Vaala Vayathagi
From Ratha Kanneer · 1954
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singer
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Music director
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Details
- Ratha Kanneer1954
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vaazha vayathaagi azhagaagi mathanaagi | Reaching the prime age of life, becoming handsome like Cupid, |
| Vaazha vayathaagi azhagaagi mathanaagi | Reaching the prime age of life, becoming handsome like Cupid, |
| Pani vaanipamodaadi marulaadi vilaiyaadi | Engaging in busy endeavors, playing and caught in worldly delusions, |
| Pani vaanipamodaadi marulaadi vilaiyaadi | Engaging in busy endeavors, playing and caught in worldly delusions, |
| Vizhal vaazhvu sathamaagi | Treating a futile and worthless life as permanent truth, |
| Vizhal vaazhvu sathamaagi valivaagi | Treating a futile life as permanent truth and strength, |
| Madakoodamodu porul thedi | Acquiring grand mansions and accumulating wealth, |
| Male | |
| Vaasa puzhugedu malarodu manamaagi | Adorned with sweet civet perfume and fragrant flowers, |
| Vaasa puzhugedu malarodu manamaagi | Adorned with sweet civet perfume and fragrant flowers, |
| Kamazh vaasanaigalaathi idalaagi mayalaagi | Exuding rich aromas, consumed by romance and intense passion, |
| Vilai maathargalai maevi | Seeking out and courting courtesans, |
| Vilai maathargalai maevi | Seeking out and courting courtesans, |
| avaraasai thanilae suzhala | Spinning endlessly in the web of their desires, |
| Sila naal poe | After a few days pass... |
| Male | |
| Thol thiraigalaagi naraiyaagi kurudaagi | The skin wrinkles, hair turns grey, and sight grows blind, |
| Thol thiraigalaagi naraiyaagi kurudaagi | The skin wrinkles, hair turns grey, and sight grows blind, |
| Iru kaalgal thadumaari sevimaari pasupaasapathi | Both legs stumble, hearing fails, and the bonds of worldly attachments change, |
| Soozhgathigal maari sugamaari | As circumstances shift and old comforts vanish, |
| Thadiyoduthiri urunaalil | On the day one wanders around leaning on a walking stick, |
| Male | |
| Soolai sori eelaivali vaathamodu neerizhivu | Afflicted with sharp pain, skin rashes, asthma, rheumatism, and diabetes, |
| Soolai sori eelaivali vaathamodu neerizhivu | Afflicted with sharp pain, skin rashes, asthma, rheumatism, and diabetes, |
| Sogaial maalai suramodu pini thoorirumal | Jaundice, night blindness, fevers, ailments, and persistent deep coughs, |
| Soozhalura kasumaalamena naariyudal azhiveno..oh…. | Surrounded by such misery, am I destined to perish as a foul-smelling body... oh? |
வாழ வயதாகி அழகாகி மதனாகி
வாழ வயதாகி அழகாகி மதனாகி
பணி வாணிபமொடாடி மருளாடி விளையாடி
பணி வாணிபமொடாடி மருளாடி விளையாடி
விழல் வாழ்வு சதமாகி
விழல் வாழ்வு சதமாகி வலிவாகி
மடகூடமொடு பொருள் தேடி
Reaching the prime age of life, becoming handsome like Cupid,
Reaching the prime age of life, becoming handsome like Cupid,
Engaging in busy endeavors, playing and caught in worldly delusions,
Engaging in busy endeavors, playing and caught in worldly delusions,
Treating a futile and worthless life as permanent truth,
Treating a futile life as permanent truth and strength,
Acquiring grand mansions and accumulating wealth,
வாச புழுகேடு மலரோடு மணமாகி
வாச புழுகேடு மலரோடு மணமாகி
கமழ் வாசனைகளாதி இடலாகி மயலாகி
விலை மாதர்களை மேவி
விலை மாதர்களை மேவி
அவராசை தனிலே சுழல
சில நாள் போய்த்
Adorned with sweet civet perfume and fragrant flowers,
Adorned with sweet civet perfume and fragrant flowers,
Exuding rich aromas, consumed by romance and intense passion,
Seeking out and courting courtesans,
Seeking out and courting courtesans,
Spinning endlessly in the web of their desires,
After a few days pass...
தோல் திரைகளாகி நரையாகி குருடாகி
தோல் திரைகளாகி நரையாகி குருடாகி
இரு கால்கள் தடுமாறி செவிமாறி பசுபாசபதி
சூழ்கதிகள் மாறி சுகமாறி
தடியோடுதிரி உறுநாளில்
The skin wrinkles, hair turns grey, and sight grows blind,
The skin wrinkles, hair turns grey, and sight grows blind,
Both legs stumble, hearing fails, and the bonds of worldly attachments change,
As circumstances shift and old comforts vanish,
On the day one wanders around leaning on a walking stick,
சூலை சொறி ஈளைவலி வாதமொடு நீரிழிவு
சூலை சொறி ஈளைவலி வாதமொடு நீரிழிவு
சோகைகள மாலை சுரமோடு பிணி தூறிருமல்
சூழலுறமூல கசுமாலமென நாறியுடல் அழிவேனோ...ஓ...
Afflicted with sharp pain, skin rashes, asthma, rheumatism, and diabetes,
Afflicted with sharp pain, skin rashes, asthma, rheumatism, and diabetes,
Jaundice, night blindness, fevers, ailments, and persistent deep coughs,
Surrounded by such misery, am I destined to perish as a foul-smelling body... oh?
Vaazha vayathaagi azhagaagi mathanaagi
Reaching the prime age of life, becoming handsome like Cupid,
Vaazha vayathaagi azhagaagi mathanaagi
Reaching the prime age of life, becoming handsome like Cupid,
Pani vaanipamodaadi marulaadi vilaiyaadi
Engaging in busy endeavors, playing and caught in worldly delusions,
Pani vaanipamodaadi marulaadi vilaiyaadi
Engaging in busy endeavors, playing and caught in worldly delusions,
Vizhal vaazhvu sathamaagi
Treating a futile and worthless life as permanent truth,
Vizhal vaazhvu sathamaagi valivaagi
Treating a futile life as permanent truth and strength,
Madakoodamodu porul thedi
Acquiring grand mansions and accumulating wealth,
Vaasa puzhugedu malarodu manamaagi
Adorned with sweet civet perfume and fragrant flowers,
Vaasa puzhugedu malarodu manamaagi
Adorned with sweet civet perfume and fragrant flowers,
Kamazh vaasanaigalaathi idalaagi mayalaagi
Exuding rich aromas, consumed by romance and intense passion,
Vilai maathargalai maevi
Seeking out and courting courtesans,
Vilai maathargalai maevi
Seeking out and courting courtesans,
avaraasai thanilae suzhala
Spinning endlessly in the web of their desires,
Sila naal poe
After a few days pass...
Thol thiraigalaagi naraiyaagi kurudaagi
The skin wrinkles, hair turns grey, and sight grows blind,
Thol thiraigalaagi naraiyaagi kurudaagi
The skin wrinkles, hair turns grey, and sight grows blind,
Iru kaalgal thadumaari sevimaari pasupaasapathi
Both legs stumble, hearing fails, and the bonds of worldly attachments change,
Soozhgathigal maari sugamaari
As circumstances shift and old comforts vanish,
Thadiyoduthiri urunaalil
On the day one wanders around leaning on a walking stick,
Soolai sori eelaivali vaathamodu neerizhivu
Afflicted with sharp pain, skin rashes, asthma, rheumatism, and diabetes,
Soolai sori eelaivali vaathamodu neerizhivu
Afflicted with sharp pain, skin rashes, asthma, rheumatism, and diabetes,
Sogaial maalai suramodu pini thoorirumal
Jaundice, night blindness, fevers, ailments, and persistent deep coughs,
Soozhalura kasumaalamena naariyudal azhiveno..oh….
Surrounded by such misery, am I destined to perish as a foul-smelling body... oh?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song presents a profound philosophical reflection on the impermanence of youth and the physical body. It contrasts the arrogance, vanity, and hedonistic pursuits of young adulthood—such as chasing beauty, luxury, perfume, wealth, and sensual pleasures with courtesans—with the harsh reality of old age and bodily decay. As time passes, physical vitality inevitably crumbles into wrinkles, blindness, deafness, mobility loss, and a multitude of debilitating illnesses. The lyricist uses this stark transition to question the true value of a life spent in worldly distraction, urging the listener toward spiritual awareness before the body succumbs to disease and death.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaippu (End Rhyme)
“Vaazha vayathaagi azhagaagi mathanaagi”
Extensive use of the suffix '-aagi' at line ends (vayathaagi, azhagaagi, mathanaagi, sathamaagi, manamaagi, kurudaagi) to establish a relentless, rhythmic tempo.
Simile & Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Vaazha vayathaagi azhagaagi mathanaagi”
Comparing youthful charm to 'Mathan' (Manmatha, the God of Love) and superficial existence to 'Vizhal' (useless weed/grass).
Imagery / Bibhatsa Rasa
“Soolai sori eelaivali vaathamodu neerizhivu”
Vivid medical and sensory listing of physical infirmities and diseases (wrinkled skin, diabetes, respiratory illness, jaundice) to evoke detachment from bodily attachment.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics by Udumalai Narayanakavi are deeply inspired by traditional Siddhar literature and Thiruppugazh meter, which emphasize anti-materialism and bodily impermanence. In the iconic movie Ratha Kanneer (1954), M. R. Radha's character Mohanasundaram embodies this tragic downfall from rich, arrogant playboy to a disease-ridden outcast.
Keep listening
More from Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer