Petha Thaayum
From BOAT · 2024
- Lyricist
- Vamanaa
- Singer
- Gold Devaraj
- Music director
- Ghibran
- Details
- BOAT2024
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ele lele ailasa | Ele lele ailasa (traditional fisherman chant) |
| Ele lele ailasa | Ele lele ailasa |
| Male | |
| Petha thaayum uppu kadalum | The mother who birthed us and the salty ocean |
| Namma sumakum saamithaan | Are the very gods that carry and support us |
| Male | |
| Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa | Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa |
| Male | |
| Makka name vaazhadhaane | Just so that we, the people, can live |
| Vittu kodukkum bhoomithaan | The earth generously yields and gives us space |
| Male | |
| Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa | Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa |
| Male | |
| Vaththadha kodaiyaa | Like an unceasing umbrella of gifts |
| Pattini pasiyatha pokkum | It eradicates starvation and hunger |
| Thunbam kaana naalo | The days of seeing sorrow |
| Ini adhu thaan | From now on, those |
| Thaanaa sariyaagum | Will resolve automatically on their own |
| Male | |
| Thoongaadha kadalo | The ocean that never sleeps |
| Neengaadha vaazhvadha tharume… | Will grant us an everlasting life... |
| Velli nelaa mela kaaya | As the silver moon shines above us |
| Oli adhu thaana thadam vidume… | The light itself will automatically pave the path... |
| Male | |
| Kaaththum vaanamum | Both the wind and the sky |
| Thonaikku irukku | Are present to accompany us |
| Ninnu thuninju poraadu | Stand firm, be brave, and fight forward |
| Kaalam namakku kaathu kedakku | Time itself lies waiting for us |
| Ettu vachu nee munneru | Take a stride forward and advance |
| Male | |
| Ele lele ailasa | Ele lele ailasa |
| Ele lele ailasa | Ele lele ailasa |
| Male | |
| Kaaththum vaanamum | Both the wind and the sky |
| Thonaikku irukku | Are present to accompany us |
| Ninnu thuninju poraadu | Stand firm, be brave, and fight forward |
| Male | |
| Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa | Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa |
| Male | |
| Kaalam namakku kaathu kedakku | Time itself lies waiting for us |
| Ettu vachu nee munneru | Take a stride forward and advance |
| Male : Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa | Male : Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa |
ஏலே லேலே ஐலசா
ஏலே லேலே ஐலசா
Ele lele ailasa (traditional fisherman chant)
Ele lele ailasa
பெத்த தாயும் உப்பு கடலும்
நம்ம சுமக்கும் சாமிதான்
The mother who birthed us and the salty ocean
Are the very gods that carry and support us
ஏலே லேலே ஏலே லேலே ஏலே லேலே ஐலசா
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
மக்கா பெயர் வாழாதானே
விட்டு கொடுக்கும் பூமிதான்
Just so that we, the people, can live
The earth generously yields and gives us space
ஏலே லேலே ஏலே லேலே ஏலே லேலே ஐலசா
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
வத்தாத கொடையா
பட்டினி பசியதப் போக்கும்.
துன்பம் கானா நாளோ
இனி அது தான் தானா சரியாகும்.
Like an unceasing umbrella of gifts
It eradicates starvation and hunger
The days of seeing sorrow
From now on, those
Will resolve automatically on their own
தூங்காத கடலோ
நீங்காத வாழ்வத தருமே…
வெள்ளி நெலா மேல காய
ஒளி அது தானா தடம் விடுமே…
The ocean that never sleeps
Will grant us an everlasting life...
As the silver moon shines above us
The light itself will automatically pave the path...
காத்தும் வானமும் தொணைக்கு இருக்கு
நின்னு துணிஞ்சு போராடு
காலம் நமக்கு காத்து கெடக்கு
ஏட்டு வச்சு நீ முன்னேறு
Both the wind and the sky
Are present to accompany us
Stand firm, be brave, and fight forward
Time itself lies waiting for us
Take a stride forward and advance
ஏலே லேலே ஐலசா
ஏலே லேலே ஐலசா
Ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ailasa
காத்தும் வானமும் தொணைக்கு இருக்கு
நின்னு துணிஞ்சு போராடு
ஏலே லேலே ஏலே லேலே ஏலே லேலே ஐலசா
காலம் நமக்கு காத்து கெடக்கு
ஏட்டு வச்சு நீ முன்னேறு
ஏலே லேலே ஏலே லேலே ஏலே லேலே ஐலசா
Both the wind and the sky
Are present to accompany us
Stand firm, be brave, and fight forward
.....................
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Time itself lies waiting for us
Take a stride forward and advance
Male : Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ailasa (traditional fisherman chant)
Ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ailasa
Petha thaayum uppu kadalum
The mother who birthed us and the salty ocean
Namma sumakum saamithaan
Are the very gods that carry and support us
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Makka name vaazhadhaane
Just so that we, the people, can live
Vittu kodukkum bhoomithaan
The earth generously yields and gives us space
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Vaththadha kodaiyaa
Like an unceasing umbrella of gifts
Pattini pasiyatha pokkum
It eradicates starvation and hunger
Thunbam kaana naalo
The days of seeing sorrow
Ini adhu thaan
From now on, those
Thaanaa sariyaagum
Will resolve automatically on their own
Thoongaadha kadalo
The ocean that never sleeps
Neengaadha vaazhvadha tharume…
Will grant us an everlasting life...
Velli nelaa mela kaaya
As the silver moon shines above us
Oli adhu thaana thadam vidume…
The light itself will automatically pave the path...
Kaaththum vaanamum
Both the wind and the sky
Thonaikku irukku
Are present to accompany us
Ninnu thuninju poraadu
Stand firm, be brave, and fight forward
Kaalam namakku kaathu kedakku
Time itself lies waiting for us
Ettu vachu nee munneru
Take a stride forward and advance
Ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ailasa
Kaaththum vaanamum
Both the wind and the sky
Thonaikku irukku
Are present to accompany us
Ninnu thuninju poraadu
Stand firm, be brave, and fight forward
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Kaalam namakku kaathu kedakku
Time itself lies waiting for us
Ettu vachu nee munneru
Take a stride forward and advance
Male : Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Male : Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This uplifting sea-shanty from the movie BOAT (2024) celebrates the bond between fishermen and nature. It equates the salty ocean to a birth mother, elevating both to divine status that carries human existence through all hardships. The song offers hope, reminding the listener that nature, the wind, and the sky serve as steadfast companions, encouraging resilience and courage to face life's storms.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Petha thaayum uppu kadalum Namma sumakum saamithaan”
Directly compares the birth mother and the salt sea to divinity/gods that carry human lives.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaaththum vaanamum ... Kaalam namakku kaathu kedakku”
Repetition of the initial 'Kaa' sound across lines creating a rhythmic, poetic flow.
Folk Refrain (Ailasa)
“Ele lele ailasa”
Use of traditional Tamil sea shanty rhythmic chants ('Ailasa') historically used by coastal communities to synchronize rowing or net-pulling movements.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Ailasa' is an authentic traditional Tamil sea-shanty chant (Amba Paattu) used by maritime workers for centuries to maintain physical cadence while rowing heavy wooden boats or pulling fishing nets.
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