Thai Thantha
From Saraswathi Sabatham · 1966
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Saraswathi Sabatham1966
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Thaai thandha pichchaiyilae | By the alms given by my mother, |
| Pirandhen ammaa | I was born, oh mother. |
| Indru nee thandha pichchaiyilae | Today, by the alms you have given, |
| Valarndhen ammaa} (2) | I have grown up, oh mother. |
| Female | |
| Yen indha vaazhkai endru | Why this life is such, |
| Ariyen ammaa | I do not know, oh mother. |
| Yen indha vaazhkai endru | Why this life is such, |
| Ariyen ammaa | I do not know, oh mother. |
| Idhu iraivanukku oiyvu nera | Is this God's leisure time... |
| Vilaiyaattammaa | ...playful game, oh mother? |
| Female | |
| Thaai thandha pichchaiyilae | By the alms given by my mother, |
| Pirandhen ammaa | I was born, oh mother. |
| Indru nee thandha pichchaiyilae | Today, by the alms you have given, |
| Valarndhen ammaa | I have grown up, oh mother. |
| Female | |
| Petraval udal saliththaal.. | The mother who gave birth grew weary in body, |
| Pedhai naan kaal saliththaen | Naive as I am, my feet grew weary from wandering, |
| Padaiththavan kai saliththu | The Creator grew tired in his hands, |
| Oiyndhaanammaa amaaaa…amamaaa…. | And rested, oh mother... |
| Female | |
| Petraval udal saliththaal.. | The mother who gave birth grew weary in body, |
| Pedhai naan kaal saliththaen | Naive as I am, my feet grew weary from wandering, |
| Padaiththavan kai saliththu | The Creator grew tired in his hands, |
| Oiyndhaanammaa | And rested, oh mother. |
| Meendum paavi oru thaai vayitril | Sinful as I am, in another mother's womb again, |
| Piraven ammaa | I shall not be born, oh mother. |
| Meendum paavi oru thaai vayitril | Sinful as I am, in another mother's womb again, |
| Piraven ammaa..aaa… | I shall not be born, oh mother... |
| Female | |
| Thaai thandha pichchaiyilae | By the alms given by my mother, |
| Pirandhen ammaa | I was born, oh mother. |
| Indru nee thandha pichchaiyilae | Today, by the alms you have given, |
| Valarndhen ammaa | I have grown up, oh mother. |
| Female | |
| Paththum paranthidum | All ten virtues fly away, |
| Pasi vanthaal maranthidum | Everything is forgotten when hunger arrives; |
| Ilamaiyil kodumai indha | The greatest cruelty in youth is this... |
| Varumai ammaa.. amaaa..amamaaa.. | Poverty, oh mother... |
| Female | |
| Paththum paranthidum | All ten virtues fly away, |
| Pasi vanthaal maranthidum | Everything is forgotten when hunger arrives; |
| Ilamaiyil kodumai indha | The greatest cruelty in youth is this... |
| Varumai ammaa.. | Poverty, oh mother. |
| Endrum idhuthaan needhi endraal | If this is to be justice forever, |
| Iraivan vendumaa | Do we even need a God? |
| Endrum idhuthaan needhi endraal | If this is to be justice forever, |
| Iraivan vendumaa | Do we even need a God? |
| Female | |
| Thaai thandha pichchaiyilae | By the alms given by my mother, |
| Pirandhen ammaa | I was born, oh mother. |
| Indru nee thandha pichchaiyilae | Today, by the alms you have given, |
| Valarndhen ammaa | I have grown up, oh mother. |
| Female | |
| Yen indha vaazhkai endru | Why this life is such, |
| Ariyen ammaa | I do not know, oh mother. |
| Idhu iraivanukku oiyvu nera | Is this God's leisure time... |
| Vilaiyaattammaa | ...playful game, oh mother? |
| Female | |
| Thaai thandha pichchaiyilae | By the alms given by my mother, |
| Pirandhen ammaa | I was born, oh mother. |
| Indru nee thandha pichchaiyilae | Today, by the alms you have given, |
| Valarndhen ammaa | I have grown up, oh mother. |
{ தாய் தந்த
பிச்சையிலே பிறந்தேன்
அம்மா இன்று நீ தந்த
பிச்சையிலே வளர்ந்தேன்
அம்மா } (2)
By the alms given by my mother,
I was born, oh mother.
Today, by the alms you have given,
I have grown up, oh mother.
ஏன் இந்த
வாழ்க்கை என்று
அறியேன் அம்மா
ஏன் இந்த வாழ்க்கை
என்று அறியேன் அம்மா
இந்த இறைவனுக்கு ஓய்வு
நேர விளையாட்டம்மா
Why this life is such,
I do not know, oh mother.
Why this life is such,
I do not know, oh mother.
Is this God's leisure time...
...playful game, oh mother?
தாய் தந்த
பிச்சையிலே பிறந்தேன்
அம்மா இன்று நீ தந்த
பிச்சையிலே வளர்ந்தேன்
அம்மா
By the alms given by my mother,
I was born, oh mother.
Today, by the alms you have given,
I have grown up, oh mother.
பெற்றவள்
உடல் சலித்தாள் பேதை
நான் கால் சலித்தேன்
படைத்தவன் கை சலித்து
ஓய்ந்தானம்மா அம்மா
அமமா
The mother who gave birth grew weary in body,
Naive as I am, my feet grew weary from wandering,
The Creator grew tired in his hands,
And rested, oh mother...
பெற்றவள் உடல்
சலித்தாள் பேதை நான்
கால் சலித்தேன் படைத்தவன்
கை சலித்து ஓய்ந்தானம்மா
மீண்டும் பாவி ஒரு தாய்
வயிற்றில் பிறவேன்
அம்மா மீண்டும் பாவி
ஒரு தாய் வயிற்றில்
பிறவேன் அம்மா
The mother who gave birth grew weary in body,
Naive as I am, my feet grew weary from wandering,
The Creator grew tired in his hands,
And rested, oh mother.
Sinful as I am, in another mother's womb again,
I shall not be born, oh mother.
Sinful as I am, in another mother's womb again,
I shall not be born, oh mother...
தாய் தந்த
பிச்சையிலே பிறந்தேன்
அம்மா இன்று நீ தந்த
பிச்சையிலே வளர்ந்தேன்
அம்மா
By the alms given by my mother,
I was born, oh mother.
Today, by the alms you have given,
I have grown up, oh mother.
பத்தும் பறந்திடும்
பசி வந்தால் மறந்திடும்
இளமையில் கொடுமை
இந்த வறுமை அம்மா
அம்மா அமமா
All ten virtues fly away,
Everything is forgotten when hunger arrives;
The greatest cruelty in youth is this...
Poverty, oh mother...
பத்தும் பறந்திடும்
பசி வந்தால் மறந்திடும்
இளமையில் கொடுமை
இந்த வறுமை அம்மா
என்றும் இதுதான் நீதி
என்றால் இறைவன்
வேண்டுமா என்றும்
இதுதான் நீதி என்றால்
இறைவன் வேண்டுமா
All ten virtues fly away,
Everything is forgotten when hunger arrives;
The greatest cruelty in youth is this...
Poverty, oh mother.
If this is to be justice forever,
Do we even need a God?
If this is to be justice forever,
Do we even need a God?
தாய் தந்த
பிச்சையிலே பிறந்தேன்
அம்மா இன்று நீ தந்த
பிச்சையிலே வளர்ந்தேன்
அம்மா
By the alms given by my mother,
I was born, oh mother.
Today, by the alms you have given,
I have grown up, oh mother.
ஏன் இந்த
வாழ்க்கை என்று
அறியேன் அம்மா
ஏன் இந்த வாழ்க்கை
என்று அறியேன் அம்மா
இந்த இறைவனுக்கு ஓய்வு
நேர விளையாட்டம்மா
Why this life is such,
I do not know, oh mother.
Is this God's leisure time...
...playful game, oh mother?
தாய் தந்த
பிச்சையிலே பிறந்தேன்
அம்மா இன்று நீ தந்த
பிச்சையிலே வளர்ந்தேன்
அம்மா
By the alms given by my mother,
I was born, oh mother.
Today, by the alms you have given,
I have grown up, oh mother.
{Thaai thandha pichchaiyilae
By the alms given by my mother,
Pirandhen ammaa
I was born, oh mother.
Indru nee thandha pichchaiyilae
Today, by the alms you have given,
Valarndhen ammaa} (2)
I have grown up, oh mother.
Yen indha vaazhkai endru
Why this life is such,
Ariyen ammaa
I do not know, oh mother.
Yen indha vaazhkai endru
Why this life is such,
Ariyen ammaa
I do not know, oh mother.
Idhu iraivanukku oiyvu nera
Is this God's leisure time...
Vilaiyaattammaa
...playful game, oh mother?
Thaai thandha pichchaiyilae
By the alms given by my mother,
Pirandhen ammaa
I was born, oh mother.
Indru nee thandha pichchaiyilae
Today, by the alms you have given,
Valarndhen ammaa
I have grown up, oh mother.
Petraval udal saliththaal..
The mother who gave birth grew weary in body,
Pedhai naan kaal saliththaen
Naive as I am, my feet grew weary from wandering,
Padaiththavan kai saliththu
The Creator grew tired in his hands,
Oiyndhaanammaa amaaaa…amamaaa….
And rested, oh mother...
Petraval udal saliththaal..
The mother who gave birth grew weary in body,
Pedhai naan kaal saliththaen
Naive as I am, my feet grew weary from wandering,
Padaiththavan kai saliththu
The Creator grew tired in his hands,
Oiyndhaanammaa
And rested, oh mother.
Meendum paavi oru thaai vayitril
Sinful as I am, in another mother's womb again,
Piraven ammaa
I shall not be born, oh mother.
Meendum paavi oru thaai vayitril
Sinful as I am, in another mother's womb again,
Piraven ammaa..aaa…
I shall not be born, oh mother...
Thaai thandha pichchaiyilae
By the alms given by my mother,
Pirandhen ammaa
I was born, oh mother.
Indru nee thandha pichchaiyilae
Today, by the alms you have given,
Valarndhen ammaa
I have grown up, oh mother.
Paththum paranthidum
All ten virtues fly away,
Pasi vanthaal maranthidum
Everything is forgotten when hunger arrives;
Ilamaiyil kodumai indha
The greatest cruelty in youth is this...
Varumai ammaa.. amaaa..amamaaa..
Poverty, oh mother...
Paththum paranthidum
All ten virtues fly away,
Pasi vanthaal maranthidum
Everything is forgotten when hunger arrives;
Ilamaiyil kodumai indha
The greatest cruelty in youth is this...
Varumai ammaa..
Poverty, oh mother.
Endrum idhuthaan needhi endraal
If this is to be justice forever,
Iraivan vendumaa
Do we even need a God?
Endrum idhuthaan needhi endraal
If this is to be justice forever,
Iraivan vendumaa
Do we even need a God?
Thaai thandha pichchaiyilae
By the alms given by my mother,
Pirandhen ammaa
I was born, oh mother.
Indru nee thandha pichchaiyilae
Today, by the alms you have given,
Valarndhen ammaa
I have grown up, oh mother.
Yen indha vaazhkai endru
Why this life is such,
Ariyen ammaa
I do not know, oh mother.
Idhu iraivanukku oiyvu nera
Is this God's leisure time...
Vilaiyaattammaa
...playful game, oh mother?
Thaai thandha pichchaiyilae
By the alms given by my mother,
Pirandhen ammaa
I was born, oh mother.
Indru nee thandha pichchaiyilae
Today, by the alms you have given,
Valarndhen ammaa
I have grown up, oh mother.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thaai Thandha Pichchaiyilae is a deeply emotional and philosophical song from Saraswathi Sabatham (1966). The song centers on the existential anguish of a protagonist living in extreme poverty. He views his birth and survival as mere acts of charity—first from his mother's body and later from society's generosity. The lyricist Kannadasan laments how relentless struggle wears down the human spirit, asking if suffering is merely a divine game played by God in his spare time. The song highlights the demoralizing nature of hunger, echoing the ancient Tamil proverb that severe hunger strips away all ten noble human virtues and dignities. In his grief, the speaker desires an end to the cycle of rebirth, preferring never to be born into poverty again, while questioning the necessity and justice of God if suffering remains the eternal rule of life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Petraval udal saliththaal.. / Pedhai naan kaal saliththaen / Padaiththavan kai saliththu”
Repetition of the second consonant 'th'/'d' across consecutive lines (Petraval / Pedhai / Padaiththavan).
Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)
“Paththum paranthidum / Pasi vanthaal maranthidum”
Direct reference to the classic Tamil proverb 'Pasi vandhal pathum parandhu pogum' (When hunger strikes, ten core human virtues vanish).
Rhetorical Question (Vinah)
“Endrum idhuthaan needhi endraal / Iraivan vendumaa”
The speaker challenges divine authority and the concept of ultimate justice through a provocative question.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan, this track features Sivaji Ganesan portraying a mute and impoverished poet who receives divine grace from Goddess Saraswathi. Kannadasan's lyrics effectively convey deep Vedantic and existential grief.
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