Merku Thodarchi Malai (Male)
From Solaiyamma · 1992
- Lyricist
- Kasthuri Raja
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Solaiyamma1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila | On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak, |
| Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila | I am singing a song all alone. |
| Vechcha maram pookkaiyila vaazhaimaram kaaikkaiyila | Just as the planted tree blossomed and the banana tree bore fruit, |
| Vettaruvaa pattathadi veroda saanjadhadi | A machete struck it, uprooting it completely to fall down. |
| Male | |
| Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila | On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak, |
| Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila | I am singing a song all alone. |
| Male | |
| Ennei thalamuzhugi ellu nera pottu vachchu | Anointing myself in oil, wearing a bindi dark as sesame, |
| Unnoda sera vanthaa devathai intha devathai | This angel came to unite with you, this angel. |
| Ennei thalamuzhugi ellu nera pottu vachchu | Anointing myself in oil, wearing a bindi dark as sesame, |
| Unnoda sera vanthaa devathai intha devathai | This angel came to unite with you, this angel. |
| Male | |
| Entha saami thantha kadhi engirunthu vantha vidhi | Which god gave this plight? From where did this fate arrive? |
| Katti vachcha maalai onnu | A garland that was tied, |
| Kaanamaththaan pona sathi | Went missing due to a conspiracy! |
| Tharamaana naaththu onnu thaniyaaga aachchu | A high-quality sapling has now become completely isolated. |
| Thalavaazhai thoppu ippa tharisaagi pochchu | A lush plantain grove has now turned into a barren wasteland. |
| Male | |
| Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila | On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak, |
| Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila | I am singing a song all alone. |
| Male | |
| Yaelam pazhukkumunnu etti ninnu kaaththirukka | While standing at a distance waiting for the cardamom to ripen, |
| Olai pazhuththathenna niyaayamo adhu maayamo…oo… | Why did the palm leaf wither instead? Is it justice or an illusion? |
| Yaelam pazhukkumunnu etti ninnu kaaththirukka | While standing at a distance waiting for the cardamom to ripen, |
| Olai pazhuththathenna niyaayamo adhu maayamo…oo… | Why did the palm leaf wither instead? Is it justice or an illusion? |
| Male | |
| Aamanakku thottaththula poomanakka vantha mullai | A sweet-scented jasmine that arrived in a castor oil field, |
| Aaru vaccha mullu thaichchu seerukettu ponathammaa | Was pricked by thorns placed in a river and ruined of its dignity, oh lady! |
| Ilamaalai kaaththu adhu thisai maari pochchu | The gentle evening breeze changed its direction, |
| Manamaalai kaanju ippa sarugaagi pochchu | The wedding garland dried up and turned into dry leaves now. |
| Male | |
| Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila | On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak, |
| Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila | I am singing a song all alone. |
| Vechcha maram pookkaiyila vaazhaimaram kaaikkaiyila | Just as the planted tree blossomed and the banana tree bore fruit, |
| Vettaruvaa pattathadi veroda saanjadhadi | A machete struck it, uprooting it completely to fall down. |
| Male | |
| Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila | On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak, |
| Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila | I am singing a song all alone. |
| Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila….. | I am singing a song all alone... |
மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சி மலை உச்சியில மலை உச்சியில
நான் பாட்டு படிக்கிறேன்டி ஒத்தையில
வெச்சமரம் பூக்கயில வாழைமரம் காய்க்கயில
வெட்டருவா பட்டதடி வேரோட சாஞ்சதடி..
On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak,
I am singing a song all alone.
Just as the planted tree blossomed and the banana tree bore fruit,
A machete struck it, uprooting it completely to fall down.
மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சிமலை உச்சியில மலை உச்சியில
நான் பாட்டு படிக்கிறேன்டி ஒத்தையில
On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak,
I am singing a song all alone.
எண்ணெய் தலமுழுகி எள்ளு நெறப் பொட்டு வச்சு
என்னோட சேர வந்தா தேவதை ஒரு தேவதை....
எண்ணெய் தலமுழுகி எள்ளு நெறப் பொட்டு வச்சு
என்னோட சேர வந்தா தேவதை ஒரு தேவதை
Anointing myself in oil, wearing a bindi dark as sesame,
This angel came to unite with you, this angel.
Anointing myself in oil, wearing a bindi dark as sesame,
This angel came to unite with you, this angel.
எந்த சாமி தந்த கதி எங்கிருந்து வந்த விதி
கட்டி வைச்ச மாலை ஒன்னு
காணாமத்தான் போன சதி
தரமான நாத்து ஒன்னு தனியாக ஆச்சு
தலவாழை தோப்பு இப்ப தரிசாகி போச்சு..
Which god gave this plight? From where did this fate arrive?
A garland that was tied,
Went missing due to a conspiracy!
A high-quality sapling has now become completely isolated.
A lush plantain grove has now turned into a barren wasteland.
மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சிமலை உச்சியில மலை உச்சியில
நான் பாட்டு படிக்கிறேன்டி ஒத்தையில..
On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak,
I am singing a song all alone.
ஏலம் பழுக்குமுன்னு எட்டி நின்னு காத்திருக்க
ஓலை பழுத்ததென்ன நியாயமோ அது மாயமோ...ஓ....
ஏலம் பழுக்குமுன்னு எட்டி நின்னு காத்திருக்க
ஓலை பழுத்ததென்ன நியாயமோ அது மாயமோ
While standing at a distance waiting for the cardamom to ripen,
Why did the palm leaf wither instead? Is it justice or an illusion?
While standing at a distance waiting for the cardamom to ripen,
Why did the palm leaf wither instead? Is it justice or an illusion?
ஆமணக்கு தோட்டத்துல பூமணக்க வந்த முல்லை
ஆரு வைச்ச முள்ளு தைச்சு சீருகெட்டு போனதம்மா
இளமாலை காத்து அது திசை மாறிப்போச்சு
மணமாலை காஞ்சு இப்ப சருகாகி போச்சு...
A sweet-scented jasmine that arrived in a castor oil field,
Was pricked by thorns placed in a river and ruined of its dignity, oh lady!
The gentle evening breeze changed its direction,
The wedding garland dried up and turned into dry leaves now.
மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சிமலை உச்சியில மலை உச்சியில
நான் பாட்டு படிக்கிறேன்டி ஒத்தையில
வெச்சமரம் பூக்கயில வாழைமரம் காய்க்கயில
வெட்டருவா பட்டதடி வேரோட சாஞ்சதடி.....
On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak,
I am singing a song all alone.
Just as the planted tree blossomed and the banana tree bore fruit,
A machete struck it, uprooting it completely to fall down.
மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சிமலை உச்சியில மலை உச்சியில
நான் பாட்டு படிக்கிறேன்டி ஒத்தையில
நான் பாட்டு படிக்கிறேன்டி ஒத்தையில....
On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak,
I am singing a song all alone.
I am singing a song all alone...
Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila
On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak,
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila
I am singing a song all alone.
Vechcha maram pookkaiyila vaazhaimaram kaaikkaiyila
Just as the planted tree blossomed and the banana tree bore fruit,
Vettaruvaa pattathadi veroda saanjadhadi
A machete struck it, uprooting it completely to fall down.
Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila
On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak,
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila
I am singing a song all alone.
Ennei thalamuzhugi ellu nera pottu vachchu
Anointing myself in oil, wearing a bindi dark as sesame,
Unnoda sera vanthaa devathai intha devathai
This angel came to unite with you, this angel.
Ennei thalamuzhugi ellu nera pottu vachchu
Anointing myself in oil, wearing a bindi dark as sesame,
Unnoda sera vanthaa devathai intha devathai
This angel came to unite with you, this angel.
Entha saami thantha kadhi engirunthu vantha vidhi
Which god gave this plight? From where did this fate arrive?
Katti vachcha maalai onnu
A garland that was tied,
Kaanamaththaan pona sathi
Went missing due to a conspiracy!
Tharamaana naaththu onnu thaniyaaga aachchu
A high-quality sapling has now become completely isolated.
Thalavaazhai thoppu ippa tharisaagi pochchu
A lush plantain grove has now turned into a barren wasteland.
Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila
On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak,
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila
I am singing a song all alone.
Yaelam pazhukkumunnu etti ninnu kaaththirukka
While standing at a distance waiting for the cardamom to ripen,
Olai pazhuththathenna niyaayamo adhu maayamo…oo…
Why did the palm leaf wither instead? Is it justice or an illusion?
Yaelam pazhukkumunnu etti ninnu kaaththirukka
While standing at a distance waiting for the cardamom to ripen,
Olai pazhuththathenna niyaayamo adhu maayamo…oo…
Why did the palm leaf wither instead? Is it justice or an illusion?
Aamanakku thottaththula poomanakka vantha mullai
A sweet-scented jasmine that arrived in a castor oil field,
Aaru vaccha mullu thaichchu seerukettu ponathammaa
Was pricked by thorns placed in a river and ruined of its dignity, oh lady!
Ilamaalai kaaththu adhu thisai maari pochchu
The gentle evening breeze changed its direction,
Manamaalai kaanju ippa sarugaagi pochchu
The wedding garland dried up and turned into dry leaves now.
Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila
On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak,
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila
I am singing a song all alone.
Vechcha maram pookkaiyila vaazhaimaram kaaikkaiyila
Just as the planted tree blossomed and the banana tree bore fruit,
Vettaruvaa pattathadi veroda saanjadhadi
A machete struck it, uprooting it completely to fall down.
Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila
On top of the Western Ghats mountain peak, on the mountain peak,
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila
I am singing a song all alone.
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila…..
I am singing a song all alone...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila from the 1992 film Solaiyamma is a poignant sorrowful song expressing the deep anguish of a woman whose hopes for marriage and happiness are cruelly destroyed. Sung atop the Western Ghats mountain, the song uses rich rural and agricultural metaphors to convey sudden loss, solitary heartbreak, and betrayal just as her life was about to bloom.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Vechcha maram pookkaiyila vaazhaimaram kaaikkaiyila / Vettaruvaa pattathadi veroda saanjadhadi”
Comparing sudden tragedy striking a flourishing life to a machete felling a blooming banana tree.
Visual Imagery
“Thalavaazhai thoppu ippa tharisaagi pochchu”
Using agrarian landscape transformations, such as a lush plantain grove turning into barren land, to depict emotional desolation.
Monai (Alliteration)
“Tharamaana naaththu onnu thaniyaaga aachchu / Thalavaazhai thoppu ippa tharisaagi pochchu”
Repetition of the initial 'Tha' sound across words in the line.
Did you know?
Trivia
Solaiyamma (1992) was written and directed by Kasthuri Raja with music composed by Deva. The lyrics draw heavily on authentic folk terminology from the agrarian regions bordering the Western Ghats.
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