Vaanam Enge Mudikiradhu
From Paaimarakkappal · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Paaimarakkappal1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vaanam engae mudigirathu | Where does the sky end? |
| Kandu pidithavar sollungal | Tell me, if anyone has found out. |
| Vaazhkai engae mudigirathu | Where does life end? |
| Kandu pidikka sollungal | Ask someone to find out and tell. |
| Male | |
| Paaimarakappal ingae paruva kaattru engae | Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind? |
| Paaimarakappal ingae paruva kaattru engae | Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind? |
| Vaanam engae mudigirathu | Where does the sky end? |
| Kandu pidithavar sollungal | Tell me, if anyone has found out. |
| Male | |
| Nadhiyin mudivai naam arivom | We know the end of a river, |
| Vidhiyin mudivai yaar arivaar | Who knows the end of destiny? |
| Iravin mudivai naam arivom | We know the end of the night, |
| Uravin mudivai yaar arivaar | Who knows the end of a relationship? |
| Male | |
| Nadhiyin mudivai naam arivom | We know the end of a river, |
| Vidhiyin mudivai yaar arivaar | Who knows the end of destiny? |
| Iravin mudivai naam arivom | We know the end of the night, |
| Uravin mudivai yaar arivaar | Who knows the end of a relationship? |
| Male | |
| Naetrugal inimel varuvathillai | Yesterdays will not return anymore, |
| Naalaigal innum varavillai | Tomorrows have not arrived yet. |
| Naetrugal inimel varuvathillai | Yesterdays will not return anymore, |
| Naalaigal innum varavillai | Tomorrows have not arrived yet. |
| Male | |
| Paadhaigal ingae therivadhillai | Paths are not visible here, |
| Payanangal mattum mudiyavillai | Yet journeys never end. |
| Vaanam engae mudigirathu | Where does the sky end? |
| Kandu pidithavar sollungal | Tell me, if anyone has found out. |
| Male | |
| Imaiyae unakku urakkam illai | O Eyelids, you have no sleep, |
| Iravae unakku irakkam illai | O Night, you have no mercy. |
| Idhayam pirivai porukkavillai | The heart cannot bear this separation, |
| Enakkoo azhudhu palakkam illai | And I am not accustomed to weeping. |
| Male | |
| Imaiyae unakku urakkam illai | O Eyelids, you have no sleep, |
| Iravae unakku irakkam illai | O Night, you have no mercy. |
| Idhayam pirivai porukkavillai | The heart cannot bear this separation, |
| Enakkoo azhudhu palakkam illai | And I am not accustomed to weeping. |
| Male | |
| Deivathai engae theduvathu | Where should one search for God? |
| Dhisaigal engae seruvadhu | Where do the directions meet? |
| Deivathai engae theduvathu | Where should one search for God? |
| Dhisaigal engae seruvadhu | Where do the directions meet? |
| Nadhi vazhi pogum bommaiyai pol | Like a doll drifting along the river's path, |
| Vidhi vazhi pogum penmai idhu | This womanhood drifts along the path of fate. |
| Male | |
| Vaanam engae mudigirathu | Where does the sky end? |
| Kandu pidithavar sollungal | Tell me, if anyone has found out. |
| Vaazhkai engae mudigirathu | Where does life end? |
| Kandu pidikka sollungal | Ask someone to find out and tell. |
| Male | |
| Paaimarakappal ingae paruva kaattru engae | Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind? |
| Paaimarakappal ingae paruva kaattru engae | Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind? |
வானம் எங்கே முடிகிறது
கண்டு பிடித்தவர் சொல்லுங்கள்
வாழ்க்கை எங்கே முடிகிறது
கண்டு பிடிக்க செல்லுங்கள்
Where does the sky end?
Tell me, if anyone has found out.
Where does life end?
Ask someone to find out and tell.
பாய்மரக்கப்பல் இங்கே பருவக் காற்று எங்கே
பாய்மரக்கப்பல் இங்கே பருவக் காற்று எங்கே
வானம் எங்கே முடிகிறது
கண்டு பிடித்தவர் சொல்லுங்கள்
Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind?
Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind?
Where does the sky end?
Tell me, if anyone has found out.
{நதியின் முடிவை நாமறிவோம்
விதியின் முடிவை யாரறிவார்
இரவின் முடிவை நாம் அறிவோம்
உறவின் முடிவை யார் அறிவார்} ( 2 )
We know the end of a river,
Who knows the end of destiny?
We know the end of the night,
Who knows the end of a relationship?
நேற்றுகள் இனிமேல் வருவதில்லை
நாளைகள் இன்னும் வரவில்லை
நேற்றுகள் இனிமேல் வருவதில்லை
நாளைகள் இன்னும் வரவில்லை
We know the end of a river,
Who knows the end of destiny?
We know the end of the night,
Who knows the end of a relationship?
பாதைகள் இங்கே தெரியவில்லை
பயணங்கள் மட்டும் முடியவில்லை
வானம் எங்கே முடிகிறது
கண்டு பிடித்தவர் சொல்லுங்கள்
Yesterdays will not return anymore,
Tomorrows have not arrived yet.
Yesterdays will not return anymore,
Tomorrows have not arrived yet.
{இமையே உனக்கு உறக்கமில்லை
இரவே உனக்கு இரக்கமில்லை
இதயம் பிரிவை பொறுக்கவில்லை
எனக்கோ அழுது பழக்கமில்லை} ( 2 )
Paths are not visible here,
Yet journeys never end.
Where does the sky end?
Tell me, if anyone has found out.
தெய்வத்தை எங்கே தேடுவது
திசைகள் எங்கே சேருவது
தெய்வத்தை எங்கே தேடுவது
திசைகள் எங்கே சேருவது
நதி வழிப் போகும் பொம்மையை போல்
விதி வழிப் போகும் பெண்மை இது
O Eyelids, you have no sleep,
O Night, you have no mercy.
The heart cannot bear this separation,
And I am not accustomed to weeping.
வானம் எங்கே முடிகிறது
கண்டு பிடித்தவர் சொல்லுங்கள்
வாழ்க்கை எங்கே முடிகிறது
கண்டு பிடிக்க செல்லுங்கள்
O Eyelids, you have no sleep,
O Night, you have no mercy.
The heart cannot bear this separation,
And I am not accustomed to weeping.
பாய்மரக்கப்பல் இங்கே பருவக் காற்று எங்கே
பாய்மரக்கப்பல் இங்கே பருவக் காற்று எங்கே
Where should one search for God?
Where do the directions meet?
Where should one search for God?
Where do the directions meet?
Like a doll drifting along the river's path,
This womanhood drifts along the path of fate.
Where does the sky end?
Tell me, if anyone has found out.
Where does life end?
Ask someone to find out and tell.
Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind?
Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind?
Vaanam engae mudigirathu
Where does the sky end?
Kandu pidithavar sollungal
Tell me, if anyone has found out.
Vaazhkai engae mudigirathu
Where does life end?
Kandu pidikka sollungal
Ask someone to find out and tell.
Paaimarakappal ingae paruva kaattru engae
Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind?
Paaimarakappal ingae paruva kaattru engae
Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind?
Vaanam engae mudigirathu
Where does the sky end?
Kandu pidithavar sollungal
Tell me, if anyone has found out.
Nadhiyin mudivai naam arivom
We know the end of a river,
Vidhiyin mudivai yaar arivaar
Who knows the end of destiny?
Iravin mudivai naam arivom
We know the end of the night,
Uravin mudivai yaar arivaar
Who knows the end of a relationship?
Nadhiyin mudivai naam arivom
We know the end of a river,
Vidhiyin mudivai yaar arivaar
Who knows the end of destiny?
Iravin mudivai naam arivom
We know the end of the night,
Uravin mudivai yaar arivaar
Who knows the end of a relationship?
Naetrugal inimel varuvathillai
Yesterdays will not return anymore,
Naalaigal innum varavillai
Tomorrows have not arrived yet.
Naetrugal inimel varuvathillai
Yesterdays will not return anymore,
Naalaigal innum varavillai
Tomorrows have not arrived yet.
Paadhaigal ingae therivadhillai
Paths are not visible here,
Payanangal mattum mudiyavillai
Yet journeys never end.
Vaanam engae mudigirathu
Where does the sky end?
Kandu pidithavar sollungal
Tell me, if anyone has found out.
Imaiyae unakku urakkam illai
O Eyelids, you have no sleep,
Iravae unakku irakkam illai
O Night, you have no mercy.
Idhayam pirivai porukkavillai
The heart cannot bear this separation,
Enakkoo azhudhu palakkam illai
And I am not accustomed to weeping.
Imaiyae unakku urakkam illai
O Eyelids, you have no sleep,
Iravae unakku irakkam illai
O Night, you have no mercy.
Idhayam pirivai porukkavillai
The heart cannot bear this separation,
Enakkoo azhudhu palakkam illai
And I am not accustomed to weeping.
Deivathai engae theduvathu
Where should one search for God?
Dhisaigal engae seruvadhu
Where do the directions meet?
Deivathai engae theduvathu
Where should one search for God?
Dhisaigal engae seruvadhu
Where do the directions meet?
Nadhi vazhi pogum bommaiyai pol
Like a doll drifting along the river's path,
Vidhi vazhi pogum penmai idhu
This womanhood drifts along the path of fate.
Vaanam engae mudigirathu
Where does the sky end?
Kandu pidithavar sollungal
Tell me, if anyone has found out.
Vaazhkai engae mudigirathu
Where does life end?
Kandu pidikka sollungal
Ask someone to find out and tell.
Paaimarakappal ingae paruva kaattru engae
Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind?
Paaimarakappal ingae paruva kaattru engae
Here is the sailboat, but where is the seasonal wind?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deeply philosophical and melancholic reflection on human helplessness, destiny, and emotional separation. By drawing metaphors of a sailboat waiting helplessly without monsoon winds and a doll drifting along a river current, the song captures the angst of an individual facing uncertain paths in life. It contrasts predictable natural phenomena—such as the end of a river or night—with unpredictable human relationships and fate.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Nadhi vazhi pogum bommaiyai pol / Vidhi vazhi pogum penmai idhu”
Compares a woman drifting helplessly according to fate to a doll floating downstream along a river's course.
Personification
“Imaiyae unakku urakkam illai / Iravae unakku irakkam illai”
Addresses the eyelids ('Imaiyae') and night ('Iravae') as human-like beings capable of sleeping or displaying mercy.
Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Nadhiyin mudivai naam arivom / Vidhiyin mudivai yaar arivaar”
The second consonant 'dhi' matches between Nadhiyin and Vidhiyin, creating Tamil poetic harmony.
Metaphor
“Paaimarakappal ingae paruva kaattru engae”
The sailboat ('Paaimarakappal') represents the stranded human soul awaiting the wind of grace or guidance ('paruva kaattru').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the veteran musical legend K. V. Mahadevan with poignant lyrics by Vairamuthu, 'Vaanam engae mudigirathu' is renowned for K. J. Yesudas's soulful rendition that highlights existential questioning and sorrow.
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