- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Ratha Thilagam
- Movie release year
- 1963
- Lyrics added on
- 15 Mar 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pani padarndha malaiyin melae
Paduthirundhen silaiyai polae
Kani thodutha malai polae
Kanni vandhaal kan munnalae
Pani padarndha malaiyin melae
Paduthirundhen silaiyai polae
Kani thodutha malai polae
Kanni vandhaal kan munnalae
Kunindhu nindra mugathai paarthen
Kunguma poo nirathai paarthen
Kanindhu nindra kannam paarthen
Kannerin chinnam paarthen
Kalanginen….thudithen …
Amma…ammamma ….
Nee azhudha nilaiyarindhu
Nilavae azhuthadhamma
Vanam azhuthadhamma
Vanna malar pulambudhamma
Ganam azhuthadhamma
Kanagam kalangudhamma …
Karanathai chonnal
Kalai naan udhavi seiven
Varanangal kooti vandhu
Vanna thaer otti vandhu
Thoranangal aaduginra
Thooya nagar veedhiyilae
Oorvalamai unnai
Udanazhaithu naan varuven
Sollamma sol endren
Thooya magal thalai nimirndhaal
Amaidhi thedi urugi nindren
Anbu vellam peruga vandhen
Imayam mudhal kumari varai
En idhayathaiyae thirandhu vaithen
Undu pasiyara
Ulagam varatumendru
Kandu thaen kadhali
Karandha pal karandhapadi
Kondu vandhu vaithu
Koopitten varugavendru…
Pasiyara odi vandha
Pathu per maththiyilae
Pagaiyara oruvan vandha
Pavathai enna solven
Yarai azhithen ….
Yaar kudiyai naan keduthen…
Seer sumandhu senradhuthan
Seidhathoru pavam endraal
Annai uraitha mozhi
Athanaiyum kettirundhen
Pinnar manadhil
Perum thunivu modhi vara
Perum thunivu modhi vara
Veeramundu tholgal undu
Vetri kollum gnanam undu
Saram mikka dharmam undu
Dharmam mikka thalaivan undu
Veeramundu tholgal undu
Vetri kollum gnanam undu
Saram mikka dharmam undu
Dharmam mikka thalaivan undu
Anbu niraindha magan
Arul niraindha karunai magan
Panbu niraindha magan
Pazha nattin mootha magan
Irukkindraan thaayae …
Yengadhae endruraithen
Annai sirithaal
Adada o.. achirippil
Munnai thamizh manamae
Mulaithezhundhu nindradhamma
Ennai marandhen
Iravulagil serndhu vitten
Kannai mella maraithu
Karpanaiyil kalandhu vitten
Karpanaiyil kalandhu vitten
Pani padarndha malaiyin melae
Paduthirundhen silaiyai polae
Kani thodutha malai polae
Kanni vandhaal kan munnalae
Pani padarndha malaiyin melae
Paduthirundhen silaiyai polae
Kani thodutha malai polae
Kanni vandhaal kan munnalae
On the snow-covered mountain,
I lay still like a statue.
Like a garland strung with sweet fruits,
a young woman appeared before my eyes.
On the snow-covered mountain,
I lay still like a statue.
Like a garland strung with sweet fruits,
a young woman appeared before my eyes.
I looked at her bowed face;
I saw the saffron glow of her skin.
I saw her tender, gentle cheeks;
I saw the marks of her tears.
I was shaken... my heart ached...
"Oh mother, dear mother!
Seeing you weep in such sorrow,
even the moon wept, mother!
The sky wept, mother!
The colorful flowers are lamenting, mother!
The sweet music wept, mother!
Even the forest is grieving, mother!
If you tell me the reason,
I, a strong young man, will help you.
Harnessing mighty elephants,
and driving a splendid chariot,
through the festive streets
of this pure and noble city,
I will lead you in a grand procession
and bring you home with me!
Tell me, mother, please tell me," I said.
That pure woman raised her head.
"I stood yearning for peace with all my heart;
I came to share an overflowing flood of love.
From the Himalayas down to Kanyakumari,
I kept my very heart wide open.
Hoping the world would come
to eat and satisfy its hunger,
bringing sugar candy, honey, and bananas,
and fresh milk straight from the cow,
I placed them all before everyone
and called out, 'Please come!'
Among the ten who came running
to satisfy their hunger,
one turned out to be an enemy—
how can I speak of such wicked betrayal?
Whom did I ever destroy?
Whose home did I ever ruin?
If carrying gifts of hospitality
was the sin I committed..."
All these words that the mother spoke,
I listened to every single one.
Then, inside my heart,
as immense courage came surging forward...
as immense courage came surging forward...
"There is bravery, there are strong shoulders,
there is wisdom to achieve victory!
There is deep righteousness,
and a noble leader devoted to righteousness!
There is bravery, there are strong shoulders,
there is wisdom to achieve victory!
There is deep righteousness,
and a noble leader devoted to righteousness!
A son filled with love,
a gracious son full of mercy,
a son of noble character,
the eldest son of this ancient land,
is right here beside you, mother!
Do not despair!" I told her.
Mother smiled.
Ah... oh... in that smile,
the ancient Tamil spirit
sprouted and rose tall, mother!
I forgot myself,
and slipped into the quiet world of night.
Gently closing my eyes,
I drifted into deep thoughts.
I drifted into deep thoughts...
On the snow-covered mountain,
I lay still like a statue.
Like a garland strung with sweet fruits,
a young woman appeared before my eyes.
On the snow-covered mountain,
I lay still like a statue.
Like a garland strung with sweet fruits,
a young woman appeared before my eyes.
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This allegorical song from the 1963 film 'Ratha Thilagam' uses deep poetic imagery to reflect Mother India's plight following the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The narrator meets a sorrowful maiden on the snowy Himalayan peaks, who is revealed to be Mother India (Bharat Mata) mourning the betrayal of an unprovoked attack by a neighbor she welcomed with love and hospitality.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Paduthirundhen silaiyai polae”
Compares the speaker lying motionless on the snowy mountains to a motionless statue ('silaiyai polae').
Personification
“Thooya magal thalai nimirndhaal”
Mother India is personified as a grieving mother and maiden who expresses her deep heartbreak over betrayal despite her generosity.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Ethukai)
“Anbu niraindha magan / Panbu niraindha magan”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound across lines, such as 'Veeramundu' and 'Saram mikka' or 'Anbu' and 'Panbu'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan, 'Ratha Thilagam' was produced in the backdrop of the 1962 Sino-Indian War to evoke patriotic fervor across Tamil Nadu.
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