Ragam Engeyo Thalam
From Metti · 1982
- Lyricist
- Madhukoor Kannan
- Singers
- B. S. Sasirekha, Bramanandan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Metti1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Metti metti metti metti | Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings |
| Male :Raagam engaeyo thaalam engaeyo | Male: Where is the melody? Where is the rhythm? |
| Paadham paadum geetham yaavum vaan meedho | Are all the songs sung by feet reaching up into the sky? |
| Female :Metti metti metti metti | Female: Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings |
| Male | |
| …………… | ... |
| Female | |
| Oo chinna poovae nee azhavo | Female: Oh little flower, are you weeping? |
| Male :Metti metti | Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings |
| Female :Vannakkaalil thee idavo | Female: Is fire placed upon these colorful feet? |
| Male :Metti metti | Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings |
| Female :Thulli odum velli beedam | Female: The silver pedestal that once leaped with joy |
| Kolli thedum naalitho | Is this the day it seeks a funeral pyre? |
| Female | |
| Illam oomaiyaanatho | Has the home become mute? |
| Irul thaediponatho kanneer aarae odum | Has it wandered into darkness as a river of tears flows? |
| Metti metti metti metti | Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings |
| Male | |
| Ragam engaeyo thaalam engaeyo | Where is the melody? Where is the rhythm? |
| Paadham paadum geetham yaavum vaan meedho | Are all the songs sung by feet reaching up into the sky? |
| Female :Metti metti metti metti | Female: Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings |
| Female | |
| Oo nenjil aadum oviyamae | Oh portrait dancing within the heart |
| Male :Metti metti | Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings |
| Female :Metti osai kaaviyamae | Female: The chime of toe-rings is an epic poem |
| Male :Metti metti | Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings |
| Female :Anbin vedham annaiyaagum | Female: The scripture of love becomes a mother |
| Inba naadham kaalillae | The joyful sound resides at her feet |
| Female | |
| Mullil paadham ponatho | Did her feet tread upon thorns? |
| Mugam jothiyaanatho | Has her face turned into a divine radiance? |
| Sollae illai paada | There are no words left to sing |
| Metti metti metti metti | Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings |
| Male | |
| Raagam engaeyo thaalam engaeyo | Where is the melody? Where is the rhythm? |
| Paadham paadum geetham yaavum vaan meedho | Are all the songs sung by feet reaching up into the sky? |
மெட்டி மெட்டி மெட்டி மெட்டி
ராகம் எங்கேயோ தாளம் எங்கேயோ
பாதம் பாடும் கீதம் யாவும் வான் மீதோ
மெட்டி மெட்டி மெட்டி மெட்டி
Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings
Male: Where is the melody? Where is the rhythm?
Are all the songs sung by feet reaching up into the sky?
Female: Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings
.......................
...
ஓ சின்னப் பூவே நீ அழவோ..
மெட்டி.....மெட்டி..
வண்ணக்காலில் தீ இடவோ
மெட்டி.....மெட்டி..
துள்ளி ஓடும் வெள்ளி பீடம்
கொள்ளி தேடும் நாளிதோ
Female: Oh little flower, are you weeping?
Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings
Female: Is fire placed upon these colorful feet?
Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings
Female: The silver pedestal that once leaped with joy
Is this the day it seeks a funeral pyre?
இல்லம் ஊமையானதோ
இருள் தேடிப்போனதோ கண்ணீர் ஆறே ஓடும்
மெட்டி மெட்டி மெட்டி மெட்டி
Has the home become mute?
Has it wandered into darkness as a river of tears flows?
Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings
ராகம் எங்கேயோ தாளம் எங்கேயோ
பாதம் பாடும் கீதம் யாவும் வான் மீதோ
மெட்டி மெட்டி மெட்டி மெட்டி
Where is the melody? Where is the rhythm?
Are all the songs sung by feet reaching up into the sky?
Female: Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings
ஓ நெஞ்சில் ஆடும் ஓவியமே
மெட்டி.....மெட்டி..
மெட்டி ஓசை காவியமே
மெட்டி.....மெட்டி..
அன்பின் வேதம் அன்னையாகும்
இன்ப நாதம் காலிலே
Oh portrait dancing within the heart
Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings
Female: The chime of toe-rings is an epic poem
Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings
Female: The scripture of love becomes a mother
The joyful sound resides at her feet
முள்ளில் பாதம் போனதோ
முகம் ஜோதியானதோ
சொல்லே இல்லை பாட
மெட்டி மெட்டி மெட்டி மெட்டி
Did her feet tread upon thorns?
Has her face turned into a divine radiance?
There are no words left to sing
Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings
ராகம் எங்கேயோ தாளம் எங்கேயோ
பாதம் பாடும் கீதம் யாவும் வான் மீதோ
Where is the melody? Where is the rhythm?
Are all the songs sung by feet reaching up into the sky?
Metti metti metti metti
Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings
Male :Raagam engaeyo thaalam engaeyo
Male: Where is the melody? Where is the rhythm?
Paadham paadum geetham yaavum vaan meedho
Are all the songs sung by feet reaching up into the sky?
Female :Metti metti metti metti
Female: Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings
……………
...
Oo chinna poovae nee azhavo
Female: Oh little flower, are you weeping?
Male :Metti metti
Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings
Female :Vannakkaalil thee idavo
Female: Is fire placed upon these colorful feet?
Male :Metti metti
Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings
Female :Thulli odum velli beedam
Female: The silver pedestal that once leaped with joy
Kolli thedum naalitho
Is this the day it seeks a funeral pyre?
Illam oomaiyaanatho
Has the home become mute?
Irul thaediponatho kanneer aarae odum
Has it wandered into darkness as a river of tears flows?
Metti metti metti metti
Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings
Ragam engaeyo thaalam engaeyo
Where is the melody? Where is the rhythm?
Paadham paadum geetham yaavum vaan meedho
Are all the songs sung by feet reaching up into the sky?
Female :Metti metti metti metti
Female: Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings
Oo nenjil aadum oviyamae
Oh portrait dancing within the heart
Male :Metti metti
Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings
Female :Metti osai kaaviyamae
Female: The chime of toe-rings is an epic poem
Male :Metti metti
Male: Toe-rings, toe-rings
Female :Anbin vedham annaiyaagum
Female: The scripture of love becomes a mother
Inba naadham kaalillae
The joyful sound resides at her feet
Mullil paadham ponatho
Did her feet tread upon thorns?
Mugam jothiyaanatho
Has her face turned into a divine radiance?
Sollae illai paada
There are no words left to sing
Metti metti metti metti
Toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings, toe-rings
Raagam engaeyo thaalam engaeyo
Where is the melody? Where is the rhythm?
Paadham paadum geetham yaavum vaan meedho
Are all the songs sung by feet reaching up into the sky?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This melancholic song from the film 'Metti' reflects deep emotional grief and poignant sorrow. The lyrics contrast the traditional joyful sound of a woman's toe-rings (metti) with the tragedy that has struck her household. The melody and rhythm seem lost as grief overwhelms the family, transforming celebratory ornaments into tragic symbols of pain and loss. The song poignantly asks whether the innocent heroine's life has been consumed by hardship, comparing her flowing grief to a river of tears, while celebrating the noble maternal love that shines through adversity despite the absence of words to convey her suffering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)
“Male :Raagam engaeyo thaalam engaeyo”
The opening line asks 'Where is the melody? Where is the rhythm?' to highlight the overwhelming chaos and sorrow that disrupted harmony.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Irul thaediponatho kanneer aarae odum”
'Kanneer aarae' metaphors tears as a flowing river, emphasizing continuous and deep sorrow.
Refrain / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Metti metti metti metti”
The rhythmic chant 'Metti metti' acts as a poetic motif throughout the song, echoing both ornament and tragedy.
Did you know?
Trivia
Directed by the acclaimed director J. Mahendran, 'Metti' (1982) features a haunting soundtrack by Ilaiyaraaja. The song uses rhythmic vocal cues mimicking the sound of toe-rings ('Metti') as a musical counterpoint to create a distinct, atmospheric mournfulness.
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