Pullainga Perulathan
From Uravai Kaatha Kili · 1984
- Lyricist
- T. Rajendar
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- T. Rajendar
- Details
- Uravai Kaatha Kili1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Pullainga perulathaan | In the names of children, |
| Thangam vairam irukkuthu | Gold and diamond are present. |
| Koozhu kooda kidaikkaama | Without even getting porridge to eat, |
| Enga vayiru thavikkuthu | Our stomachs are suffering in hunger. |
| Female | |
| Pullainga perulathaan | In the names of children, |
| Thangam vairam irukkuthu | Gold and diamond are present. |
| Koozhu kooda kidaikkaama | Without even getting porridge to eat, |
| Enga vayiru thavikkuthu | Our stomachs are suffering in hunger. |
| Female | |
| Aduppathu eriyavilla | The stove does not burn, |
| Jaan vayiru eriyuthammaa | But this small stomach burns in hunger, oh mother. |
| Aduppathu eriyavilla | The stove does not burn, |
| Jaan vayiru eriyuthammaa | But this small stomach burns in hunger, oh mother. |
| Kanji kooda kaaichchi vaikka vithiyillaa | There is no fate even to boil porridge, |
| Ennai pinju mugangal paaththaakka | When these tender little faces look at me, |
| Azhuvaene mella aa….aa… | I weep softly, ah... ah... |
| Female | |
| Vaanamennum thattu niraiya | Full in the plate called the sky, |
| Natchaththira sottru parukkai | Grains of rice in the form of stars, |
| Vaanamennum thattu niraiya | Full in the plate called the sky, |
| Natchaththira sottru parukkai | Grains of rice in the form of stars, |
| Female | |
| Angum ingum kotti kidakka | Are scattered here and there, |
| Ammaammaa enga porukka | Oh mother, where can we gather them? |
| Angum ingum kotti kidakka | Are scattered here and there, |
| Ammaammaa enga porukka | Oh mother, where can we gather them? |
| Female | |
| Nilavinai paarppatharkku | Looking at the moon, |
| Maambazham pol irukkuthu | It looks like a ripe mango, |
| Pasiyilae parippatharkku | To pluck it in extreme hunger, |
| Ettaamal yaeikkirathu | It stays out of reach and deceives us. |
| Female | |
| Kanji kooda kaaichchi vaikka vithiyillaa | There is no fate even to boil porridge, |
| Ennai pinju mugangal paaththaakka | When these tender little faces look at me, |
| Azhuvaene mella aa….aa…aa….aa… | I weep softly, ah... ah... |
| Female | |
| Mannai padakkaiyilae | While creating the earth, |
| Medendrum pallamendrum | As high mounds and low valleys, |
| Mannai padakkaiyilae | While creating the earth, |
| Medendrum pallamendrum | As high mounds and low valleys, |
| Female | |
| Piriththitta aandavanae | Oh God who divided it, |
| Unnai naan ketkindraen | I ask of you, |
| Piriththitta aandavanae | Oh God who divided it, |
| Unnai naan ketkindraen | I ask of you, |
| Female | |
| Manithanai padaikkaiyilae | While creating mankind, |
| Meendum yaen maedu pallam | Why again high and low inequality? |
| Yaezhai naangal vaaduvathil | In our suffering as poor people, |
| Unakkenna aananthan | What joy do you get? |
| Female | |
| Kanji kooda kaaichchi vaikka vithiyillaa | There is no fate even to boil porridge, |
| Ennai pinju mugangal paaththaakka | When these tender little faces look at me, |
| Azhuvaene mella | I weep softly, |
| Female | |
| Pullainga perulathaan | In the names of children, |
| Thangam vairam irukkuthu | Gold and diamond are present. |
| Koozhu kooda kidaikkaama | Without even getting porridge to eat, |
| Enga vayiru thavikkuthu | Our stomachs are suffering in hunger. |
| Aa….aa…aa….aa… | Ah... ah... ah... ah... |
புள்ளைங்க பேருலதான்
தங்கம் வைரம் இருக்குது
கூழு கூட கிடைக்காம
எங்க வயிறு தவிக்குது
In the names of children,
Gold and diamond are present.
Without even getting porridge to eat,
Our stomachs are suffering in hunger.
புள்ளைங்க பேருலதான்
தங்கம் வைரம் இருக்குது
கூழு கூட கிடைக்காம
எங்க வயிறு தவிக்குது
In the names of children,
Gold and diamond are present.
Without even getting porridge to eat,
Our stomachs are suffering in hunger.
அடுப்பது எரியவில்ல
ஜாண் வயிறு எரியுதம்மா
அடுப்பது எரியவில்ல
ஜாண் வயிறு எரியுதம்மா
கஞ்சி கூட காய்ச்சி வைக்க விதியில்லா
என்னை பிஞ்சு முகங்கள் பாத்தாக்க
அழுவேனே மெல்ல ஆ...ஆ...
The stove does not burn,
But this small stomach burns in hunger, oh mother.
The stove does not burn,
But this small stomach burns in hunger, oh mother.
There is no fate even to boil porridge,
When these tender little faces look at me,
I weep softly, ah... ah...
வானமென்னும் தட்டு நிறைய
நட்சத்திர சோற்றுப் பருக்கை
வானமென்னும் தட்டு நிறைய
நட்சத்திர சோற்றுப் பருக்கை
Full in the plate called the sky,
Grains of rice in the form of stars,
Full in the plate called the sky,
Grains of rice in the form of stars,
அங்கும் இங்கும் கொட்டி கிடக்க
அம்மம்மா எங்க பொறுக்க
அங்கும் இங்கும் கொட்டி கிடக்க
அம்மம்மா எங்க பொறுக்க
Are scattered here and there,
Oh mother, where can we gather them?
Are scattered here and there,
Oh mother, where can we gather them?
நிலவினை பார்ப்பதற்கு
மாம்பழம் போல் இருக்குது
பசியிலே பறிப்பதற்கு
எட்டாமல் ஏய்க்கிறது
Looking at the moon,
It looks like a ripe mango,
To pluck it in extreme hunger,
It stays out of reach and deceives us.
கஞ்சி கூட காய்ச்சி வைக்க விதியில்லா
என்னை பிஞ்சு முகங்கள் பாத்தாக்க
அழுவேனே மெல்ல ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...
There is no fate even to boil porridge,
When these tender little faces look at me,
I weep softly, ah... ah...
மண்ணை படைக்கையிலே
மேடென்றும் பள்ளமென்றும்
மண்ணை படைக்கையிலே
மேடென்றும் பள்ளமென்றும்
While creating the earth,
As high mounds and low valleys,
While creating the earth,
As high mounds and low valleys,
பிரித்திட்ட ஆண்டவனே
உன்னை நான் கேட்கின்றேன்
பிரித்திட்ட ஆண்டவனே
உன்னை நான் கேட்கின்றேன்
Oh God who divided it,
I ask of you,
Oh God who divided it,
I ask of you,
மனிதனை படைக்கையிலே
மீண்டும் ஏன் மேடு பள்ளம்
ஏழை நாங்கள் வாடுவதில்
உனக்கென்ன ஆனந்தம்
While creating mankind,
Why again high and low inequality?
In our suffering as poor people,
What joy do you get?
கஞ்சி கூட காய்ச்சி வைக்க விதியில்லா
என்னை பிஞ்சு முகங்கள் பாத்தாக்க
அழுவேனே மெல்ல
There is no fate even to boil porridge,
When these tender little faces look at me,
I weep softly,
புள்ளைங்க பேருலதான்
தங்கம் வைரம் இருக்குது
கூழு கூட கிடைக்காம
எங்க வயிறு தவிக்குது...
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....
In the names of children,
Gold and diamond are present.
Without even getting porridge to eat,
Our stomachs are suffering in hunger.
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Pullainga perulathaan
In the names of children,
Thangam vairam irukkuthu
Gold and diamond are present.
Koozhu kooda kidaikkaama
Without even getting porridge to eat,
Enga vayiru thavikkuthu
Our stomachs are suffering in hunger.
Pullainga perulathaan
In the names of children,
Thangam vairam irukkuthu
Gold and diamond are present.
Koozhu kooda kidaikkaama
Without even getting porridge to eat,
Enga vayiru thavikkuthu
Our stomachs are suffering in hunger.
Aduppathu eriyavilla
The stove does not burn,
Jaan vayiru eriyuthammaa
But this small stomach burns in hunger, oh mother.
Aduppathu eriyavilla
The stove does not burn,
Jaan vayiru eriyuthammaa
But this small stomach burns in hunger, oh mother.
Kanji kooda kaaichchi vaikka vithiyillaa
There is no fate even to boil porridge,
Ennai pinju mugangal paaththaakka
When these tender little faces look at me,
Azhuvaene mella aa….aa…
I weep softly, ah... ah...
Vaanamennum thattu niraiya
Full in the plate called the sky,
Natchaththira sottru parukkai
Grains of rice in the form of stars,
Vaanamennum thattu niraiya
Full in the plate called the sky,
Natchaththira sottru parukkai
Grains of rice in the form of stars,
Angum ingum kotti kidakka
Are scattered here and there,
Ammaammaa enga porukka
Oh mother, where can we gather them?
Angum ingum kotti kidakka
Are scattered here and there,
Ammaammaa enga porukka
Oh mother, where can we gather them?
Nilavinai paarppatharkku
Looking at the moon,
Maambazham pol irukkuthu
It looks like a ripe mango,
Pasiyilae parippatharkku
To pluck it in extreme hunger,
Ettaamal yaeikkirathu
It stays out of reach and deceives us.
Kanji kooda kaaichchi vaikka vithiyillaa
There is no fate even to boil porridge,
Ennai pinju mugangal paaththaakka
When these tender little faces look at me,
Azhuvaene mella aa….aa…aa….aa…
I weep softly, ah... ah...
Mannai padakkaiyilae
While creating the earth,
Medendrum pallamendrum
As high mounds and low valleys,
Mannai padakkaiyilae
While creating the earth,
Medendrum pallamendrum
As high mounds and low valleys,
Piriththitta aandavanae
Oh God who divided it,
Unnai naan ketkindraen
I ask of you,
Piriththitta aandavanae
Oh God who divided it,
Unnai naan ketkindraen
I ask of you,
Manithanai padaikkaiyilae
While creating mankind,
Meendum yaen maedu pallam
Why again high and low inequality?
Yaezhai naangal vaaduvathil
In our suffering as poor people,
Unakkenna aananthan
What joy do you get?
Kanji kooda kaaichchi vaikka vithiyillaa
There is no fate even to boil porridge,
Ennai pinju mugangal paaththaakka
When these tender little faces look at me,
Azhuvaene mella
I weep softly,
Pullainga perulathaan
In the names of children,
Thangam vairam irukkuthu
Gold and diamond are present.
Koozhu kooda kidaikkaama
Without even getting porridge to eat,
Enga vayiru thavikkuthu
Our stomachs are suffering in hunger.
Aa….aa…aa….aa…
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Pullainga Perulathaan is a poignant mother's lament on extreme poverty and starvation. She contrasts the irony of naming poor children with precious names like Thangam (Gold) and Vairam (Diamond) against the tragic reality where they lack even basic porridge. Her hungry children look up at the sky, metaphorically viewing the star-lit sky as a plate of rice grains and the glowing moon as a ripe mango, both tantalizingly out of reach. The mother directs her sorrowful anger towards the Creator, questioning why social inequality exists. She demands to know why God created high and low classes among human beings just as He formed mountains and valleys on the physical earth, asking what pleasure He finds in the unending plight of the poor.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Irony / Social Contrast
“Pullainga perulathaan Thangam vairam irukkuthu Koozhu kooda kidaikkaama”
The lyric contrasts the precious names given to children (Thangam - Gold, Vairam - Diamond) with their inability to afford even basic porridge (Koozhu).
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Vaanamennum thattu niraiya Natchaththira sottru parukkai”
The sky is metaphorically compared to a plate (Vaanamennum thattu) filled with rice grains made of stars (Natchaththira sottru parukkai).
Simile (Uvamai)
“Nilavinai paarppatharkku Maambazham pol irukkuthu”
The full moon is directly compared to a ripe mango using 'pol' (like).
Ethirai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Mannai padakkaiyilae / Medendrum pallamendrum”
Tamil poetic rhyme where the second letter matches across adjacent lines (Mannai / Medendrum / Piriththitta / Unnai / Manithanai).
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed, written, and directed by T. Rajendar for the 1984 film 'Uravai Kaatha Kili', this song showcases his signature style of highly rhythmic, rhyming Tamil lyrics fused with intense melodrama. Legendary playback singer P. Susheela delivered a memorable, tear-jerking vocal performance that made this track one of the most famous hunger-lament songs in Tamil cinema.
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