Megame Megame
From Palaivana Solai · 1981
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Sankar Ganesh
- Details
- Palaivana Solai1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aa….aa…aa…aa….aa… | Aa....aa...aa...aa....aa... |
| Haa….aa….aa….aa….aa….aa….aa…aa… | Haa....aa....aa....aa....aa....aa....aa...aa... |
| Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae | Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning. |
| Dhegamae theyinum thaenmozhi veesuthae | Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around. |
| Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae | Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning. |
| Dhegamae theyinum thaenmozhi | Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words... |
| Dhegamae theyinum thaenmozhi veesuthae | Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around. |
| Ae…ae….ae… | Ae...ae....ae... |
| Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae | Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning. |
| Female | |
| Thanthiyillaa veenai suram tharumo | Can a stringless veena produce musical notes? |
| Thanirisa rima thanis thanipagaa | Tha-ni-ri-sa ri-ma tha-ni-s tha-ni-pa-gaa |
| Thanthiyillaa veenai suram tharumo | Can a stringless veena produce musical notes? |
| Puyal varum velaiyil poovukku suyamvaramo | Can a flower hold its swayamvara when a storm is approaching? |
| Paavaiyin raagam sogangalo | Is the maiden's melody filled with sorrow? |
| Aa…aa..aa..aa..aa..aa | Aa...aa..aa..aa..aa..aa |
| Paavaiyin raagam sogangalo | Is the maiden's melody filled with sorrow? |
| Neeralai podum kolangalo | Or is it like patterns drawn upon water waves? |
| Female | |
| Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae | Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning. |
| Dhegamae theyinum thaenmozhi veesuthae | Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around. |
| Ae…ae….ae….ae… | Ae...ae....ae....ae... |
| Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae | Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning. |
| Female | |
| Thoorigai erigindra podhu | When the paintbrush is burning, |
| Indha thaalgalil yethum ezhuthaathu | It cannot write anything upon these pages. |
| Thoorigai erigindra podhu | When the paintbrush is burning, |
| Indha thaalgalil yethum ezhuthaathu | It cannot write anything upon these pages. |
| Thinam kanavu enathunavu | Dreams are my daily nourishment. |
| Nilam puthithu vithai pazhuthu | The soil is fresh, but the seed has decayed. |
| Enakkoru malarmaalai nee vaanga vendum | You must buy a flower garland for me, |
| Enakkoru malarmaalai nee vaanga vendum | You must buy a flower garland for me. |
| Adhu yetharko…oo ooo hoo oo ooo | I wonder what that is for... |
| Female | |
| Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae | Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning. |
| Dhegamae theyinum thaenmozhi veesuthae | Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around. |
| Ae…ae…..ae….ae… | Ae...ae.....ae....ae... |
| Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae | Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning. |
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ...ஆ.....ஆ.....
ஹா....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....
மேகமே மேகமே பால் நிலா தேயுதே
தேகமே தேயினும் தேன்மொழி வீசுதே
மேகமே மேகமே பால் நிலா தேயுதே.....
தேகமே தேயினும் தேன்மொழி
தேகமே தேயினும் தேன்மொழி வீசுதே
ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....
மேகமே மேகமே பால் நிலா தேயுதே.....
Aa....aa...aa...aa....aa...
Haa....aa....aa....aa....aa....aa....aa...aa...
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around.
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words...
Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around.
Ae...ae....ae...
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
தந்தியில்லா வீணை சுரம் தருமோ
தநிரிச ரிம தநிச தநிபகா
தந்தியில்லா வீணை சுரம் தருமோ
புயல் வரும் வேளையில் பூவுக்கு சுயம்வரமோ
பாவையின் ராகம் சோகங்களோ
ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ.
பாவையின் ராகம் சோகங்களோ
நீரலை போடும் கோலங்களோ
Can a stringless veena produce musical notes?
Tha-ni-ri-sa ri-ma tha-ni-s tha-ni-pa-gaa
Can a stringless veena produce musical notes?
Can a flower hold its swayamvara when a storm is approaching?
Is the maiden's melody filled with sorrow?
Aa...aa..aa..aa..aa..aa
Is the maiden's melody filled with sorrow?
Or is it like patterns drawn upon water waves?
மேகமே மேகமே பால் நிலா தேயுதே
தேகமே தேயினும் தேன்மொழி வீசுதே
ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...
மேகமே மேகமே பால் நிலா தேயுதே.....
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around.
Ae...ae....ae....ae...
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
தூரிகை எரிகின்ற போது
இந்த தாள்களில் ஏதும் எழுதாது
தூரிகை எரிகின்ற போது
இந்த தாள்களில் ஏதும் எழுதாது
தினம் கனவு எனதுணவு
நிலம் புதிது விதை பழுது
எனக்கொரு மலர்மாலை நீ வாங்க வேண்டும்
எனக்கொரு மலர்மாலை நீ வாங்க வேண்டும்
அது எதற்கோ....ஓ ஓஒ.... ஹோ ஓ ஓஒ
When the paintbrush is burning,
It cannot write anything upon these pages.
When the paintbrush is burning,
It cannot write anything upon these pages.
Dreams are my daily nourishment.
The soil is fresh, but the seed has decayed.
You must buy a flower garland for me,
You must buy a flower garland for me.
I wonder what that is for...
மேகமே மேகமே பால் நிலா தேயுதே
தேகமே தேயினும் தேன்மொழி வீசுதே
ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...
மேகமே மேகமே பால் நிலா தேயுதே.....
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around.
Ae...ae.....ae....ae...
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Aa….aa…aa…aa….aa…
Aa....aa...aa...aa....aa...
Haa….aa….aa….aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…
Haa....aa....aa....aa....aa....aa....aa...aa...
Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Dhegamae theyinum thaenmozhi veesuthae
Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around.
Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Dhegamae theyinum thaenmozhi
Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words...
Dhegamae theyinum thaenmozhi veesuthae
Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around.
Ae…ae….ae…
Ae...ae....ae...
Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Thanthiyillaa veenai suram tharumo
Can a stringless veena produce musical notes?
Thanirisa rima thanis thanipagaa
Tha-ni-ri-sa ri-ma tha-ni-s tha-ni-pa-gaa
Thanthiyillaa veenai suram tharumo
Can a stringless veena produce musical notes?
Puyal varum velaiyil poovukku suyamvaramo
Can a flower hold its swayamvara when a storm is approaching?
Paavaiyin raagam sogangalo
Is the maiden's melody filled with sorrow?
Aa…aa..aa..aa..aa..aa
Aa...aa..aa..aa..aa..aa
Paavaiyin raagam sogangalo
Is the maiden's melody filled with sorrow?
Neeralai podum kolangalo
Or is it like patterns drawn upon water waves?
Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Dhegamae theyinum thaenmozhi veesuthae
Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around.
Ae…ae….ae….ae…
Ae...ae....ae....ae...
Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Thoorigai erigindra podhu
When the paintbrush is burning,
Indha thaalgalil yethum ezhuthaathu
It cannot write anything upon these pages.
Thoorigai erigindra podhu
When the paintbrush is burning,
Indha thaalgalil yethum ezhuthaathu
It cannot write anything upon these pages.
Thinam kanavu enathunavu
Dreams are my daily nourishment.
Nilam puthithu vithai pazhuthu
The soil is fresh, but the seed has decayed.
Enakkoru malarmaalai nee vaanga vendum
You must buy a flower garland for me,
Enakkoru malarmaalai nee vaanga vendum
You must buy a flower garland for me.
Adhu yetharko…oo ooo hoo oo ooo
I wonder what that is for...
Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Dhegamae theyinum thaenmozhi veesuthae
Though my body deteriorates, sweet honey-like words still waft around.
Ae…ae…..ae….ae…
Ae...ae.....ae....ae...
Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae
Oh cloud, oh cloud, the milky moon is waning.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Megame Megame is a hauntingly emotional song from Palaivana Solai (1981), sung from the perspective of a young woman confronting her terminal illness and impending demise. The imagery compares her physical breakdown to a waning moon, a burning paintbrush unable to paint, and a stringless veena incapable of producing music. Despite her fading physical presence, her love and sweet words endure. The lyricist Vairamuthu uses striking metaphors such as asking for a flower garland—subtly hinting at a funeral wreath rather than a wedding garland. The song captures the profound tragedy of a life cut short before its blossoms could fully bloom, blending tender affection with acceptance of death.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Megamae megamae paalnilaa theyuthae”
Comparing the protagonist's failing physical body and declining health to a waning milky moon.
Ethirhai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Megamae megamae ... Dhegamae theyinum”
The second consonant 'ga' rhymes between 'Megamae' and 'Dhegamae'.
Rhetorical Question & Symbolic Metaphor
“Puyal varum velaiyil poovukku suyamvaramo”
Comparing a helpless life disrupted by fatal fate to a stringless veena trying to play notes or a flower hosting a wedding during a storm.
Paradox / Antithesis
“Nilam puthithu vithai pazhuthu”
'Nilam puthithu vithai pazhuthu' creates a stark contrast between rich new soil and a spoiled, decayed seed, representing unfulfilled potential.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the musical duo Shankar-Ganesh and rendered effortlessly by S. Janaki, 'Megame Megame' remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous tragic songs. Vairamuthu's lyrics won widespread critical acclaim for capturing the emotional arc of Suhasini Maniratnam's character in 'Palaivana Solai', who suffers from a terminal illness while surrounded by five devoted friends.
Keep listening
More from Palaivana Solai
Palaivana Solai
Palaivana Solai
Palaivana Solai