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Solaiyamma album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Merku Thodarchi Malai (Male)

From Solaiyamma · 1992

Lyricist
Kasthuri Raja
Singer
P. Jayachandran
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Solaiyamma
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
1 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila
Vechcha maram pookkaiyila vaazhaimaram kaaikkaiyila
Vettaruvaa pattathadi veroda saanjadhadi
Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila
Ennei thalamuzhugi ellu nera pottu vachchu
Unnoda sera vanthaa devathai intha devathai
Ennei thalamuzhugi ellu nera pottu vachchu
Unnoda sera vanthaa devathai intha devathai
Entha saami thantha kadhi engirunthu vantha vidhi
Katti vachcha maalai onnu
Kaanamaththaan pona sathi
Tharamaana naaththu onnu thaniyaaga aachchu
Thalavaazhai thoppu ippa tharisaagi pochchu
Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila
Yaelam pazhukkumunnu etti ninnu kaaththirukka
Olai pazhuththathenna niyaayamo adhu maayamo…oo…
Yaelam pazhukkumunnu etti ninnu kaaththirukka
Olai pazhuththathenna niyaayamo adhu maayamo…oo…
Aamanakku thottaththula poomanakka vantha mullai
Aaru vaccha mullu thaichchu seerukettu ponathammaa
Ilamaalai kaaththu adhu thisai maari pochchu
Manamaalai kaanju ippa sarugaagi pochchu
Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila
Vechcha maram pookkaiyila vaazhaimaram kaaikkaiyila
Vettaruvaa pattathadi veroda saanjadhadi
Merkku thodarchchi malai uchchiyila malai uchchiyila
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila
Naan paattu padikkiraendi oththaiyila…..
On the peak of the Western Ghats, high on the mountain peak,
I am singing a song all alone, my girl.
Just as the tree I planted blossomed, as the banana tree bore fruit,
A machete struck it down, tearing it out by its roots.
On the peak of the Western Ghats, high on the mountain peak,
I am singing a song all alone, my girl.
After taking an oil bath and putting on a tiny black dot,
An angel came to be with me, a true angel...
After taking an oil bath and putting on a tiny black dot,
An angel came to be with me, a true angel.
Which god gave this cruel fate? Where did this destiny come from?
A garland that was lovingly woven,
Vanish in a cruel plot of fate.
A fine young sapling is left all alone,
And the lush banana grove has turned barren now.
On the peak of the Western Ghats, high on the mountain peak,
I am singing a song all alone, my girl.
While I stood and waited for the cardamom to ripen,
Why did the palm leaf wither away instead? Is it fair, or is it just an illusion?
While I stood and waited for the cardamom to ripen,
Why did the palm leaf wither away instead? Is it fair, or is it just an illusion?
The jasmine that came to spread its fragrance in a wild field,
Whose planted thorn pierced it and ruined its lovely life?
The gentle evening breeze has lost its way,
And the wedding garland has dried up into dead leaves now.
On the peak of the Western Ghats, high on the mountain peak,
I am singing a song all alone, my girl.
Just as the tree I planted blossomed, as the banana tree bore fruit,
A machete struck it down, tearing it out by its roots.
On the peak of the Western Ghats, high on the mountain peak,
I am singing a song all alone, my girl.
I am singing a song all alone, my girl.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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