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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Petha Thaayum

From BOAT · 2024

Lyricist
Vamanaa
Singer
Gold Devaraj
Music director
Ghibran
Movie name
BOAT
Movie release year
2024
Lyrics added on
8 Jul 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ailasa
Petha thaayum uppu kadalum
Namma sumakum saamithaan
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Makka name vaazhadhaane
Vittu kodukkum bhoomithaan
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Vaththadha kodaiyaa
Pattini pasiyatha pokkum
Thunbam kaana naalo
Ini adhu thaan
Thaanaa sariyaagum
Thoongaadha kadalo
Neengaadha vaazhvadha tharume…
Velli nelaa mela kaaya
Oli adhu thaana thadam vidume…
Kaaththum vaanamum
Thonaikku irukku
Ninnu thuninju poraadu
Kaalam namakku kaathu kedakku
Ettu vachu nee munneru
Ele lele ailasa
Ele lele ailasa
Kaaththum vaanamum
Thonaikku irukku
Ninnu thuninju poraadu
Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Kaalam namakku kaathu kedakku
Ettu vachu nee munneru
Male : Ele lele ele lele ele lele ailasa
Elele ailasa
Elele ailasa
The mother who gave birth to us and the salty sea
Are both gods who carry us.
Elele elele elele ailasa
Just so we people can live,
The earth gives selflessly of itself.
Elele elele elele ailasa
Like an endless gift,
It wipes away our hunger and starvation.
The days of seeing sorrow,
From now on,
Will resolve on their own.
The sea that never sleeps
Will grant us an enduring life...
As the silver moon shines above,
Its light will show the path ahead...
The wind and the sky
Are here by your side,
Stand firm, be brave, and fight!
Time is waiting for us,
Take a step and move forward!
Elele ailasa
Elele ailasa
The wind and the sky
Are here by your side,
Stand firm, be brave, and fight!
Elele elele elele ailasa
Time is waiting for us,
Take a step and move forward!
Elele elele elele ailasa
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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