Tharaimel Pirakka
From Padagotti · 1964
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Padagotti1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ulagathin thookam | Will the world's deep slumber |
| Kalaiyathoooooo | Never be broken? |
| Ullathin yekkam tholaiyaathoooo | Will the heart's longing never vanish? |
| Uzhaipavar vaazhkai malaraathoooo | Will the lives of working people never bloom? |
| Oru naal pozhuthum pularaathoooo | Will a new dawn not rise even for a single day? |
| Male | |
| { Tharai mel piraka | { He made us be born upon the dry land, |
| Vaithaan Engalai thanneeril | Yet made us earn our living in the ocean waters; |
| Pizhaika vaithaan | He made women stay ashore, |
| Male | |
| Karai mel iruka | Yet made them constantly bathe |
| Vaithaan pengalai kanneeril | In their own tears } (2) |
| Kulika vaithaan } (2) | Upon the land, |
| Male | |
| Tharai mel | He caused us to be born. |
| Piraka vaithaan | The wedded wife, |
| Male | |
| Kattiya manaivi | And the baby in the cradle—relationships |
| Thottil pillai uravai | Were given by Him over there; |
| Koduthavar angae | Upon the churning sea, |
| Male | |
| Alai kadal melae | Wandering constantly like the waves, |
| Alaiyaai alainthu | Here are those who sacrifice their lives. |
| Uyirai kodupavar ingae | { The silver moon |
| Male | |
| { Velli nilavae | Shines as our lamp; the wide ocean itself |
| Vilakaai eriyum kadalthaan | Is our true home } (2) |
| Engal veedu } (2) | If life ends, it ends; |
| Male | |
| Mudinthaal mudiyum | If it continues, it continues; |
| Thodarnthaal thodarum | { Such is our fate and life } (2) |
| { Idhuthaan engal vaazhkai } (2) | He made us be born upon the dry land, |
| Male | |
| Tharai mel piraka | Yet made us earn our living in the ocean waters; |
| Vaithaan Engalai thanneeril | He made women stay ashore, |
| Pizhaika vaithaan | Yet made them constantly bathe |
| Male | |
| Karai mel iruka | In their own tears. |
| Vaithaan pengalai kanneeril | In the midst of vast sea waters, |
| Kulika vaithaan | When traveling, who is there |
| Male | |
| Kadalneer naduvae | To offer a drop of drinking water? |
| Payanam ponaal kudineer | For those who set out alone, |
| Tharubavar yaarooo | Who comes along as a true companion |
| Male | |
| Thaniyaai vanthor | Except for pure courage? |
| Thunivai thavira thunaiyaai | { One day they depart, |
| Varubavar yaarooo | One day they return, and every single |
| Male | |
| { Orunaal povaar | Day is filled with deep sorrow } (2) |
| Oru naal varuvaar ovvoru | Just to feed a one-span belly, |
| Naalum thuyaram } (2) | To judge the lives of these hard workers, |
| Male | |
| Oru jaan vayirai | It is easy for townsfolk to speak; |
| Valarpavar uyirai ooraar | It is so easy for outsiders to judge! |
| Nenaipathu sulabam | He made us be born upon the dry land, |
| Ooraar nenaipathu sulabam | Yet made us earn our living in the ocean waters; |
| Male | |
| Tharai mel piraka | He made women stay ashore, |
| Vaithaan Engalai thanneeril | Yet made them constantly bathe |
| Pizhaika vaithaan | In their own tears. |
| Male | |
| Karai mel iruka | Upon the land, |
| Vaithaan pengalai kanneeril | He caused us to be born. |
| Kulika vaithaan | Upon the land, |
| Male | |
| Tharai mel | He caused us to be born. |
| Piraka vaithaan | He caused us to be born. |
உலகத்தின்
தூக்கம் கலையாதோ
உள்ளத்தின் ஏக்கம்
தொலையாதோ
உழைப்பவர் வாழ்க்கை
மலராதோ ஒரு நாள்
பொழுதும் புலராதோ
Will the world's deep slumber
Never be broken?
Will the heart's longing never vanish?
Will the lives of working people never bloom?
Will a new dawn not rise even for a single day?
{ தரை மேல்
பிறக்க வைத்தான்
எங்களைத்தண்ணீரில்
பிழைக்க வைத்தான்
{ He made us be born upon the dry land,
Yet made us earn our living in the ocean waters;
He made women stay ashore,
கரை மேல்
இருக்க வைத்தான்
பெண்களைக்கண்ணீரில்
குளிக்க வைத்தான் } (2)
Yet made them constantly bathe
In their own tears } (2)
Upon the land,
தரை மேல்
பிறக்க வைத்தான்
He caused us to be born.
The wedded wife,
கட்டிய மனைவி
தொட்டில் பிள்ளை உறவைக்
கொடுத்தவர் அங்கே
And the baby in the cradle—relationships
Were given by Him over there;
Upon the churning sea,
அலை கடல்
மேலே அலையாய்
அலைந்து உயிரைக்
கொடுப்பவர் இங்கே
Wandering constantly like the waves,
Here are those who sacrifice their lives.
{ The silver moon
{ வெள்ளி நிலாவே
விளக்காய் எரியும்
கடல்தான் எங்கள் வீடு } (2)
Shines as our lamp; the wide ocean itself
Is our true home } (2)
If life ends, it ends;
முடிந்தால்
முடியும் தொடர்ந்தால்
தொடரும்
{ இதுதான் எங்கள்
வாழ்க்கை } (2)
If it continues, it continues;
{ Such is our fate and life } (2)
He made us be born upon the dry land,
தரை மேல்
பிறக்க வைத்தான்
எங்களைத்தண்ணீரில்
பிழைக்க வைத்தான்
Yet made us earn our living in the ocean waters;
He made women stay ashore,
Yet made them constantly bathe
கரை மேல்
இருக்க வைத்தான்
பெண்களைக்கண்ணீரில்
குளிக்க வைத்தான்
In their own tears.
In the midst of vast sea waters,
When traveling, who is there
கடல் நீர் நடுவே
பயணம் போனால்
குடிநீர் தருபவர் யாரோ
To offer a drop of drinking water?
For those who set out alone,
Who comes along as a true companion
தனியாய்
வந்தோர் துணிவைத்
தவிர துணையாய்
வருபவர் யாரோ
Except for pure courage?
{ One day they depart,
One day they return, and every single
{ ஒருநாள்
போவார் ஒருநாள்
வருவார் ஒவ்வொரு
நாளும் துயரம் } (2)
Day is filled with deep sorrow } (2)
Just to feed a one-span belly,
To judge the lives of these hard workers,
ஒரு ஜாண்
வயிறை வளர்ப்பவர்
உயிரை ஊரார் நினைப்பது
சுலபம் ஊரார் நினைப்பது
சுலபம்
It is easy for townsfolk to speak;
It is so easy for outsiders to judge!
He made us be born upon the dry land,
Yet made us earn our living in the ocean waters;
தரை மேல்
பிறக்க வைத்தான்
எங்களைத்தண்ணீரில்
பிழைக்க வைத்தான்
He made women stay ashore,
Yet made them constantly bathe
In their own tears.
கரை மேல்
இருக்க வைத்தான்
பெண்களைக்கண்ணீரில்
குளிக்க வைத்தான்
Upon the land,
He caused us to be born.
Upon the land,
தரை மேல்
பிறக்க வைத்தான்
He caused us to be born.
He caused us to be born.
Ulagathin thookam
Will the world's deep slumber
Kalaiyathoooooo
Never be broken?
Ullathin yekkam tholaiyaathoooo
Will the heart's longing never vanish?
Uzhaipavar vaazhkai malaraathoooo
Will the lives of working people never bloom?
Oru naal pozhuthum pularaathoooo
Will a new dawn not rise even for a single day?
{ Tharai mel piraka
{ He made us be born upon the dry land,
Vaithaan Engalai thanneeril
Yet made us earn our living in the ocean waters;
Pizhaika vaithaan
He made women stay ashore,
Karai mel iruka
Yet made them constantly bathe
Vaithaan pengalai kanneeril
In their own tears } (2)
Kulika vaithaan } (2)
Upon the land,
Tharai mel
He caused us to be born.
Piraka vaithaan
The wedded wife,
Kattiya manaivi
And the baby in the cradle—relationships
Thottil pillai uravai
Were given by Him over there;
Koduthavar angae
Upon the churning sea,
Alai kadal melae
Wandering constantly like the waves,
Alaiyaai alainthu
Here are those who sacrifice their lives.
Uyirai kodupavar ingae
{ The silver moon
{ Velli nilavae
Shines as our lamp; the wide ocean itself
Vilakaai eriyum kadalthaan
Is our true home } (2)
Engal veedu } (2)
If life ends, it ends;
Mudinthaal mudiyum
If it continues, it continues;
Thodarnthaal thodarum
{ Such is our fate and life } (2)
{ Idhuthaan engal vaazhkai } (2)
He made us be born upon the dry land,
Tharai mel piraka
Yet made us earn our living in the ocean waters;
Vaithaan Engalai thanneeril
He made women stay ashore,
Pizhaika vaithaan
Yet made them constantly bathe
Karai mel iruka
In their own tears.
Vaithaan pengalai kanneeril
In the midst of vast sea waters,
Kulika vaithaan
When traveling, who is there
Kadalneer naduvae
To offer a drop of drinking water?
Payanam ponaal kudineer
For those who set out alone,
Tharubavar yaarooo
Who comes along as a true companion
Thaniyaai vanthor
Except for pure courage?
Thunivai thavira thunaiyaai
{ One day they depart,
Varubavar yaarooo
One day they return, and every single
{ Orunaal povaar
Day is filled with deep sorrow } (2)
Oru naal varuvaar ovvoru
Just to feed a one-span belly,
Naalum thuyaram } (2)
To judge the lives of these hard workers,
Oru jaan vayirai
It is easy for townsfolk to speak;
Valarpavar uyirai ooraar
It is so easy for outsiders to judge!
Nenaipathu sulabam
He made us be born upon the dry land,
Ooraar nenaipathu sulabam
Yet made us earn our living in the ocean waters;
Tharai mel piraka
He made women stay ashore,
Vaithaan Engalai thanneeril
Yet made them constantly bathe
Pizhaika vaithaan
In their own tears.
Karai mel iruka
Upon the land,
Vaithaan pengalai kanneeril
He caused us to be born.
Kulika vaithaan
Upon the land,
Tharai mel
He caused us to be born.
Piraka vaithaan
He caused us to be born.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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