Thondru Thottu Indru Varai
From Avatharam · 1995
- Lyricist
- Muthukoothan
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Avatharam1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thondruthottu indru varai | From time immemorial until today, |
| Ezhai ennum jenmaththukku | For the life born into poverty, |
| Thunbam aiyaaa…aa… | There is only sorrow, oh sir... |
| Inbam endrum ezhaikellaam | If happiness for the poor is denied, |
| Vanmam kondae thunbam thandhaal | And trouble is inflicted out of malice, |
| Thollai aiyaa…aa…. | It becomes an unbearable plight, oh sir... |
| Male | |
| Ezhai padum paadu | The suffering endured by the poor, |
| Athu solli mudiyathu | Cannot be fully described in words. |
| Pozhuthae irul aanaal | If the day itself turns into darkness, |
| Ini ingae vidivethu | How can a new dawn ever arrive here? |
| Male | |
| Thondruthottu indru varai | From time immemorial until today, |
| Ezhai ennum jenmaththukku | For the life born into poverty, |
| Thunbam aiyaaa…aa… | There is only sorrow, oh sir... |
| Inbam endrum ezhaikellaam | If happiness for the poor is denied, |
| Vanmam kondae thunbam thandhaal | And trouble is inflicted out of malice, |
| Thollai aiyaa… | It is a heavy burden, oh sir... |
| Thollai aiyaa… | It is a heavy burden, oh sir... |
| Chorus | |
| …………………………………. | |
| Male | |
| Vazhkai kadhai thaanae | Isn't life merely a story? |
| Antha medai koothu aachu | It has become a street play on a stage. |
| Antha kadhaiyin nalla mudivu | A happy ending to that story, |
| Ezhai vazhvil varaama pochu | Never arrived in the life of the poor. |
| Male | |
| Koothu kadhaiellaam verum | Are all these dramatic stories, |
| Soththukaaga thaanaa | Fought merely for wealth and property? |
| Nethu vandha kaatchi | The tragic sight that unfolded yesterday, |
| En nenjil baaram thaanaa | Is it not a heavy weight upon my heart? |
| Male | |
| Kadhaigalai pola | Just like in the stories, |
| Nalam vandhu sera | For goodness to arrive, |
| Varuma oru avadhaaram | Will a divine incarnation descend? |
| Theemaiyum olindhu | So that evil is vanquished, |
| Nanmaiyum sera | And righteousness prevails, |
| Nadanthiduma samhaaram | Will the destruction of evil take place? |
| Male | |
| Neeyoru avathaaram | You are an incarnation! |
| Nadathidu samhaaram | Execute the destruction of evil! |
| Neeyoru avathaaram | You are an incarnation! |
| Nadathidu samhaaram | Execute the destruction of evil! |
தொன்றுதொட்டு இன்று வரை
ஏழை என்னும் ஜென்மத்துக்கு
துன்பம் ஐயா...ஆ..
இன்பம் என்றும் ஏழைக்கெல்லாம்
வன்மம் கொண்டே துன்பம் தந்தால்
தொல்லை ஐயா...ஆ...
From time immemorial until today,
For the life born into poverty,
There is only sorrow, oh sir...
If happiness for the poor is denied,
And trouble is inflicted out of malice,
It becomes an unbearable plight, oh sir...
ஏழை படும் பாடு
அது சொல்லி முடியாது
பொழுதே இருள் ஆனால்
இனி இங்கே விடிவேது
The suffering endured by the poor,
Cannot be fully described in words.
If the day itself turns into darkness,
How can a new dawn ever arrive here?
தொன்றுதொட்டு இன்று வரை
ஏழை என்னும் ஜென்மத்துக்கு
துன்பம் ஐயா...ஆ..
இன்பம் என்றும் ஏழைக்கெல்லாம்
வன்மம் கொண்டே துன்பம் தந்தால்
தொல்லை ஐயா..
தொல்லை ஐயா..
From time immemorial until today,
For the life born into poverty,
There is only sorrow, oh sir...
If happiness for the poor is denied,
And trouble is inflicted out of malice,
It is a heavy burden, oh sir...
It is a heavy burden, oh sir...
..................................
வாழ்க்கை கதை தானே
இங்கு மேடை கூத்து ஆச்சு
அந்த கதையின் நல்ல முடிவு
ஏழை வாழ்வில் வராமா போச்சு
Isn't life merely a story?
It has become a street play on a stage.
A happy ending to that story,
Never arrived in the life of the poor.
கூத்து கதையெல்லாம் வெறும்
சோத்துக்காக தானா
நேத்து வந்த காட்சி
என் நெஞ்சில் பாரம் தானா
Are all these dramatic stories,
Fought merely for wealth and property?
The tragic sight that unfolded yesterday,
Is it not a heavy weight upon my heart?
கதைகளை போல
நலம் வந்து சேர
வருமா ஒரு அவதாரம்
தீமையும் ஒளிந்து
நன்மையையும் சேர
நடந்திடும் சம்ஹாரம்
Just like in the stories,
For goodness to arrive,
Will a divine incarnation descend?
So that evil is vanquished,
And righteousness prevails,
Will the destruction of evil take place?
நீயொரு அவதாரம்
நடத்திடு சம்ஹாரம்
நீயொரு அவதாரம்
நடத்திடு சம்ஹாரம்
You are an incarnation!
Execute the destruction of evil!
You are an incarnation!
Execute the destruction of evil!
Thondruthottu indru varai
From time immemorial until today,
Ezhai ennum jenmaththukku
For the life born into poverty,
Thunbam aiyaaa…aa…
There is only sorrow, oh sir...
Inbam endrum ezhaikellaam
If happiness for the poor is denied,
Vanmam kondae thunbam thandhaal
And trouble is inflicted out of malice,
Thollai aiyaa…aa….
It becomes an unbearable plight, oh sir...
Ezhai padum paadu
The suffering endured by the poor,
Athu solli mudiyathu
Cannot be fully described in words.
Pozhuthae irul aanaal
If the day itself turns into darkness,
Ini ingae vidivethu
How can a new dawn ever arrive here?
Thondruthottu indru varai
From time immemorial until today,
Ezhai ennum jenmaththukku
For the life born into poverty,
Thunbam aiyaaa…aa…
There is only sorrow, oh sir...
Inbam endrum ezhaikellaam
If happiness for the poor is denied,
Vanmam kondae thunbam thandhaal
And trouble is inflicted out of malice,
Thollai aiyaa…
It is a heavy burden, oh sir...
Thollai aiyaa…
It is a heavy burden, oh sir...
………………………………….
Vazhkai kadhai thaanae
Isn't life merely a story?
Antha medai koothu aachu
It has become a street play on a stage.
Antha kadhaiyin nalla mudivu
A happy ending to that story,
Ezhai vazhvil varaama pochu
Never arrived in the life of the poor.
Koothu kadhaiellaam verum
Are all these dramatic stories,
Soththukaaga thaanaa
Fought merely for wealth and property?
Nethu vandha kaatchi
The tragic sight that unfolded yesterday,
En nenjil baaram thaanaa
Is it not a heavy weight upon my heart?
Kadhaigalai pola
Just like in the stories,
Nalam vandhu sera
For goodness to arrive,
Varuma oru avadhaaram
Will a divine incarnation descend?
Theemaiyum olindhu
So that evil is vanquished,
Nanmaiyum sera
And righteousness prevails,
Nadanthiduma samhaaram
Will the destruction of evil take place?
Neeyoru avathaaram
You are an incarnation!
Nadathidu samhaaram
Execute the destruction of evil!
Neeyoru avathaaram
You are an incarnation!
Nadathidu samhaaram
Execute the destruction of evil!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses the timeless plight and endless suffering of the impoverished class. Comparing human life to a street play ('Therukoothu') performed on a stage, the song laments how the poor are deprived of happy endings while the powerful quarrel ruthlessly over property and material wealth. Faced with injustice and tragedy, the narrator yearns for a savior or divine avatar ('Avatharam') to destroy evil and bring about justice ('Samhaaram'). Ultimately, the song serves as a rallying cry, urging the listener or protagonist to step up and become that very avatar of change.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Antha medai koothu aachu”
Life is explicitly compared to a theatrical street play performed on stage ('Vazhkai kadhai thaanae / Antha medai koothu aachu').
Rhetorical Question
“Pozhuthae irul aanaal / Ini ingae vidivethu”
The lyricist uses a rhetorical question to highlight the hopeless condition of the poor when even basic hope is lost.
Iyaibu (Rhyme / End Rhyme)
“Neeyoru avathaaram / Nadathidu samhaaram”
The words 'Avathaaram' and 'Samhaaram' rhyme at the end of the lines, creating a rhythmic and powerful impact.
Antonym Pairing / Contrast
“Theemaiyum olindhu / Nanmaiyum sera”
The song contrasts 'Theemai' (evil) and 'Nanmai' (goodness) to emphasize the moral conflict.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Avatharam' (1995) was directed by actor Nasser, who also played the lead role of a Therukoothu (traditional Tamil street theatre) performance artist. The film's musical score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, blending authentic Tamil folk theatre music styles with dramatic narrative storytelling.
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