Maathare
From Bigil · 2019
- Lyricist
- Vivek
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Bigil2019
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Maathare maathare maathare | {Oh women, oh women, oh women, |
| Maathare maathare maathare | Oh women, oh women, oh women, |
| Mangaiyae mangaiyae maathare | Oh maiden, oh maiden, oh women, |
| Mangaiyae mangaiyae maathare} (2) | Oh maiden, oh maiden, oh women} (Repeat 2x) |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal thammai izhivu seiyium | Love degrades them, |
| Madamai kolutha sabatham seidhom | We swore a vow to burn away ignorance, |
| Indro madamai valakkirom | Yet today, we nurture that very ignorance, |
| Maadhar udal dhaan koluthinom | And end up burning the bodies of women instead. |
| Female | |
| Aaanin ulagil visira pattom | We were cast into a man's world, |
| Mounam pesa padaikka pattom | We were created to speak only through silence. |
| Aalavae illa viduthalai | Freedom with no boundaries, |
| Aaanal iravaagum nodivarai | Is allowed only until the moment night falls. |
| Female | |
| Maarbagam pola endhan | Just like my physical chest, |
| Manathirkkoru uruvam | If only my mind |
| Irunthirunthaal dhaan | Had a visible form, |
| Aaninam paarthidum adhaiyum | Mankind would lustfully objectify that too. |
| Nadhigalin pergalilae | In a society that names its rivers after women, |
| Vazha vidum kootathilae | Yet barely permits them to live, |
| Poruthiduvai manamae poruthidumae | Endure it, oh my heart, just endure it. |
| Female | |
| Kannaal urasigiraar | They brush against us with their predatory eyes, |
| Balam kondu nasukkugirar | They crush us using all their brute strength, |
| Valimai varam enavae | Believing power is a granted privilege, |
| Meesaiyai ettrugiraar | They proudly twirl their moustaches. |
| Male | |
| {Aanmai adhu meesai mudi | {True manhood does not blossom |
| Orathilae poopathillai | At the tip of a moustache's hair; |
| Pennai ne ganniyamaai | It sprouts only when you view a woman |
| Paarpathilae thulirukkum} (2) | With dignity and honor} (Repeat 2x) |
அக்ஷ்சரா, விதுசயணி மற்றும் ஏ. ஆர். ரஹ்மான்
{Oh women, oh women, oh women,
Oh women, oh women, oh women,
Oh maiden, oh maiden, oh women,
Oh maiden, oh maiden, oh women} (Repeat 2x)
{மாதரே மாதரே மாதரே
மாதரே மாதரே மாதரே
மங்கையே மங்கையே மாதரே
மங்கையே மங்கையே மாதரே} (2)
Love degrades them,
We swore a vow to burn away ignorance,
Yet today, we nurture that very ignorance,
And end up burning the bodies of women instead.
காதல் தம்மை இழிவு செய்யும்....ம்ம்.....
மடமை கொளுத்த சபதம் செய்தோம்
இன்றோ மடமை வளர்க்கிறோம்
மாதர் உடல்தான் கொளுத்தினோம்
We were cast into a man's world,
We were created to speak only through silence.
Freedom with no boundaries,
Is allowed only until the moment night falls.
ஆணின் உலகில் விசுற பட்டோம்
மௌனம் பேச படைக்க பட்டோம்
அளவே இல்லா விடுதலை
ஆனால் இரவாகும் நொடிவரை
Just like my physical chest,
If only my mind
Had a visible form,
Mankind would lustfully objectify that too.
In a society that names its rivers after women,
Yet barely permits them to live,
Endure it, oh my heart, just endure it.
பெண் மற்றும் ஆண் :
மாதரே மாதரே மாதரே
மாதரே மாதரே மாதரே
மங்கையே மங்கையே மாதரே
மங்கையே மங்கையே மாதரே
They brush against us with their predatory eyes,
They crush us using all their brute strength,
Believing power is a granted privilege,
They proudly twirl their moustaches.
மார்பகம் போல எந்தன்
மனதிர்க்கொரு உருவம்
இருந்திருந்தால்தான்
ஆணினம் பார்த்திடும் அதையும்
நதிகளின் பெயர்களிலே
வாழ விடும் கூட்டத்திலே
பொறுத்திடுவாய் மனமே பொறுத்திடுமே
{True manhood does not blossom
At the tip of a moustache's hair;
It sprouts only when you view a woman
With dignity and honor} (Repeat 2x)
பெண் மற்றும் ஆண் :
மாதரே மாதரே மாதரே
மாதரே மாதரே மாதரே
மங்கையே மங்கையே மாதரே
மங்கையே மங்கையே மாதரே
கண்ணால் உரசிகிறார்
பலம் கொண்டு நசுக்குகிறார்
வலிமை வரம் எனவே
மீசையை ஏற்றுகிறார்
{ஆண்மை அது மீசை முடி
ஓரத்திலே பூப்பதில்லை
பெண்ணை நீ கண்ணியமாய்
பார்ப்பதில்லே துளிர்க்கும்} (2)
பெண் மற்றும் ஆண் :
மாதரே மாதரே மாதரே
மாதரே மாதரே மாதரே
மங்கையே மங்கையே மாதரே
மங்கையே மங்கையே மாதரே
{Maathare maathare maathare
{Oh women, oh women, oh women,
Maathare maathare maathare
Oh women, oh women, oh women,
Mangaiyae mangaiyae maathare
Oh maiden, oh maiden, oh women,
Mangaiyae mangaiyae maathare} (2)
Oh maiden, oh maiden, oh women} (Repeat 2x)
Kaadhal thammai izhivu seiyium
Love degrades them,
Madamai kolutha sabatham seidhom
We swore a vow to burn away ignorance,
Indro madamai valakkirom
Yet today, we nurture that very ignorance,
Maadhar udal dhaan koluthinom
And end up burning the bodies of women instead.
Aaanin ulagil visira pattom
We were cast into a man's world,
Mounam pesa padaikka pattom
We were created to speak only through silence.
Aalavae illa viduthalai
Freedom with no boundaries,
Aaanal iravaagum nodivarai
Is allowed only until the moment night falls.
Maarbagam pola endhan
Just like my physical chest,
Manathirkkoru uruvam
If only my mind
Irunthirunthaal dhaan
Had a visible form,
Aaninam paarthidum adhaiyum
Mankind would lustfully objectify that too.
Nadhigalin pergalilae
In a society that names its rivers after women,
Vazha vidum kootathilae
Yet barely permits them to live,
Poruthiduvai manamae poruthidumae
Endure it, oh my heart, just endure it.
Kannaal urasigiraar
They brush against us with their predatory eyes,
Balam kondu nasukkugirar
They crush us using all their brute strength,
Valimai varam enavae
Believing power is a granted privilege,
Meesaiyai ettrugiraar
They proudly twirl their moustaches.
{Aanmai adhu meesai mudi
{True manhood does not blossom
Orathilae poopathillai
At the tip of a moustache's hair;
Pennai ne ganniyamaai
It sprouts only when you view a woman
Paarpathilae thulirukkum} (2)
With dignity and honor} (Repeat 2x)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Maathare' from Bigil is a hard-hitting feminist anthem that critiques systemic patriarchy, physical harassment, and societal hypocrisies faced by women in everyday life. Lyricist Vivek highlights how women are forced into silence and denied safety after nightfall, despite living in a culture that superficially reveres female identity by naming holy rivers after them. The lyrics deeply explore objectification, pointing out that male gaze consumes women beyond the physical into their very soul. The song climaxes with a powerful redefinition of masculinity. It directly addresses toxic male pride, declaring that real manhood is not defined by physical intimidation or twirling a moustache, but by looking at women with genuine dignity, respect, and equality.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Oxymoron / Paradox
“Mounam pesa padaikka pattom”
Combining contrasting ideas to express how women are forced to communicate through suppression.
Irony / Social Critique
“Madamai kolutha sabatham seidhom / Indro madamai valakkirom / Maadhar udal dhaan koluthinom”
Highlights the hypocrisy of a society that claims to eradicate ignorance/sati, yet inflicts violence upon female bodies.
Metaphor & Symbolism
“Aanmai adhu meesai mudi / Orathilae poopathillai”
Uses the moustache as a metaphor for toxic masculinity and superficial pride, contrasting it with true moral character.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Maarbagam pola endhan / Manathirkkoru uruvam”
Matching initial 'M' consonant sounds in consecutive lines for poetic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Maathare' features an all-female vocal choir led by Chinmayi Sripaada alongside Madhura Dhara Talluri, Sireesha, Akshara, and Vithusayni. Composed by A.R. Rahman with poignant lyrics by Vivek for the 2019 Vijay-starrer 'Bigil', the song underscores the themes of women's rights and empowerment central to the film's sports narrative.
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