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Isaimozhi
Macha Rekai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nilaiyillatha Ulagamithe

From Macha Rekai · 1950

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
A. G. Rathnamala
Music director
C. R. Subbaraman
Movie name
Macha Rekai
Movie release year
1950
Lyrics added on
24 Dec 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nilaiyilladha ulagamidhae
Gnyaayamae poiyaanadhoo
Kolaiyum theecheyal pazhiyum thaanae
Veenil pogumo andho
Nilaiyilladha ulagamidhae
Gnyaayamae poiyaanadhoo
Padhavi mogathinaalae arumai
Padhiyai thunindhu kondraarae
Paavi naanae anaadhaiyaanen
Paaril kurayaadhum seidhaeno
Nilaiyilladha ulagamidhae
Gnyaayamae poiyaanadhoo
How fleeting this world is,
Has justice itself become a lie?
Will murder, evil deeds, and guilt,
Alas, simply go unpunished?
How fleeting this world is,
Has justice itself become a lie?
Driven by the lust for power,
they dared to murder my beloved husband!
Wretched as I am, I am left all alone,
What wrong did I ever do in this world?
How fleeting this world is,
Has justice itself become a lie?
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a heartbreaking lamentation expressing sorrow, disillusionment, and agony over a tragic loss caused by human greed. The singer grieves the betrayal and murder of her beloved husband by those blinded by a desire for power and position. Abandoned and grief-stricken, she feels helpless in a world where truth and righteousness seem to have lost all meaning.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

Gnyaayamae poiyaanadhoo

The line uses a rhetorical question to express profound anguish over the apparent decay of truth and justice.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Padhavi mogathinaalae arumai / Padhiyai thunindhu kondraarae

The repetition of the second consonant sound 'dha/dhi' in consecutive lines creates a rhythmic poetic flow.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Paavi naanae anaadhaiyaanen / Paaril kurayaadhum seidhaeno

The matching initial 'Pa' sound in both lines creates a melodious vocal repetition.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Macha Rekai' (1950) featured music by the legendary composer C. R. Subbaraman, who played a seminal role in early South Indian film music and served as a mentor to legendary music directors M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy.

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