Megamthan Idhil Mazhaiye
From Nenjil Oru Ragam · 1982
- Lyricist
- T. Rajendar
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- T. Rajendar
- Details
- Nenjil Oru Ragam1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae | It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it. |
| Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae | It is just a raga, but there is no music in it. |
| Paaimaram ondru naan viriththaen amma | I unfurled a sailboat's sail, oh mother. |
| Puyal vara kandu adhil thaviththaen amma | Seeing a storm approach, I suffered helplessly in it, oh mother. |
| Male | |
| Dhisai maaravae thadumaarinaen | As the directions changed, I faltered and lost my way. |
| Alai adhil ezhuthidum kavithai endraen | I believed it was a poem written by the waves. |
| Male | |
| Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae | It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it. |
| Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae | It is just a raga, but there is no music in it. |
| Male | |
| Jothi endraen irulai pokka illai | I called her a flame, but she did not dispel the darkness. |
| Thoni endraen nadhiyai kadakkavillai | I called her a boat, but she did not cross the river. |
| Nilavendraen megaththilae marainthu kondaalaam | I called her the moon, but she hid herself behind the clouds. |
| Malarendraen idhazhgalai moodi kondaalaam | I called her a flower, but she closed her petals. |
| Male | |
| Kadal endraen alaigalaiyae niruththi kondaalaam | I called her the ocean, but she brought her waves to a halt. |
| Kadal endraen alaigalaiyae niruththi kondaalaam | I called her the ocean, but she brought her waves to a halt. |
| Kadhal endraen idhayamathae illai endraalaam | I spoke of love, but she claimed she had no heart at all. |
| Kadhal endraen idhayamathae illai endraalaam | I spoke of love, but she claimed she had no heart at all. |
| Male | |
| Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae | It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it. |
| Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae | It is just a raga, but there is no music in it. |
| Male | |
| Ponmaalai endraen thendral veesavillai | I called it a golden evening, but no gentle breeze blew. |
| Poomaalai ida yogam enakku illai | I do not possess the fortunate fate to adorn her with a flower garland. |
| Soppanaththil thilaiththirunthaen ramanumaaga | In my dreams, I was immersed in bliss as Lord Rama. |
| Suyamvaraththil enai ninaiththaal ravanan pola | Yet at her Swayamvara, she viewed me like Ravana. |
| Male | |
| Seedhai aval vaazhttumae yugam yugamaaga | May she, like Sita, live blessed for ages upon ages. |
| Seedhai aval vaazhttumae yugam yugamaaga | May she, like Sita, live blessed for ages upon ages. |
| Sidhai erintha pinnum urugiduven aval ninaivaaga | Even after my body burns on the funeral pyre, I will melt in her memory. |
| Sidhai erintha pinnum urugiduven aval ninaivaaga | Even after my body burns on the funeral pyre, I will melt in her memory. |
| Male | |
| Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae | It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it. |
| Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae | It is just a raga, but there is no music in it. |
| Paaimaram ondru naan viriththaen amma | I unfurled a sailboat's sail, oh mother. |
| Puyal vara kandu adhil thaviththaen amma | Seeing a storm approach, I suffered helplessly in it, oh mother. |
| Male | |
| Dhisai maaravae thadumaarinaen | As the directions changed, I faltered and lost my way. |
| Alai adhil ezhuthidum kavithai endraen | I believed it was a poem written by the waves. |
மேகம்தான் இதில் மழையே இல்லையே
ராகம்தான் இதில் இசையே இல்லையே
பாய்மரம் ஒன்று நான் விரித்தேன் அம்மா
புயல் வரக் கண்டு அதில் தவித்தேன் அம்மா
It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it.
It is just a raga, but there is no music in it.
I unfurled a sailboat's sail, oh mother.
Seeing a storm approach, I suffered helplessly in it, oh mother.
திசை மாறவே தடுமாறினேன்
அலை அதில் எழுதிடும் கவிதை என்றேன்
As the directions changed, I faltered and lost my way.
I believed it was a poem written by the waves.
மேகம்தான் இதில் மழையே இல்லையே
ராகம்தான் இதில் இசையே இல்லையே
It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it.
It is just a raga, but there is no music in it.
ஜோதி என்றேன் இருளை போக்க இல்லை
தோணி என்றேன் நதியை கடக்கவில்லை
நிலவேன்றேன் மேகத்திலே மறைந்து கொண்டாளாம்
மலரென்றேன் இதழ்களை மூடிக் கொண்டாளாம்
I called her a flame, but she did not dispel the darkness.
I called her a boat, but she did not cross the river.
I called her the moon, but she hid herself behind the clouds.
I called her a flower, but she closed her petals.
கடல் என்றேன் அலைகளையே நிறுத்திக் கொண்டாளாம்
கடல் என்றேன் அலைகளையே நிறுத்திக் கொண்டாளாம்
காதல் என்றேன் இதயமதே இல்லை என்றாளாம்
காதல் என்றேன் இதயமதே இல்லை என்றாளாம்
I called her the ocean, but she brought her waves to a halt.
I called her the ocean, but she brought her waves to a halt.
I spoke of love, but she claimed she had no heart at all.
I spoke of love, but she claimed she had no heart at all.
மேகம்தான் இதில் மழையே இல்லையே
ராகம்தான் இதில் இசையே இல்லையே
It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it.
It is just a raga, but there is no music in it.
பொன்மாலை என்றேன் தென்றல் வீசவில்லை
பூமாலை இட யோகம் எனக்கு இல்லை
சொப்பனத்தில் திளைத்திருந்தேன் ராமனுமாக
சுயம்வரத்தில் எனை நினைத்தாள் ராவணன் போல
I called it a golden evening, but no gentle breeze blew.
I do not possess the fortunate fate to adorn her with a flower garland.
In my dreams, I was immersed in bliss as Lord Rama.
Yet at her Swayamvara, she viewed me like Ravana.
சீதை அவள் வாழட்டுமே யுகம் யுகமாக
சீதை அவள் வாழட்டுமே யுகம் யுகமாக
சிதை எரிந்த பின்னும் உருகிடுவேன் அவள் நினைவாக
சிதை எரிந்த பின்னும் உருகிடுவேன் அவள் நினைவாக
May she, like Sita, live blessed for ages upon ages.
May she, like Sita, live blessed for ages upon ages.
Even after my body burns on the funeral pyre, I will melt in her memory.
Even after my body burns on the funeral pyre, I will melt in her memory.
மேகம்தான் இதில் மழையே இல்லையே
ராகம்தான் இதில் இசையே இல்லையே
பாய்மரம் ஒன்று நான் விரித்தேன் அம்மா
புயல் வரக் கண்டு அதில் தவித்தேன் அம்மா
It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it.
It is just a raga, but there is no music in it.
I unfurled a sailboat's sail, oh mother.
Seeing a storm approach, I suffered helplessly in it, oh mother.
திசை மாறவே தடுமாறினேன்
அலை அதில் எழுதிடும் கவிதை என்றேன்
As the directions changed, I faltered and lost my way.
I believed it was a poem written by the waves.
Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae
It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it.
Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae
It is just a raga, but there is no music in it.
Paaimaram ondru naan viriththaen amma
I unfurled a sailboat's sail, oh mother.
Puyal vara kandu adhil thaviththaen amma
Seeing a storm approach, I suffered helplessly in it, oh mother.
Dhisai maaravae thadumaarinaen
As the directions changed, I faltered and lost my way.
Alai adhil ezhuthidum kavithai endraen
I believed it was a poem written by the waves.
Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae
It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it.
Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae
It is just a raga, but there is no music in it.
Jothi endraen irulai pokka illai
I called her a flame, but she did not dispel the darkness.
Thoni endraen nadhiyai kadakkavillai
I called her a boat, but she did not cross the river.
Nilavendraen megaththilae marainthu kondaalaam
I called her the moon, but she hid herself behind the clouds.
Malarendraen idhazhgalai moodi kondaalaam
I called her a flower, but she closed her petals.
Kadal endraen alaigalaiyae niruththi kondaalaam
I called her the ocean, but she brought her waves to a halt.
Kadal endraen alaigalaiyae niruththi kondaalaam
I called her the ocean, but she brought her waves to a halt.
Kadhal endraen idhayamathae illai endraalaam
I spoke of love, but she claimed she had no heart at all.
Kadhal endraen idhayamathae illai endraalaam
I spoke of love, but she claimed she had no heart at all.
Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae
It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it.
Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae
It is just a raga, but there is no music in it.
Ponmaalai endraen thendral veesavillai
I called it a golden evening, but no gentle breeze blew.
Poomaalai ida yogam enakku illai
I do not possess the fortunate fate to adorn her with a flower garland.
Soppanaththil thilaiththirunthaen ramanumaaga
In my dreams, I was immersed in bliss as Lord Rama.
Suyamvaraththil enai ninaiththaal ravanan pola
Yet at her Swayamvara, she viewed me like Ravana.
Seedhai aval vaazhttumae yugam yugamaaga
May she, like Sita, live blessed for ages upon ages.
Seedhai aval vaazhttumae yugam yugamaaga
May she, like Sita, live blessed for ages upon ages.
Sidhai erintha pinnum urugiduven aval ninaivaaga
Even after my body burns on the funeral pyre, I will melt in her memory.
Sidhai erintha pinnum urugiduven aval ninaivaaga
Even after my body burns on the funeral pyre, I will melt in her memory.
Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae
It is just a cloud, but there is no rain in it.
Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae
It is just a raga, but there is no music in it.
Paaimaram ondru naan viriththaen amma
I unfurled a sailboat's sail, oh mother.
Puyal vara kandu adhil thaviththaen amma
Seeing a storm approach, I suffered helplessly in it, oh mother.
Dhisai maaravae thadumaarinaen
As the directions changed, I faltered and lost my way.
Alai adhil ezhuthidum kavithai endraen
I believed it was a poem written by the waves.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Megamthaan Idhil Mazhaiyae Illaiyae from the 1982 movie Nenjil Oru Ragam, composed and written by T. Rajendar and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, is a poignant ballad of unrequited love and deep emotional sorrow. The protagonist uses evocative metaphors from nature—a rainless cloud, a musicless raga, a flower that closes its petals, and a sailboat caught in a tempest—to convey the severe disappointment and emptiness left by love's rejection. Despite feeling discarded and viewed as a villain rather than a hero, his love remains pure and selfless. He wishes eternal blessings for his beloved, comparing her to Sita, while accepting his tragic destiny—promising that even after his body turns to ashes on the funeral pyre, his spirit will continue to cherish her memory.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamanai)
“Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae”
Compares hollow romantic promises to a cloud that yields no rain and a raga without melody.
Mythological Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)
“Soppanaththil thilaiththirunthaen ramanumaaga”
References the Ramayana characters Rama, Sita, and Ravana to contrast romantic dreams with harsh rejection.
Wordplay / Phonetic Contrast (Sollani)
“Seedhai aval vaazhttumae yugam yugamaaga”
Juxtaposes 'Seedhai' (Sita) with 'Sidhai' (funeral pyre) for intense emotional emphasis.
Monai / Alliteration
“Soppanaththil thilaiththirunthaen ramanumaaga”
Repetition of the initial sound 'S' across consecutive lines (Soppanaththil / Suyamvaraththil).
Did you know?
Trivia
T. Rajendar wrote, composed, directed, and acted in Nenjil Oru Ragam (1982). His trademark lyrical style featuring rhythmic internal rhymes and poignant emotional dilemmas made this song an enduring classic, particularly notable for the clever phonological wordplay between 'Seedhai' (Sita) and 'Sidhai' (pyre).
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