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Samsarame Saranam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thookkamilla Thookkamilla

From Samsarame Saranam · 1989

Lyricist
Jeevabalan
Singer
Gangai Amaran
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Samsarame Saranam
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
19 May 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aariraariro aariraariro
Ariro aariraariro
Aariraariro aariraariro
Ariro aariraariro….oo….
Thookkamilla thookkamilla
Yaarukkum Inae thookkamilla
Thookkamilla thookkamilla
Yaarukkum Ingae thookkamilla
Yaekkaththula vaaduthunga
Eththanaiyo nenjamunga
Ahthanaiyum theduthunga
Nimmathiya kaanumunga
Thookkamilla thookkamilla
Yaarukkum Inae thookkamilla
Thookkamilla thookkamilla
Yaarukkum Ingae thookkamilla
Velaiyillaa kaalaiyarkku
Vedhanaiyil thookkamilla
Kaadhal konda ennaththilae
Kanniyarkku thookkamilla
Uravaal ingu manathil yaekkam
Pirivaal dhinamum kalaiyum thookkam
Aaga moththam bhoomiyilae yaarum thoongavilla
Padum sodhanai konjamilla
Thookkamilla thookkamilla
Yaarukkum Inae thookkamilla
Thookkamilla thookkamilla
Yaarukkum Ingae thookkamilla….
Aariraariro, aariraariro
Aariro, aariraariro
Aariro, aariraariro
Aariro, aariro... oh...
There is no sleep, there is no sleep,
No one here gets any sleep.
There is no sleep, there is no sleep,
No one here gets any sleep.
Wasting away in deep longing,
So many hearts are aching.
All of them are searching,
Just to find some peace of mind.
There is no sleep, there is no sleep,
No one here gets any sleep.
There is no sleep, there is no sleep,
No one here gets any sleep.
For jobless young men,
There is no sleep in their despair.
Lost in thoughts of romance,
Young women cannot sleep.
Bonds of love bring yearning to the heart,
And separation breaks their sleep each day.
All in all, no one on this earth can sleep,
The trials they face are endless.
There is no sleep, there is no sleep,
No one here gets any sleep.
There is no sleep, there is no sleep,
No one here gets any sleep....
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Thookkamilla Thookkamilla' from the movie Samsarame Saranam offers a poignant commentary on human restlessness and social struggles. Framing the song ironic as a lullaby (using traditional soothe sounds like 'Aariraariro'), it subverts expectations by describing how no one in society can actually find sleep.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Irony / Paradox

“Aariraariro aariraariro”

Using traditional lullaby chants ('Aariraariro') which are meant to induce sleep to emphasize widespread sleeplessness and distress.

Anaphora / Repetition

“Thookkamilla thookkamilla”

Repetition of the keyword 'Thookkamilla' (sleeplessness) highlights the universal theme of chronic restlessness across society.

Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Velaiyillaa kaalaiyarkku / Vedhanaiyil thookkamilla”

Matching the initial consonants and vowel sounds in Tamil poetry prosody ('Velaiyillaa' and 'Vedhanaiyil').

Did you know?

Trivia

Samsarame Saranam (1989) was directed by Gangai Amaran. The song cleverly subverts the lullaby genre to highlight societal issues like youth unemployment and emotional heartache.

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From the same album

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Unavu Sellavillai Sagiye (Female)1989
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Unavu Sellavillai Sagiye (Male)1989
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Samsarame SaranamCelebratory

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