Pillaiyar Appane
From Malligai Poo · 1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| ……………….. | Lord Ganesha, father, please come. |
| Male | |
| Pillaiyaar appanae varuga | Master come, father come. |
| Aiyya varuga appa varuga | Help us conduct this play flawlessly. |
| Naadagam pizhaiyindri nadaththi tharuga | Yes, grant us this blessing. |
| Aamaa tharuga | Vellaiyamma... |
| Male | |
| Vellaiyammaa….aa….aa….aa… | Vellaiyamma, a daughter of the Tamil soil. |
| Vellaiyammaa tamil pillaiyammaa | Her story is a good story, a righteous story. |
| Aval nalla kadhai neethiyulla kadhai | Vellaiyamma, a daughter of the Tamil soil. |
| Chorus | |
| Vellaiyammaa tamil pillaiyammaa | Her story is a good story, a righteous story. |
| Aval nalla kadhai needhiyulla kadhai | We are performing that story as a play. |
| Male | |
| Naadagam podurom naangal adhai | Lord Ganesha, father, please come. |
| Male | |
| Pillaiyaar appanae varuga | Master come, father come. |
| Aiyya varuga appa varuga | Oh deer-like beauty, to attain you... |
| Male | |
| Maanae naan unnai adaiya | What penance did I perform, oh beauty with lively eyes? |
| Enna thavam seithaen thullum vizhiyazhagu | Oh deer-like beauty, to attain you... |
| Maanae naan unnai adaiya | What penance did I perform? |
| Enna thavam seithaen | Oh Lord, to attain you... |
| Female | |
| Saami naan umai adaiya | What penance did I perform, oh handsome charmer? |
| Enna thavam saeithaen sunthara manigaraa | Oh Lord, to attain you... |
| Saami naan umai adaiya | What penance did I perform? |
| Enna thavam saeithaen | Crossing the roaring sea to reach us... |
| Female | |
| Kaththu kadal thaandi nammai | Coming here to survive by licking off us... |
| Nakki uyir pizhaikka vantha | As those dogs called foreigners gather here... |
| Parangi enum naaigal ingu thirala | Chopping off heads like drumheads, arms and legs rolling... |
| Thalai parai arukka kaaikalena urula | Making the enemy army shake with fear... |
| Male | |
| Kidukiduvena padai nadunga | Making their thighs tremble in fright... |
| Vedavedavena thodai nadunga | A flood of blood will gush forth profusely. |
| Kubukubuvena kuruthi vellam paayum | Do not go, do not go, my beloved husband! |
| Female | |
| Pogaathae pogaathae en kanavaa | I had an ominous dream. |
| Pollaatha soppanam naanum kandaen | I too saw a terrible dream. |
| Naanum pollaatha soppanam naanum kandaen | Oh lady with spear-like eyes, bring me the spear! |
| Male | |
| Velanaiya vizhiyaalae veleduththu vaadi | Oh lady with sword-like eyes, bring me the sword! |
| Vaalanaiya vizhiyaalae vaaleduththu vaadi | Taking spear, taking sword, bearing shoulder-armor and swearing an oath... |
| Veleduththu vaaleduththu tholeduththu sooluraiththu | I will enter the battlefield like a mighty elephant! |
| Porkalaththil vezhamena puguvaen | I shall return here victorious bearing a triumph garland. |
| Male | |
| Vettri maalai kondu naanum ingu varuvaen | Victorious spear, heroic spear! |
| Vettri vel veera vel | Victorious spear, heroic spear! |
| Chorus | |
| Vettri vel veera vel | Victorious spear, heroic spear! |
| Vettri vel veera vel | Victorious spear, heroic spear! |
| Vettri vel veera vel | Listen, oh mother, to this shocking news! |
| Male | |
| Kelum thaayae thidukkidum saedhi | News that makes the hearts of listeners tremble! |
| Ketpor nenjai nadukkidum saedhi | In the battle taking place at the Kali temple... |
| Kaali kovili nadakkum poril | Our bull-like hero Vellaiyathevan... |
| Kaalai namathu vellaiyath devanai | Howling jackals thrust their swords into him! |
| Oolai narigal vaalai paaichchinar | Alas, they thrust their swords into him! |
| Aiyako vaalai paaichchinar | Oh no, my husband! |
| Female | |
| Aiyyo aththaan | Husband, my life-like husband! |
| Aththaan aththaan ennuyir aththaan | Where have you gone? |
| Engu neer sendreer | Your life-like husband has departed to the heavens. |
| Male | |
| Vaanagam sendraar unnuyir aththaan | Oh sweet ambrosia, he will not return! |
| Thenamuthae avar thirumbi vaaraar | Female: Oh no! |
| Female :Aiyyo | Male: With this, the house of Kattabomman comes to ruin! |
| Male :Kettathu iththudan kattabomman kudi | Look how the sole flag of the foreigners has won! |
| Vendrathu paaradi parangiyar thani kodi | Haha, hahaha, haha! |
| Hahaa haahaa hahaa | |
| Female | |
| ……………. | |
எஸ். வி. பொன்னுசாமி மற்றும் பி. லீலா
Lord Ganesha, father, please come.
.......................
Master come, father come.
Help us conduct this play flawlessly.
Yes, grant us this blessing.
Vellaiyamma...
பிள்ளையார் அப்பனே வருக
அய்யா வருக அப்பா வருக
நாடகம் பிழையின்றி நடத்தி தருக...
ஆமா தருக
Vellaiyamma, a daughter of the Tamil soil.
Her story is a good story, a righteous story.
Vellaiyamma, a daughter of the Tamil soil.
வெள்ளையம்மா......ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....
வெள்ளையம்மா தமிழ் பிள்ளையம்மா
அவள் நல்ல கதை நீதியுள்ள கதை
Her story is a good story, a righteous story.
We are performing that story as a play.
வெள்ளையம்மா தமிழ் பிள்ளையம்மா
அவள் நல்ல கதை நீதியுள்ள கதை
Lord Ganesha, father, please come.
நாடகம் போடுறோம் நாங்கள் அதை
Master come, father come.
Oh deer-like beauty, to attain you...
பிள்ளையார் அப்பனே வருக
ஐயா வருக அப்பா வருக
What penance did I perform, oh beauty with lively eyes?
Oh deer-like beauty, to attain you...
What penance did I perform?
Oh Lord, to attain you...
மானே நான் உன்னை அடைய
என்ன தவம் செய்தேன் துள்ளும் விழியழகு
மானே நான் உன்னை அடைய
என்ன தவம் செய்தேன்
What penance did I perform, oh handsome charmer?
Oh Lord, to attain you...
What penance did I perform?
Crossing the roaring sea to reach us...
சாமி நான் உமை அடைய
என்ன தவம் செய்தேன் சுந்தர மனோகரா
சாமி நான் உமை அடைய
என்ன தவம் செய்தேன்
Coming here to survive by licking off us...
As those dogs called foreigners gather here...
Chopping off heads like drumheads, arms and legs rolling...
Making the enemy army shake with fear...
கத்துக் கடல் தாண்டி நம்மை
நக்கி உயிர் பிழைக்க வந்த
பறங்கி எனும் நாய்கள் இங்கு திரள
தலை பறை அறுக்க காய்களென உருள
Making their thighs tremble in fright...
A flood of blood will gush forth profusely.
Do not go, do not go, my beloved husband!
கிடுகிடுவென படை நடுங்க
வெடவெடவென தொடை நடுங்க
குபுகுபுவென குருதி வெள்ளம் பாயும்
I had an ominous dream.
I too saw a terrible dream.
Oh lady with spear-like eyes, bring me the spear!
போகாதே போகாதே என் கணவா
பொல்லாத சொப்பனம் நானும் கண்டேன்..
நானும் பொல்லாத சொப்பனம் நானும் கண்டேன்..
Oh lady with sword-like eyes, bring me the sword!
Taking spear, taking sword, bearing shoulder-armor and swearing an oath...
I will enter the battlefield like a mighty elephant!
I shall return here victorious bearing a triumph garland.
வேலனைய விழியாளே வேலெடுத்து வாடி
வாளனைய விழியாளே வாளெடுத்து வாடி
வேலெடுத்து வாளெடுத்து தோளெடுத்து சூளுரைத்து
போர்க்களத்தில் வேழமென புகுவேன்
Victorious spear, heroic spear!
Victorious spear, heroic spear!
வெற்றி மாலை கொண்டு நானும் இங்கு வருவேன்
வெற்றி வேல் வீர வேல்
Victorious spear, heroic spear!
Victorious spear, heroic spear!
Listen, oh mother, to this shocking news!
வெற்றி வேல் வீர வேல்
வெற்றி வேல் வீர வேல்
வெற்றி வேல் வீர வேல்
News that makes the hearts of listeners tremble!
In the battle taking place at the Kali temple...
Our bull-like hero Vellaiyathevan...
Howling jackals thrust their swords into him!
Alas, they thrust their swords into him!
Oh no, my husband!
கேளும் தாயே திடுக்கிடும் சேதி
கேட்போர் நெஞ்சை நடுக்கிடும் சேதி
காளி கோவிலில் நடக்கும் போரில்
காளை நமது வெள்ளையத்தேவனை
ஊளை நரிகள் வாளைப் பாய்ச்சினர்
ஐயகோ வாளைப் பாய்ச்சினர்
Husband, my life-like husband!
Where have you gone?
Your life-like husband has departed to the heavens.
அய்யோ அத்தான்
அத்தான் அத்தான் என்னுயிர் அத்தான்
எங்கு நீர் சென்றீர்
Oh sweet ambrosia, he will not return!
Female: Oh no!
Male: With this, the house of Kattabomman comes to ruin!
Look how the sole flag of the foreigners has won!
Haha, hahaha, haha!
வானகம் சென்றார் உன்னுயிர் அத்தான்
தேனமுதே அவர் திரும்பி வாரார்
அய்யோ
கெட்டது இத்துடன் கட்டபொம்மன் குடி
வென்றது பாரடி பறங்கியர் தனிக் கொடி......
ஹஹா ஹஹா ஹஹா
......................
………………..
Lord Ganesha, father, please come.
Pillaiyaar appanae varuga
Master come, father come.
Aiyya varuga appa varuga
Help us conduct this play flawlessly.
Naadagam pizhaiyindri nadaththi tharuga
Yes, grant us this blessing.
Aamaa tharuga
Vellaiyamma...
Vellaiyammaa….aa….aa….aa…
Vellaiyamma, a daughter of the Tamil soil.
Vellaiyammaa tamil pillaiyammaa
Her story is a good story, a righteous story.
Aval nalla kadhai neethiyulla kadhai
Vellaiyamma, a daughter of the Tamil soil.
Vellaiyammaa tamil pillaiyammaa
Her story is a good story, a righteous story.
Aval nalla kadhai needhiyulla kadhai
We are performing that story as a play.
Naadagam podurom naangal adhai
Lord Ganesha, father, please come.
Pillaiyaar appanae varuga
Master come, father come.
Aiyya varuga appa varuga
Oh deer-like beauty, to attain you...
Maanae naan unnai adaiya
What penance did I perform, oh beauty with lively eyes?
Enna thavam seithaen thullum vizhiyazhagu
Oh deer-like beauty, to attain you...
Maanae naan unnai adaiya
What penance did I perform?
Enna thavam seithaen
Oh Lord, to attain you...
Saami naan umai adaiya
What penance did I perform, oh handsome charmer?
Enna thavam saeithaen sunthara manigaraa
Oh Lord, to attain you...
Saami naan umai adaiya
What penance did I perform?
Enna thavam saeithaen
Crossing the roaring sea to reach us...
Kaththu kadal thaandi nammai
Coming here to survive by licking off us...
Nakki uyir pizhaikka vantha
As those dogs called foreigners gather here...
Parangi enum naaigal ingu thirala
Chopping off heads like drumheads, arms and legs rolling...
Thalai parai arukka kaaikalena urula
Making the enemy army shake with fear...
Kidukiduvena padai nadunga
Making their thighs tremble in fright...
Vedavedavena thodai nadunga
A flood of blood will gush forth profusely.
Kubukubuvena kuruthi vellam paayum
Do not go, do not go, my beloved husband!
Pogaathae pogaathae en kanavaa
I had an ominous dream.
Pollaatha soppanam naanum kandaen
I too saw a terrible dream.
Naanum pollaatha soppanam naanum kandaen
Oh lady with spear-like eyes, bring me the spear!
Velanaiya vizhiyaalae veleduththu vaadi
Oh lady with sword-like eyes, bring me the sword!
Vaalanaiya vizhiyaalae vaaleduththu vaadi
Taking spear, taking sword, bearing shoulder-armor and swearing an oath...
Veleduththu vaaleduththu tholeduththu sooluraiththu
I will enter the battlefield like a mighty elephant!
Porkalaththil vezhamena puguvaen
I shall return here victorious bearing a triumph garland.
Vettri maalai kondu naanum ingu varuvaen
Victorious spear, heroic spear!
Vettri vel veera vel
Victorious spear, heroic spear!
Vettri vel veera vel
Victorious spear, heroic spear!
Vettri vel veera vel
Victorious spear, heroic spear!
Vettri vel veera vel
Listen, oh mother, to this shocking news!
Kelum thaayae thidukkidum saedhi
News that makes the hearts of listeners tremble!
Ketpor nenjai nadukkidum saedhi
In the battle taking place at the Kali temple...
Kaali kovili nadakkum poril
Our bull-like hero Vellaiyathevan...
Kaalai namathu vellaiyath devanai
Howling jackals thrust their swords into him!
Oolai narigal vaalai paaichchinar
Alas, they thrust their swords into him!
Aiyako vaalai paaichchinar
Oh no, my husband!
Aiyyo aththaan
Husband, my life-like husband!
Aththaan aththaan ennuyir aththaan
Where have you gone?
Engu neer sendreer
Your life-like husband has departed to the heavens.
Vaanagam sendraar unnuyir aththaan
Oh sweet ambrosia, he will not return!
Thenamuthae avar thirumbi vaaraar
Female: Oh no!
Female :Aiyyo
Male: With this, the house of Kattabomman comes to ruin!
Male :Kettathu iththudan kattabomman kudi
Look how the sole flag of the foreigners has won!
Vendrathu paaradi parangiyar thani kodi
Haha, hahaha, haha!
Hahaa haahaa hahaa
…………….
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song presents a traditional Tamil street play (Therukoothu) depiction telling the heroic tragic tale of Vellaiyathevan and Vellaiyamma from the historical saga of Veerapandiya Kattabomman. It begins with a ritualistic invocation to Lord Ganesha to bless the play, followed by romantic exchanges between the hero and his beloved. As the narrative progresses to conflict, the hero passionately rallies against the invading British forces ('Parangiyar'), despite his wife's bad omens.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition
“Pillaiyaar appanae varuga / Aiyya varuga appa varuga”
Repeated invocation at the beginning to set the traditional Therukoothu dramatic rhythm.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Velanaiya vizhiyaalae veleduththu vaadi / Porkalaththil vezhamena puguvaen”
Comparing the heroine's eyes to weapons (spear and sword) and the hero entering the battlefield to an elephant.
Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi)
“Kidukiduvena padai nadunga / Vedavedavena thodai nadunga / Kubukubuvena kuruthi vellam paayum”
Use of rhythmic sensory sound words like 'Kidukiduvena', 'Vedavedavena', and 'Kubukubuvena' to depict terror and flowing blood.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kaalai namathu vellaiyath devanai / Oolai narigal vaalai paaichchinar”
Comparing the enemy forces to 'Oolai narigal' (howling jackals) and the hero to 'Kaalai' (a strong bull).
Did you know?
Trivia
This track is a dramatic musical depiction of 'Kattabomman Koothu' within the film Malligai Poo (1973). It uses traditional folk theatrical singing styles to re-enact the tragic martyrdom of warrior Vellaiyathevan against the British East India Company forces.
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