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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaai Illaa Pillai

From Thai Mozhi · 1992

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Arun Mozhi
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thai Mozhi
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
21 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada
Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora
Idhu kaaththodu aaththodu pogum
Megam pol odam polae
Idhu karai oram orr naalil serum
Kaalam nal neram vanthaalae
Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada
Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora
Thaai oru paavaththin chinnam endru
Pillai thalli vaiththaan
Oor oru poi katti vittathendru
Pinbuthaan arinthaan
Pattarivaai vaazhkkai paadaththai
Kattru kondaan
Pothu endru oorin uravai
Vettikkondaan
Thanneerilae ennaiyai pol
Ottaamal vaazhkindraan
Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada
Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora
Nee eeram kaanaatha paadhai endru
Yaarum pesiduvaar
Neer intha paaraikkul oorum endru
Ingu yaar arivaar
Mattravar pol…..
Ingu ivanum maanidanthaan
Ullaththilae nooru ninaippu ullavanthaan
Ennangalai ennavendru
Sollaamal moodi vaiththaan
Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada
Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora
Idhu kaaththodu aaththodu pogum
Megam pol odam polae
Idhu karai oram orr naalil serum
Kaalam nal neram vanthaalae
Thaai illaa pillai oru thaalaattu paada
Vaai illaa pillai sogaththai koora
A motherless child sings a lullaby,
A helpless child shares his sorrow.
This will drift with the wind and the river,
Like a passing cloud, like a floating boat.
One day, it will surely reach the shore,
When the right time finally comes.
A motherless child sings a lullaby,
A helpless child shares his sorrow.
Believing his mother was a symbol of sin,
The son pushed her away.
That the town had spun a web of lies,
He realized only later.
Through hard experience,
He learned the lessons of life.
Deciding he had had enough of the town's ties,
He cut himself off from everyone.
Just like oil floating on water,
He lives without letting anything touch his heart.
A motherless child sings a lullaby,
A helpless child shares his sorrow.
"You are a dry path that knows no softness,"
Anyone might say of him.
That a sweet spring flows inside this rock,
Who here would ever know?
Just like everyone else...
He too is only human here.
He is someone with a hundred feelings in his heart.
Whatever his thoughts may be,
He keeps them locked away without saying a word.
A motherless child sings a lullaby,
A helpless child shares his sorrow.
This will drift with the wind and the river,
Like a passing cloud, like a floating boat.
One day, it will surely reach the shore,
When the right time finally comes.
A motherless child sings a lullaby,
A helpless child shares his sorrow.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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