Vaazhve Mayama
From Gaayathri · 1977
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Gaayathri1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vaazhvae maayama | Is life an illusion? |
| Vaazhvae maayama | Is life an illusion? |
| Verum kadhaiya kadum puyala | Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm? |
| Verum kanava nijama | Is it just a dream, or reality? |
| Vaazhvae maayama | Is life an illusion? |
| Verum kadhaiya kadum puyala | Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm? |
| Verum kanava nijama | Is it just a dream, or reality? |
| Female | |
| Nadanthavai ellaam veshangala | Were all past events mere pretenses? |
| Nadappavai ellaam mosangala | Are all current events mere deceptions? |
| Vaazhvae maayama | Is life an illusion? |
| Verum kadhaiya kadum puyala | Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm? |
| Verum kanava nijama | Is it just a dream, or reality? |
| Female | |
| Nilavukku pinnaal nizhal irukkum | There is a shadow behind the moon, |
| Nizhalukkum orunaal oli kidaikkum | One day, even that shadow will receive light. |
| Nilavukku pinnaal nizhal irukkum | There is a shadow behind the moon, |
| Nizhalukkum orunaal oli kidaikkum | One day, even that shadow will receive light. |
| Female | |
| Malarukkul naagam marainthirukkum | A venomous snake could be hidden inside a flower, |
| Manathukkul mirugam olinthirukkum | A wild beast could be hiding inside a human mind. |
| Thirai pottu nee maraithaal enna | So what if you hide it behind a curtain? |
| Theriyaamal poguma …aaa…. | Will it remain hidden forever without being known? ...aaa... |
| Female | |
| Vaazhvae maayama | Is life an illusion? |
| Verum kadhaiya kadum puyala | Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm? |
| Verum kanava nijama | Is it just a dream, or reality? |
| Female | |
| Sirippathu polae mugam irukkum | A face may appear to be smiling, |
| Siripukku pinnaal neruppirukkum | Behind that smile, a burning fire may exist. |
| Sirippathu polae mugam irukkum | A face may appear to be smiling, |
| Siripukku pinnaal neruppirukkum | Behind that smile, a burning fire may exist. |
| Female | |
| Anaippathu polae karam irukkum | Arms may open as if to embrace you, |
| Angae kodum vaal marainthirukkum | Yet a cruel sword lies hidden right there. |
| Thirai pottu nee.. maraithaal enna | So what if you hide it behind a curtain? |
| Theriyaamal poguma | Will it remain hidden without being known? |
| Female | |
| {Vaazhvae maayama | {Is life an illusion? |
| Verum kadhaiya kadum puyala | Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm? |
| Verum kanava nijama} (2) | Is it just a dream, or reality?} (2) |
| Verum kanava nijama | Is it just a dream, or reality? |
வாழ்வே மாயமா
வாழ்வே மாயமா
வெறும் கதையா
கடும் புயலா
வெறும் கனவா நிஜமா
Is life an illusion?
Is life an illusion?
Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm?
Is it just a dream, or reality?
Is life an illusion?
Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm?
Is it just a dream, or reality?
வாழ்வே மாயமா
வெறும் கதையா
கடும் புயலா
வெறும் கனவா நிஜமா
நடந்தவை எல்லாம் வேஷங்களா
நடப்பவை எல்லாம் மோசங்களா
Were all past events mere pretenses?
Are all current events mere deceptions?
Is life an illusion?
Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm?
Is it just a dream, or reality?
வாழ்வே மாயமா
வெறும் கதையா
கடும் புயலா
வெறும் கனவா நிஜமா
There is a shadow behind the moon,
One day, even that shadow will receive light.
There is a shadow behind the moon,
One day, even that shadow will receive light.
நிலவுக்கு பின்னால்
நிழல் இருக்கும்
நிழலுக்கும் ஒருநாள்
ஒளி கிடைக்கும்
நிலவுக்கு பின்னால்
நிழல் இருக்கும்
நிழலுக்கும் ஒருநாள்
ஒளி கிடைக்கும்
A venomous snake could be hidden inside a flower,
A wild beast could be hiding inside a human mind.
So what if you hide it behind a curtain?
Will it remain hidden forever without being known? ...aaa...
மலரில் நாகம்
மறைந்திருக்கும்
மனதுக்குள் மிருகம்
ஒளிந்திருக்கும்
திரைப்போட்டு நீ.....
மறைத்தால் என்ன
தெரியாமல் போகுமா....
Is life an illusion?
Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm?
Is it just a dream, or reality?
வாழ்வே மாயமா
வெறும் கதையா
கடும் புயலா
வெறும் கனவா நிஜமா
A face may appear to be smiling,
Behind that smile, a burning fire may exist.
A face may appear to be smiling,
Behind that smile, a burning fire may exist.
சிரிப்பது போலே
முகம் இருக்கும்
சிரிப்புக்கு பின்னால்
நெருப்பிருக்கும்
சிரிப்பது போலே
முகம் இருக்கும்
சிரிப்புக்கு பின்னால்
நெருப்பிருக்கும்
Arms may open as if to embrace you,
Yet a cruel sword lies hidden right there.
So what if you hide it behind a curtain?
Will it remain hidden without being known?
அணைப்பதுபோலே
கரம் இருக்கும்
அங்கே கொடுவாள்
மறைந்திருக்கும்
திரைப்போட்டு நீ....
மறைத்தால் என்ன
தெரியாமல் போகுமா....
{Is life an illusion?
Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm?
Is it just a dream, or reality?} (2)
Is it just a dream, or reality?
வாழ்வே மாயமா
வெறும் கதையா
கடும் புயலா
வெறும் கனவா நிஜமா
வாழ்வே மாயமா
வெறும் கதையா
கடும் புயலா
வெறும் கனவா நிஜமா
வெறும் கனவா நிஜமா
Vaazhvae maayama
Is life an illusion?
Vaazhvae maayama
Is life an illusion?
Verum kadhaiya kadum puyala
Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm?
Verum kanava nijama
Is it just a dream, or reality?
Vaazhvae maayama
Is life an illusion?
Verum kadhaiya kadum puyala
Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm?
Verum kanava nijama
Is it just a dream, or reality?
Nadanthavai ellaam veshangala
Were all past events mere pretenses?
Nadappavai ellaam mosangala
Are all current events mere deceptions?
Vaazhvae maayama
Is life an illusion?
Verum kadhaiya kadum puyala
Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm?
Verum kanava nijama
Is it just a dream, or reality?
Nilavukku pinnaal nizhal irukkum
There is a shadow behind the moon,
Nizhalukkum orunaal oli kidaikkum
One day, even that shadow will receive light.
Nilavukku pinnaal nizhal irukkum
There is a shadow behind the moon,
Nizhalukkum orunaal oli kidaikkum
One day, even that shadow will receive light.
Malarukkul naagam marainthirukkum
A venomous snake could be hidden inside a flower,
Manathukkul mirugam olinthirukkum
A wild beast could be hiding inside a human mind.
Thirai pottu nee maraithaal enna
So what if you hide it behind a curtain?
Theriyaamal poguma …aaa….
Will it remain hidden forever without being known? ...aaa...
Vaazhvae maayama
Is life an illusion?
Verum kadhaiya kadum puyala
Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm?
Verum kanava nijama
Is it just a dream, or reality?
Sirippathu polae mugam irukkum
A face may appear to be smiling,
Siripukku pinnaal neruppirukkum
Behind that smile, a burning fire may exist.
Sirippathu polae mugam irukkum
A face may appear to be smiling,
Siripukku pinnaal neruppirukkum
Behind that smile, a burning fire may exist.
Anaippathu polae karam irukkum
Arms may open as if to embrace you,
Angae kodum vaal marainthirukkum
Yet a cruel sword lies hidden right there.
Thirai pottu nee.. maraithaal enna
So what if you hide it behind a curtain?
Theriyaamal poguma
Will it remain hidden without being known?
{Vaazhvae maayama
{Is life an illusion?
Verum kadhaiya kadum puyala
Is it a mere story, or a fierce storm?
Verum kanava nijama} (2)
Is it just a dream, or reality?} (2)
Verum kanava nijama
Is it just a dream, or reality?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Vaazhvae maayama' from the 1977 movie Gaayathri is a philosophical contemplation on deception, reality, and existential doubt. It questions whether life is merely a fleeting dream, an illusion, or a destructive storm. The lyricist Panchu Arunachalam contrasts pleasing external appearances with dangerous internal motives—comparing deceptive human gestures to a snake inside a flower, a fire behind a smile, or a sword hidden behind an embrace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Malarukkul naagam marainthirukkum”
Compares deceitful intentions lurking inside a gentle exterior to a snake hiding inside a blossom.
Antithesis / Imagery
“Siripukku pinnaal neruppirukkum”
Contrasts the warmth of a smile with the destructive nature of hidden malice (fire).
Rhetorical Question
“Verum kanava nijama”
Uses philosophical questioning to evoke existential reflection in the listener.
Rhyme / Assonance (Monai & Ethukai)
“Malarukkul naagam marainthirukkum / Manathukkul mirugam olinthirukkum”
Uses matching initial consonant sounds and syllable structures ('Malarukkul' / 'Manathukkul') to create rhythmic symmetry.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Panchu Arunachalam, 'Gaayathri' (1977) featured Rajinikanth in a dark, villainous role opposite Sridevi. The haunting track underscores the psychological thrill and hidden sinister motifs central to the plot.
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