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Lyrics & meaning

Thulli Varum Meengale

From Punitha Anthoniyar · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Punitha Anthoniyar1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thulli varum meengalaeO fishes that come leaping,
Sollum mozhi kaettpeeraeWill you listen to the words I say?
Ullam ulla maanidarkkuFor human beings who possess a mind,
Ungal arivaedhum illaiThey do not have even your wisdom.
Male
Thulli varum meengalaeO fishes that come leaping,
Sollum mozhi kaettpeeraeWill you listen to the words I say?
Ullam ulla maanidarkkuFor human beings who possess a mind,
Ungal arivaedhum illaiThey do not have even your wisdom.
Male
Kalla millaa ungalukkuFor you who are devoid of deceit,
Karthar thunaiyaaga vandhaarThe Lord came as your protector and helper.
Kadal ennum veedu kattiBy building a home named the ocean,
Kaavalukku avndhu nindraar…….He stood guard to protect you.
Male
Udambukku kattupattuBound to a physical body,
Ullae oru aavi iruppadhu polJust like a soul resides within,
Sathiyathukku kattu pattuBound by divine truth,
Indha boomi irukkiradhuThis earth exists.
Kartharae adhan thalaivarThe Lord alone is its leader.
Kartharae adhan thalaivarThe Lord alone is its leader.
Kartharae adhan thalaivarThe Lord alone is its leader.
Male
Kartharadhu raajasabaiIt is the Lord's royal court,
Kattravarukku deva sabaiA divine assembly for the learned,
Kaalamenum oozhiyilumEven through the deluge of time,
Kalangaadha needhi sabaiAn unshakeable court of justice.
Chinnanjiru meemgalukkumEven for the tiniest of fishes,
Annal vandhu oottugiraarThe Almighty comes and feeds them.
Aar arivil oor arivu ariyaadha aazhamadhuIt is a depth unfathomable by those with six senses or one sense.
Male
Uyir padaithaHe created life,
Jeevaraasigal anaithirkkumAnd for all living beings,
Avarae moolamHe alone is the origin and source.
Ungalukku puriyum naan solvadhuYou will understand what I say,
Ungalukku puriyum naan solvadhuYou will understand what I say.
Male
Aagaayam boomiyenumThe realms called the sky and the earth,
Andangalai yaar padaithaarWho created these cosmic universes?
Saagaadha perunkadalaiThe immortal vast ocean,
Samaithu veitha devan evanWhich God fashioned and placed here?
Megam ena mazhai pozhiyumPouring rain like clouds,
Meiyaana sakthi adhuThat is the ultimate true power.
Mel ulagam keezh ulagamThe upper world and the lower world,
Vananga varum meippavan avanHe is the true Shepherd who comes to be worshipped.
Male
Vaanam idi pada vaiyam podipadaAs the sky thunders and the earth crumbles,
Oozhi puyal ena aadumDancing like an apocalyptic storm,
Kadal alai ponga vendumThe ocean waves must surge.
Gyaana kumaranin kola thirumugamThe glorious, divine face of the Son of Wisdom,
Kaanum magizhvinilIn the joy of beholding Him,
Meengal palavagai thulla vendumVarious kinds of fish must leap high.
Male
Gaanam yaavilum devan thirumuraiIn every song, the divine scripture of God,
Kaatum padhaiyai naattin maanidarThe path shown by it, the people of the land,
solla vendumMust proclaim and follow.
Vaadham seidhidum paedhai pillaigalThe foolish children who argue,
Boomikkuriyavan yesunadharaiLord Jesus, the true master of the earth,
Enna vendum enna vendum enna vendumMust remember, must remember, must remember.
Male
Vanna vanna meengal ellamAll the colorful fishes,
Vaai thirndhu pesaadhooWill they not open their mouths and speak?
Varungal meen inam thaanCome, O species of fish,
Vattamittu koodungalGather around in circles!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic devotional song from the movie 'Punitha Anthoniyar' (1976) portrays St. Anthony preaching to the fish of the ocean. When the people of Rimini refused to listen to his sermons, St. Anthony turned to the sea, where the fishes miraculously gathered and raised their heads out of the water to hear the divine word. Through lyricist Kannadasan's profound verses, the saint contrasts the innocent, humble nature of simple aquatic creatures with humans who possess six senses yet fail to comprehend divine truth. The lyrics praise God as the ultimate Creator and Shepherd of the universe who created the vast oceans as a sanctuary for sea life and sustains every creature from tiny fish to humans. St. Anthony urges both marine life and human beings to acknowledge Lord Jesus as the ruler of the earth, emphasizing that God's justice and truth remain unshakeable throughout the ages.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kadal ennum veedu katti

The ocean is metaphorically represented as a sanctuary/home constructed by God ('Kadal ennum veedu katti') to protect marine life.

Simile (Uwamai)

Udambukku kattupattu / Ullae oru aavi iruppadhu pol

Compares the way truth governs the physical earth to the way the soul is bound inside the physical body ('Udambukku kattupattu / Ullae oru aavi iruppadhu pol').

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thulli varum meengalae / Sollum mozhi kaettpeerae

Consonance of the second letter 'll' across lines ('Thulli' and 'Sollum').

Monnai (Initial Alliteration)

Kattravarukku deva sabai / Kaalamenum oozhiyilum / Kalangaadha needhi sabai

Alliteration of the initial letter sound 'K' across consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song dramatizes one of the most famous legends of St. Anthony of Padua (known in Tamil as Punitha Anthoniyar). According to Catholic tradition, when the heretics of Rimini ridiculed his preaching, St. Anthony went to the mouth of the river bank and began preaching to the fish instead, who gathered in large numbers to listen. The film features legendary singer T. M. Soundararajan singing under M. S. Vishwanathan's composition, with lyrics written by the renowned Hindu poet Kannadasan.

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