Thunbamellam
From Poompuhar · 1964
- Lyricist
- Mayavanathan
- Singer
- K. B. Sundarambal
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Details
- Poompuhar1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thunbamellaam nam manadhai | All sorrows are meant to |
| Sutham seiya thaan… | cleanse our hearts... |
| Valiya thol irandum iruppadhellaam | The strong pair of shoulders exists |
| Thaangi kolla thaan… | only to bear the burdens... |
| Makkal manai sutram ellaam | Children, home, and relatives are all there |
| Patru vaikka thaan… | to foster affection... |
| Makkal manai sutram ellaam | Children, home, and relatives are all there |
| Patru vaikka thaan… | to foster affection... |
| Patru vaippadhellaam | And all that affection attached |
| Endro vittu vida thaan… | is meant to be relinquished someday... |
| Aa….aa….aa….aa….aa….aa…aaa… | Aa....aa....aa....aa....aa....aa...aaa... |
| Female | |
| Uravaadum panbu thannai | The quality of bonding with love |
| Ullam ellaam serthu vaithu | accumulating inside the heart |
| Uravaadum panbu thannai | The quality of bonding with love |
| Ullam ellaam serthu vaithu | accumulating inside the heart |
| Ozhungaana koodu ondril | In an orderly nest |
| Uyir vilakkaetri vaithu | lighting the lamp of life |
| Paadhugaakka cholli yaaro | asking to protect it, someone |
| Padaithu vittaan | created us |
| Paadhiyilae kadhai muzhudhum | In the middle, the entire story |
| Mudithu vittaar | they ended |
| Palar paadhiyilae kadhai muzhudhum | For many, halfway through, the entire story |
| Mudithu vittaar | they ended |
| Female | |
| Iravu pagal endrae | As night and day, |
| Kaalam maaravillaiyaa | does time not keep changing? |
| Ondrai izhandhu perum inbam | Is the happiness gained by losing something |
| Irandu pangillaiyaa | not twofold? |
| Female | |
| Iravu pagal endrae kaalam | As night and day, does time |
| Maaravillaiyaa | not change? |
| Ondrai izhandhu perum inbam | Is the happiness gained by losing something |
| Irandu pangillaiyaa | not twofold? |
| Tholvi ellaam vetrikkaana padigal illaiyaa | Are not all failures stepping stones to victory? |
| Tholvi ellaam vetrikkaana padigal illaiyaa | Are not all failures stepping stones to victory? |
| Valluvan thunbam vandhaal | Didn't Thiruvalluvar sing |
| Sirikka cholli paadavillaiyaa | asking us to laugh when sorrow strikes? |
| Valluvan thunbam vandhaal | Didn't Thiruvalluvar sing |
| Sirikka cholli paadavillaiyaa… | asking us to laugh when sorrow strikes? |
துன்பமெலாம் நம் மனதை
சுத்தம் செய்யத் தான்...
வலிய தோள் இரண்டும் இருப்பதெல்லாம்
தாங்கிக் கொள்ளத் தான்...
மக்கள் மனை சுற்றம் எல்லாம் பற்று வைக்கத் தான்...
மக்கள் மனை சுற்றம் எல்லாம் பற்று வைக்கத் தான்...
பற்று வைப்பதெல்லாம் என்றோ விட்டு விடத் தான்...
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
All sorrows are meant to
cleanse our hearts...
The strong pair of shoulders exists
only to bear the burdens...
Children, home, and relatives are all there
to foster affection...
Children, home, and relatives are all there
to foster affection...
And all that affection attached
is meant to be relinquished someday...
Aa....aa....aa....aa....aa....aa...aaa...
உறவாடும் பண்பு தன்னை
உள்ளம் எல்லாம் சேர்த்து வைத்து
உறவாடும் பண்பு தன்னை
உள்ளம் எல்லாம் சேர்த்து வைத்து
ஒழுங்கான கூடு ஒன்றில்
உயிர் விளக்கேற்றி வைத்து
பாதுகாக்கச் சொல்லி யாரோ படைத்து விட்டான்
பாதியிலே கதை முழுதும் முடித்து விட்டார்
பலர் பாதியிலே கதை முழுதும் முடித்து விட்டார்
The quality of bonding with love
accumulating inside the heart
The quality of bonding with love
accumulating inside the heart
In an orderly nest
lighting the lamp of life
asking to protect it, someone
created us
In the middle, the entire story
they ended
For many, halfway through, the entire story
they ended
இரவு பகல் என்றே காலம்
மாறவில்லையா ஒன்றை
இழந்து பெறும் இன்பம்
இரண்டு பங்கில்லையா
As night and day,
does time not keep changing?
Is the happiness gained by losing something
not twofold?
இரவு பகல் என்றே காலம்
மாறவில்லையா ஒன்றை
இழந்து பெறும் இன்பம்
இரண்டு பங்கில்லையா
தோல்வி எல்லாம் வெற்றிக்கான படிகள் இல்லையா
தோல்வி எல்லாம் வெற்றிக்கான படிகள் இல்லையா
வள்ளுவன் துன்பம் வந்தால் சிரிக்கச் சொல்லி
பாடவில்லையா
வள்ளுவன் துன்பம் வந்தால் சிரிக்கச் சொல்லி
பாடவில்லையா...
As night and day, does time
not change?
Is the happiness gained by losing something
not twofold?
Are not all failures stepping stones to victory?
Are not all failures stepping stones to victory?
Didn't Thiruvalluvar sing
asking us to laugh when sorrow strikes?
Didn't Thiruvalluvar sing
asking us to laugh when sorrow strikes?
Thunbamellaam nam manadhai
All sorrows are meant to
Sutham seiya thaan…
cleanse our hearts...
Valiya thol irandum iruppadhellaam
The strong pair of shoulders exists
Thaangi kolla thaan…
only to bear the burdens...
Makkal manai sutram ellaam
Children, home, and relatives are all there
Patru vaikka thaan…
to foster affection...
Makkal manai sutram ellaam
Children, home, and relatives are all there
Patru vaikka thaan…
to foster affection...
Patru vaippadhellaam
And all that affection attached
Endro vittu vida thaan…
is meant to be relinquished someday...
Aa….aa….aa….aa….aa….aa…aaa…
Aa....aa....aa....aa....aa....aa...aaa...
Uravaadum panbu thannai
The quality of bonding with love
Ullam ellaam serthu vaithu
accumulating inside the heart
Uravaadum panbu thannai
The quality of bonding with love
Ullam ellaam serthu vaithu
accumulating inside the heart
Ozhungaana koodu ondril
In an orderly nest
Uyir vilakkaetri vaithu
lighting the lamp of life
Paadhugaakka cholli yaaro
asking to protect it, someone
Padaithu vittaan
created us
Paadhiyilae kadhai muzhudhum
In the middle, the entire story
Mudithu vittaar
they ended
Palar paadhiyilae kadhai muzhudhum
For many, halfway through, the entire story
Mudithu vittaar
they ended
Iravu pagal endrae
As night and day,
Kaalam maaravillaiyaa
does time not keep changing?
Ondrai izhandhu perum inbam
Is the happiness gained by losing something
Irandu pangillaiyaa
not twofold?
Iravu pagal endrae kaalam
As night and day, does time
Maaravillaiyaa
not change?
Ondrai izhandhu perum inbam
Is the happiness gained by losing something
Irandu pangillaiyaa
not twofold?
Tholvi ellaam vetrikkaana padigal illaiyaa
Are not all failures stepping stones to victory?
Tholvi ellaam vetrikkaana padigal illaiyaa
Are not all failures stepping stones to victory?
Valluvan thunbam vandhaal
Didn't Thiruvalluvar sing
Sirikka cholli paadavillaiyaa
asking us to laugh when sorrow strikes?
Valluvan thunbam vandhaal
Didn't Thiruvalluvar sing
Sirikka cholli paadavillaiyaa…
asking us to laugh when sorrow strikes?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This deeply philosophical song from the movie Poompuhar explores human resilience, detachments, transience, and stoic optimism in the face of sorrow. It asserts that hardship cleanses the soul and human shoulders exist precisely to carry life's heavy burdens. Earthly bonds like family, home, and attachments exist to teach us love, but ultimately must be relinquished. The lyrics encourage perseverance by drawing parallels to nature, where night inevitably yields to day and every loss makes future joy twice as meaningful. Citing the classic wisdom of Thiruvalluvar, the song advocates facing adversity with laughter and treating failures as stepping stones to ultimate success.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Urvagam)
“Uyir vilakkaetri vaithu”
'Uyir vilakkaetri vaithu' compares life to a lit lamp placed within a bird's nest (body), symbolizing the temporal nature of existence.
Metaphor (Urvagam)
“Tholvi ellaam vetrikkaana padigal illaiyaa”
'Tholvi ellaam vetrikkaana padigal' explicitly frames failures as physical stepping stones required to climb up toward victory.
Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)
“Valluvan thunbam vandhaal Sirikka cholli paadavillaiyaa”
Direct reference to Tamil philosopher Thiruvalluvar and his famous Kural 'Idukkan Varungkal Naguga' (Laugh when troubles arrive).
Initial Assonance (Monaai)
“Uravaadum panbu thannai / Ullam ellaam serthu vaithu”
Repetition of the vowel sound 'U' at the beginning of consecutive lines ('Uravaadum' and 'Ullam').
Did you know?
Trivia
Poompuhar (1964) is a historical Tamil epic film adapted from the ancient literary classic Silappatikaram, with dialogues written by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. The music for the film was composed by R. Sudarsanam.
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