Paravaigala
From Ka Pae Ranasingam · 2020
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Manikandan Perupadappu
- Music director
- Ghibran
- Details
- Ka Pae Ranasingam2020
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Hoo ooo hoo oooo | Hoo ooo hoo oooo |
| Hooo oooo hoo oo hoo oooo | Hooo oooo hoo oo hoo oooo |
| Hoo oo oo | Hoo oo oo |
| Hoo ooo oo | Hoo ooo oo |
| Male | |
| Paravaigala paravaigala | Oh birds, oh birds, |
| Pasiyedutha paravaigala | Oh hungry birds, |
| Paazhveliyil irai thedum | Seeking prey in desolate lands, |
| Palaivana paravaigala | Oh desert birds! |
| Male | |
| Uravellam vayiru valakkavae | Did you go sell your life, |
| Uyirai vikka poningala | Just to feed all your relatives? |
| Ullooru aatta viththu thaan | Selling off your local goats, |
| Ottagatha maechigala | Did you go to herd camels? |
| Kanneril sondham polambudhae | Your loved ones lament in tears, |
| Kadal thaandi ketkum thaana | Will it be heard across the ocean? |
| Male | |
| Paravaigala paravaigala | Oh birds, oh birds, |
| Pasiyedutha paravaigala | Oh hungry birds, |
| Paazhveliyil irai thedum | Seeking prey in desolate lands, |
| Palaivana paravaigala | Oh desert birds! |
| Chorus | |
| Haaa… aaa…aa | Haaa… aaa…aa |
| Haa….aaa…aaa….haa…aa…aa..aaa… | Haa….aaa…aaa….haa…aa…aa..aaa… |
| Chorus | |
| Haaa… aaa…aa | Haaa… aaa…aa |
| Chorus | |
| Haaa… aaa…aa | Haa… aaa…aa |
| Chorus | |
| Hoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo | Hoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo |
| Hoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo | Hoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo |
| Hoo oo oo oo hoo oo oo oo | Hoo oo oo oo hoo oo oo oo |
| Hooo ooo oo o ooo ooo | Hooo ooo oo o ooo ooo |
| Male | |
| Nadhi illadha oorai vittu odi vandhiga | You fled from a village with no river, |
| Mazhai illadha naadu thedi vaazha vandhiga | And came to live in a rainless foreign land. |
| Paalum theanum odumendru paalai vandhiga | Believing it flowed with milk and honey, you came to the desert, |
| Eecha marathil veppan kaayae kaikka kandiga | Only to find bitter neem fruits bearing on date palms. |
| Male | |
| Pondu pulla kaangkaama kannu yengudhae | Yearning eyes ache without seeing wife and child, |
| Vandha velai theeraama vayasaagudhae | Age catches up while the work undertaken remains unfinished. |
| Tholaikatchiyil oor paarkaiyil uyir theiyudhae | As you glimpse your hometown on television, your soul slowly erodes. |
| Male | |
| Paravaigala paravaigala | Oh birds, oh birds, |
| Pasiyedutha paravaigala | Oh hungry birds, |
| Paazhveliyil irai thedum | Seeking prey in desolate lands, |
| Palaivana paravaigala | Oh desert birds! |
| Male | |
| Uravellam vayiru valakkavae | Did you go sell your life, |
| Uyirai vikka poningala | Just to feed all your relatives? |
| Ullooru aatta viththu thaan | Selling off your local goats, |
| Ottagatha maechigala | Did you go to herd camels? |
| Kanneril sondham polambudhae | Your loved ones lament in tears, |
| Kadal thaandi ketkum thaana | Will it be heard across the ocean? |
| Male | |
| Paravaigala paravaigala | Oh birds, oh birds, |
| Pasiyedutha paravaigala | Oh hungry birds, |
| Paazhveliyil irai thedum | Seeking prey in desolate lands, |
| Palaivana paravaigala | Oh desert birds! |
| Male | |
| Sondha ooril sondha bandham | In your native land, your own kith and kin, |
| Sondhu nikkuthuga | Stand exhausted and weary. |
| Pona usuru vaaratheppo | Lamenting and standing in anxiety, |
| Polambi nikkuthuga | For the life that left and has not returned. |
| Male | |
| Veettukaaran vaetti sattai | They stroke and fondle, |
| Neevi paakkuthuga | The shirt and dhoti left by the husband. |
| Pullai ellam bommaiyoda | The little children try talking, |
| Pesi paakkuthuga | To the toys brought home. |
| Vazhndha bhoomi thorathalayae | It is not the land you lived in that chased you away, |
| Varumai thorathudhae | It is relentless poverty that drove you out. |
| Kadal thanni pirikkalaiyae kasu pirikkudhae | It is not ocean water that separates us, it is money that separates us. |
| Male | |
| Kaagam poguthu | The crow flies home, |
| Megam poguthu | The cloud floats home, |
| Naanga povoma | Will we ever get to go home? |
| Male | |
| Paravaigala paravaigala | Oh birds, oh birds, |
| Pasiyedutha paravaigala | Oh hungry birds, |
| Paazhveliyil irai thedum | Seeking prey in desolate lands, |
| Palaivana paravaigala | Oh desert birds! |
| Male | |
| Uravellam vayiru valakkavae | Did you go sell your life, |
| Uyirai vikka poningala | Just to feed all your relatives? |
| Ullooru aatta viththu thaan | Selling off your local goats, |
| Ottagatha maechigala | Did you go to herd camels? |
| Kanneril sondham polambudhae | Your loved ones lament in tears, |
| Kadal thaandi ketkum thaana | Will it be heard across the ocean? |
| Male | |
| Paravaigala paravaigala | Oh birds, oh birds, |
| Pasiyedutha paravaigala | Oh hungry birds, |
| Paazhveliyil irai thedum | Seeking prey in desolate lands, |
| Palaivana paravaigala | Oh desert birds! |
ஹோ ஓஒ ஹோ ஓஒ
ஹோ ஓஒ ஹோ ஓ ஹோ ஓஒ
ஹோ ஓ ஓ
ஹோ ஓஒ ஓ
Hoo ooo hoo oooo
Hooo oooo hoo oo hoo oooo
Hoo oo oo
Hoo ooo oo
பறவைகளா பறவைகளா
பசியெடுத்த பறவைகளா
பாழ்வெளியில் இறை தேடும்
பாலைவன பறவைகளா
Oh birds, oh birds,
Oh hungry birds,
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Oh desert birds!
உறவெல்லாம் வயிறு வளக்கவே
உயிரை விக்க போனீங்களா
உள்ளூரு ஆட்ட வித்துதான்
ஒட்டகத்த மேச்சீகளா
கண்ணீரில் சொந்தம் பொலம்புதே
கடல் தண்டி கேட்கும் தானா
Did you go sell your life,
Just to feed all your relatives?
Selling off your local goats,
Did you go to herd camels?
Your loved ones lament in tears,
Will it be heard across the ocean?
பறவைகளா பறவைகளா
பசியெடுத்த பறவைகளா
பாழ்வெளியில் இறை தேடும்
பாலைவன பறவைகளா
Oh birds, oh birds,
Oh hungry birds,
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Oh desert birds!
ஹா.....ஆ.....ஆ....
ஹா......ஆஅ......ஆஅ....ஹா.....ஆ.....ஆ....ஆஅ....
Haaa… aaa…aa
Haa….aaa…aaa….haa…aa…aa..aaa…
ஹா.....ஆஅ.....ஆ....
Haaa… aaa…aa
ஹா.....ஆஅ.....ஆ....
Haa… aaa…aa
ஹோ ஓஒ.....ஓஒ....ஓஒ....ஓ....ஓஒ....
ஹூ ஓஒ ஓஓ ஓஒ ஓஒ ஊ ஓஒ
ஓஒ.....ஓஒ....ஓஒ....ஓ....ஓஒ....
ஹூ ஓஒ ஓஓ ஓஒ ஓஒ ஊ ஓஒ
Hoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo
Hoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo
Hoo oo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Hooo ooo oo o ooo ooo
நதி இல்லாத ஊரை விட்டு ஓடி வந்தீக
மழை இல்லாத நாடு தேடி வாழ வந்தீக
பாலும் தேனும் ஓடும் என்று பாலை வந்தீக
ஈச்ச மரத்தில் வேப்பங் காயே காய்க்கக் கண்டீக
You fled from a village with no river,
And came to live in a rainless foreign land.
Believing it flowed with milk and honey, you came to the desert,
Only to find bitter neem fruits bearing on date palms.
பொண்டு புள்ள காங்காம கண்ணு ஏங்குதே
வந்த வேலை தீராம வயசாகுதே
தொலைகாட்சியில் ஊர் பார்க்கையில் உயிர் தேயுதே
Yearning eyes ache without seeing wife and child,
Age catches up while the work undertaken remains unfinished.
As you glimpse your hometown on television, your soul slowly erodes.
பறவைகளா பறவைகளா
பசியெடுத்த பறவைகளா
பாழ்வெளியில் இறை தேடும்
பாலைவன பறவைகளா.....
Oh birds, oh birds,
Oh hungry birds,
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Oh desert birds!
உறவெல்லாம் வயிறு வளக்கவே
உயிரை விக்க போனீங்களா
உள்ளூரு ஆட்ட வித்துதான்
ஒட்டகத்த மேச்சீகளா
கண்ணீரில் சொந்தம் பொலம்புதே
கடல் தண்டி கேட்கும் தானா
Did you go sell your life,
Just to feed all your relatives?
Selling off your local goats,
Did you go to herd camels?
Your loved ones lament in tears,
Will it be heard across the ocean?
பறவைகளா பறவைகளா
பசியெடுத்த பறவைகளா
பாழ்வெளியில் இறை தேடும்
பாலைவன பறவைகளா.....
Oh birds, oh birds,
Oh hungry birds,
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Oh desert birds!
சொந்த ஊரில் சொந்த பந்தம்
சோந்து நிக்குதுக
போன உசுரு வாரதெப்போ
பொலம்பி நிக்குதுக
In your native land, your own kith and kin,
Stand exhausted and weary.
Lamenting and standing in anxiety,
For the life that left and has not returned.
வீட்டுக்காரன் வேட்டி சட்டை
நீவி பாக்குதுக
புள்ளை எல்லாம் பொம்மையோட
பேசி பாக்குதுக
வாழ்ந்த பூமி தொரத்தலையே
வறுமை தொரத்துதே
கடல் தண்ணி பிரிக்கலையே காசு பிரிக்குதே
They stroke and fondle,
The shirt and dhoti left by the husband.
The little children try talking,
To the toys brought home.
It is not the land you lived in that chased you away,
It is relentless poverty that drove you out.
It is not ocean water that separates us, it is money that separates us.
காகம் போகுது
மேகம் போகுது
நாங்க போவோமா
The crow flies home,
The cloud floats home,
Will we ever get to go home?
பறவைகளா பறவைகளா
பசியெடுத்த பறவைகளா
பாழ்வெளியில் இறை தேடும்
பாலைவன பறவைகளா.....
Oh birds, oh birds,
Oh hungry birds,
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Oh desert birds!
உறவெல்லாம் வயிறு வளக்கவே
உயிரை விக்க போனீங்களா
உள்ளூரு ஆட்ட வித்துதான்
ஒட்டகத்த மேச்சீகளா
கண்ணீரில் சொந்தம் பொலம்புதே
கடல் தண்டி கேட்கும் தானா
Did you go sell your life,
Just to feed all your relatives?
Selling off your local goats,
Did you go to herd camels?
Your loved ones lament in tears,
Will it be heard across the ocean?
பறவைகளா பறவைகளா
பசியெடுத்த பறவைகளா
பாழ்வெளியில் இறை தேடும்
பாலைவன பறவைகளா.....
Oh birds, oh birds,
Oh hungry birds,
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Oh desert birds!
Hoo ooo hoo oooo
Hoo ooo hoo oooo
Hooo oooo hoo oo hoo oooo
Hooo oooo hoo oo hoo oooo
Hoo oo oo
Hoo oo oo
Hoo ooo oo
Hoo ooo oo
Paravaigala paravaigala
Oh birds, oh birds,
Pasiyedutha paravaigala
Oh hungry birds,
Paazhveliyil irai thedum
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Palaivana paravaigala
Oh desert birds!
Uravellam vayiru valakkavae
Did you go sell your life,
Uyirai vikka poningala
Just to feed all your relatives?
Ullooru aatta viththu thaan
Selling off your local goats,
Ottagatha maechigala
Did you go to herd camels?
Kanneril sondham polambudhae
Your loved ones lament in tears,
Kadal thaandi ketkum thaana
Will it be heard across the ocean?
Paravaigala paravaigala
Oh birds, oh birds,
Pasiyedutha paravaigala
Oh hungry birds,
Paazhveliyil irai thedum
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Palaivana paravaigala
Oh desert birds!
Haaa… aaa…aa
Haaa… aaa…aa
Haa….aaa…aaa….haa…aa…aa..aaa…
Haa….aaa…aaa….haa…aa…aa..aaa…
Haaa… aaa…aa
Haaa… aaa…aa
Haaa… aaa…aa
Haa… aaa…aa
Hoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo
Hoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo
Hoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo
Hoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo
Hoo oo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Hoo oo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Hooo ooo oo o ooo ooo
Hooo ooo oo o ooo ooo
Nadhi illadha oorai vittu odi vandhiga
You fled from a village with no river,
Mazhai illadha naadu thedi vaazha vandhiga
And came to live in a rainless foreign land.
Paalum theanum odumendru paalai vandhiga
Believing it flowed with milk and honey, you came to the desert,
Eecha marathil veppan kaayae kaikka kandiga
Only to find bitter neem fruits bearing on date palms.
Pondu pulla kaangkaama kannu yengudhae
Yearning eyes ache without seeing wife and child,
Vandha velai theeraama vayasaagudhae
Age catches up while the work undertaken remains unfinished.
Tholaikatchiyil oor paarkaiyil uyir theiyudhae
As you glimpse your hometown on television, your soul slowly erodes.
Paravaigala paravaigala
Oh birds, oh birds,
Pasiyedutha paravaigala
Oh hungry birds,
Paazhveliyil irai thedum
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Palaivana paravaigala
Oh desert birds!
Uravellam vayiru valakkavae
Did you go sell your life,
Uyirai vikka poningala
Just to feed all your relatives?
Ullooru aatta viththu thaan
Selling off your local goats,
Ottagatha maechigala
Did you go to herd camels?
Kanneril sondham polambudhae
Your loved ones lament in tears,
Kadal thaandi ketkum thaana
Will it be heard across the ocean?
Paravaigala paravaigala
Oh birds, oh birds,
Pasiyedutha paravaigala
Oh hungry birds,
Paazhveliyil irai thedum
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Palaivana paravaigala
Oh desert birds!
Sondha ooril sondha bandham
In your native land, your own kith and kin,
Sondhu nikkuthuga
Stand exhausted and weary.
Pona usuru vaaratheppo
Lamenting and standing in anxiety,
Polambi nikkuthuga
For the life that left and has not returned.
Veettukaaran vaetti sattai
They stroke and fondle,
Neevi paakkuthuga
The shirt and dhoti left by the husband.
Pullai ellam bommaiyoda
The little children try talking,
Pesi paakkuthuga
To the toys brought home.
Vazhndha bhoomi thorathalayae
It is not the land you lived in that chased you away,
Varumai thorathudhae
It is relentless poverty that drove you out.
Kadal thanni pirikkalaiyae kasu pirikkudhae
It is not ocean water that separates us, it is money that separates us.
Kaagam poguthu
The crow flies home,
Megam poguthu
The cloud floats home,
Naanga povoma
Will we ever get to go home?
Paravaigala paravaigala
Oh birds, oh birds,
Pasiyedutha paravaigala
Oh hungry birds,
Paazhveliyil irai thedum
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Palaivana paravaigala
Oh desert birds!
Uravellam vayiru valakkavae
Did you go sell your life,
Uyirai vikka poningala
Just to feed all your relatives?
Ullooru aatta viththu thaan
Selling off your local goats,
Ottagatha maechigala
Did you go to herd camels?
Kanneril sondham polambudhae
Your loved ones lament in tears,
Kadal thaandi ketkum thaana
Will it be heard across the ocean?
Paravaigala paravaigala
Oh birds, oh birds,
Pasiyedutha paravaigala
Oh hungry birds,
Paazhveliyil irai thedum
Seeking prey in desolate lands,
Palaivana paravaigala
Oh desert birds!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Paravaigala Paravaigala' from Ka Pae Ranasingam is a poignant anthem depicting the harsh reality and emotional plight of migrant laborers who leave their impoverished native villages in Tamil Nadu to work in the Middle Eastern desert nations. Metaphorically referring to these workers as hungry desert birds seeking prey in desolate sands, the song portrays their endless sacrifices, enduring harsh working conditions far from family just to ensure their loved ones back home have food and basic survival. The lyrics capture the double-edged tragedy: while the men age prematurely in foreign sands without seeing their growing children or spouses, their families back home mourn their absence, holding onto clothes and toys in sorrow. Vairamuthu highlights that poverty and economic disparity—not choice or lack of love for the homeland—drive these workers abroad, creating a poignant contrast between natural freedom (crows and clouds migrating back effortlessly) and human bondage driven by financial necessity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Palaivana paravaigala”
Migrant workers from dry rural regions travelling to Middle Eastern deserts for manual labor are metaphorically addressed as 'Desert Birds' (Palaivana paravaigala) searching for prey.
Mohnai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Paravaigala paravaigala / Pasiyedutha paravaigala”
Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Pa' across consecutive lines (Paravaigala, Pasiyedutha, Paazhveliyil, Palaivana).
Contrast / Irony (Pugazhchi/Igalchi)
“Paalum theanum odumendru paalai vandhiga”
Highlights the tragic irony of leaving a riverless village only to land in a completely rainless desert, expecting sweetness ('milk and honey') but reaping bitterness ('neem fruit on date palm').
Personification / Nature Parallelism
“Kaagam poguthu / Megam poguthu / Naanga povoma”
Compares the freedom of crows and clouds that fly back home at will against the human migrants trapped by legal and economic constraints.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ghibran with lyrics written by Vairamuthu and sung by Gold Devaraj, 'Paravaigala' serves as the thematic backbone of Ka Pae Ranasingam (2020), starring Vijay Sethupathi and Aishwarya Rajesh. The film deals directly with the bureaucratic and financial hurdles a poor rural woman faces to bring back the body of her husband who died while working as an expatriate worker in a Dubai desert estate.
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