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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaangaliye Aatha

From Magudam · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Magudam1992

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Thaangaliyae aathaa un sollu thaanOh mother, your words were unbearable.
Thaangikkitten ippo naan kallu thaanI endured it, becoming like a stone now.
Veesipputtae em melae ambu thaanYou shot an arrow at me.
Vaangikkitten vaerenna anbu thaanI accepted it, what else but love?
Saami mela aanaiyaagaSwearing upon God,
Ennaachu ennaachu solluven naanI will tell what happened, what really happened.
Sonna podhum namba maattaeEven if I tell, you will not believe it.
Sollaama ullaara melluren naanWithout speaking, I am suffering silently inside.
Male
Thaangaliyae aathaa un sollu thaanOh mother, your words were unbearable.
Thaangikkitten ippo naan kallu thaanI endured it, becoming like a stone now.
Thaangaliyae aathaa un sollu thaanOh mother, your words were unbearable.
Male
Otha maattu vandi kattiYoking a single-bullock cart,
Otti paakka aasai kondenI wished to try driving it.
Sondha maattai vittu vittuLeaving behind my own bullock,
Vandha maattae yaetru kondenI accepted the bullock that came along.
Oor vittu oor vandha potta pullaThe girl who came from another village,
Oyaama senjaalae anbu thollaRelentlessly caused trouble out of affection.
Vaer vittu neer vittu vecha kaadhalThe love that rooted and was nurtured with water,
Pookkaama kaaikkaama vaadi pochaeWithered away without blooming or bearing fruit.
Aagaadha veettilae aanaenae maappillaiI became a son-in-law in an unwelcoming household.
Aagaadha veettilae aanaenae maappillaiI became a son-in-law in an unwelcoming household.
Ellaamae vidhi padi nadakkudhadaaEverything happens according to destiny, my friend.
Male
Thaangaliyae aathaa un sollu thaanOh mother, your words were unbearable.
Thaangikkitten ippo naan kallu thaanI endured it, becoming like a stone now.
Veesipputtae em melae ambu thaanYou shot an arrow at me.
Vaangikkitten vaerenna anbu thaanI accepted it, what else but love?
Saami mela aanaiyaagaSwearing upon God,
Ennaachu ennaachu solluven naanI will tell what happened, what really happened.
Sonna podhum namba maattaeEven if I tell, you will not believe it.
Sollaama ullaara melluren naanWithout speaking, I am suffering silently inside.
Male
Thaangaliyae aathaa un sollu thaanOh mother, your words were unbearable.
Thaangikkitten ippo naan kallu thaanI endured it, becoming like a stone now.
Thaangaliyae aathaa un sollu thaanOh mother, your words were unbearable.
Male
Thanga kaasu seppaanadhuThe gold coin turned into copper.
Vaira kallu uppaanadhuThe diamond stone turned into salt.
Nalla ullam senjadhellaamWhatever a good heart did,
Naalu paerkku thappaanadhuTurned out wrong to the four people watching.
Mul melae vaazhai thaan patta podhumWhether the banana leaf falls on a thorn,
Vaazhai mel mul vandhu thotta podhumOr the thorn comes and touches the banana leaf,
Eppodhum vaazhai thaan kaayamaagumIt is always the banana leaf that gets damaged.
Endraalum idhu enna nyaayamaagumEven so, what kind of justice is this?
En aathaa ariyumaa en paavam puriyumaaDoes my mother know? Does she understand my suffering?
En aathaa ariyumaa en paavam puriyumaaDoes my mother know? Does she understand my suffering?
Ellaamae vidhi padi nadakkudhadaaEverything happens according to destiny, my friend.
Male
Thaangaliyae aathaa un sollu thaanOh mother, your words were unbearable.
Thaangikkitten ippo naan kallu thaanI endured it, becoming like a stone now.
Veesipputtae em melae ambu thaanYou shot an arrow at me.
Vaangikkitten vaerenna anbu thaanI accepted it, what else but love?
Saami mela aanaiyaagaSwearing upon God,
Ennaachu ennaachu solluven naanI will tell what happened, what really happened.
Sonna podhum namba maattaeEven if I tell, you will not believe it.
Sollaama ullaara melluren naanWithout speaking, I am suffering silently inside.
Male
Thaangaliyae aathaa un sollu thaanOh mother, your words were unbearable.
Thaangikkitten ippo naan kallu thaanI endured it, becoming like a stone now.
Veesipputtae em melae ambu thaanYou shot an arrow at me.
Vaangikkitten vaerenna anbu thaanI accepted it, what else but love?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Thaangaliyae Aathaa' from the film Magudam (1992) expresses the deep emotional anguish and heartache of the protagonist, who feels misunderstood by his own mother and society. He laments the bitter twists of fate that transformed good intentions into misfortune, comparing his fragile situation to a delicate banana leaf that gets wounded regardless of whether it hits a thorn or a thorn falls on it. Throughout the song, he resigns himself to destiny, enduring harsh words and suffering silently while maintaining love and respect for his mother despite her painful accusations.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Thaangaliyae aathaa un sollu thaan / Thaangikkitten ippo naan kallu thaan”

Matching second consonants across lines: 'Thaangaliyae' and 'Thaangikkitten', 'Veesipputtae' and 'Vaangikkitten'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Veesipputtae em melae ambu thaan”

Comparing harsh, hurtful words to arrows shot at the protagonist.

Proverb / Analogy (Pazhamozhi)

“Mul melae vaazhai thaan patta podhum / Vaazhai mel mul vandhu thotta podhum”

Using the famous Tamil proverb about the banana leaf and the thorn to highlight that the vulnerable party always suffers regardless of who is at fault.

Contrast / Juxtaposition

“Thanga kaasu seppaanadhu / Vaira kallu uppaanadhu”

Contrasting precious items with worthless ones (Gold to Copper, Diamond to Salt) to express how noble intentions became worthless in the eyes of others.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Magudam (1992) stars Sathyaraj, Gautami, and Bhanupriya, with music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by Vaali. This soulful track sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam showcases Vaali's mastery in blending rural folk idioms with deep emotional drama.

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