Vazhkaiye Vesham
From Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai · 1979
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- Jayachandran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| : Vaazhkaiyae vesham | Life itself is a disguise, |
| Idhil paasam enna nesam enna | In this, what is affection, what is love? |
| Vaazhkaiyae vesham | Life itself is a disguise, |
| Idhil paasam enna nesam enna | In this, what is affection, what is love? |
| Kaalathin kolam purinthathu | I have understood the pattern of time, |
| Gyaani thaanae naanum | Haven't I become a wise sage myself? |
| Vaazhkaiyae vesham | Life itself is a disguise. |
| Male | |
| Anbai naan thandhen | I gave pure love, |
| Dhinam aasaiyodu kaaval nindren | Every day I stood guard with affection. |
| Sondhamae endren | I called them my own kin, |
| Avar vaazhvukaaga vaazhnthu vandhen | And lived my life for their sake. |
| Male | |
| Nenjilae eeram | The warmth within the heart, |
| Adhu kaainthu pona paalai thaana | Has that turned into a dried-up desert? |
| Varanda nilam neerai theduthu | Parched land searches for water, |
| Kasantha manam gyaanam pesuthu | An embittered mind preaches wisdom. |
| Gyaani thaanae naanum | Haven't I become a wise sage myself? |
| Vaazhkaiyae vesham…mm…mm…mm… | Life itself is a disguise... mm... mm... mm... |
| Female | |
| Ye ye ye yea yea | Ye ye ye yea yea |
| Aari ro aari ro aari raaro | Aari ro aari ro aari raaro |
| Aari aari raari raari raaro | Aari aari raari raari raaro |
| Aari ro aari ro | Aari ro aari ro |
| Aari ro aari ro aari ro aaraari roo | Aari ro aari ro aari ro aaraari roo |
| Male | |
| Malargalai alli | Hands that scoop up |
| Tharum kaigal meedhu | and give flowers to others |
| Vaasam serum | retain their fragrance. |
| Mullaiyae kanden | Yet, I encountered only thorns. |
| Antha kaayam thantha | The lesson taught by that wound |
| Paadam pothum | is more than enough. |
| Male | |
| Kalanguthae kangal | My eyes are welling up with tears, |
| Naan pona jenmam seidha paavam | Is it the sin I committed in my past life? |
| Ninaiparvargal marantha neramae | It is a time when those who should remember have forgotten, |
| Marapadharkku gyaanam vendumae | One needs wisdom to forget it all. |
| Gyaani thaanae naanum | Haven't I become a wise sage myself? |
| Male | |
| Vaazhkaiyae vesham | Life itself is a disguise, |
| Idhil paasam enna nesam enna | In this, what is affection, what is love? |
| Vaazhkaiyae vesham | Life itself is a disguise, |
| Idhil paasam enna nesam enna | In this, what is affection, what is love? |
| Kaalathin kolam purinthathu | I have understood the pattern of time, |
| Gyaani thaanae naanum | Haven't I become a wise sage myself? |
| Vaazhkaiyae vesham…mm…mm…mm…mm… | Life itself is a disguise... mm... mm... mm... mm... |
வாழ்க்கையே வேஷம்
இதில் பாசம் என்ன நேசம் என்ன
வாழ்க்கையே வேஷம்
இதில் பாசம் என்ன நேசம் என்ன
Life itself is a disguise,
In this, what is affection, what is love?
Life itself is a disguise,
In this, what is affection, what is love?
I have understood the pattern of time,
Haven't I become a wise sage myself?
Life itself is a disguise.
காலத்தின் கோலம் புரிந்தது
ஞானிதானே நானும்
I gave pure love,
Every day I stood guard with affection.
I called them my own kin,
And lived my life for their sake.
வாழ்க்கையே வேஷம் ம்ம்ம்ம்.....
The warmth within the heart,
Has that turned into a dried-up desert?
Parched land searches for water,
An embittered mind preaches wisdom.
Haven't I become a wise sage myself?
Life itself is a disguise... mm... mm... mm...
அன்பை நான் தந்தேன்
தினம் ஆசையோடு காவல் நின்றேன்
சொந்தமே என்றேன்
அவள் வாழ்வுக்காக வாழ்ந்து வந்தேன்
Ye ye ye yea yea
Aari ro aari ro aari raaro
Aari aari raari raari raaro
Aari ro aari ro
Aari ro aari ro aari ro aaraari roo
நெஞ்சிலே ஈரம் அது
காய்ந்து போன பாலைதானா
வறண்ட நிலம் நீரை தேடுது
கசந்த மனம் ஞானம் பேசுது
ஞானிதானே நானும்
Hands that scoop up
and give flowers to others
retain their fragrance.
Yet, I encountered only thorns.
The lesson taught by that wound
is more than enough.
வாழ்க்கையே வேஷம் ம்ம்ம்ம்.......
My eyes are welling up with tears,
Is it the sin I committed in my past life?
It is a time when those who should remember have forgotten,
One needs wisdom to forget it all.
Haven't I become a wise sage myself?
ஹே ஹே ஹேய் ஹேய் ஹேய்........
ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ ஆரிராரோ
ஆரிரோரிரோரி ராரோ
ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ
ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ
ஆராரிரோ
Life itself is a disguise,
In this, what is affection, what is love?
Life itself is a disguise,
In this, what is affection, what is love?
I have understood the pattern of time,
Haven't I become a wise sage myself?
Life itself is a disguise... mm... mm... mm... mm...
மலர்களை அள்ளி தரும்
கைகள் மீது வாசம் சேரும்
முள்ளையே கண்டேன்
அந்த காயம் தந்த பாடம் போதும்
கலங்குதே கண்கள் நான்
போன ஜென்மம் செய்த பாவம்
நினைப்பவர்கள் மறந்த நேரமே
மறப்பதுக்கு ஞானம் வேண்டுமே
ஞானிதானே நானும்
வாழ்க்கையே வேஷம்
இதில் பாசம் என்ன நேசம் என்ன
வாழ்க்கையே வேஷம்
இதில் பாசம் என்ன நேசம் என்ன
காலத்தின் கோலம் புரிந்தது
ஞானிதானே நானும்
வாழ்க்கையே வேஷம் ம்ம்ம்ம்......
: Vaazhkaiyae vesham
Life itself is a disguise,
Idhil paasam enna nesam enna
In this, what is affection, what is love?
Vaazhkaiyae vesham
Life itself is a disguise,
Idhil paasam enna nesam enna
In this, what is affection, what is love?
Kaalathin kolam purinthathu
I have understood the pattern of time,
Gyaani thaanae naanum
Haven't I become a wise sage myself?
Vaazhkaiyae vesham
Life itself is a disguise.
Anbai naan thandhen
I gave pure love,
Dhinam aasaiyodu kaaval nindren
Every day I stood guard with affection.
Sondhamae endren
I called them my own kin,
Avar vaazhvukaaga vaazhnthu vandhen
And lived my life for their sake.
Nenjilae eeram
The warmth within the heart,
Adhu kaainthu pona paalai thaana
Has that turned into a dried-up desert?
Varanda nilam neerai theduthu
Parched land searches for water,
Kasantha manam gyaanam pesuthu
An embittered mind preaches wisdom.
Gyaani thaanae naanum
Haven't I become a wise sage myself?
Vaazhkaiyae vesham…mm…mm…mm…
Life itself is a disguise... mm... mm... mm...
Ye ye ye yea yea
Ye ye ye yea yea
Aari ro aari ro aari raaro
Aari ro aari ro aari raaro
Aari aari raari raari raaro
Aari aari raari raari raaro
Aari ro aari ro
Aari ro aari ro
Aari ro aari ro aari ro aaraari roo
Aari ro aari ro aari ro aaraari roo
Malargalai alli
Hands that scoop up
Tharum kaigal meedhu
and give flowers to others
Vaasam serum
retain their fragrance.
Mullaiyae kanden
Yet, I encountered only thorns.
Antha kaayam thantha
The lesson taught by that wound
Paadam pothum
is more than enough.
Kalanguthae kangal
My eyes are welling up with tears,
Naan pona jenmam seidha paavam
Is it the sin I committed in my past life?
Ninaiparvargal marantha neramae
It is a time when those who should remember have forgotten,
Marapadharkku gyaanam vendumae
One needs wisdom to forget it all.
Gyaani thaanae naanum
Haven't I become a wise sage myself?
Vaazhkaiyae vesham
Life itself is a disguise,
Idhil paasam enna nesam enna
In this, what is affection, what is love?
Vaazhkaiyae vesham
Life itself is a disguise,
Idhil paasam enna nesam enna
In this, what is affection, what is love?
Kaalathin kolam purinthathu
I have understood the pattern of time,
Gyaani thaanae naanum
Haven't I become a wise sage myself?
Vaazhkaiyae vesham…mm…mm…mm…mm…
Life itself is a disguise... mm... mm... mm... mm...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant philosophical track reflects deep existential pain, heartbreak, and disillusionment. The protagonist, having sacrificed his entire life and happiness for his family, realizes that worldly relationships and affection are fleeting and superficial. He comes to terms with the harsh truth that selflessness is often met with betrayal and abandonment. Using metaphors of dried deserts and thorn-pricked hands, lyricist Panchu Arunachalam conveys how suffering strips away worldly attachments, forcing a person to mature spiritually. The protagonist melancholically declares himself a 'Gyaani' (wise sage), having gained true wisdom through life's bitterest experiences.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Adhu kaainthu pona paalai thaana / Varanda nilam neerai theduthu”
Compares the moisture/warmth of human empathy to a parched desert land seeking water.
Contrast / Imagery
“Malargalai alli tharum kaigal meedhu vaasam serum / Mullaiyae kanden”
Contrasts the fragrance left on hands that offer flowers with the sudden pain of touching thorns, symbolizing good deeds met with betrayal.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Anbai naan thandhen / Sondhamae endren”
Rhyming endings across consecutive lines ('thandhen' / 'endren', 'pothum' / 'vendumae').
Irony
“Kasantha manam gyaanam pesuthu / Gyaani thaanae naanum”
The protagonist calls himself a 'Gyaani' (wise sage), not out of spiritual bliss, but out of forced detachment born from betrayal.
Did you know?
Trivia
From the iconic 1979 film 'Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai', this track features Rajinikanth in a benchmark dramatic role. Although attributed as unknown in the prompt, the song was composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja and powerfully rendered by Malaysia Vasudevan, remaining one of the most celebrated philosophical songs in Tamil cinema.
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