumoo..ooo
Will a time come when our hands unite?
Ellamae maari vidumooo ..ooo
Will everything change?
Iruttu kattula
In the dark forest,
En karuppu minmini
My dark firefly,
Unakku solluren
I am telling you,
Kadha kelu kanmani
Listen to my story, my precious child.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Iruttu Kattula' from Viduthalai Part 2 is an emotional lullaby and lament sung by a mother living in the harsh, oppressed conditions of a forest. She affectionately addresses her daughter as her 'dark firefly', a tiny beacon of light amid surrounding darkness. The lyrics capture the grief of social isolation, poverty, and systemic neglect, while strongly advocating for education as the ultimate weapon for empowerment and self-reliance. Despite the enduring sorrow, the song carries an underlying theme of resilience, hope, and faith that collective action and truth will eventually bring systemic change. Ilaiyaraaja seamlessly blends poignant maternal warmth with deep socio-political reflection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“En karuppu minmini”
'En karuppu minmini' (My dark firefly) metaphors the child as a tiny source of light and hope amidst the dark forest and bleak life.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Naadaala nooru peru / Namma kakka yaaru thangam”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Na' in consecutive lines ('Naadaala' / 'Namma').
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thukkathilae polamburathu / Thookathilum thodaruthamma”
Repetition of the second consonant sound 'kk' in 'Thukkathilae' and 'Thookathilum'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed and written by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja for Vetrimaaran's critically acclaimed film 'Viduthalai Part 2', the song features a raw folk vocal performance by Suganthi, bringing authenticity to the portrayal of marginalized tribal lives.
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