Pachai Kiligal Tholodu
From Indian · 1996
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Indian1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Thanthaana nae thaananae aanatha maee | Rhythm syllables of joy |
| Thanthaana nae thaananae aanatha maee | Rhythm syllables of joy |
| Thanthaana nae… thaananae aanatha maee | Rhythm syllables of joy |
| Thanthaana nae thaananae aanatha maee | Rhythm syllables of joy |
| Male | |
| {Pachai kiligal tholodu | {Green parrots on the shoulders |
| Pattu kuyilo maniyodu | Silken cuckoo with a bell |
| Boologam aanandhathin ellai | The Earth is the boundary of joy |
| Indha boomikku | For this world |
| Kanneer sondham illai} (2) | Tears do not belong} (2) |
| Male | |
| Chinna siru koottukulla | Inside a tiny little nest |
| Sorgham irukku | Heaven exists |
| Ada chinna chinna anbilthaanae | Ah, only in small acts of love |
| Jeevan innum irukku | Life still thrives |
| Male | |
| Pattaampoochi kootathukku | For a swarm of butterflies |
| Pattaa edhukku | Why does one need a land title? |
| Ada paasam mattum podhum kannae | Ah, love alone is enough, my dear |
| Kaasu panam ennathukku | What is the need for money and wealth? |
| Male | |
| Pachai kiligal tholodu | Green parrots on the shoulders |
| Pattu kuyilo maniyodu | Silken cuckoo with a bell |
| Boologam aanandhathin ellai | The Earth is the boundary of joy |
| Indha boomikku | For this world |
| Kanneer sondham illai | Tears do not belong |
| Male | |
| Andha vinnil aanandham | Joy in that sky |
| Indha mannil aanandham | Joy on this earth |
| Adi boomi pandhai mutti vandha | Oh girl, pushing through the sphere of the Earth |
| Pullil aanandham | There is joy in a blade of grass |
| Male | |
| Vayilin sutham aanandham | Cleanliness of the courtyard brings joy |
| Mazhayin satham aanandham | Sound of rain brings joy |
| Ada mazhayil kooda saayam pogaa | Ah, even in the rain without losing color |
| Vaanavil aanandham | The rainbow brings joy |
| Male | |
| Vazhvil noor aanandham | A hundred joys in life |
| Vazhvae per aanandham | Life itself is supreme joy |
| Pennae narai ezhudhum suyasaridham | Woman, an autobiography written in graying hair |
| Adhil anbae aanandham aananadham | In that, love alone is supreme joy |
| Male | |
| Pachai kiligal tholodu | Green parrots on the shoulders |
| Pattu kuyilo maniyodu | Silken cuckoo with a bell |
| Boologam aanandhathin ellai | The Earth is the boundary of joy |
| Indha boomikku | For this world |
| Kanneer sondham illai | Tears do not belong |
| Male | |
| Un moochil naan vazhnthaal | If I live in your breath |
| En mudhmai aanandham | My old age is a joy |
| Nee innoru piraviyil | If in another birth |
| Ennai pettraal innum aanandham | You give birth to me, that is even greater joy |
| Male | |
| Pani kottum mathathil | In the month of freezing mist |
| Un vetpam aanandham | Your warmth brings joy |
| En kaadhu varaikkum | Up to my ears |
| Kambili pothum karunai aanandham | The mercy of covering me with a blanket is joy |
| Male | |
| Sondham orr aanandham | Relationships are one joy |
| Bandham per aanandham | Kinship is supreme joy |
| Kannae un vizhiyaal | My dear, if with your eyes |
| Pirarku azhuthaal | You weep for others |
| Kanneerum aanandham aanandham | Even those tears are pure joy |
| Male | |
| {Pachai kiligal tholodu | {Green parrots on the shoulders |
| Pattu kuyilo maniyodu | Silken cuckoo with a bell |
| Boologam aanandhathin ellai | The Earth is the boundary of joy |
| Indha boomikku | For this world |
| Kanneer sondham illai} (2) | Tears do not belong} (2) |
..........................
Rhythm syllables of joy
Rhythm syllables of joy
Rhythm syllables of joy
Rhythm syllables of joy
{ பச்சைக் கிளிகள்
தோளோடு பாட்டுக்
குயிலோ மணியோடு
பூலோகம் ஆனந்தத்தின்
எல்லை இந்த பூமிக்குக்
கண்ணீர் சொந்தம் இல்லை } (2)
{Green parrots on the shoulders
Silken cuckoo with a bell
The Earth is the boundary of joy
For this world
Tears do not belong} (2)
சின்ன சிறு
கூட்டுக்குள்ள
சொர்க்கம் இருக்கு
அட சின்னச் சின்ன
அன்பில்தானே ஜீவன்
இன்னும் இருக்கு
Inside a tiny little nest
Heaven exists
Ah, only in small acts of love
Life still thrives
பட்டாம்பூச்சிக்
கூட்டத்துக்கு பட்டா
எதுக்கு அட பாசம்
மட்டும் போதும்
கண்ணே காசு பணம்
என்னத்துக்கு
For a swarm of butterflies
Why does one need a land title?
Ah, love alone is enough, my dear
What is the need for money and wealth?
பச்சைக் கிளிகள்
தோளோடு பாட்டுக்
குயிலோ மணியோடு
பூலோகம் ஆனந்தத்தின்
எல்லை இந்த பூமிக்குக்
கண்ணீர் சொந்தம் இல்லை
Green parrots on the shoulders
Silken cuckoo with a bell
The Earth is the boundary of joy
For this world
Tears do not belong
அந்த விண்ணில்
ஆனந்தம் இந்த மண்ணில்
ஆனந்தம் அடி பூமிப் பந்தை
முட்டி வந்த புல்லில் ஆனந்தம்
Joy in that sky
Joy on this earth
Oh girl, pushing through the sphere of the Earth
There is joy in a blade of grass
வயலின் சுத்தம்
ஆனந்தம் மழையின்
சத்தம் ஆனந்தம் அட
மழையில் கூடச்
சாயம்போகா வானவில்
ஆனந்தம்
Cleanliness of the courtyard brings joy
Sound of rain brings joy
Ah, even in the rain without losing color
The rainbow brings joy
வாழ்வில் நூா்
ஆனந்தம் வாழ்வே
பேரானந்தம் பெண்ணே
நரை எழுதும் சுயசரிதம்
அதில் அன்பே ஆனந்தம்
ஆனந்தம்
A hundred joys in life
Life itself is supreme joy
Woman, an autobiography written in graying hair
In that, love alone is supreme joy
பச்சைக் கிளிகள்
தோளோடு பாட்டுக்
குயிலோ மணியோடு
பூலோகம் ஆனந்தத்தின்
எல்லை இந்த பூமிக்குக்
கண்ணீர் சொந்தம் இல்லை
Green parrots on the shoulders
Silken cuckoo with a bell
The Earth is the boundary of joy
For this world
Tears do not belong
உன் மூச்சில்
நான் வாழ்ந்தால் என்
முதுமை ஆனந்தம் நீ
இன்னொரு பிறவியில்
என்னைப் பெற்றால்
இன்னும் ஆனந்தம்
If I live in your breath
My old age is a joy
If in another birth
You give birth to me, that is even greater joy
பனி கொட்டும்
மாதத்தில் உன் வெப்பம்
ஆனந்தம் என் காது
வரைக்கும் கம்பளி
போத்தும் கருணை
ஆனந்தம்
In the month of freezing mist
Your warmth brings joy
Up to my ears
The mercy of covering me with a blanket is joy
சொந்தம் ஓரானந்தம்
பந்தம் பேரானந்தம் கண்ணே
உன் விழியால் பிறர்க்கழுதால்
கண்ணீரும் ஆனந்தம் ஆனந்தம்
Relationships are one joy
Kinship is supreme joy
My dear, if with your eyes
You weep for others
Even those tears are pure joy
{ பச்சைக் கிளிகள்
தோளோடு பாட்டுக்
குயிலோ மணியோடு
பூலோகம் ஆனந்தத்தின்
எல்லை இந்த பூமிக்குக்
கண்ணீர் சொந்தம் இல்லை } (2)
{Green parrots on the shoulders
Silken cuckoo with a bell
The Earth is the boundary of joy
For this world
Tears do not belong} (2)
Thanthaana nae thaananae aanatha maee
Rhythm syllables of joy
Thanthaana nae thaananae aanatha maee
Rhythm syllables of joy
Thanthaana nae… thaananae aanatha maee
Rhythm syllables of joy
Thanthaana nae thaananae aanatha maee
Rhythm syllables of joy
{Pachai kiligal tholodu
{Green parrots on the shoulders
Pattu kuyilo maniyodu
Silken cuckoo with a bell
Boologam aanandhathin ellai
The Earth is the boundary of joy
Indha boomikku
For this world
Kanneer sondham illai} (2)
Tears do not belong} (2)
Chinna siru koottukulla
Inside a tiny little nest
Sorgham irukku
Heaven exists
Ada chinna chinna anbilthaanae
Ah, only in small acts of love
Jeevan innum irukku
Life still thrives
Pattaampoochi kootathukku
For a swarm of butterflies
Pattaa edhukku
Why does one need a land title?
Ada paasam mattum podhum kannae
Ah, love alone is enough, my dear
Kaasu panam ennathukku
What is the need for money and wealth?
Pachai kiligal tholodu
Green parrots on the shoulders
Pattu kuyilo maniyodu
Silken cuckoo with a bell
Boologam aanandhathin ellai
The Earth is the boundary of joy
Indha boomikku
For this world
Kanneer sondham illai
Tears do not belong
Andha vinnil aanandham
Joy in that sky
Indha mannil aanandham
Joy on this earth
Adi boomi pandhai mutti vandha
Oh girl, pushing through the sphere of the Earth
Pullil aanandham
There is joy in a blade of grass
Vayilin sutham aanandham
Cleanliness of the courtyard brings joy
Mazhayin satham aanandham
Sound of rain brings joy
Ada mazhayil kooda saayam pogaa
Ah, even in the rain without losing color
Vaanavil aanandham
The rainbow brings joy
Vazhvil noor aanandham
A hundred joys in life
Vazhvae per aanandham
Life itself is supreme joy
Pennae narai ezhudhum suyasaridham
Woman, an autobiography written in graying hair
Adhil anbae aanandham aananadham
In that, love alone is supreme joy
Pachai kiligal tholodu
Green parrots on the shoulders
Pattu kuyilo maniyodu
Silken cuckoo with a bell
Boologam aanandhathin ellai
The Earth is the boundary of joy
Indha boomikku
For this world
Kanneer sondham illai
Tears do not belong
Un moochil naan vazhnthaal
If I live in your breath
En mudhmai aanandham
My old age is a joy
Nee innoru piraviyil
If in another birth
Ennai pettraal innum aanandham
You give birth to me, that is even greater joy
Pani kottum mathathil
In the month of freezing mist
Un vetpam aanandham
Your warmth brings joy
En kaadhu varaikkum
Up to my ears
Kambili pothum karunai aanandham
The mercy of covering me with a blanket is joy
Sondham orr aanandham
Relationships are one joy
Bandham per aanandham
Kinship is supreme joy
Kannae un vizhiyaal
My dear, if with your eyes
Pirarku azhuthaal
You weep for others
Kanneerum aanandham aanandham
Even those tears are pure joy
{Pachai kiligal tholodu
{Green parrots on the shoulders
Pattu kuyilo maniyodu
Silken cuckoo with a bell
Boologam aanandhathin ellai
The Earth is the boundary of joy
Indha boomikku
For this world
Kanneer sondham illai} (2)
Tears do not belong} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Pachai Kiligal from the 1996 film Indian (composed by A.R. Rahman, lyrics by Vairamuthu, sung by K.J. Yesudas) is a soulful celebration of innocence, family affection, selflessness, and the simple beauty of existence. The song portrays an elder expressing profound affection for his loved ones, highlighting that happiness is not bound by material possessions—just as butterflies need no property deeds—but thrives in tiny acts of warmth and care. The lyrics beautifully connect human emotions to nature, finding happiness in the rain, grass, sky, and rainbows. Vairamuthu poetically describes old age as an autobiography written in gray hair and concludes that true fulfillment lies in boundless love and empathy, where even tears shed out of compassion for others become a source of ultimate joy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Pachai kiligal tholodu / Pattu kuyilo maniyodu”
Repetition of the initial 'Pa' consonant sound across consecutive lines.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Andha vinnil aanandham / Indha mannil aanandham”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'nn' (ண்ணி) between lines.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Pennae narai ezhudhum suyasaridham”
Gray hair is metaphorically described as an autobiography written by time and life experience.
Rhetorical Question
“Pattaampoochi kootathukku / Pattaa edhukku”
Asking why butterflies need property deeds, symbolizing freedom from human materialism.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A.R. Rahman and sung by K.J. Yesudas, 'Pachai Kiligal' is a iconic family melody from Shankar's vigilante action film Indian (1996). K.J. Yesudas won wide critical acclaim for his warm, paternal vocal delivery that perfectly complemented Kamal Haasan's portrayal of Senapathy in his gentler family moments.
Keep listening
More from Indian
Indian
Indian
Indian
Indian