Thottilil Azhutha Kathai
From Nalla Penmani · 1979
- Lyricist
- Na. Kamarasan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Nalla Penmani1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai | The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga |
| En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai | The story that grew on my bed is a riddle |
| Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai | The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga |
| En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai | The story that grew on my bed is a riddle |
| Male | |
| Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai | The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga |
| En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai | The story that grew on my bed is a riddle |
| Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai | The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga |
| En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai | The story that grew on my bed is a riddle |
| Male | |
| Iyarkkaiyin veettilae vanthathu iru nilavu | Two moons came into nature's home |
| Iyarkkaiyin veettilae irupathu orr nilavu | In nature's home, only one moon remains |
| Ennudan vaazhvilae vanthathu oru nilavu | One moon came into my life |
| Irunthum yaeno maaraatha irul enakku | Yet why is there an unchanging darkness for me? |
| Male | |
| Nadhiyena odiyum sangama izhanthavan | Like a flowing river, I am the one who lost its confluence |
| Vithiyenum kodiyavan | Cruel fate is a tyrant |
| Vilaiyaadum medai naan | I am the stage on which it plays |
| Vilaiyaadum medai naan | I am the stage on which it plays |
| Male | |
| Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai | The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga |
| En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai | The story that grew on my bed is a riddle |
| Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai | The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga |
| Male | |
| Ennodu piranthavalae kaaviyam | She who was born with me is an epic |
| Aval enakkaga vaazhantha kadhai aayiram | There are a thousand stories of her living for my sake |
| Ennodu piranthavalae kaaviyam | She who was born with me is an epic |
| Aval enakkaga vaazhantha kadhai aayiram | There are a thousand stories of her living for my sake |
| Male | |
| Thaayin parivu thanthaiyin kanivu | A mother's care, a father's kindness |
| Thaayin parivu thanthaiyin kanivu | A mother's care, a father's kindness |
| Guruvin nyaanam thalaivanin needhi | A teacher's wisdom, a leader's justice |
| Guruvin nyaanam thalaivanin needhi | A teacher's wisdom, a leader's justice |
| Male | |
| Ithanaiyum konda magal vaadinaal | The woman who possessed all these has withered |
| Aval ennaalae kanneeril aadinaal | Because of me, she bathed in tears |
| Male | |
| Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai | The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga |
| En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai | The story that grew on my bed is a riddle |
| Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai | The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga |
| Thodarkadhai…..thodarkadhai….. | A continuous saga... a continuous saga... |
தொட்டிலில் அழுத கதை தொடர்கதை
என் கட்டிலில் வளர்ந்த கதை விடுகதை
தொட்டிலில் அழுத கதை தொடர்கதை
என் கட்டிலில் வளர்ந்த கதை விடுகதை
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
தொட்டிலில் அழுத கதை தொடர்கதை
என் கட்டிலில் வளர்ந்த கதை விடுகதை
தொட்டிலில் அழுத கதை தொடர்கதை
என் கட்டிலில் வளர்ந்த கதை விடுகதை
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
இயற்கையின் வீட்டிலே வந்தது இரு நிலவு
இயற்கையின் வீட்டிலே இருப்பது ஓர் நிலவு
என்னுடன் வாழ்விலே வந்தது இரு நிலவு
இருந்தும் ஏனோ மாறாத இருள் எனக்கு
Two moons came into nature's home
In nature's home, only one moon remains
One moon came into my life
Yet why is there an unchanging darkness for me?
நதியென ஓடியும் சங்கமம் இழந்தவன்
விதியெனும் கொடியவன்
விளையாடும் மேடை நான்
விளையாடும் மேடை நான்
Like a flowing river, I am the one who lost its confluence
Cruel fate is a tyrant
I am the stage on which it plays
I am the stage on which it plays
தொட்டிலில் அழுத கதை தொடர்கதை
என் கட்டிலில் வளர்ந்த கதை விடுகதை
தொட்டிலில் அழுத கதை தொடர்கதை
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
என்னோடு பிறந்தவளே காவியம்
அவள் எனக்காக வாழ்ந்த கதை ஆயிரம்
என்னோடு பிறந்தவளே காவியம்
அவள் எனக்காக வாழ்ந்த கதை ஆயிரம்
She who was born with me is an epic
There are a thousand stories of her living for my sake
She who was born with me is an epic
There are a thousand stories of her living for my sake
தாயின் பரிவு தந்தையின் கனிவு
தாயின் பரிவு தந்தையின் கனிவு
குருவின் ஞானம் தலைவனின் நீதி
குருவின் ஞானம் தலைவனின் நீதி
A mother's care, a father's kindness
A mother's care, a father's kindness
A teacher's wisdom, a leader's justice
A teacher's wisdom, a leader's justice
இத்தனையும் கொண்ட மகள் வாடினாள்
அவள் என்னாலே கண்ணீரில் ஆடினாள்
The woman who possessed all these has withered
Because of me, she bathed in tears
தொட்டிலில் அழுத கதை தொடர்கதை
என் கட்டிலில் வளர்ந்த கதை விடுகதை
தொட்டிலில் அழுத கதை தொடர்கதை....
தொடர்கதை......தொடர்கதை......
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
A continuous saga... a continuous saga...
Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
Iyarkkaiyin veettilae vanthathu iru nilavu
Two moons came into nature's home
Iyarkkaiyin veettilae irupathu orr nilavu
In nature's home, only one moon remains
Ennudan vaazhvilae vanthathu oru nilavu
One moon came into my life
Irunthum yaeno maaraatha irul enakku
Yet why is there an unchanging darkness for me?
Nadhiyena odiyum sangama izhanthavan
Like a flowing river, I am the one who lost its confluence
Vithiyenum kodiyavan
Cruel fate is a tyrant
Vilaiyaadum medai naan
I am the stage on which it plays
Vilaiyaadum medai naan
I am the stage on which it plays
Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
Ennodu piranthavalae kaaviyam
She who was born with me is an epic
Aval enakkaga vaazhantha kadhai aayiram
There are a thousand stories of her living for my sake
Ennodu piranthavalae kaaviyam
She who was born with me is an epic
Aval enakkaga vaazhantha kadhai aayiram
There are a thousand stories of her living for my sake
Thaayin parivu thanthaiyin kanivu
A mother's care, a father's kindness
Thaayin parivu thanthaiyin kanivu
A mother's care, a father's kindness
Guruvin nyaanam thalaivanin needhi
A teacher's wisdom, a leader's justice
Guruvin nyaanam thalaivanin needhi
A teacher's wisdom, a leader's justice
Ithanaiyum konda magal vaadinaal
The woman who possessed all these has withered
Aval ennaalae kanneeril aadinaal
Because of me, she bathed in tears
Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai
The story that grew on my bed is a riddle
Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai
The story of crying in the cradle is a continuous saga
Thodarkadhai…..thodarkadhai…..
A continuous saga... a continuous saga...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses intense grief and existential anguish over a life filled with unending tragedy and lost happiness. The protagonist reflects on how sorrow has followed him from infanthood in the cradle to adulthood, making his life an unsolved riddle. He laments the cruel hand of fate that took away joy and light, leaving him in perpetual darkness like a river that never reaches the ocean. He pays tribute to his sister or loved companion, describing her as a living epic who selflessly lived for his sake and embodied all great virtues—maternal love, paternal care, wisdom, and fairness. Yet, despite her noble nature, she ended up in tears because of him, driving home the painful reality of their tragic destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Rupagam)
“Vithiyenum kodiyavan vilaiyaadum medai naan”
Comparing the singer's life/body to a stage where cruel fate plays its games.
Metaphor (Rupagam)
“Ennodu piranthavalae kaaviyam”
Comparing the loved one born alongside him to a literary epic ('kaaviyam').
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Ennudan vaazhvilae vanthathu oru nilavu / Irunthum yaeno maaraatha irul enakku”
Juxtaposing light ('nilavu' - moon) with enduring gloom ('irul' - darkness).
Rhyme & Rhythm (Edhugai / Iyaibu)
“Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai / En kattilil valarntha kadhai vidukadhai”
Use of matching end words and second-letter rhymes ('Thottilil' / 'Kattilil', 'Thodarkadhai' / 'Vidukadhai').
Did you know?
Trivia
This emotional track from the 1979 film 'Nalla Penmani' features lyrics by the renowned Tamil poet Na. Kamarasan, with music composed by V. Kumar. Sung with deep emotion by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, the song's opening refrain 'Thottilil azhutha kadhai thodarkadhai' became a famous phrase in Tamil popular culture to describe endless suffering.
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