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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thanniyilla Meenai Pole

From Thangaikkor Geetham · 1983

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
T. Rajendar
Movie name
Thangaikkor Geetham
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
5 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Paazhum vayirae nee pasikkaathu irunthaalae
Yaezhai engalukku kavalai irukkaathae
Kavalai irukkaathae….
Thanniyillaa meenai pola
Kanneeril naangal vaada
Engalai yaen padaiththaano
Naalu velai pattinil
Naan kidanthu paadugiren
Engalai yaen padaiththaano
En thangai aval kannil
Engalai yaen padaiththaano
En thangai aval kannil
Oru gangaiyai naan kandaen
Thanniyillaa meenai pola
Kanneeril nangal vaada
Engalai yaen padaiththaanae
Naalu velai pattiniyil
Naan kidanthu paadukiraen
Engalai yaen padaiththaano…
En thangai aval kannil
Engalai yaen padaiththaano
En thangai aval kannil
Oru gangaiyai naan kandaen
Padippatharkku aasaippattu
Paathiyilae niruththi vittaen
Haan aaha haa aahaa haan aahaa haan…
Padippatharkku aasaippattu
Paathiyilae niruththi vittaen
Thangachiyai aalaakkuvaen
Thaalaattu seeraattuvean
Cholai malaraai ival malara
Naan vaervai sinthi valarppaen
Thanniyillaa meenai pola
Kanneeril nangal vaada
Engalai yaen padaiththaanae
Naalu velai pattiniyil
Naan kidanthu paadukiraen
Engalai yaen padaiththaano…
Thoosu kooda aval kannil
Vizhunthaalum naan azhuvaen
Haan aahaa haa aahaa haa aaha haan
Thoosu kooda aval kannil
Vizhunthaalum naan azhuvaen
Kashtangalai naan sumakkiraen
Kanneeril naan mithakkiraen
Aval siriththaal naan sirippaen
Aval azhuthaal naan azhuvaen
Thanniyillaa meenai pola
Kanneeril nangal vaada
Engalai yaen padaiththaanae
Naalu velai pattiniyil
Naan kidanthu paadukiraen
Engalai yaen padaiththaano…
En thangai aval kannil
Engalai yaen padaiththaano
En thangai aval kannil
Oru gangaiyai naan kandaen
Heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm heehmm mm
Wretched belly, if only you never felt hungry,
we poor folk wouldn't have any worries.
We wouldn't have any worries...
Like fish out of water,
withering away in our tears,
why did He create us?
Starving through every meal,
I lie here and sing.
Why did He create us?
In my little sister's eyes,
I saw a flowing Ganga of tears.
In my little sister's eyes,
I saw a flowing Ganga of tears.
Like fish out of water,
withering away in our tears,
why did He create us?...
Starving through every meal,
I lie here and sing.
Why did He create us?
In my little sister's eyes,
I saw a flowing Ganga of tears.
In my little sister's eyes,
I saw a flowing Ganga of tears.
Though I longed to study,
I had to stop halfway.
Haan aaha ha aaha haan aaha haan...
Though I longed to study,
I had to stop halfway.
I will raise my sister to stand on her own feet,
singing her lullabies and caring for her.
For her to bloom like a garden flower,
I will raise her with my sweat and toil...
Like fish out of water,
withering away in our tears,
why did He create us?...
Starving through every meal,
I lie here and sing.
Why did He create us?
If even a speck of dust
falls into her eye, I will cry.
Haan aaha ha aaha haan aaha haan...
If even a speck of dust
falls into her eye, I will cry.
I will bear all the hardships,
while floating in my tears.
If she smiles, I will smile,
if she cries, I will weep.
Like fish out of water,
withering away in our tears,
why did He create us?...
Starving through every meal,
I lie here and sing.
Why did He create us?
In my little sister's eyes,
I saw a flowing Ganga of tears.
In my little sister's eyes,
I saw a flowing Ganga of tears.
Mm-hmm mm-hmm mm-hmm mm-hmm mm-hmm mm...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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