Saga Uyire
From Bommai Nayagi · 2023
- Lyricist
- Arivu
- Music director
- Sundaramurthy KS
- Details
- Bommai Nayagi2023
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Saga uyirae saga uyirae | Oh fellow living being, oh fellow living being |
| Sadhaiyaai naanum karaigalilae | I am reduced to mere flesh upon the shores |
| Nadhi enadhae kadal enadhae | The river is mine, the sea is mine |
| Vidhi yaar yaaroo ezhudhiyadhae | Yet who wrote this tragic fate? |
| Female | |
| Aariraaraaroo aanen ulago | Has the world turned into a lullaby? |
| Boomi thaayi ingu naanum melugoo | Mother Earth, here I am melting like wax |
| Saalai oor engum naanae silaiyoo | Am I a mere statue in every street and town? |
| Saavi un kaiyilo | Is the key to my life held in your hands? |
| Chorus | |
| Adaiyaalam thaan menmaiyoo | Is gentleness my only identity? |
| Vilaiyaada naan bommaiyoo | Am I just a doll for you to play with? |
| Unaraadha nee unmaiyoo | Are you truly genuine if you lack empathy? |
| Unaraadhadhae unmaiyoo | Is that which goes unperceived the absolute truth? |
| Male | |
| Thangamma thangamma adi aathi | Golden girl, golden girl, oh my goodness! |
| Arasamarathu vilakkethi | Light the lamp beneath the sacred peepal tree |
| Ponnamma chinnamma kadhai paesi | Ponnamma, young girl, exchange stories |
| Pandha koluthudi madathi | Light up the flaming torch, brave woman! |
| Male | |
| Aadhikkam thaan aagadhu | Dominance and oppression must never prevail |
| Aadi koondae aal aagu | Dance through the storm and grow strong |
| Yaarukkum adangida koodadhu | You must never bow down or submit to anyone |
| Pennae yarukkum adangida koodadhu | Oh woman, you must never bow down to anyone |
| Female | |
| Thoduvanam arugilae | Near the distant horizon |
| Aga siragugal viriyum pozhuthilae | When inner wings spread out wide |
| Alarakkum ulagilae | In a world that screams around her |
| Malaiyaaga ivalum nimiravae | May she stand tall and erect like a mountain |
| Female | |
| Thaaiyaga pesum ivalai | She who speaks with the warmth of a mother |
| Thaanaga vaazha vidumoo | Will they let her live freely on her own terms? |
| Poovaaga paarkum nimidham | The moment she is viewed merely as a fragile flower |
| Theervaagumoo | Will that ever provide a resolution? |
| Chorus | |
| Adaiyaalam thaan menmaiyoo | Is gentleness my only identity? |
| Vilaiyaada naan bommaiyoo | Am I just a doll for you to play with? |
| Unaraadha nee unmaiyoo | Are you truly genuine if you lack empathy? |
| Unaraadhadhae unmaiyoo | Is that which goes unperceived the absolute truth? |
சக உயிரே! சக உயிரே!
சதையா நானும் கரைகளிலே
நதி எனதே கடல் எனதே
விதி யார் யாரோ எழுதியதிதே
Oh fellow living being, oh fellow living being
I am reduced to mere flesh upon the shores
The river is mine, the sea is mine
Yet who wrote this tragic fate?
ஆரிராராரோ ஆனேன் உலகோ
பூமி தாய் இங்கு நானும் மெழுகோ!
சாலை ஊரெங்கும் நானே சிலையோ!
சாவி உன் கையிலாே!
Has the world turned into a lullaby?
Mother Earth, here I am melting like wax
Am I a mere statue in every street and town?
Is the key to my life held in your hands?
அடையாளம் தான் மெண்மையாே!
விளையாட நான் பொம்மையோ
உணராத நீ உண்மையோ
உணராததே உண்மையோ
Is gentleness my only identity?
Am I just a doll for you to play with?
Are you truly genuine if you lack empathy?
Is that which goes unperceived the absolute truth?
தங்கம்மா தங்கம்மா அடி ஆத்தி
அரசமரத்து விளக்கேத்தி
பொன்னம்மா சின்னம்மா கதை பேசி
பந்த கொளுத்தடி மாடத்தி
Golden girl, golden girl, oh my goodness!
Light the lamp beneath the sacred peepal tree
Ponnamma, young girl, exchange stories
Light up the flaming torch, brave woman!
ஆதிக்கம் தான் ஆகாது
ஆடிக்கொண்டே ஆளாகு
யாருக்கும் அடங்கிட கூடாது
பெண்ணே! யாருக்கும் அடங்கிட கூடாது
Dominance and oppression must never prevail
Dance through the storm and grow strong
You must never bow down or submit to anyone
Oh woman, you must never bow down to anyone
தொடுவானம் அருகிலே
அகச்சிறகுகள் விரியும் பொழுதிலே
அலராக்கும் உலகிலே
மலையாக இவளும் நிமிரவே
Near the distant horizon
When inner wings spread out wide
In a world that screams around her
May she stand tall and erect like a mountain
தாயாக பேசும் இவளை
தானாக வாழ விடுமோ!
பூவாக பார்க்கும் நிமிதம்
தீர்வாகுமோ!
She who speaks with the warmth of a mother
Will they let her live freely on her own terms?
The moment she is viewed merely as a fragile flower
Will that ever provide a resolution?
அடையாளம் தான் மெண்மையாே!
விளையாட நான் பொம்மையோ
உணராத நீ உண்மையோ
உணராததே உண்மையோ
Is gentleness my only identity?
Am I just a doll for you to play with?
Are you truly genuine if you lack empathy?
Is that which goes unperceived the absolute truth?
Saga uyirae saga uyirae
Oh fellow living being, oh fellow living being
Sadhaiyaai naanum karaigalilae
I am reduced to mere flesh upon the shores
Nadhi enadhae kadal enadhae
The river is mine, the sea is mine
Vidhi yaar yaaroo ezhudhiyadhae
Yet who wrote this tragic fate?
Aariraaraaroo aanen ulago
Has the world turned into a lullaby?
Boomi thaayi ingu naanum melugoo
Mother Earth, here I am melting like wax
Saalai oor engum naanae silaiyoo
Am I a mere statue in every street and town?
Saavi un kaiyilo
Is the key to my life held in your hands?
Adaiyaalam thaan menmaiyoo
Is gentleness my only identity?
Vilaiyaada naan bommaiyoo
Am I just a doll for you to play with?
Unaraadha nee unmaiyoo
Are you truly genuine if you lack empathy?
Unaraadhadhae unmaiyoo
Is that which goes unperceived the absolute truth?
Thangamma thangamma adi aathi
Golden girl, golden girl, oh my goodness!
Arasamarathu vilakkethi
Light the lamp beneath the sacred peepal tree
Ponnamma chinnamma kadhai paesi
Ponnamma, young girl, exchange stories
Pandha koluthudi madathi
Light up the flaming torch, brave woman!
Aadhikkam thaan aagadhu
Dominance and oppression must never prevail
Aadi koondae aal aagu
Dance through the storm and grow strong
Yaarukkum adangida koodadhu
You must never bow down or submit to anyone
Pennae yarukkum adangida koodadhu
Oh woman, you must never bow down to anyone
Thoduvanam arugilae
Near the distant horizon
Aga siragugal viriyum pozhuthilae
When inner wings spread out wide
Alarakkum ulagilae
In a world that screams around her
Malaiyaaga ivalum nimiravae
May she stand tall and erect like a mountain
Thaaiyaga pesum ivalai
She who speaks with the warmth of a mother
Thaanaga vaazha vidumoo
Will they let her live freely on her own terms?
Poovaaga paarkum nimidham
The moment she is viewed merely as a fragile flower
Theervaagumoo
Will that ever provide a resolution?
Adaiyaalam thaan menmaiyoo
Is gentleness my only identity?
Vilaiyaada naan bommaiyoo
Am I just a doll for you to play with?
Unaraadha nee unmaiyoo
Are you truly genuine if you lack empathy?
Unaraadhadhae unmaiyoo
Is that which goes unperceived the absolute truth?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song explores themes of female identity, societal oppression, and empowered resilience. The protagonist questions patriarchal structures that reduce women to fragile, passive objects—mere 'dolls' (bommai) controlled by others without agency. Through vivid metaphors of nature, flesh, and statues, she addresses the systemic injustice and lack of empathy in the surrounding world. In the latter half, the narrative shifts toward an empowering battle cry. It urges women to light the torch of courage, reject dominance, and reclaim their autonomy. Rather than being treated as delicate flowers, women are urged to spread their inner wings and rise as unwavering mountains, asserting their right to live freely and independently.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vina Yethirvu)
“Vilaiyaada naan bommaiyoo”
Repeated use of interrogative endings ('-oo') in lines like 'Vilaiyaada naan bommaiyoo' challenges society's objectification of women.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Boomi thaayi ingu naanum melugoo”
Comparing herself to melting wax ('melugoo') on Mother Earth symbolizes vulnerability, pain, and loss of form under pressure.
Simile / Visual Imagery (Uvamai)
“Malaiyaaga ivalum nimiravae”
Comparing the empowered woman rising tall like a mountain ('Malaiyaaga') creates strong visual imagery of unshakeable strength.
Monai & Ethirai (Tamil Rhyme and Alliteration)
“Thangamma thangamma adi aathi”
Use of rhythmic folk-style alliteration and rhyme patterns across 'Thangamma', 'Arasamarathu', and 'Ponnamma'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from 'Bommai Nayagi' (2023), a drama film starring Yogi Babu in a poignant lead role. Lyricist Arivu, known for his socially conscious and anti-caste hip-hop and folk writing (like 'Enjoy Enjaami'), penned these lyrics to highlight female empowerment and dignity against social injustice.
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