Iyarkai Thaaye
From Iyarkai · 2003
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singers
- Karthik, Srivardhini
- Music director
- Vidyasagar
- Details
- Iyarkai2003
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Oh yeah… | Oh yeah… |
| ……………………………… | ... |
| Male | |
| Iyarkkai thaayae thaayae | O Mother Nature, Mother Nature! |
| Un kuzhanthaigal paadugirom | We, your children, are singing. |
| Thanneer thidalin melae | Upon the open expanse of water, |
| Dhinam sadu gudu aadugirom | We play kabaddi every single day. |
| Female | |
| Viraiyum padagae viraiga | O speeding boat, hurry along! |
| Vinmeen nuniyai thoduga | Reach out and touch the tip of the stars! |
| Male | |
| Iyarkkai thaayae thaayae | O Mother Nature, Mother Nature! |
| Un kuzhanthaigal paadugirom | We, your children, are singing. |
| Thanneer thidalin melae | Upon the open expanse of water, |
| Dhinam sadu gudu aadugirom | We play kabaddi every single day. |
| Female | |
| Viraiyum padagae viraiga | O speeding boat, hurry along! |
| Vinmeen nuniyai thoduga | Reach out and touch the tip of the stars! |
| Male | |
| Vaanam pakkamthaan | The sky is right beside us, |
| Nam vaazhkai pakkamthaan | Our life is right beside us, |
| Thozhil sakthi ullavanukku | For the one who possesses the power of hard work, |
| Sorgam pakkamthaan | Heaven itself is right beside us. |
| Male | |
| Vaazhvae yuththam thaan | Life is indeed a battlefield, |
| Athil valimai tharmam thaan | In it, strength lies in righteousness. |
| Needhi iruthiyil vellum enbathu | That justice ultimately prevails in the end |
| Saandror sattam thaan | Is the law established by the wise. |
| Male | |
| Aazha kadalai anjaatha manithan | A man who does not fear the deep ocean |
| Mattaiyai jeyikiraan | Conquers all obstacles. |
| Poli pugazhil veezhaatha manithan | A man who does not fall for fake praise |
| Thannaiyae jeyikkiraan | Truly conquers himself. |
| Male | |
| Hey vanna vanna | Hey, colorful, |
| Chorus :Siragugal | Chorus: Wings, |
| Male :Vaanaththaiyae jeiyukkumae | Male: Will conquer the sky itself. |
| Male | |
| Chinna chinna | Tiny, |
| Chorus :Thuduppugal | Chorus: Oars, |
| Male :Kadalaiyae jeiyukkumae | Male: Will conquer the vast ocean itself. |
| Male | |
| Iyarkkai thaayae thaayae | O Mother Nature, Mother Nature! |
| Un kuzhanthaigal paadugirom | We, your children, are singing. |
| Thanneer thidalin melae | Upon the open expanse of water, |
| Dhinam sadu gudu aadugirom | We play kabaddi every single day. |
| Female | |
| Viraiyum padagae viraiga | O speeding boat, hurry along! |
| Vinmeen nuniyai thoduga | Reach out and touch the tip of the stars! |
| Male | |
| Uppu thaneeraa | Is this salt water? |
| Ithu uppu thaneeraa | Is this really salt water? |
| Kaalam ellaam ezhai sindhiya | Or is it the black water (tears and sweat) |
| Karuppu thanneera | Shed by the poor across ages? |
| Male | |
| Mazhaiyum theernthuvidum | The rain will eventually run out, |
| Ada mannum kaainthuvidum | Ah, even the earth will dry up. |
| Andru kadal neer kondu | On that day, using the ocean water, |
| Manithan vaazha | For humanity to survive, |
| Kattrutharuveera | Will you teach us the way, Mother? |
| Male | |
| Thuli neer koottam | A collection of tiny water droplets |
| Ondraagithaanae | Unites together as one |
| Kadalendru aanathu | To become the mighty sea. |
| Male | |
| Manithar koottam | When a gathering of human beings |
| Ondraagum pothu | Unites together as one, |
| Balam vanthu seruthu | Immense collective strength is born. |
| Male | |
| Hey vanna vanna | Hey, colorful, |
| Chorus :Siragugal | Chorus: Wings, |
| Male :Vaanaththaiyae jeiyukkumae | Male: Will conquer the sky itself. |
| Male | |
| Chinna chinna | Tiny, |
| Chorus :Thuduppugal | Chorus: Oars, |
| Male :Kadalaiyae jeiyukkumae | Male: Will conquer the vast ocean itself. |
| Male | |
| Iyarkkai thaayae thaayae | O Mother Nature, Mother Nature! |
| Un kuzhanthaigal paadugirom | We, your children, are singing. |
| Thanneer thidalin melae | Upon the open expanse of water, |
| Dhinam sadu gudu aadugirom | We play kabaddi every single day. |
| Female | |
| Viraiyum padagae viraiga | O speeding boat, hurry along! |
| Vinmeen nuniyai thoduga | Reach out and touch the tip of the stars! |
ஓ யே
.............................
Oh yeah…
...
இயற்கை தாயே
தாயே உன் குழந்தைகள்
பாடுகிறோம் தண்ணீர்
திடலின் மேலே தினம்
சடு குடு ஆடுகிறோம்
O Mother Nature, Mother Nature!
We, your children, are singing.
Upon the open expanse of water,
We play kabaddi every single day.
விரையும் படகே
விரைக விண்மீன் நுனியை
தொடுக
O speeding boat, hurry along!
Reach out and touch the tip of the stars!
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
O Mother Nature, Mother Nature!
We, your children, are singing.
Upon the open expanse of water,
We play kabaddi every single day.
இயற்கை தாயே
தாயே உன் குழந்தைகள்
பாடுகிறோம் தண்ணீர்
திடலின் மேலே தினம்
சடு குடு ஆடுகிறோம்
O speeding boat, hurry along!
Reach out and touch the tip of the stars!
விரையும் படகே
விரைக விண்மீன் நுனியை
தொடுக
The sky is right beside us,
Our life is right beside us,
For the one who possesses the power of hard work,
Heaven itself is right beside us.
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
Life is indeed a battlefield,
In it, strength lies in righteousness.
That justice ultimately prevails in the end
Is the law established by the wise.
வானம் பக்கம் தான்
நம் வாழ்க்கை பக்கம் தான்
தோளில் சக்தி உள்ளவனுக்கு
சொர்க்கம் பக்கம் தான்
A man who does not fear the deep ocean
Conquers all obstacles.
A man who does not fall for fake praise
Truly conquers himself.
வாழ்வே யுத்தம் தான்
அதில் வலிமை தர்மம் தான்
நீதி இறுதியில் வெல்லும்
என்பது சான்றோர் சட்டம்
தான்
Hey, colorful,
Chorus: Wings,
Male: Will conquer the sky itself.
ஆழ கடலை அஞ்சாத
மனிதன் மட்டையை ஜெயிக்கிறான்
போலி புகழில் வீழாத மனிதன்
தன்னையே ஜெயிக்கிறான்
Tiny,
Chorus: Oars,
Male: Will conquer the vast ocean itself.
ஹே வண்ண வண்ண
குழு :
சிறகுகள்
வானத்தையே
ஜெயுக்குமே
O Mother Nature, Mother Nature!
We, your children, are singing.
Upon the open expanse of water,
We play kabaddi every single day.
சின்ன சின்ன
குழு :
துடுப்புகள்
கடலையே
ஜெயிக்குமே
O speeding boat, hurry along!
Reach out and touch the tip of the stars!
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
Is this salt water?
Is this really salt water?
Or is it the black water (tears and sweat)
Shed by the poor across ages?
இயற்கை தாயே தாயே
உன் குழந்தைகள் பாடுகிறோம்
தண்ணீர் திடலின் மேலே தினம்
சடு குடு ஆடுகிறோம்
The rain will eventually run out,
Ah, even the earth will dry up.
On that day, using the ocean water,
For humanity to survive,
Will you teach us the way, Mother?
விரையும் படகே
விரைக விண்மீன் நுனியை
தொடுக
A collection of tiny water droplets
Unites together as one
To become the mighty sea.
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
When a gathering of human beings
Unites together as one,
Immense collective strength is born.
உப்பு தண்ணீரா
இது உப்பு தண்ணீரா காலம்
எல்லாம் ஏழை சிந்திய
கருப்பு தண்ணீரா
Hey, colorful,
Chorus: Wings,
Male: Will conquer the sky itself.
மழையும் தீர்ந்து
விடும் அட மண்ணும்
காய்ந்து விடும் அன்று
கடல் நீர் கொண்டு மனிதன்
வாழ கற்று தருவீரா
Tiny,
Chorus: Oars,
Male: Will conquer the vast ocean itself.
துளி நீர் கூட்டம்
ஒன்றாகி தானே கடல்
என்று ஆனது
O Mother Nature, Mother Nature!
We, your children, are singing.
Upon the open expanse of water,
We play kabaddi every single day.
மனிதர் கூட்டம்
ஒன்றாகும் போது பலம்
வந்து சேருது
O speeding boat, hurry along!
Reach out and touch the tip of the stars!
ஹே வண்ண வண்ண
குழு :
சிறகுகள்
வானத்தையே
ஜெயுக்குமே
சின்ன சின்ன
குழு :
துடுப்புகள்
கடலையே
ஜெயிக்குமே
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
இயற்கை தாயே தாயே
உன் குழந்தைகள் பாடுகிறோம்
தண்ணீர் திடலின் மேலே தினம்
சடு குடு ஆடுகிறோம்
விரையும் படகே
விரைக விண்மீன் நுனியை
தொடுக
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஐலேசா
குழு :
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஐலேசா
Oh yeah…
Oh yeah…
………………………………
...
Iyarkkai thaayae thaayae
O Mother Nature, Mother Nature!
Un kuzhanthaigal paadugirom
We, your children, are singing.
Thanneer thidalin melae
Upon the open expanse of water,
Dhinam sadu gudu aadugirom
We play kabaddi every single day.
Viraiyum padagae viraiga
O speeding boat, hurry along!
Vinmeen nuniyai thoduga
Reach out and touch the tip of the stars!
Iyarkkai thaayae thaayae
O Mother Nature, Mother Nature!
Un kuzhanthaigal paadugirom
We, your children, are singing.
Thanneer thidalin melae
Upon the open expanse of water,
Dhinam sadu gudu aadugirom
We play kabaddi every single day.
Viraiyum padagae viraiga
O speeding boat, hurry along!
Vinmeen nuniyai thoduga
Reach out and touch the tip of the stars!
Vaanam pakkamthaan
The sky is right beside us,
Nam vaazhkai pakkamthaan
Our life is right beside us,
Thozhil sakthi ullavanukku
For the one who possesses the power of hard work,
Sorgam pakkamthaan
Heaven itself is right beside us.
Vaazhvae yuththam thaan
Life is indeed a battlefield,
Athil valimai tharmam thaan
In it, strength lies in righteousness.
Needhi iruthiyil vellum enbathu
That justice ultimately prevails in the end
Saandror sattam thaan
Is the law established by the wise.
Aazha kadalai anjaatha manithan
A man who does not fear the deep ocean
Mattaiyai jeyikiraan
Conquers all obstacles.
Poli pugazhil veezhaatha manithan
A man who does not fall for fake praise
Thannaiyae jeyikkiraan
Truly conquers himself.
Hey vanna vanna
Hey, colorful,
Chorus :Siragugal
Chorus: Wings,
Male :Vaanaththaiyae jeiyukkumae
Male: Will conquer the sky itself.
Chinna chinna
Tiny,
Chorus :Thuduppugal
Chorus: Oars,
Male :Kadalaiyae jeiyukkumae
Male: Will conquer the vast ocean itself.
Iyarkkai thaayae thaayae
O Mother Nature, Mother Nature!
Un kuzhanthaigal paadugirom
We, your children, are singing.
Thanneer thidalin melae
Upon the open expanse of water,
Dhinam sadu gudu aadugirom
We play kabaddi every single day.
Viraiyum padagae viraiga
O speeding boat, hurry along!
Vinmeen nuniyai thoduga
Reach out and touch the tip of the stars!
Uppu thaneeraa
Is this salt water?
Ithu uppu thaneeraa
Is this really salt water?
Kaalam ellaam ezhai sindhiya
Or is it the black water (tears and sweat)
Karuppu thanneera
Shed by the poor across ages?
Mazhaiyum theernthuvidum
The rain will eventually run out,
Ada mannum kaainthuvidum
Ah, even the earth will dry up.
Andru kadal neer kondu
On that day, using the ocean water,
Manithan vaazha
For humanity to survive,
Kattrutharuveera
Will you teach us the way, Mother?
Thuli neer koottam
A collection of tiny water droplets
Ondraagithaanae
Unites together as one
Kadalendru aanathu
To become the mighty sea.
Manithar koottam
When a gathering of human beings
Ondraagum pothu
Unites together as one,
Balam vanthu seruthu
Immense collective strength is born.
Hey vanna vanna
Hey, colorful,
Chorus :Siragugal
Chorus: Wings,
Male :Vaanaththaiyae jeiyukkumae
Male: Will conquer the sky itself.
Chinna chinna
Tiny,
Chorus :Thuduppugal
Chorus: Oars,
Male :Kadalaiyae jeiyukkumae
Male: Will conquer the vast ocean itself.
Iyarkkai thaayae thaayae
O Mother Nature, Mother Nature!
Un kuzhanthaigal paadugirom
We, your children, are singing.
Thanneer thidalin melae
Upon the open expanse of water,
Dhinam sadu gudu aadugirom
We play kabaddi every single day.
Viraiyum padagae viraiga
O speeding boat, hurry along!
Vinmeen nuniyai thoduga
Reach out and touch the tip of the stars!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Iyarkkai Thaaye is an uplifting seafaring song from the 2003 National Award-winning Tamil film 'Iyarkai'. The song acts as an anthem of resilience and devotion to Mother Nature, sung by sailors and seafarers who treat the vast ocean as both their playground and workplace. It praises the spirit of hard labor, emphasizing that true heaven and self-mastery are accessible to those who work tirelessly and resist false flattery. The lyrics draw beautiful analogies between nature and humanity. Just as individual drops of water aggregate to form a vast ocean, individual humans coming together form an unstoppable force of collective strength. The song serves as a salute to perseverance, unity, and living harmoniously with nature.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Iyarkkai thaayae thaayae / Un kuzhanthaigal paadugirom”
Nature is personified as a loving mother ('Iyarkkai thaayae'), and the seafarers refer to themselves as her children singing praises to her.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Thanneer thidalin melae / Dhinam sadu gudu aadugirom”
The open sea is poetically metaphorized as a sports ground ('Thanneer thidal') where sailors playfully navigate their daily struggles like a game of kabaddi.
Ending Rhyme / Monorhyme (Iyaibo)
“Vaanam pakkamthaan / Nam vaazhkai pakkamthaan / Sorgam pakkamthaan”
The repetitive use of the suffix 'pakkamthaan' creates a strong rhythmic cadence and emphasizes the accessibility of hope and effort.
Analogy
“Thuli neer koottam Ondraagithaanae Kadalendru aanathu / Manithar koottam Ondraagum pothu Balam vanthu seruthu”
The songwriter draws a direct parallel between droplets uniting to form an ocean and people uniting to build formidable strength.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Iyarkai' (2003), directed by S. P. Jananathan, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. The soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.
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