Merku Thodarchi Malai
From Naatpadu Theral · 2021
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Anthony Daasan
- Music director
- Anthony Daasan
- Details
- Naatpadu Theral2021
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Merku thodarchi malai | The Western Ghats mountains |
| Ilaichu pogum | Will become thin and wither |
| Andha megaathu melmoochu | And the clouds will pant for breath |
| Vaangi pogum …} (2) | And lose their breath... |
| Male | |
| {Maasam oruvaatti | Once a month, |
| Naan vadugapatti pogaatti | If I do not go to Vadugapatti, |
| Valadhu kai neetti | And stretch out my right hand |
| Naan malaiyoda pesaatti …} (2) | To talk with the mountain... |
| Male | |
| Merku thodarchi malai | The Western Ghats mountains |
| Ilaichu pogum | Will become thin and wither |
| Andha megaathu melmoochu | And the clouds will pant for breath |
| Vaangi pogum … | And lose their breath... |
| Male | |
| Vaigai nadhimela en | Upon the river Vaigai, |
| Valadhu kai nanaikkaama | Without wetting my right hand, |
| Vaigaiyila velayaadum | The hairtail fish playing in the Vaigai |
| Vaalameenu thoongaadhu | Will not sleep. |
| Male | |
| Poomarathu keezhae naan | Underneath the flowering tree, |
| Pudhuppaattu ezhuthaama | Without me writing a new song, |
| Poomarathil koodukattum | The dove building its nest on the flowering tree |
| Puraa irai kollaadhu | Will not feed on prey. |
| Male | |
| Kathaalangaadu | The cactus forest, |
| Engaalsoodu kaangaama | Without feeling the heat of my feet, |
| Kathaalam pudharoda | In the cactus bush, |
| Kaadai muttai podaadhu | The quail will not lay eggs. |
| Male | |
| Manjalaaru anaiyil naan | At the Manjalaru dam, |
| Malaikaathu vaangaama | Without me catching the mountain breeze, |
| Manjalaathu moolaiyilae | In the corner of Manjalaru, |
| Manikurivi meyaadhu | The house sparrow will not graze. |
| Male | |
| {Malaiyai konjam kadichukittae | Taking a bite of the mountain side, |
| Koozh kudicha boomiyadaa | This is the land where porridge was drunk; |
| Mannum malaiyum enga | The land and the mountains are |
| Paramabaraikkae saamiyadaa} (2) | The gods for our entire lineage! |
| Male | |
| Merku thodarchi malai | The Western Ghats mountains |
| Ilaichu pogum | Will become thin and wither |
| Andha megaathu melmoochu | And the clouds will pant for breath |
| Vaangi pogum … | And lose their breath... |
| Male | |
| Kumabakarai saalaiyilae | On the road to Kumbakarai, |
| Komiya vaasam pudikkama | Without smelling the sacred scent of cattle, |
| Mandaikkulla mallukatti | Wrestling inside my mind, |
| Malliapoo pookkaadhu | Jasmine flowers will not bloom. |
| Male | |
| Kedaiyaattu mandhaiyila | In the herd of herded sheep, |
| Kedaa koothu kaangaama | Without witnessing the ram fights, |
| Kaanjupona pozhappukulla | Inside this dried-up life, |
| Karpanaiyae kelambaadhu | Imagination will never spark. |
| Male | |
| Saathisanam pesum | The language spoken by kin and folks, |
| Mozhi sangeetham kelaama | Without hearing that musical tongue, |
| Idhigaasa ezhuthukku | For writing epic literature, |
| Sagavaasam irukkaadhu | There will be no creative companionship. |
| Male | |
| Suttameen kavuchi | The fishy aroma of roasted fish, |
| Vandhu surrunnu yeraama | Without rising up sharply, |
| Enseer viruthathil | In my eight-metered verse, |
| Ezhaancheeru vaaraadhu | Even the seventh meter line won't come. |
| Male | |
| {Malaiyai konjam kadichukittae | Taking a bite of the mountain side, |
| Koozh kudicha boomiyadaa | This is the land where porridge was drunk; |
| Mannum malaiyum enga | The land and the mountains are |
| Paramabaraikkae saamiyadaa} (2) | The gods for our entire lineage! |
| Male | |
| Merku thodarchi malai | The Western Ghats mountains |
| Ilaichu pogum | Will become thin and wither |
| Andha megaathu melmoochu | And the clouds will pant for breath |
| Vaangi pogum … | And lose their breath... |
| Male | |
| Maasam oruvaatti | Once a month, |
| Naan vadugapatti pogaatti | If I do not go to Vadugapatti, |
| Valadhu kai neetti | And stretch out my right hand |
| Naan malaiyoda pesaatti … | To talk with the mountain... |
| Male | |
| Merku thodarchi malai | The Western Ghats mountains |
| Ilaichu pogum | Will become thin and wither |
| Andha megaathu melmoochu | And the clouds will pant for breath |
| Vaangi pogum … | And lose their breath... |
{மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சி மலை
இளைச்சுப் போகும்
அந்த மேகாத்து மேல்மூச்சு
வாங்கிப் போகும் ..} (2)
The Western Ghats mountains
Will become thin and wither
And the clouds will pant for breath
And lose their breath...
{மாசம் ஒருவாட்டி
நான் வடுகபட்டி போகாட்டி
வலது கைநீட்டி
நான் மலையோட பேசாட்டி...} (2)
Once a month,
If I do not go to Vadugapatti,
And stretch out my right hand
To talk with the mountain...
மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சி மலை
இளைச்சுப் போகும்
அந்த மேகாத்து மேல்மூச்சு
வாங்கிப் போகும்
The Western Ghats mountains
Will become thin and wither
And the clouds will pant for breath
And lose their breath...
வைகை நதிமேல என்
வலதுகை நனைக்காம
வைகையில வெளையாடும்
வாளமீனு தூங்காது
Upon the river Vaigai,
Without wetting my right hand,
The hairtail fish playing in the Vaigai
Will not sleep.
பூமரத்துக் கீழே நான்
புதுப்பாட்டு எழுதாம
பூமரத்தில் கூடுகட்டும்
புறா இரை கொள்ளாது
Underneath the flowering tree,
Without me writing a new song,
The dove building its nest on the flowering tree
Will not feed on prey.
கத்தாழங் காடு
எங்கால்சூடு காங்காமக்
கத்தாழம் புதரோட
காடைமுட்டை போடாது
The cactus forest,
Without feeling the heat of my feet,
In the cactus bush,
The quail will not lay eggs.
மஞ்சளாறு அணையில் நான்
மலைக்காத்து வாங்காம
மஞ்சளாத்து மூலையில
மணிக்குருவி மேயாது
At the Manjalaru dam,
Without me catching the mountain breeze,
In the corner of Manjalaru,
The house sparrow will not graze.
{மலையைக் கொஞ்சம்
கடிச்சுக் கிட்டே
கூழ்குடிச்ச பூமியடா
மண்ணும் மழையும் எங்க
பரம்பரைக்கே சாமியடா} (2)
Taking a bite of the mountain side,
This is the land where porridge was drunk;
The land and the mountains are
The gods for our entire lineage!
மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சி மலை
இளைச்சுப் போகும்
அந்த மேகாத்து மேல்மூச்சு
வாங்கிப் போகும்
The Western Ghats mountains
Will become thin and wither
And the clouds will pant for breath
And lose their breath...
கும்பக்கரைச் சாலையில
கோமிய வாசம் புடிக்காம
மண்டக்குள்ள மல்லுக்கட்டி
மல்லியப்பூ பூக்காது
On the road to Kumbakarai,
Without smelling the sacred scent of cattle,
Wrestling inside my mind,
Jasmine flowers will not bloom.
கெடையாட்டு மந்தையில
கெடாக் கூத்துக் காங்காம
காஞ்சுபோன பொழப்புக்குள்ள
கற்பனையே கெளம்பாது
In the herd of herded sheep,
Without witnessing the ram fights,
Inside this dried-up life,
Imagination will never spark.
சாதிசனம் பேசும்
மொழி சங்கீதம் கேளாம
இதிகாச எழுத்துக்கு
சகவாசம் இருக்காது
The language spoken by kin and folks,
Without hearing that musical tongue,
For writing epic literature,
There will be no creative companionship.
சுட்ட மீன் கவுச்சி
வந்து சுர்ருன்னு ஏறாம
எண்சீர் விருத்தத்தில்
ஏழாஞ்சீரு வாராது
The fishy aroma of roasted fish,
Without rising up sharply,
In my eight-metered verse,
Even the seventh meter line won't come.
{மலையைக் கொஞ்சம்
கடிச்சுக்கிட்டே
கூழ்குடிச்ச பூமியடா
மண்ணும் மழையும்
எங்க பரம்பரைக்கே சாமியடா} (2)
Taking a bite of the mountain side,
This is the land where porridge was drunk;
The land and the mountains are
The gods for our entire lineage!
மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சி மலை
இளைச்சுப் போகும்
அந்த மேகாத்து மேல்மூச்சு
வாங்கிப் போகும்
The Western Ghats mountains
Will become thin and wither
And the clouds will pant for breath
And lose their breath...
மாசம் ஒருவாட்டி
நான் வடுகபட்டி போகாட்டி
வலது கைநீட்டி
நான் மலையோட பேசாட்டி
Once a month,
If I do not go to Vadugapatti,
And stretch out my right hand
To talk with the mountain...
மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சி மலை
இளைச்சுப் போகும்
அந்த மேகாத்து மேல்மூச்சு
வாங்கிப் போகும்
The Western Ghats mountains
Will become thin and wither
And the clouds will pant for breath
And lose their breath...
{Merku thodarchi malai
The Western Ghats mountains
Ilaichu pogum
Will become thin and wither
Andha megaathu melmoochu
And the clouds will pant for breath
Vaangi pogum …} (2)
And lose their breath...
{Maasam oruvaatti
Once a month,
Naan vadugapatti pogaatti
If I do not go to Vadugapatti,
Valadhu kai neetti
And stretch out my right hand
Naan malaiyoda pesaatti …} (2)
To talk with the mountain...
Merku thodarchi malai
The Western Ghats mountains
Ilaichu pogum
Will become thin and wither
Andha megaathu melmoochu
And the clouds will pant for breath
Vaangi pogum …
And lose their breath...
Vaigai nadhimela en
Upon the river Vaigai,
Valadhu kai nanaikkaama
Without wetting my right hand,
Vaigaiyila velayaadum
The hairtail fish playing in the Vaigai
Vaalameenu thoongaadhu
Will not sleep.
Poomarathu keezhae naan
Underneath the flowering tree,
Pudhuppaattu ezhuthaama
Without me writing a new song,
Poomarathil koodukattum
The dove building its nest on the flowering tree
Puraa irai kollaadhu
Will not feed on prey.
Kathaalangaadu
The cactus forest,
Engaalsoodu kaangaama
Without feeling the heat of my feet,
Kathaalam pudharoda
In the cactus bush,
Kaadai muttai podaadhu
The quail will not lay eggs.
Manjalaaru anaiyil naan
At the Manjalaru dam,
Malaikaathu vaangaama
Without me catching the mountain breeze,
Manjalaathu moolaiyilae
In the corner of Manjalaru,
Manikurivi meyaadhu
The house sparrow will not graze.
{Malaiyai konjam kadichukittae
Taking a bite of the mountain side,
Koozh kudicha boomiyadaa
This is the land where porridge was drunk;
Mannum malaiyum enga
The land and the mountains are
Paramabaraikkae saamiyadaa} (2)
The gods for our entire lineage!
Merku thodarchi malai
The Western Ghats mountains
Ilaichu pogum
Will become thin and wither
Andha megaathu melmoochu
And the clouds will pant for breath
Vaangi pogum …
And lose their breath...
Kumabakarai saalaiyilae
On the road to Kumbakarai,
Komiya vaasam pudikkama
Without smelling the sacred scent of cattle,
Mandaikkulla mallukatti
Wrestling inside my mind,
Malliapoo pookkaadhu
Jasmine flowers will not bloom.
Kedaiyaattu mandhaiyila
In the herd of herded sheep,
Kedaa koothu kaangaama
Without witnessing the ram fights,
Kaanjupona pozhappukulla
Inside this dried-up life,
Karpanaiyae kelambaadhu
Imagination will never spark.
Saathisanam pesum
The language spoken by kin and folks,
Mozhi sangeetham kelaama
Without hearing that musical tongue,
Idhigaasa ezhuthukku
For writing epic literature,
Sagavaasam irukkaadhu
There will be no creative companionship.
Suttameen kavuchi
The fishy aroma of roasted fish,
Vandhu surrunnu yeraama
Without rising up sharply,
Enseer viruthathil
In my eight-metered verse,
Ezhaancheeru vaaraadhu
Even the seventh meter line won't come.
{Malaiyai konjam kadichukittae
Taking a bite of the mountain side,
Koozh kudicha boomiyadaa
This is the land where porridge was drunk;
Mannum malaiyum enga
The land and the mountains are
Paramabaraikkae saamiyadaa} (2)
The gods for our entire lineage!
Merku thodarchi malai
The Western Ghats mountains
Ilaichu pogum
Will become thin and wither
Andha megaathu melmoochu
And the clouds will pant for breath
Vaangi pogum …
And lose their breath...
Maasam oruvaatti
Once a month,
Naan vadugapatti pogaatti
If I do not go to Vadugapatti,
Valadhu kai neetti
And stretch out my right hand
Naan malaiyoda pesaatti …
To talk with the mountain...
Merku thodarchi malai
The Western Ghats mountains
Ilaichu pogum
Will become thin and wither
Andha megaathu melmoochu
And the clouds will pant for breath
Vaangi pogum …
And lose their breath...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Written by lyricist Vairamuthu for his independent album 'Naatpadu Theral', 'Merku Thodarchi Malai' is an emotional ode to Vadugapatti, his native village in the Theni district nestled at the foothills of the Western Ghats. The song explores the unbreakable bond between native soil and artistic creation. Through poetic hyperboles, the narrator asserts that if he fails to visit his roots monthly, nature itself loses its vitality—the rivers, mountains, birds, and flora mourn his absence, and his literary muse falls silent.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uyarvu Navortchi Ani (Hyperbole)
“Merku thodarchi malai ilaichu pogum”
Exaggerating that the vast Western Ghats mountain range will physically wither away if the poet does not visit his village.
Tharchorpetra Ani (Personification)
“Andha megaathu melmoochu vaangi pogum”
Attributing human actions and breathlessness to clouds in the sky.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Malaiyai konjam kadichukittae / Mannum malaiyum enga”
The placement of matching consonants in the second syllable of consecutive lines (e.g., 'Malaiyai' and 'Mannum').
Metaphor
“Mannum malaiyum enga paramabaraikkae saamiyadaa”
Vivid imagery equating native soil and mountains to ancestral deities and sources of nourishment.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Naatpadu Theral' is an ambitious independent musical project conceived by lyricist Vairamuthu consisting of 100 non-film songs composed by various music directors. Vadugapatti, featured prominently in this song, is Vairamuthu's actual birthplace in Theni district, Tamil Nadu.
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