Vaazhkai Odam Sella
From Aval Appadithan · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Aval Appadithan1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vaazhkkai odam sella | For the boat of life to sail, |
| Aattril neerottam illai | there is no flow of water in the river. |
| Vaazhkkai odam sella | For the boat of life to sail, |
| Aattril neerottam illai | there is no flow of water in the river. |
| Female | |
| Yaarum thaeril sella | For anyone to ride in a chariot, |
| Ooril thaerum illai | there is no chariot in the town. |
| Engoo aedhoo yaaroo.. | Somewhere, something, someone... |
| Female | |
| Vaazhkkai odam sella | For the boat of life to sail, |
| Aattril neerottam illai | there is no flow of water in the river. |
| Female | |
| Azhagaana medai | A beautiful stage, |
| Sugamaana raagam | a pleasant melody, |
| Idaiyinil veliga undu | yet there are empty gaps in between. |
| Aaraadha punnum | Unhealing wounds, |
| Nooraana mullum | and hundreds of thorns, |
| Aadidum kaalgalil undu | exist beneath the dancing feet. |
| Female | |
| Edhillaeyum penmai | In nothing at all has womanhood |
| Sugam kaanavillai | found any happiness. |
| Aa…aaa..aaa.. | Aa... aaa... aaa... |
| Edhillaeyum penmai | In nothing at all has womanhood |
| Sugam kaanavillai | found any happiness. |
| Eriyaadha deepangal pennaa | Are women unlit lamps? |
| Female | |
| Vaazhkkai odam sella | For the boat of life to sail, |
| Aattril neerottam illai | there is no flow of water in the river. |
| Female | |
| Orrengum medai | Everywhere a stage, |
| Raajaakkal vesham | men dressed as kings, |
| Unmaiyil raajaakkal illai | yet in reality, they are not kings. |
| Orrengum solai | Everywhere a garden, |
| Rojaakkal vaasam | the fragrance of roses, |
| Unmaiyil rojaakkal illai | yet in reality, there are no roses. |
| Female | |
| Ulagaththil penmai | In this world, womanhood |
| Uyarvaagavillai | has not been elevated. |
| Aaa..aaa..aaa…. | Aaa... aaa... aaa... |
| Ulagaththil penmai | In this world, womanhood |
| Uyarvaagavillai | has not been elevated. |
| Udhavaadha pushpangal pengal | Are women useless flowers? |
| Female | |
| Vaazhkkai odam sella | For the boat of life to sail, |
| Aattril neerottam illai | there is no flow of water in the river. |
| Female | |
| Yaarum thaeril sella | For anyone to ride in a chariot, |
| Ooril thaerum illai | there is no chariot in the town. |
| Engoo aedhoo yaaroo.. | Somewhere, something, someone... |
| Female | |
| Vaazhkkai odam sella | For the boat of life to sail, |
| Aattril neerottam illai | there is no flow of water in the river. |
வாழ்க்கை
ஓடம் செல்ல ஆற்றில்
நீரோட்டம் இல்லை
வாழ்க்கை ஓடம் செல்ல
ஆற்றில் நீரோட்டம் இல்லை
For the boat of life to sail,
there is no flow of water in the river.
For the boat of life to sail,
there is no flow of water in the river.
யாரும் தேரில்
செல்ல ஊரில் தேறும்
இல்லை எங்கோ ஏதோ
யாரோ
For anyone to ride in a chariot,
there is no chariot in the town.
Somewhere, something, someone...
வாழ்க்கை
ஓடம் செல்ல ஆற்றில்
நீரோட்டம் இல்லை
For the boat of life to sail,
there is no flow of water in the river.
அழகான மேடை
சுகமான ராகம் இடையினில்
வேலிக உண்டு ஆறாத
புண்ணும் நூறான முள்ளும்
ஆடிடும் கால்களில் உண்டு
A beautiful stage,
a pleasant melody,
yet there are empty gaps in between.
Unhealing wounds,
and hundreds of thorns,
exist beneath the dancing feet.
எதிலேயும்
பெண்மை சுகம்
காணவில்லை ஆ
ஆஆ ஆஆ எதிலேயும்
பெண்மை சுகம்
காணவில்லை
எரியாத தீபங்கள்
பெண்ணா
In nothing at all has womanhood
found any happiness.
Aa... aaa... aaa...
In nothing at all has womanhood
found any happiness.
Are women unlit lamps?
வாழ்க்கை
ஓடம் செல்ல ஆற்றில்
நீரோட்டம் இல்லை
For the boat of life to sail,
there is no flow of water in the river.
ஓரெங்கும்
மேடை ராஜாக்கள்
வேஷம் உண்மையில்
ராஜாக்கள் இல்லை
ஓரெங்கும் சோலை
ரோஜாக்கள் வாசம்
உண்மையில் ரோஜாக்கள்
இல்லை
Everywhere a stage,
men dressed as kings,
yet in reality, they are not kings.
Everywhere a garden,
the fragrance of roses,
yet in reality, there are no roses.
உலகத்தில்
பெண்மை உயர்வாகவில்லை
ஆ ஆஆ ஆஆ உலகத்தில்
பெண்மை உயர்வாகவில்லை
உதவாத புஷ்பங்கள் பெண்கள்
In this world, womanhood
has not been elevated.
Aaa... aaa... aaa...
In this world, womanhood
has not been elevated.
Are women useless flowers?
வாழ்க்கை
ஓடம் செல்ல ஆற்றில்
நீரோட்டம் இல்லை
For the boat of life to sail,
there is no flow of water in the river.
யாரும் தேரில்
செல்ல ஊரில் தேறும்
இல்லை எங்கோ ஏதோ
யாரோ
For anyone to ride in a chariot,
there is no chariot in the town.
Somewhere, something, someone...
வாழ்க்கை
ஓடம் செல்ல ஆற்றில்
நீரோட்டம் இல்லை
For the boat of life to sail,
there is no flow of water in the river.
Vaazhkkai odam sella
For the boat of life to sail,
Aattril neerottam illai
there is no flow of water in the river.
Vaazhkkai odam sella
For the boat of life to sail,
Aattril neerottam illai
there is no flow of water in the river.
Yaarum thaeril sella
For anyone to ride in a chariot,
Ooril thaerum illai
there is no chariot in the town.
Engoo aedhoo yaaroo..
Somewhere, something, someone...
Vaazhkkai odam sella
For the boat of life to sail,
Aattril neerottam illai
there is no flow of water in the river.
Azhagaana medai
A beautiful stage,
Sugamaana raagam
a pleasant melody,
Idaiyinil veliga undu
yet there are empty gaps in between.
Aaraadha punnum
Unhealing wounds,
Nooraana mullum
and hundreds of thorns,
Aadidum kaalgalil undu
exist beneath the dancing feet.
Edhillaeyum penmai
In nothing at all has womanhood
Sugam kaanavillai
found any happiness.
Aa…aaa..aaa..
Aa... aaa... aaa...
Edhillaeyum penmai
In nothing at all has womanhood
Sugam kaanavillai
found any happiness.
Eriyaadha deepangal pennaa
Are women unlit lamps?
Vaazhkkai odam sella
For the boat of life to sail,
Aattril neerottam illai
there is no flow of water in the river.
Orrengum medai
Everywhere a stage,
Raajaakkal vesham
men dressed as kings,
Unmaiyil raajaakkal illai
yet in reality, they are not kings.
Orrengum solai
Everywhere a garden,
Rojaakkal vaasam
the fragrance of roses,
Unmaiyil rojaakkal illai
yet in reality, there are no roses.
Ulagaththil penmai
In this world, womanhood
Uyarvaagavillai
has not been elevated.
Aaa..aaa..aaa….
Aaa... aaa... aaa...
Ulagaththil penmai
In this world, womanhood
Uyarvaagavillai
has not been elevated.
Udhavaadha pushpangal pengal
Are women useless flowers?
Vaazhkkai odam sella
For the boat of life to sail,
Aattril neerottam illai
there is no flow of water in the river.
Yaarum thaeril sella
For anyone to ride in a chariot,
Ooril thaerum illai
there is no chariot in the town.
Engoo aedhoo yaaroo..
Somewhere, something, someone...
Vaazhkkai odam sella
For the boat of life to sail,
Aattril neerottam illai
there is no flow of water in the river.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
"Vaazhkkai Odam Sella" from the landmark Tamil film Aval Appadithan (1978) is a melancholy philosophical reflection on the struggles, loneliness, and societal oppression experienced by women. Using stark visual metaphors—such as a boat stranded in a dry riverbed or a town devoid of grand chariots—the lyrics portray a life deprived of momentum, empathy, and joy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vaazhkkai odam sella / Aattril neerottam illai”
Life is explicitly compared to a boat ('Vaazhkkai odam') trying to navigate a dry river, symbolizing stagnation and emotional drought.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Azhagaana medai... Aaraadha punnum / Nooraana mullum”
The lyrics juxtapose external beauty and artistic grace (a beautiful stage, pleasant music) with hidden pain and suffering (unhealing wounds, hundreds of thorns).
Rhetorical Question
“Eriyaadha deepangal pennaa / Udhavaadha pushpangal pengal”
The speaker asks introspective questions about the value and fate of women in society, comparing them to unlit lamps and unappreciated flowers.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Aaraadha punnum / Nooraana mullum”
The second consonant 'raa' rhymes across consecutive lines ('Aaraadha' and 'Nooraana'), lending a poetic rhythm to Tamil lyrics.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K. J. Yesudas, this song captures the core theme of C. Rudhraiya's revolutionary film 'Aval Appadithan'. The movie was ahead of its time in addressing feminism, psychological trauma, and patriarchal hypocrisy, and this track serves as an existential backdrop to the female protagonist's disillusioned worldview.
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