Thaai Illaa Pillai
From Thai Mozhi · 1992
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Arun Mozhi
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thai Mozhi1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada | As a motherless child sings a lullaby, |
| Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora | As a speechless child expresses its sorrow, |
| Idhu kaaththodu aaththodu pogum | This will drift away with the wind and the river, |
| Megam pol odam polae | Like a cloud, like a boat... |
| Idhu karai oram orr naalil serum | This will reach the shore one day, |
| Kaalam nal neram vanthaalae | When time brings good tide. |
| Male | |
| Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada | As a motherless child sings a lullaby, |
| Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora | As a speechless child expresses its sorrow, |
| Male | |
| Thaai oru paavaththin chinnam endru | Believing his mother was a symbol of sin, |
| Pillai thalli vaiththaan | The child pushed her away. |
| Oor oru poi katti vittathendru | That the town had spun a web of lies, |
| Pinbuthaan arinthaan | He came to realize only later. |
| Male | |
| Pattarivaai vaazhkkai paadaththai | Through bitter practical experience, |
| Kattru kondaan | He learned life's lessons. |
| Pothu endru oorin uravai | Deciding that he had enough of the town's kinship, |
| Vettikkondaan | He severed his bonds. |
| Thanneerilae ennaiyai pol | Like oil floating on water, |
| Ottaamal vaazhkindraan | He lives detached without mixing. |
| Male | |
| Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada | As a motherless child sings a lullaby, |
| Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora | As a speechless child expresses its sorrow, |
| Male | |
| Nee eeram kaanaatha paadhai endru | Saying 'you are a path that knows no moisture of empathy', |
| Yaarum pesiduvaar | Everyone will gossip. |
| Neer intha paaraikkul oorum endru | That water oozes even deep within this rock, |
| Ingu yaar arivaar | Who here would ever know? |
| Male | |
| Mattravar pol….. | Just like everyone else... |
| Ingu ivanum maanidanthaan | He too is a human being here, |
| Ullaththilae nooru ninaippu ullavanthaan | He is a man with a hundred thoughts in his heart. |
| Ennangalai ennavendru | Whatever his thoughts were, |
| Sollaamal moodi vaiththaan | He kept them concealed without speaking. |
| Male | |
| Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada | As a motherless child sings a lullaby, |
| Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora | As a speechless child expresses its sorrow, |
| Idhu kaaththodu aaththodu pogum | This will drift away with the wind and the river, |
| Megam pol odam polae | Like a cloud, like a boat... |
| Idhu karai oram orr naalil serum | This will reach the shore one day, |
| Kaalam nal neram vanthaalae | When time brings good tide. |
| Male | |
| Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada | As a motherless child sings a lullaby, |
| Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora | As a speechless child expresses its sorrow. |
தாய் இல்லாப் பிள்ளை ஒரு தாலாட்டு பாட
வாய் இல்லாப் பிள்ளை சோகத்தைக் கூற
இது காத்தோடு ஆத்தோடு போகும்
மேகம் போல் ஓடம் போலே
இது கரை ஓரம் ஓர் நாளில் சேரும்
காலம் நல் நேரம் வந்தாலே.....
As a motherless child sings a lullaby,
As a speechless child expresses its sorrow,
This will drift away with the wind and the river,
Like a cloud, like a boat...
This will reach the shore one day,
When time brings good tide.
தாய் இல்லாப் பிள்ளை ஒரு தாலாட்டு பாட
வாய் இல்லாப் பிள்ளை சோகத்தைக் கூற
As a motherless child sings a lullaby,
As a speechless child expresses its sorrow,
தாய் ஒரு பாவத்தின் சின்னம் என்று
பிள்ளை தள்ளி வைத்தான்
ஊர் ஒரு பொய் கட்டி விட்டதென்று
பின்பு தான் அறிந்தான்
Believing his mother was a symbol of sin,
The child pushed her away.
That the town had spun a web of lies,
He came to realize only later.
ஆண்
: பட்டறிவாய் வாழ்க்கைப் பாடத்தை
கற்றுக் கொண்டான்
போதும் என்று ஊரின் உறவை
வெட்டிக் கொண்டான்
தண்ணீரிலே எண்ணையைப் போல்
ஒட்டாமல் வாழ்கின்றான்....
Through bitter practical experience,
He learned life's lessons.
Deciding that he had enough of the town's kinship,
He severed his bonds.
Like oil floating on water,
He lives detached without mixing.
தாய் இல்லாப் பிள்ளை ஒரு தாலாட்டு பாட
வாய் இல்லாப் பிள்ளை சோகத்தைக் கூற
As a motherless child sings a lullaby,
As a speechless child expresses its sorrow,
நீர் ஈரம் காணாத பாதை என்று
யாரும் பேசிடுவார்
நீர் இந்தப் பாறைக்குள் ஊறும் என்று
இங்கு யார் அறிவார்
Saying 'you are a path that knows no moisture of empathy',
Everyone will gossip.
That water oozes even deep within this rock,
Who here would ever know?
மற்றவர் போல்.......
இங்கு இவனும் மானிடன்தான்
உள்ளத்திலே நூறு நினைப்பு உள்ளவன்தான்
எண்ணங்களை என்னவென்று
சொல்லாமல் மூடி வைத்தான்......
Just like everyone else...
He too is a human being here,
He is a man with a hundred thoughts in his heart.
Whatever his thoughts were,
He kept them concealed without speaking.
தாய் இல்லாப் பிள்ளை ஒரு தாலாட்டு பாட
வாய் இல்லாப் பிள்ளை சோகத்தைக் கூற
இது காத்தோடு ஆத்தோடு போகும்
மேகம் போல் ஓடம் போலே
இது கரை ஓரம் ஓர் நாளில் சேரும்
காலம் நல் நேரம் வந்தாலே.....
As a motherless child sings a lullaby,
As a speechless child expresses its sorrow,
This will drift away with the wind and the river,
Like a cloud, like a boat...
This will reach the shore one day,
When time brings good tide.
தாய் இல்லாப் பிள்ளை ஒரு தாலாட்டு பாட
வாய் இல்லாப் பிள்ளை சோகத்தைக் கூற
As a motherless child sings a lullaby,
As a speechless child expresses its sorrow.
Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada
As a motherless child sings a lullaby,
Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora
As a speechless child expresses its sorrow,
Idhu kaaththodu aaththodu pogum
This will drift away with the wind and the river,
Megam pol odam polae
Like a cloud, like a boat...
Idhu karai oram orr naalil serum
This will reach the shore one day,
Kaalam nal neram vanthaalae
When time brings good tide.
Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada
As a motherless child sings a lullaby,
Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora
As a speechless child expresses its sorrow,
Thaai oru paavaththin chinnam endru
Believing his mother was a symbol of sin,
Pillai thalli vaiththaan
The child pushed her away.
Oor oru poi katti vittathendru
That the town had spun a web of lies,
Pinbuthaan arinthaan
He came to realize only later.
Pattarivaai vaazhkkai paadaththai
Through bitter practical experience,
Kattru kondaan
He learned life's lessons.
Pothu endru oorin uravai
Deciding that he had enough of the town's kinship,
Vettikkondaan
He severed his bonds.
Thanneerilae ennaiyai pol
Like oil floating on water,
Ottaamal vaazhkindraan
He lives detached without mixing.
Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada
As a motherless child sings a lullaby,
Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora
As a speechless child expresses its sorrow,
Nee eeram kaanaatha paadhai endru
Saying 'you are a path that knows no moisture of empathy',
Yaarum pesiduvaar
Everyone will gossip.
Neer intha paaraikkul oorum endru
That water oozes even deep within this rock,
Ingu yaar arivaar
Who here would ever know?
Mattravar pol…..
Just like everyone else...
Ingu ivanum maanidanthaan
He too is a human being here,
Ullaththilae nooru ninaippu ullavanthaan
He is a man with a hundred thoughts in his heart.
Ennangalai ennavendru
Whatever his thoughts were,
Sollaamal moodi vaiththaan
He kept them concealed without speaking.
Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada
As a motherless child sings a lullaby,
Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora
As a speechless child expresses its sorrow,
Idhu kaaththodu aaththodu pogum
This will drift away with the wind and the river,
Megam pol odam polae
Like a cloud, like a boat...
Idhu karai oram orr naalil serum
This will reach the shore one day,
Kaalam nal neram vanthaalae
When time brings good tide.
Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada
As a motherless child sings a lullaby,
Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora
As a speechless child expresses its sorrow.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Thaai illaa pillai' from 'Thai Mozhi' (1992) portrays a deeply emotional and poignant narrative of grief, regret, and emotional detachment. The protagonist was misled by societal rumors into rejecting his mother, viewing her as a symbol of sin. Upon realizing the harsh truth later in life, he cuts ties with the hypocritical society and lives a life of complete isolation—emotionally unattached, much like oil that never dissolves in water.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thaai illaa pillai / Vaai illaa pillai”
The second letters of 'Thaai' and 'Vaai' rhyme, establishing a rhythmic cadence at the start of the chorus.
Uvamai (Simile)
“Thanneerilae ennaiyai pol / Ottaamal vaazhkindraan”
Compares his detached lifestyle to oil floating on top of water without bonding.
Metaphor / Paradox
“Neer intha paaraikkul oorum endru / Ingu yaar arivaar”
Compares a seemingly hard, unfeeling person to a solid rock that secretly holds a freshwater spring inside, symbolizing unexpressed tender feelings.
Uvamai (Simile)
“Megam pol odam polae”
Compares the transience of sorrow drifting away to clouds moving with wind and boats gliding on a river.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Thaai illaa pillai' is composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the 1992 film 'Thai Mozhi', directed by R. R. Vasu. Sung soulfully by singer Arunmozhi with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran, the track stands out for its mournful melody and tragic themes of maternal separation and societal rejection.
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