Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaayai Kandadhillai

From Vazhikatti · 1965

Lyricist
S. S. Rajendran
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Ibrahim
Movie name
Vazhikatti
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
3 May 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaanambadi pol thirindhen
Vaazhvedhum kettenaa
Yen aiyaa ippazhiyai
En melae pottu vittaar
Thaaiyai kandathillai
Thandhaiyai kandathillai (Dialogue)
Thaaiyai kandathillai
Thandhaiyai kandathillai
Uttraar uravum illai
Uttraar uravum illai
Aiyaa unnai thavira gadhiyum illai
Naan thaaiyai kandathillai
Thandhaiyai kandathillai
Naal ellam naan uzhaithen
Nalladhai thaan seidhu vandhen
Naal ellam naan uzhaithen
Nalladhai thaan seidhu vandhen
Thaaladha sumaiyai aiyaa
Thaaladha sumaiyai
En thalaiyil yen thookki veithaai aiyaa
Thaaiyai kandathillai
Thandhaiyai kandathillai
Palliyai kandathillai
Thamizh padathaiyum kattradhillai
Naan palliyai kandathillai
Thamizh padathaiyum kattradhillai
Thalli veithaalum aiyaa
Thalli veithaalum aiyaa
Adhai thaangavoo arivum illai
Thaaiyai kandathillai
Thandhaiyai kandathillai
Uttraar uravum illai
Uttraar uravum illai
Aiyaa unnai thavira gadhiyum illai
Naan thaaiyai kandathillai
Thandhaiyai kandathillai
I wandered free like a skylark,
did I ever ask for anything in life?
Why then, oh Lord,
have they placed this blame on me?
I have never known a mother,
I have never known a father, (dialogue)
I have never known a mother,
I have never known a father,
I have no family or kin, Lord,
I have no family or kin, Lord,
and I have no refuge other than you.
I... have never known a mother,
I have never known a father.
All day long I worked hard,
and I did only what was good.
All day long I worked hard,
and I did only what was good.
Such an unbearable burden, Lord...
Such an unbearable burden,
why did you place it upon my head, Lord?
I have never known a mother,
I have never known a father.
I have never seen a school,
nor have I learned Tamil lessons.
I... have never seen a school,
nor have I learned Tamil lessons.
When they cast me aside, Lord...
When they cast me aside, Lord,
I do not even have the wisdom to endure it...
I have never known a mother,
I have never known a father.
I have no family or kin, Lord,
I have no family or kin, Lord,
and I have no refuge other than you.
I... have never known a mother,
I have never known a father.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses the deep pain of an innocent protagonist who has been falsely accused of a crime. He reflects on his simple, care-free existence, comparing his past life to a skylark that asks for nothing from the world. Having grown up without parents, family, or formal education, he considers his mentor or master his sole anchor in life. Mourning the injustice, he questions why such an unbearable burden of false accusation has been placed upon his head when he has only ever worked hard and done good deeds.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Vaanambadi pol thirindhen

Compares the protagonist's carefree, roaming past life to a 'Vaanambadi' (Skylark).

Anaphora / Repetition (Edukku Thodai)

Thaaiyai kandathillai / Thandhaiyai kandathillai

Repetition of identical lines emphasizing orphanhood and lack of familial support.

Alliteration (Mona)

Naal ellam naan uzhaithen / Nalladhai thaan seidhu vandhen

Matching initial sounds ('Na') in consecutive lines for rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Thaaiyai Kandathillai' from the film 'Vazhikatti' (1965) features lyrics written by actor-turned-politician S. S. Rajendran himself, highlighting his versatile talent as a lyricist in Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Vazhikatti

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.