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Lyrics & meaning

Tharaimel Pirakka

From Padagotti · 1964

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Padagotti
Movie release year
1964
Lyrics added on
4 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ulagathin thookam
Kalaiyathoooooo
Ullathin yekkam tholaiyaathoooo
Uzhaipavar vaazhkai malaraathoooo
Oru naal pozhuthum pularaathoooo
{ Tharai mel piraka
Vaithaan Engalai thanneeril
Pizhaika vaithaan
Karai mel iruka
Vaithaan pengalai kanneeril
Kulika vaithaan } (2)
Tharai mel
Piraka vaithaan
Kattiya manaivi
Thottil pillai uravai
Koduthavar angae
Alai kadal melae
Alaiyaai alainthu
Uyirai kodupavar ingae
{ Velli nilavae
Vilakaai eriyum kadalthaan
Engal veedu } (2)
Mudinthaal mudiyum
Thodarnthaal thodarum
{ Idhuthaan engal vaazhkai } (2)
Tharai mel piraka
Vaithaan Engalai thanneeril
Pizhaika vaithaan
Karai mel iruka
Vaithaan pengalai kanneeril
Kulika vaithaan
Kadalneer naduvae
Payanam ponaal kudineer
Tharubavar yaarooo
Thaniyaai vanthor
Thunivai thavira thunaiyaai
Varubavar yaarooo
{ Orunaal povaar
Oru naal varuvaar ovvoru
Naalum thuyaram } (2)
Oru jaan vayirai
Valarpavar uyirai ooraar
Nenaipathu sulabam
Ooraar nenaipathu sulabam
Tharai mel piraka
Vaithaan Engalai thanneeril
Pizhaika vaithaan
Karai mel iruka
Vaithaan pengalai kanneeril
Kulika vaithaan
Tharai mel
Piraka vaithaan
Will the sleep of this world
never be broken?
Will the ache in our hearts never disappear?
Will the lives of working people never blossom?
Will a bright new day never dawn?
He made us be born
upon the land, but made us
survive in the water.
He made the women
stay on the shore, and made them
bathe in their tears.
He made us be born
upon the land.
A wedded wife
and a child in the cradle—those loved ones
He gave back on the shore,
while wandering like waves
across the restless sea,
we risk our lives out here.
With the silver moon
shining like a lamp, this sea
is our only home.
If it ends, it ends;
if it goes on, it goes on—
this is our life.
He made us be born
upon the land, but made us
survive in the water.
He made the women
stay on the shore, and made them
bathe in their tears.
When we journey out
into the middle of the sea,
who is there to give us drinking water?
For those who set out all alone,
other than our own courage,
who will come as our companion?
They sail out one day
and return the next, yet every single
day is filled with sorrow.
To feed a belly just a span wide,
the life of a struggling soul is so easy
for the world to take for granted.
It is so easy for the world to take for granted.
He made us be born
upon the land, but made us
survive in the water.
He made the women
stay on the shore, and made them
bathe in their tears.
He made us be born
upon the land.
Male
Male
Male
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Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The iconic song 'Tharai Mel Pirakka Vaithan' from the 1964 film 'Padagotti' is a powerful lament that portrays the painful realities and existential philosophical outlook of the fishing community. The protagonist questions why fate has decreed such a stark irony for fishermen: born on land, yet forced to risk their lives on the unpredictable sea to earn a basic living, leaving their families ashore in constant anxiety and tears. Through Vaali's evocative pen, the lyrics capture the stark isolation of fishermen who embark on dangerous sea voyages with only courage as their companion, surrounded by boundless water yet deprived of even drinking water. The song reflects a stoic acceptance of mortality while criticizing the casual indifference of society, which easily judges the struggling workers without understanding the life-and-death sacrifices required to survive.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

“Tharai mel piraka vaithaan... thanneeril pizhaika vaithaan”

Contrasts being born on dry land ('Tharai') with having to earn a living in water ('Thanneeril'), emphasizing the irony of destiny.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Velli nilavae vilakaai eriyum kadalthaan engal veedu”

Metaphorically frames the vast open sea as their true home and the moon as their domestic lamp.

Irony

“Kadalneer naduvae payanam ponaal kudineer tharubavar yaarooo”

Highlights the paradox of being surrounded by endless sea water while lacking basic potable drinking water.

Rhyme / Parallelism (Ethirai & Monai)

“Mudinthaal mudiyum / Thodarnthaal thodarum”

Employs parallel rhythmic structure and internal rhyme in 'Mudinthaal mudiyum / Thodarnthaal thodarum' to signify the endless cycle of life and death.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and sung by T. M. Soundararajan, this song became an anthem for the working-class fishing community in Tamil Nadu. The movie 'Padagotti' starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Saroja Devi, and this song remains one of lyricist Vaali's most famous philosophical and social commentary masterpieces.

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