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Lyrics & meaning

Pachai Kiligal Tholodu

From Indian · 1996

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Indian
Movie release year
1996
Lyrics added on
26 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanthaana nae thaananae aanatha maee
Thanthaana nae thaananae aanatha maee
Thanthaana nae… thaananae aanatha maee
Thanthaana nae thaananae aanatha maee
{Pachai kiligal tholodu
Pattu kuyilo maniyodu
Boologam aanandhathin ellai
Indha boomikku
Kanneer sondham illai} (2)
Chinna siru koottukulla
Sorgham irukku
Ada chinna chinna anbilthaanae
Jeevan innum irukku
Pattaampoochi kootathukku
Pattaa edhukku
Ada paasam mattum podhum kannae
Kaasu panam ennathukku
Pachai kiligal tholodu
Pattu kuyilo maniyodu
Boologam aanandhathin ellai
Indha boomikku
Kanneer sondham illai
Andha vinnil aanandham
Indha mannil aanandham
Adi boomi pandhai mutti vandha
Pullil aanandham
Vayilin sutham aanandham
Mazhayin satham aanandham
Ada mazhayil kooda saayam pogaa
Vaanavil aanandham
Vazhvil noor aanandham
Vazhvae per aanandham
Pennae narai ezhudhum suyasaridham
Adhil anbae aanandham aananadham
Pachai kiligal tholodu
Pattu kuyilo maniyodu
Boologam aanandhathin ellai
Indha boomikku
Kanneer sondham illai
Un moochil naan vazhnthaal
En mudhmai aanandham
Nee innoru piraviyil
Ennai pettraal innum aanandham
Pani kottum mathathil
Un vetpam aanandham
En kaadhu varaikkum
Kambili pothum karunai aanandham
Sondham orr aanandham
Bandham per aanandham
Kannae un vizhiyaal
Pirarku azhuthaal
Kanneerum aanandham aanandham
{Pachai kiligal tholodu
Pattu kuyilo maniyodu
Boologam aanandhathin ellai
Indha boomikku
Kanneer sondham illai} (2)
Thanthana ne thaanane, pure joy!
Thanthana ne thaanane, pure joy!
Thanthana ne... thaanane, pure joy!
Thanthana ne thaanane, pure joy!
Green parrots rest on my shoulders,
A silky cuckoo rests close to me,
This earth is the pinnacle of joy,
To this world of ours,
Tears do not belong!
Inside this tiny little nest,
Heaven resides.
Ah, it is in little moments of love
That life still thrives!
For a flock of butterflies,
Why would they need land deeds?
Ah, love alone is enough, my dear child,
What do we need money and wealth for?
Green parrots rest on my shoulders,
A silky cuckoo rests close to me,
This earth is the pinnacle of joy,
To this world of ours,
Tears do not belong!
There is joy in that sky,
There is joy in this earth,
Oh, pushing up through the globe of earth,
There is joy in a blade of grass!
A clean doorstep brings joy,
The sound of rain brings joy,
Ah, never losing its colour even in the rain,
The rainbow brings pure joy!
A hundred joys in this life,
Life itself is a great joy!
My child, in this life story written by grey hair,
The love within it is pure joy!
Green parrots rest on my shoulders,
A silky cuckoo rests close to me,
This earth is the pinnacle of joy,
To this world of ours,
Tears do not belong!
If I live on in your breath,
My old age is a joy!
If in another lifetime
You give birth to me, that is even greater joy!
In the freezing winter months,
Your warmth brings joy!
Covering me up to my ears with a blanket,
That tender kindness brings joy!
Having family is a joy,
Every bond is a supreme joy!
My dear, if your eyes
Shed tears for someone else,
Even those tears are pure joy!
Green parrots rest on my shoulders,
A silky cuckoo rests close to me,
This earth is the pinnacle of joy,
To this world of ours,
Tears do not belong!
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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