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Lyrics & meaning

Thaaye Thaaye Dharmam

From Anbulla Malare · 1984

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Anbulla Malare
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
27 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaayae thaayae dharmam engae
Paedhai vaazhvil saabam ingae
Paavam oru ezhai rojaa mullaai ponadhae
Kannil dhinam kanneer vandhu thooral podudhae
Thaayae thaayae dharmam engae
Dheivam pen endru sonnaarae
Ellaam sithaanthamaa
Pennai kanneeril neeraatti
Theruvil vittaarammaa
Naalum penmai poraadum ..mm..mm
Kannil gangai neeraadum
Karppae sumaiyaaga oru poraattamaa
Vaazhum samudhaayam
Pudhu vaazhvai tharumaa
Thaayae thaayae dharmam engae
Paedhai vaazhvil saabam ingae
Paavam oru ezhai rojaa mullaai ponadhae
Kannil dhinam kanneer vandhu thooral podudhae
Seethai sindhaadha kanneeraa
Indrum adhae nilai
Penmai munnaeri ponaalum
Kanneer orae vilai
Ellaam ingae poi vaesham
Aanin thaevai poo vaasam
Pennae kalangaadhae idhu aan dhesamae
Penmai arasaalum oru kaalam varumae
Thaayae thaayae dharmam engae
Paedhai vaazhvil saabam ingae
Paavam oru ezhai rojaa mullaai ponadhae
Kannil dhinam kanneer vandhu thooral podudhae
Thaayae thaayae dharmam engae
O Mother, Mother, where is justice?
In this innocent girl's life, there is only a curse.
Pity, a helpless rose has turned into a thorn.
Every day, tears drizzle from her eyes.
O Mother, Mother, where is justice?
They said that a woman is divine,
was it all just empty philosophy?
Bathing a woman only in tears,
they have cast her out onto the street.
Every day, womanhood must struggle...
A river of tears flows from her eyes...
Has virtue itself become a heavy burden and a battle?
Will the society we live in
ever give her a new life?
O Mother, Mother, where is justice?
In this innocent girl's life, there is only a curse.
Pity, a helpless rose has turned into a thorn.
Every day, tears drizzle from her eyes.
Are these tears that even Sita never shed?
Even today, her plight remains the same.
Even if women move forward,
tears are still the only price they pay.
Everything here is a false disguise,
all a man wants is the fragrance of a flower.
Do not lose heart, woman, this is a man's world.
A day will come when womanhood shall rule.
O Mother, Mother, where is justice?
In this innocent girl's life, there is only a curse.
Pity, a helpless rose has turned into a thorn.
Every day, tears drizzle from her eyes.
O Mother, Mother, where is justice?
Male
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Male
Male
Male
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thaayae thaayae dharmam engae from Anbulla Malare (1984) is a deeply emotional lament detailing the struggles, hypocrisy, and pain faced by women in society. Written by Gangai Amaran, the song questions how society idealizes women as divine beings while subjecting them to sorrow, rejection, and systemic oppression. Comparing a woman's fragile life to a rose crushed into thorns, the lyrics convey how societal norms turn even virtue into a heavy burden. Despite referencing epic sacrifices like Sita's, the track underscores that modern progress has yet to eliminate female suffering in a patriarchal world. However, it delivers an empowering message of hope, reassuring women that an era of equality and women's empowerment will eventually arise.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Paavam oru ezhai rojaa mullaai ponadhae”

Comparing the delicate life of an innocent woman to a rose (rojaa) that has transformed into sharp thorns (mullaai).

Hyperbole / Metaphor

“Kannil gangai neeraadum”

Comparing continuous, heavy crying to the holy river Ganges flowing inside the eyes.

Allusion

“Seethai sindhaadha kanneeraa”

Reference to Sita from the Ramayana to highlight that the woman's grief surpasses even epic mythic sorrow.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Paedhai vaazhvil saabam ingae”

The second consonant 'dh' matches in 'Paedhai' and 'Rojaa' ('dhai' and 'ja' share poetic structure in context with 'Paavam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Anbulla Malare (1984) starred Vijayakanth and Nishanti (Shantipriya). The film's soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran, who frequently explored strong social themes regarding female empowerment and plight in his lyrical works during the 1980s.

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