Thamarai Ilaiye
From Thanga Kalasam · 1988
- Lyricist
- London Gopal
- Singers
- K. S. Chitra, Rajkumar Bharathi
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Thanga Kalasam1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aa….aa….aah..aa…..aa…. | Aa....aa....aah..aa.....aa.... |
| Aa….aa….aah..aa…..aa…. | Aa....aa....aah..aa.....aa.... |
| Female | |
| Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo | Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger? |
| Thalaivanidam en thuyar sollaayo…oo…. | Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord? |
| Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo | Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger? |
| Thalaivanidam en thuyar sollaayo….. | Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord? |
| Female | |
| Maamannan dhushyanthan mun sellaayo | Will you not go before the great king Dushyanta? |
| Maamannan dhushyanthan mun sellaayo | Will you not go before the great king Dushyanta? |
| Maadhival sagunthalai manam sollaayo | Will you not express the heart of moon-like Shakuntala? |
| Maadhival sagunthalai manam sollaayo | Will you not express the heart of moon-like Shakuntala? |
| Female | |
| Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo | Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger? |
| Thalaivanidam en thuyar sollaayo…oo…. | Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord? |
| Female | |
| Kadhalan varavai paarththirunthaen | I was waiting for my lover's arrival, |
| Kadhalan varavai paarththirunthaen | I was waiting for my lover's arrival, |
| Avan kadhalukeyengi kaaththirunthaen | Longing deeply for his love, I waited, |
| Kadhalukeyengi kaaththirunthaen | Longing deeply for his love, I waited, |
| Female | |
| Penn pedhai ennullam thottri vanthaen | As an innocent woman, I lost my heart, |
| Perum vedhanaiyodu naan veettrirunthaen endru | Saying that I remained seated in immense agony. |
| Female | |
| Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo | Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger? |
| Thalaivanidam en thuyar sollaayo… | Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord? |
| Female | |
| Maarbinil poonganai thoduththaanae | He shot a floral arrow into my chest, |
| Kaaman maarbinil poonganai thoduththaanae | Lord Kamadeva shot a floral arrow into my chest, |
| Kaaman mangaiyin angam sutteriththaanae | Kamadeva scorched the body of this maiden, |
| Mangaiyin angam sutteriththaanae | He scorched the body of this maiden. |
| Male | |
| Thaamarai ilaiyin thoodhu arinthaennae | I have realized the message on the lotus leaf, |
| Thaamarai ilaiyin thoodhu arinthaennae | I have realized the message on the lotus leaf, |
| Thaen malar sagunthalai thuyar arinthaenae | I have understood the anguish of sweet Shakuntala, |
| Thaen malar sagunthalai thuyar arinthaenae | I have understood the anguish of sweet Shakuntala. |
| Male | |
| Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo | Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger? |
| Maamannan dhushyanthan thuyar sollaayo | Will you not convey the sorrow of the great king Dushyanta? |
| Female | |
| Sinthanaiyai kollai | Stealing away all my thoughts, |
| Konduthaan sendraan | He departed, |
| Sinthanalai thanthae chandhiran pol vanthaan | He came like the bright moon, giving waves of deep thoughts, |
| Male | |
| Vaanmadhithaan vattukindraan senthanalaaga | The sky's moon now tortures like glowing red embers, |
| Thaen mozhiyum meen vizhiyaal sudugindralae | The sweet-voiced maiden with fish-shaped eyes burns in separation. |
| Male | |
| Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo | Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger? |
| Maamannan dhushyanthan thuyar sollaayo….. | Will you not convey the sorrow of the great king Dushyanta? |
ஆ.....ஆ......ஆஹ்.......ஆ.....ஆ.........
ஆ.....ஆ......ஆஹ்.......ஆ.....ஆ.........
Aa....aa....aah..aa.....aa....
Aa....aa....aah..aa.....aa....
தாமரை இலையே தூது செல்லாயோ
தலைவனிடம் என் துயர் சொல்லாயோ....ஓ.......
தாமரை இலையே தூது செல்லாயோ
தலைவனிடம் என் துயர் சொல்லாயோ
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord?
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord?
மாமன்னன் துஷ்யந்தன் முன் செல்லாயோ
மாமன்னன் துஷ்யந்தன் முன் செல்லாயோ
மாதிவள் சகுந்தலை மனம் சொல்லாயோ
மாதிவள் சகுந்தலை மனம் சொல்லாயோ
Will you not go before the great king Dushyanta?
Will you not go before the great king Dushyanta?
Will you not express the heart of moon-like Shakuntala?
Will you not express the heart of moon-like Shakuntala?
தாமரை இலையே தூது செல்லாயோ
தலைவனிடம் என் துயர் சொல்லாயோ....ஓ.......
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord?
காதலன் வரவை பார்த்திருந்தேன்
காதலன் வரவை பார்த்திருந்தேன்
அவன் காதலுக்கேங்கி காத்திருந்தேன்
காதலுக்கேங்கி காத்திருந்தேன்
I was waiting for my lover's arrival,
I was waiting for my lover's arrival,
Longing deeply for his love, I waited,
Longing deeply for his love, I waited,
பெண் பேதை என்னுள்ளம் தேற்றி வந்தேன்
பெரும் வேதனையோடு நான் வீற்றிருந்தேன் என்று
As an innocent woman, I lost my heart,
Saying that I remained seated in immense agony.
தாமரை இலையே தூது செல்லாயோ
தலைவனிடம் என் துயர் சொல்லாயோ
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord?
மார்பினில் பூங்கணை தொடுத்தானே
காமன் மார்பினில் பூங்கணை தொடுத்தானே
காமன் மங்கையின் அங்கம் சுட்டெரித்தானே
மங்கையின் அங்கம் சுட்டெரித்தானே
He shot a floral arrow into my chest,
Lord Kamadeva shot a floral arrow into my chest,
Kamadeva scorched the body of this maiden,
He scorched the body of this maiden.
தாமரை இலையின் தூதறிந்தேனே
தாமரை இலையின் தூதறிந்தேனே
தேன் மலர் சகுந்தலை துயர் அறிந்தேனே
தேன் மலர் சகுந்தலை துயர் அறிந்தேனே
I have realized the message on the lotus leaf,
I have realized the message on the lotus leaf,
I have understood the anguish of sweet Shakuntala,
I have understood the anguish of sweet Shakuntala.
தாமரை இலையே தூது செல்லாயோ
மாமன்னன் துஷ்யந்தன் துயர் சொல்லாயோ
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Will you not convey the sorrow of the great king Dushyanta?
சிந்தனையை கொள்ளைக்
கொண்டுதான் சென்றான்
சிந்தனலை தந்தே சந்திரன் போல் வந்தான்
Stealing away all my thoughts,
He departed,
He came like the bright moon, giving waves of deep thoughts,
வான்மதிதான் வாட்டுகின்றான் செந்தணலாக
தேன் மொழியும் மீன் விழியால் சுடுகின்றாளே
The sky's moon now tortures like glowing red embers,
The sweet-voiced maiden with fish-shaped eyes burns in separation.
தாமரை இலையே தூது செல்லாயோ
மாமன்னன் துஷ்யந்தன் துயர் சொல்லாயோ....
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Will you not convey the sorrow of the great king Dushyanta?
Aa….aa….aah..aa…..aa….
Aa....aa....aah..aa.....aa....
Aa….aa….aah..aa…..aa….
Aa....aa....aah..aa.....aa....
Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Thalaivanidam en thuyar sollaayo…oo….
Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord?
Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Thalaivanidam en thuyar sollaayo…..
Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord?
Maamannan dhushyanthan mun sellaayo
Will you not go before the great king Dushyanta?
Maamannan dhushyanthan mun sellaayo
Will you not go before the great king Dushyanta?
Maadhival sagunthalai manam sollaayo
Will you not express the heart of moon-like Shakuntala?
Maadhival sagunthalai manam sollaayo
Will you not express the heart of moon-like Shakuntala?
Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Thalaivanidam en thuyar sollaayo…oo….
Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord?
Kadhalan varavai paarththirunthaen
I was waiting for my lover's arrival,
Kadhalan varavai paarththirunthaen
I was waiting for my lover's arrival,
Avan kadhalukeyengi kaaththirunthaen
Longing deeply for his love, I waited,
Kadhalukeyengi kaaththirunthaen
Longing deeply for his love, I waited,
Penn pedhai ennullam thottri vanthaen
As an innocent woman, I lost my heart,
Perum vedhanaiyodu naan veettrirunthaen endru
Saying that I remained seated in immense agony.
Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Thalaivanidam en thuyar sollaayo…
Will you not tell my sorrow to my beloved lord?
Maarbinil poonganai thoduththaanae
He shot a floral arrow into my chest,
Kaaman maarbinil poonganai thoduththaanae
Lord Kamadeva shot a floral arrow into my chest,
Kaaman mangaiyin angam sutteriththaanae
Kamadeva scorched the body of this maiden,
Mangaiyin angam sutteriththaanae
He scorched the body of this maiden.
Thaamarai ilaiyin thoodhu arinthaennae
I have realized the message on the lotus leaf,
Thaamarai ilaiyin thoodhu arinthaennae
I have realized the message on the lotus leaf,
Thaen malar sagunthalai thuyar arinthaenae
I have understood the anguish of sweet Shakuntala,
Thaen malar sagunthalai thuyar arinthaenae
I have understood the anguish of sweet Shakuntala.
Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Maamannan dhushyanthan thuyar sollaayo
Will you not convey the sorrow of the great king Dushyanta?
Sinthanaiyai kollai
Stealing away all my thoughts,
Konduthaan sendraan
He departed,
Sinthanalai thanthae chandhiran pol vanthaan
He came like the bright moon, giving waves of deep thoughts,
Vaanmadhithaan vattukindraan senthanalaaga
The sky's moon now tortures like glowing red embers,
Thaen mozhiyum meen vizhiyaal sudugindralae
The sweet-voiced maiden with fish-shaped eyes burns in separation.
Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo
Oh lotus leaf, will you not go as a messenger?
Maamannan dhushyanthan thuyar sollaayo…..
Will you not convey the sorrow of the great king Dushyanta?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song draws deeply from the classical Indian epic story of Shakuntala and King Dushyanta, evoking the traditional literary motif of sending a message through nature—specifically a lotus leaf, a classic metaphor from Kalidasa's 'Abhijnanashakuntalam'. The lyrics depict the agony of love in separation (Viraha Bhava), where the heroine pleads with a lotus leaf to act as her envoy to deliver her pain and devotion to her beloved king. As the song progresses, the narrative flips perspective to acknowledge Dushyanta's own grief and longing, highlighting how the pangs of Kamadeva's arrows and the cool moonlight feel like burning embers to lovers separated by fate.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Thoodhu (Messenger Motif / Personification)
“Thaamarai ilaiyae thoodhu sellaayo”
Addressing the lotus leaf ('Thaamarai ilaiyae') as a messenger to carry feelings of love and sorrow is a classic classical Tamil and Sanskrit literary device (Thoodhu literature).
Simile (Upamai)
“Sinthanalai thanthae chandhiran pol vanthaan”
Comparing the arrival of the beloved to the soothing moon ('chandhiran pol vanthaan') and comparing the lover's eyes to fish ('meen vizhiyaal').
Oxymoron / Paradox
“Vaanmadhithaan vattukindraan senthanalaaga”
The soothing cool moon in the sky ('Vaanmadhi') is described as burning like hot embers ('senthanalaaga'), expressing the pain of separation.
Alliteration (Edhugai / Monnai)
“Maamannan dhushyanthan mun sellaayo”
Repetition of consonant sounds like 'Maamannan' and 'Maadhival', creating a rhythmic musical flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyricist London Gopal references the famous episode from Kalidasa's classical Sanskrit play 'Abhijnanashakuntalam', where Shakuntala writes a love letter to King Dushyanta on a lotus leaf using her fingernails while suffering from the torment of love in the forest hermitage.
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