Thaai Thindra Mannae (The Cholan Ecstasy)
From Aayirathil Oruvan (2010) · 2010
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Vijay Yesudas
- Music director
- G. V. Prakash Kumar
- Details
- Aayirathil Oruvan (2010)2010
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thaai thindra mannae | O soil that consumed my motherland |
| Ithu pillaiyin katharal | This is the child's desperate cry |
| Oru per arasan pulambal | A great king's lamentation |
| Male | |
| Thaai thindra mannae | O motherland-eating soil |
| Thaai thindra mannae | O motherland-eating soil |
| Pillaiyin katharal | The child's desperate cry |
| Pillaiyin katharal | The child's desperate cry |
| Oru per arasan pulambal | A great king's lamentation |
| Per arasan pulambal | A great king's lamentation |
| Male | |
| Nel aadiya nilam engae | Where is the land where paddy fields swayed? |
| Sol aadiya avai engae | Where is the assembly where wise words echoed? |
| Vil aadiya kalam engae | Where is the battlefield where bows danced? |
| Kal aadiya silai engae | Where is the statue carved out of stone? |
| Thaai thindra mannae | O motherland-eating soil |
| Thaai thindra mannae ..ae…. | O motherland-eating soil.. |
| Chorus | |
| Mmm…mmm…mmm… | Mmm...mmm...mmm... |
| Mmm…mmm…. | Mmm...mmm.... |
| Female | |
| Thaa thin ka | Thaa thin ka |
| Thikka thakka | Thikka thakka |
| Thaa | Thaa |
| Thira nena thaa | Thira nena thaa |
| Jika thakka thaa | Jika thakka thaa |
| Male | |
| Kayal vilaiyaadum | Where fish used to play |
| Vayal veli thaedi | Searching for those lush fields |
| Kaainthu kazhinthana | Dried up and withered |
| Kangal | My eyes |
| Male | |
| Kaaviri malarin | The fragrant flowers of Kaaviri |
| Kadi manam thaedi | Searching for their sweet scent |
| Karugi mudinthathu | Burned out and ended |
| Naa..aasi | My nose |
| Male | |
| Silai vazhi maevum | Through the beauty of statues |
| Uli oli thaedi | Searching for the sound of the chisel |
| Thirugi vizhunthana | Twisted and fallen deaf |
| Sevigal | My ears |
| Male | |
| Oon pothi sottrin | Remembering the honeyed taste |
| Thaen suvai karuthi | Of meat-rich rice |
| Otti ularnthathu | Dried up and stuck |
| Naavum mm…mm.. | My tongue too |
| Male | |
| Puli kodi poriththa | Chola people who bore the tiger flag |
| Chozha maanthargal | Are they now gnawing on rat meat? |
| Eli kari korippathuvo oo oo | Are they surviving on rat meat? |
| Kaattrai kudikkum | Like plants that drink only air |
| Thaavaram aagi | Becoming like vegetation |
| Kaalam kazhippathuvo..oo..oo.. | Are they passing time like this? |
| Male | |
| Mandai odugal | In a land teeming with skulls |
| Mandiya naattai | Dense with human remains |
| Mannan aaluvatho oo | Is the king ruling over this? |
| Mannan aaluvatho | Is the king ruling over this? |
| Hoo oo oo oo oo oo | Hoo oo oo oo oo oo |
| Male | |
| Thaai thindra mannae | O mother-devouring soil |
| Thaai thindra mannae ..ae…ae… | O mother-devouring soil.. |
| Chorus | |
| …………………….. | .................... |
| Male | |
| Norungum udalgal | Crushing bodies |
| Pithungum uyirgal | Popping lives |
| Azhugum naadu | A weeping nation |
| Azhugindra arasan | A weeping king |
| Male | |
| Pazham thinnum kiliyo | Is it a parrot eating fruit? |
| Pinam thinnum kazhugo | Or a vulture eating corpses? |
| Thootho mun vinai theetho | Is it a messenger, or the retribution of past karma? |
| Kalangalum athira | Making ships shake |
| Kalirugal pilira | Making elephants trumpet |
| Chozhan azhaiththu povaayo | Will you take us away, O Chola king? |
| Male | |
| Thangamae ennai | My precious gold, if you unite me |
| Thaai mannil serththaal | With my motherland soil |
| Thurvigal polae | Like ascetics |
| Purandiruppom | We will roll and bow on the ground |
| Male | |
| Aayiram aandugal | For a thousand years |
| Serththa kanneerai | The tears we accumulated |
| Aruvigal polae | Like waterfalls |
| Azhuthiruppom | We would cry them out |
| Male | |
| Thamizhar kaanum thuyaram kandu | Seeing the sorrow suffered by Tamils |
| Thalaiyai suttrum kolae azhaathae | O scepter that rules, do not weep |
| Endro oru naal vidiyum endrae | Believing that dawn will come one day |
| Iravai sumakkum naalae azhaathae | O day that carries the night, do not weep |
| Male | |
| Noottraandugalin thuruvai thaangi | Bearing the rust of centuries |
| Uraiyil thoongum vaalae azhaathae | O sword sleeping in its sheath, do not weep |
| Enthan kannin kanneer kazhuva | To wash away the tears from my eyes |
| Ennodazhum yaazhae azhaathae ..ae…ae…ae… | O harp weeping along with me, do not weep |
| Male | |
| Nel aadiya nilam engae | Where is the land where paddy fields swayed? |
| Sol aadiya avai engae | Where is the assembly where wise words echoed? |
| Vil aadiya kalam engae | Where is the battlefield where bows danced? |
| Kal aadiya silai enga | Where is the statue carved out of stone? |
| Thaai thindra mannae | O mother-devouring soil |
| Ithu pillaiyin katharal | This is the child's desperate cry |
| Oru per arasan pulambal | A great king's lamentation |
தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே
இது பிள்ளையின் கதறல்
ஒரு பேர் அரசன் புலம்பல்
O soil that consumed my motherland
This is the child's desperate cry
A great king's lamentation
தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே
தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே
பிள்ளையின் கதறல்
பிள்ளையின் கதறல்
ஒரு பேர் அரசன் புலம்பல்
ஒரு பேர் அரசன் புலம்பல்
O motherland-eating soil
O motherland-eating soil
The child's desperate cry
The child's desperate cry
A great king's lamentation
A great king's lamentation
நெல் ஆடிய நிலம் எங்கே
சொல் ஆடிய அவை எங்கே
வில் ஆடிய களம் எங்கே
கல் ஆடிய சிலை எங்கே
தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே
தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே..ஏ...
Where is the land where paddy fields swayed?
Where is the assembly where wise words echoed?
Where is the battlefield where bows danced?
Where is the statue carved out of stone?
O motherland-eating soil
O motherland-eating soil..
ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...
ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...
Mmm...mmm...mmm...
Mmm...mmm....
தா தின் கா
திக்கா தக்கா
தா
திற நென தா
ஜிக தக்க தா
Thaa thin ka
Thikka thakka
Thaa
Thira nena thaa
Jika thakka thaa
கயல் விளையாடும்
வயல் வெளி தேடி
காய்ந்து கழிந்தன
கண்கள்
Where fish used to play
Searching for those lush fields
Dried up and withered
My eyes
காவிரி மலரின்
கடி மனம் தேடி
கருகி முடிந்தது
நா...ஆசி
The fragrant flowers of Kaaviri
Searching for their sweet scent
Burned out and ended
My nose
சிலை வடி மேவும்
உளி ஒலி தேடி
திருகி விழுந்தன
செவிகள்
Through the beauty of statues
Searching for the sound of the chisel
Twisted and fallen deaf
My ears
ஊன் பொதி சோற்றின்
தேன் சுவை கருதி
ஒட்டி உலர்ந்தது
நாவும் ம்ம்...ம்ம்..
Remembering the honeyed taste
Of meat-rich rice
Dried up and stuck
My tongue too
புலிக் கொடி பொறித்த
சோழ மாந்தர்கள்
எலிக் கறி கொறிப்பதுவோ..ஓ...ஓ...
காற்றை குடிக்கும்
தாவரம் ஆகி
காலம் கழிப்பதுவோ…ஓ…ஓ
Chola people who bore the tiger flag
Are they now gnawing on rat meat?
Are they surviving on rat meat?
Like plants that drink only air
Becoming like vegetation
Are they passing time like this?
மண்டை ஓடுகள்
மண்டிய நாட்டை
மன்னன் ஆளுவதோ ஓ
மன்னன் ஆளுவதோ
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ
In a land teeming with skulls
Dense with human remains
Is the king ruling over this?
Is the king ruling over this?
Hoo oo oo oo oo oo
தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே
தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே...ஏ...ஏ..
O mother-devouring soil
O mother-devouring soil..
........................
....................
நொறுங்கும் உடல்கள்
பிதுங்கும் உயிர்கள்
அழுகும் நாடு
அழுகின்ற அரசன்
Crushing bodies
Popping lives
A weeping nation
A weeping king
பழம் தின்னும் கிளியோ
பிணம் தின்னும் கழுகோ
தூதோ முன் வினை தீதோ
களங்கலும் அதிர
களிருகள் பிளிர
சோழம் அழைத்து போவாயோ
Is it a parrot eating fruit?
Or a vulture eating corpses?
Is it a messenger, or the retribution of past karma?
Making ships shake
Making elephants trumpet
Will you take us away, O Chola king?
தங்கமே என்னை
தாய் மண்ணில் சேர்த்தால்
துறவிகள் போலே
புரண்டிருப்போம்
My precious gold, if you unite me
With my motherland soil
Like ascetics
We will roll and bow on the ground
ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள்
சேர்த்த கண்ணீரை
அருவிகள் போலே
அழுதிருப்போம்
For a thousand years
The tears we accumulated
Like waterfalls
We would cry them out
அது வரை
அது வரை
ஓ ஓ ஓ… ஹோ ஓஒ
Seeing the sorrow suffered by Tamils
O scepter that rules, do not weep
Believing that dawn will come one day
O day that carries the night, do not weep
தமிழர் காணும் துயரம் கண்டு
தலையை சுற்றும் கோளே அழாதே
என்றோ ஒரு நாள் விடியும் என்றே
இரவை சுமக்கும் நாளே அழாதே
Bearing the rust of centuries
O sword sleeping in its sheath, do not weep
To wash away the tears from my eyes
O harp weeping along with me, do not weep
நூற்றாண்டுகளின் துருவை தாங்கி
உறையில் தூங்கும் வாளே அழாதே
எந்தன் கண்ணின் கண்ணீர் கழுவ
என்னோடழும் யாழே அழாதே..ஏ...ஏ...
ஏ...
Where is the land where paddy fields swayed?
Where is the assembly where wise words echoed?
Where is the battlefield where bows danced?
Where is the statue carved out of stone?
O mother-devouring soil
This is the child's desperate cry
A great king's lamentation
நெல் ஆடிய நிலம் எங்கே
சொல் ஆடிய அவை எங்கே
வில் ஆடிய களம் எங்கே
கல் ஆடிய சிலை எங்கே
தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே
இது பிள்ளையின் கதறல்
ஒரு பேர் அரசன் புலம்பல்
Thaai thindra mannae
O soil that consumed my motherland
Ithu pillaiyin katharal
This is the child's desperate cry
Oru per arasan pulambal
A great king's lamentation
Thaai thindra mannae
O motherland-eating soil
Thaai thindra mannae
O motherland-eating soil
Pillaiyin katharal
The child's desperate cry
Pillaiyin katharal
The child's desperate cry
Oru per arasan pulambal
A great king's lamentation
Per arasan pulambal
A great king's lamentation
Nel aadiya nilam engae
Where is the land where paddy fields swayed?
Sol aadiya avai engae
Where is the assembly where wise words echoed?
Vil aadiya kalam engae
Where is the battlefield where bows danced?
Kal aadiya silai engae
Where is the statue carved out of stone?
Thaai thindra mannae
O motherland-eating soil
Thaai thindra mannae ..ae….
O motherland-eating soil..
Mmm…mmm…mmm…
Mmm...mmm...mmm...
Mmm…mmm….
Mmm...mmm....
Thaa thin ka
Thaa thin ka
Thikka thakka
Thikka thakka
Thaa
Thaa
Thira nena thaa
Thira nena thaa
Jika thakka thaa
Jika thakka thaa
Kayal vilaiyaadum
Where fish used to play
Vayal veli thaedi
Searching for those lush fields
Kaainthu kazhinthana
Dried up and withered
Kangal
My eyes
Kaaviri malarin
The fragrant flowers of Kaaviri
Kadi manam thaedi
Searching for their sweet scent
Karugi mudinthathu
Burned out and ended
Naa..aasi
My nose
Silai vazhi maevum
Through the beauty of statues
Uli oli thaedi
Searching for the sound of the chisel
Thirugi vizhunthana
Twisted and fallen deaf
Sevigal
My ears
Oon pothi sottrin
Remembering the honeyed taste
Thaen suvai karuthi
Of meat-rich rice
Otti ularnthathu
Dried up and stuck
Naavum mm…mm..
My tongue too
Puli kodi poriththa
Chola people who bore the tiger flag
Chozha maanthargal
Are they now gnawing on rat meat?
Eli kari korippathuvo oo oo
Are they surviving on rat meat?
Kaattrai kudikkum
Like plants that drink only air
Thaavaram aagi
Becoming like vegetation
Kaalam kazhippathuvo..oo..oo..
Are they passing time like this?
Mandai odugal
In a land teeming with skulls
Mandiya naattai
Dense with human remains
Mannan aaluvatho oo
Is the king ruling over this?
Mannan aaluvatho
Is the king ruling over this?
Hoo oo oo oo oo oo
Hoo oo oo oo oo oo
Thaai thindra mannae
O mother-devouring soil
Thaai thindra mannae ..ae…ae…
O mother-devouring soil..
……………………..
....................
Norungum udalgal
Crushing bodies
Pithungum uyirgal
Popping lives
Azhugum naadu
A weeping nation
Azhugindra arasan
A weeping king
Pazham thinnum kiliyo
Is it a parrot eating fruit?
Pinam thinnum kazhugo
Or a vulture eating corpses?
Thootho mun vinai theetho
Is it a messenger, or the retribution of past karma?
Kalangalum athira
Making ships shake
Kalirugal pilira
Making elephants trumpet
Chozhan azhaiththu povaayo
Will you take us away, O Chola king?
Thangamae ennai
My precious gold, if you unite me
Thaai mannil serththaal
With my motherland soil
Thurvigal polae
Like ascetics
Purandiruppom
We will roll and bow on the ground
Aayiram aandugal
For a thousand years
Serththa kanneerai
The tears we accumulated
Aruvigal polae
Like waterfalls
Azhuthiruppom
We would cry them out
Thamizhar kaanum thuyaram kandu
Seeing the sorrow suffered by Tamils
Thalaiyai suttrum kolae azhaathae
O scepter that rules, do not weep
Endro oru naal vidiyum endrae
Believing that dawn will come one day
Iravai sumakkum naalae azhaathae
O day that carries the night, do not weep
Noottraandugalin thuruvai thaangi
Bearing the rust of centuries
Uraiyil thoongum vaalae azhaathae
O sword sleeping in its sheath, do not weep
Enthan kannin kanneer kazhuva
To wash away the tears from my eyes
Ennodazhum yaazhae azhaathae ..ae…ae…ae…
O harp weeping along with me, do not weep
Nel aadiya nilam engae
Where is the land where paddy fields swayed?
Sol aadiya avai engae
Where is the assembly where wise words echoed?
Vil aadiya kalam engae
Where is the battlefield where bows danced?
Kal aadiya silai enga
Where is the statue carved out of stone?
Thaai thindra mannae
O mother-devouring soil
Ithu pillaiyin katharal
This is the child's desperate cry
Oru per arasan pulambal
A great king's lamentation
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thaai Thindra Mannae is a poignant and haunting lamentation from the movie Aayirathil Oruvan. Sung from the perspective of the last surviving Chola king living in hidden exile, the song expresses deep agony over the fall of a grand civilization. The king mourns how his once prosperous kingdom, famous for its art, rich fields, and mighty armies, has been reduced to a desolate wasteland of skulls where his star-struck people are forced to eat rat meat and live in extreme deprivation. Despite the intense grief, the song echoes a powerful sense of longing for redemption and return to the motherland. The king addresses non-living symbols of royalty—his sword, his scepter, and his yaazh instrument—urging them not to weep, as he holds onto the faint hope of a dawn that will eventually break for his suffering people.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Nel aadiya / Sol aadiya / Vil aadiya / Kal aadiya”
The second letter 'l' ('"+'") is repeated across consecutive lines to create a rhythmic harmony.
Personification
“Uraiyil thoongum vaalae azhaathae / Ennodazhum yaazhae azhaathae”
Inanimate objects like the sword, scepter, and musical instrument (yaazh) are personified as entities that mourn and cry.
Simile (Upamai)
“Aruvigal polae azhuthiruppom”
Comparing the outflow of accumulated tears of a thousand years to cascading waterfalls.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track serves as the emotional climax of Selvaraghavan's epic fantasy film 'Aayirathil Oruvan' (2010). The track brings out the tragic grandeur of the remnant Chola kingdom through archaic Tamil vocabulary and traditional orchestration.
Keep listening
More from Aayirathil Oruvan (2010)
Aayirathil Oruvan (2010)
Aayirathil Oruvan (2010)
Aayirathil Oruvan (2010)
Aayirathil Oruvan (2010)
Aayirathil Oruvan (2010)
Aayirathil Oruvan (2010)