Thanniyilla Meenai Pole
From Thangaikkor Geetham · 1983
- Lyricist
- T. Rajendar
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- T. Rajendar
- Details
- Thangaikkor Geetham1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Paazhum vayirae nee pasikkaathu irunthaalae | Wretched stomach, if only you did not feel hungry, |
| Yaezhai engalukku kavalai irukkaathae | We, the poor, would have no worries. |
| Kavalai irukkaathae…. | Would have no worries.... |
| Female | |
| Thanniyillaa meenai pola | Like a fish out of water, |
| Kanneeril naangal vaada | As we wither away in tears, |
| Engalai yaen padaiththaano | Why did He create us? |
| Female | |
| Naalu velai pattinil | In continuous starvation, |
| Naan kidanthu paadugiren | I lie down and sing, |
| Engalai yaen padaiththaano | Why did He create us? |
| En thangai aval kannil | In my younger sister's eyes, |
| Engalai yaen padaiththaano | Why did He create us? |
| En thangai aval kannil | In my younger sister's eyes, |
| Oru gangaiyai naan kandaen | I saw a river Ganges. |
| Female | |
| Thanniyillaa meenai pola | Like a fish out of water, |
| Kanneeril nangal vaada | As we wither away in tears, |
| Engalai yaen padaiththaanae | Why did He create us? |
| Female | |
| Naalu velai pattiniyil | In continuous starvation, |
| Naan kidanthu paadukiraen | I lie down and sing, |
| Engalai yaen padaiththaano… | Why did He create us?... |
| En thangai aval kannil | In my younger sister's eyes, |
| Engalai yaen padaiththaano | Why did He create us? |
| En thangai aval kannil | In my younger sister's eyes, |
| Oru gangaiyai naan kandaen | I saw a river Ganges. |
| Female | |
| Padippatharkku aasaippattu | Wishing to study, |
| Paathiyilae niruththi vittaen | I stopped halfway. |
| Haan aaha haa aahaa haan aahaa haan… | Haan aaha haa aahaa haan aahaa haan… |
| Female | |
| Padippatharkku aasaippattu | Wishing to study, |
| Paathiyilae niruththi vittaen | I stopped halfway. |
| Thangachiyai aalaakkuvaen | I will make my sister grow up well, |
| Thaalaattu seeraattuvean | I will sing lullabies and pamper her. |
| Cholai malaraai ival malara | For her to blossom like a garden flower, |
| Naan vaervai sinthi valarppaen | I will shed sweat and raise her. |
| Female | |
| Thanniyillaa meenai pola | Like a fish out of water, |
| Kanneeril nangal vaada | As we wither away in tears, |
| Engalai yaen padaiththaanae | Why did He create us? |
| Female | |
| Naalu velai pattiniyil | In continuous starvation, |
| Naan kidanthu paadukiraen | I lie down and sing, |
| Engalai yaen padaiththaano… | Why did He create us?... |
| Female | |
| Thoosu kooda aval kannil | Even if a speck of dust in her eyes, |
| Vizhunthaalum naan azhuvaen | Should fall, I will cry. |
| Haan aahaa haa aahaa haa aaha haan | Haan aahaa haa aahaa haa aaha haan |
| Female | |
| Thoosu kooda aval kannil | Even if a speck of dust in her eyes, |
| Vizhunthaalum naan azhuvaen | Should fall, I will cry. |
| Kashtangalai naan sumakkiraen | I carry all the hardships, |
| Kanneeril naan mithakkiraen | I float in tears. |
| Aval siriththaal naan sirippaen | If she smiles, I will smile, |
| Aval azhuthaal naan azhuvaen | If she cries, I will cry. |
| Female | |
| Thanniyillaa meenai pola | Like a fish out of water, |
| Kanneeril nangal vaada | As we wither away in tears, |
| Engalai yaen padaiththaanae | Why did He create us? |
| Female | |
| Naalu velai pattiniyil | In continuous starvation, |
| Naan kidanthu paadukiraen | I lie down and sing, |
| Engalai yaen padaiththaano… | Why did He create us?... |
| En thangai aval kannil | In my younger sister's eyes, |
| Engalai yaen padaiththaano | Why did He create us? |
| En thangai aval kannil | In my younger sister's eyes, |
| Oru gangaiyai naan kandaen | I saw a river Ganges. |
| Heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm mm | Heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm mm |
பாழும் வயிறே நீ பசிக்காது இருந்தாலே
ஏழை எங்களுக்கு கவலை இருக்காதே
கவலை இருக்காதே......
Wretched stomach, if only you did not feel hungry,
We, the poor, would have no worries.
Would have no worries....
தண்ணியில்லா மீனை போல
கண்ணீரில் நாங்கள் வாட
எங்களை ஏன் படைத்தானோ
Like a fish out of water,
As we wither away in tears,
Why did He create us?
நாலு வேளை பட்டினியில்
நான் கிடந்து பாடுகிறேன்
எங்களை ஏன் படைத்தானோ
என் தங்கை அவள் கண்ணில்
ஒரு கங்கையை நான் கண்டேன்
என் தங்கை அவள் கண்ணில்
ஒரு கங்கையை நான் கண்டேன்
In continuous starvation,
I lie down and sing,
Why did He create us?
In my younger sister's eyes,
Why did He create us?
In my younger sister's eyes,
I saw a river Ganges.
தண்ணியில்லா மீனை போல
கண்ணீரில் நாங்கள் வாட
எங்களை ஏன் படைத்தானோ....
Like a fish out of water,
As we wither away in tears,
Why did He create us?
நாலு வேளை பட்டினியில்
நான் கிடந்து பாடுகிறேன்
எங்களை ஏன் படைத்தானோ
என் தங்கை அவள் கண்ணில்
ஒரு கங்கையை நான் கண்டேன்
என் தங்கை அவள் கண்ணில்
ஒரு கங்கையை நான் கண்டேன்
In continuous starvation,
I lie down and sing,
Why did He create us?...
In my younger sister's eyes,
Why did He create us?
In my younger sister's eyes,
I saw a river Ganges.
படிப்பதற்கு ஆசைப்பட்டு
பாதியிலே நிறுத்தி விட்டேன்
ஹான் ஆஹா ஹா ஆஹா ஹான் ஆஹ ஹான்.....
Wishing to study,
I stopped halfway.
Haan aaha haa aahaa haan aahaa haan…
படிப்பதற்கு ஆசைப்பட்டு
பாதியிலே நிறுத்தி விட்டேன்
தங்கச்சியை ஆளாக்குவேன்
தாலாட்டி சீராட்டுவேன்
சோலை மலராய் இவள் மலர
நான் வேர்வை சிந்தி வளர்ப்பேன்.....
Wishing to study,
I stopped halfway.
I will make my sister grow up well,
I will sing lullabies and pamper her.
For her to blossom like a garden flower,
I will shed sweat and raise her.
தண்ணியில்லா மீனை போல
கண்ணீரில் நாங்கள் வாட
எங்களை ஏன் படைத்தானோ....
Like a fish out of water,
As we wither away in tears,
Why did He create us?
நாலு வேளை பட்டினியில்
நான் கிடந்து பாடுகிறேன்
எங்களை ஏன் படைத்தானோ
In continuous starvation,
I lie down and sing,
Why did He create us?...
தூசு கூட அவள் கண்ணில்
விழுந்தாலும் நான் அழுவேன்
ஹான் ஆஹா ஹா ஆஹா ஹான் ஆஹ ஹான்.....
Even if a speck of dust in her eyes,
Should fall, I will cry.
Haan aahaa haa aahaa haa aaha haan
தூசு கூட அவள் கண்ணில்
விழுந்தாலும் நான் அழுவேன்
கஷ்டங்களை நான் சுமக்கிறேன்
கண்ணீரில் நான் மிதக்கிறேன்
அவள் சிரித்தால் நான் சிரிப்பேன்
அவள் அழுதால் நான் அழுவேன்
Even if a speck of dust in her eyes,
Should fall, I will cry.
I carry all the hardships,
I float in tears.
If she smiles, I will smile,
If she cries, I will cry.
தண்ணியில்லா மீனை போல
கண்ணீரில் நாங்கள் வாட
எங்களை ஏன் படைத்தானோ....
Like a fish out of water,
As we wither away in tears,
Why did He create us?
நாலு வேளை பட்டினியில்
நான் கிடந்து பாடுகிறேன்
எங்களை ஏன் படைத்தானோ
என் தங்கை அவள் கண்ணில்
ஒரு கங்கையை நான் கண்டேன்
என் தங்கை அவள் கண்ணில்
ஒரு கங்கையை நான் கண்டேன்
ஹீஹிம் ஹீஹிம் ஹீஹிம் ஹீஹிம் ஹீஹிம் ம்ம்
In continuous starvation,
I lie down and sing,
Why did He create us?...
In my younger sister's eyes,
Why did He create us?
In my younger sister's eyes,
I saw a river Ganges.
Heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm mm
Paazhum vayirae nee pasikkaathu irunthaalae
Wretched stomach, if only you did not feel hungry,
Yaezhai engalukku kavalai irukkaathae
We, the poor, would have no worries.
Kavalai irukkaathae….
Would have no worries....
Thanniyillaa meenai pola
Like a fish out of water,
Kanneeril naangal vaada
As we wither away in tears,
Engalai yaen padaiththaano
Why did He create us?
Naalu velai pattinil
In continuous starvation,
Naan kidanthu paadugiren
I lie down and sing,
Engalai yaen padaiththaano
Why did He create us?
En thangai aval kannil
In my younger sister's eyes,
Engalai yaen padaiththaano
Why did He create us?
En thangai aval kannil
In my younger sister's eyes,
Oru gangaiyai naan kandaen
I saw a river Ganges.
Thanniyillaa meenai pola
Like a fish out of water,
Kanneeril nangal vaada
As we wither away in tears,
Engalai yaen padaiththaanae
Why did He create us?
Naalu velai pattiniyil
In continuous starvation,
Naan kidanthu paadukiraen
I lie down and sing,
Engalai yaen padaiththaano…
Why did He create us?...
En thangai aval kannil
In my younger sister's eyes,
Engalai yaen padaiththaano
Why did He create us?
En thangai aval kannil
In my younger sister's eyes,
Oru gangaiyai naan kandaen
I saw a river Ganges.
Padippatharkku aasaippattu
Wishing to study,
Paathiyilae niruththi vittaen
I stopped halfway.
Haan aaha haa aahaa haan aahaa haan…
Haan aaha haa aahaa haan aahaa haan…
Padippatharkku aasaippattu
Wishing to study,
Paathiyilae niruththi vittaen
I stopped halfway.
Thangachiyai aalaakkuvaen
I will make my sister grow up well,
Thaalaattu seeraattuvean
I will sing lullabies and pamper her.
Cholai malaraai ival malara
For her to blossom like a garden flower,
Naan vaervai sinthi valarppaen
I will shed sweat and raise her.
Thanniyillaa meenai pola
Like a fish out of water,
Kanneeril nangal vaada
As we wither away in tears,
Engalai yaen padaiththaanae
Why did He create us?
Naalu velai pattiniyil
In continuous starvation,
Naan kidanthu paadukiraen
I lie down and sing,
Engalai yaen padaiththaano…
Why did He create us?...
Thoosu kooda aval kannil
Even if a speck of dust in her eyes,
Vizhunthaalum naan azhuvaen
Should fall, I will cry.
Haan aahaa haa aahaa haa aaha haan
Haan aahaa haa aahaa haa aaha haan
Thoosu kooda aval kannil
Even if a speck of dust in her eyes,
Vizhunthaalum naan azhuvaen
Should fall, I will cry.
Kashtangalai naan sumakkiraen
I carry all the hardships,
Kanneeril naan mithakkiraen
I float in tears.
Aval siriththaal naan sirippaen
If she smiles, I will smile,
Aval azhuthaal naan azhuvaen
If she cries, I will cry.
Thanniyillaa meenai pola
Like a fish out of water,
Kanneeril nangal vaada
As we wither away in tears,
Engalai yaen padaiththaanae
Why did He create us?
Naalu velai pattiniyil
In continuous starvation,
Naan kidanthu paadukiraen
I lie down and sing,
Engalai yaen padaiththaano…
Why did He create us?...
En thangai aval kannil
In my younger sister's eyes,
Engalai yaen padaiththaano
Why did He create us?
En thangai aval kannil
In my younger sister's eyes,
Oru gangaiyai naan kandaen
I saw a river Ganges.
Heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm mm
Heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm mm
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song from 'Thangaikkor Geetham' expresses the deep sorrow, poverty, and sacrificial love of an elder sibling caring for their younger sister. Struggling against relentless hunger and poverty, the protagonist questions divine justice for placing them in such hardship. Despite having to give up education and endure immense physical and emotional pain, the protagonist remains devoted to raising the younger sister, sharing every bit of her joy and sorrow.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Thanniyillaa meenai pola”
Compares their helpless suffering in tears to a fish suffering out of water ('Thanniyillaa meenai pola').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Oru gangaiyai naan kandaen”
Compares the vast amount of tears in the sister's eyes to the flowing river Ganges ('Oru gangaiyai naan kandaen').
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Padippatharkku aasaippattu / Paathiyilae niruththi vittaen”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Pa' in consecutive lines ('Padippatharkku' / 'Paathiyilae').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Thangaikkor Geetham' (1983) was written, directed, and composed by T. Rajendar, who was renowned in Tamil cinema for his signature rhyming lyrics and emotionally charged melodrama revolving around sibling bonds.
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