Vazhvey Maayam
From Vazhvey Maayam · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Vazhvey Maayam1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vaazhvae maayam | Life is an illusion |
| Indha vaazhvae maayam | This life is an illusion |
| Vaazhvae maayam | Life is an illusion |
| Indha vaazhvae maayam | This life is an illusion |
| Tharai meedhu kaanum yaavum | Everything you see on this earth |
| Thanneeril podum kolam | Is like a rangoli pattern drawn on water |
| Nilaikkaadhammaa… | It will not last, my dear... |
| Male | |
| Yaaroadu yaar vandhathu.. | Who came with whom? |
| Naam pogumpothu | When we depart, |
| Yaaroadu yaar selvathu… | Who will go with whom? |
| Male | |
| Vaazhvae maayam | Life is an illusion |
| Indha vaazhvae maayam | This life is an illusion |
| Male | |
| Yaar yaarkku enna vesamo | Who knows what role is assigned to whom, |
| Ingae yaar yaarkku entha medaiyo… | And which stage belongs to whom here... |
| Aadum varai koottam varum | As long as you dance, a crowd will gather |
| Aattam nindraal ottam vidum | Once the performance stops, they will run away |
| Male | |
| Thaayaalae vandhathu | It came into existence through a mother |
| Theeyaalae vendhathu | It gets consumed by fire |
| Thaayaalae vandhathu | It came into existence through a mother |
| Theeyaalae vendhathu | It gets consumed by fire |
| Mei endru meniyai yaar sonnathu… | Who called this physical body 'truth'? |
| Male | |
| Vaazhvae maayam | Life is an illusion |
| Indha vaazhvae maayam | This life is an illusion |
| Male | |
| Pirandhaalum paalai ootruvaar | When born, they pour milk |
| Ingae iranthaalum paalai ootruvaar | Even when dead here, they pour milk |
| Undaavathu rendaalathaan | Creation happens because of two people |
| Oorpovathu naalaaladhaan | The funeral procession takes four people |
| Male | |
| Karuvodu vandhadhu | Coming from the womb |
| Theruvodu povadhu | Departing along the street |
| Karuvodu vandhadhu | Coming from the womb |
| Theruvodu povadhu | Departing along the street |
| Mei endru meniyai yaar sonnathu… | Who called this physical body 'truth'? |
| Male | |
| Vaazhvae maayam | Life is an illusion |
| Indha vaazhvae maayam | This life is an illusion |
| Male | |
| Naadagam vidum neramthaan | As the play reaches its end time |
| Uchcha kaatchi nadakkuthammaa | The climax scene is unfolding, my dear |
| Chorus :Aaa….aaa….aaa….aaaa…. | Chorus vocalizations |
| Male :Vesham kalaikkavum oivu edukkavum | To remove the disguise and take rest |
| Velai nerungathammaa | The time is approaching, my dear |
| Chorus :Aaa….aaa….aaa….aaaa…. | Chorus vocalizations |
| Male | |
| Paadhaigal pala maariyae | Having taken many different paths |
| Vantha payanam mudiyuthammaa | The journey traveled is coming to an end, my dear |
| Thaai kondu vandhathai | What the mother brought into this world |
| Thaalaatti vaithathai | And nurtured with lullabies |
| Noi kondu pogum neramammaa…. | It is time for disease to carry it away... |
வாழ்வே மாயம்
இந்த வாழ்வே மாயம்
வாழ்வே மாயம்
இந்த வாழ்வே மாயம்
தரை மீது காணும் யாவும்
தண்ணீரில் போடும் கோலம்
நிலைக்காதம்மா...
Life is an illusion
This life is an illusion
Life is an illusion
This life is an illusion
Everything you see on this earth
Is like a rangoli pattern drawn on water
It will not last, my dear...
யாரோடு யார் வந்தது
நாம் போகும்போது
யாரோடு யார் செல்வது....
Who came with whom?
When we depart,
Who will go with whom?
வாழ்வே மாயம்
இந்த வாழ்வே மாயம்
Life is an illusion
This life is an illusion
யார் யார்க்கு என்ன வேஷமோ
Who knows what role is assigned to whom,
And which stage belongs to whom here...
As long as you dance, a crowd will gather
Once the performance stops, they will run away
இங்கே
யார் யார்க்கு எந்த மேடையோ
ஆடும் வரைக் கூட்டம் வரும்
ஆட்டம் நின்றால் ஓட்டம் விடும்
It came into existence through a mother
It gets consumed by fire
It came into existence through a mother
It gets consumed by fire
Who called this physical body 'truth'?
தாயாலே வந்தது
தீயாலே வெந்தது
தாயாலே வந்தது
தீயாலே வெந்தது
மெய் என்று மேனியை யார் சொன்னது..
Life is an illusion
This life is an illusion
வாழ்வே மாயம்
இந்த வாழ்வே மாயம்
When born, they pour milk
Even when dead here, they pour milk
Creation happens because of two people
The funeral procession takes four people
பிறந்தாலும் பாலை ஊற்றுவார்
இங்கே
இறந்தாலும் பாலை ஊற்றுவார்
உண்டாவது ரெண்டாலதான்
ஊர்போவது நாலாலதான்
Coming from the womb
Departing along the street
Coming from the womb
Departing along the street
Who called this physical body 'truth'?
கருவோடு வந்தது
தெருவோடு போவது
கருவோடு வந்தது
தெருவோடு போவது
மெய் என்று மேனியை யார் சொன்னது..
Life is an illusion
This life is an illusion
வாழ்வே மாயம்
இந்த வாழ்வே மாயம்
As the play reaches its end time
The climax scene is unfolding, my dear
Chorus vocalizations
To remove the disguise and take rest
The time is approaching, my dear
Chorus vocalizations
நாடகம் விடும் நேரம்தான்
உச்சக் காட்சி நடக்குதம்மா
குழு :
ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......
வேஷம் கலைக்கவும்
ஒய்வு எடுக்கவும்
வேலை நெருங்குதம்மா
குழு :
ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......
Having taken many different paths
The journey traveled is coming to an end, my dear
What the mother brought into this world
And nurtured with lullabies
It is time for disease to carry it away...
பாதைகள் பல மாறியே
வந்த பயணம் முடியுதம்மா
தாய் கொண்டு வந்ததை
தாலாட்டி வைத்ததை
நோய் கொண்டு போகும் நேரமம்மா....
Vaazhvae maayam
Life is an illusion
Indha vaazhvae maayam
This life is an illusion
Vaazhvae maayam
Life is an illusion
Indha vaazhvae maayam
This life is an illusion
Tharai meedhu kaanum yaavum
Everything you see on this earth
Thanneeril podum kolam
Is like a rangoli pattern drawn on water
Nilaikkaadhammaa…
It will not last, my dear...
Yaaroadu yaar vandhathu..
Who came with whom?
Naam pogumpothu
When we depart,
Yaaroadu yaar selvathu…
Who will go with whom?
Vaazhvae maayam
Life is an illusion
Indha vaazhvae maayam
This life is an illusion
Yaar yaarkku enna vesamo
Who knows what role is assigned to whom,
Ingae yaar yaarkku entha medaiyo…
And which stage belongs to whom here...
Aadum varai koottam varum
As long as you dance, a crowd will gather
Aattam nindraal ottam vidum
Once the performance stops, they will run away
Thaayaalae vandhathu
It came into existence through a mother
Theeyaalae vendhathu
It gets consumed by fire
Thaayaalae vandhathu
It came into existence through a mother
Theeyaalae vendhathu
It gets consumed by fire
Mei endru meniyai yaar sonnathu…
Who called this physical body 'truth'?
Vaazhvae maayam
Life is an illusion
Indha vaazhvae maayam
This life is an illusion
Pirandhaalum paalai ootruvaar
When born, they pour milk
Ingae iranthaalum paalai ootruvaar
Even when dead here, they pour milk
Undaavathu rendaalathaan
Creation happens because of two people
Oorpovathu naalaaladhaan
The funeral procession takes four people
Karuvodu vandhadhu
Coming from the womb
Theruvodu povadhu
Departing along the street
Karuvodu vandhadhu
Coming from the womb
Theruvodu povadhu
Departing along the street
Mei endru meniyai yaar sonnathu…
Who called this physical body 'truth'?
Vaazhvae maayam
Life is an illusion
Indha vaazhvae maayam
This life is an illusion
Naadagam vidum neramthaan
As the play reaches its end time
Uchcha kaatchi nadakkuthammaa
The climax scene is unfolding, my dear
Chorus :Aaa….aaa….aaa….aaaa….
Chorus vocalizations
Male :Vesham kalaikkavum oivu edukkavum
To remove the disguise and take rest
Velai nerungathammaa
The time is approaching, my dear
Chorus :Aaa….aaa….aaa….aaaa….
Chorus vocalizations
Paadhaigal pala maariyae
Having taken many different paths
Vantha payanam mudiyuthammaa
The journey traveled is coming to an end, my dear
Thaai kondu vandhathai
What the mother brought into this world
Thaalaatti vaithathai
And nurtured with lullabies
Noi kondu pogum neramammaa….
It is time for disease to carry it away...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Vaazhvae Maayam is a deeply philosophical song from the 1982 movie of the same name. Sung by K. J. Yesudas with music composed by Gangai Amaran and lyrics penned by Vaali, the song meditates on the fleeting and illusory nature of human existence. It compares life to a kolam drawn on water, highlighting how human relationships, wealth, and popularity last only as long as one is performing on life's stage. Once the play ends, everyone departs alone. The song contrasts key milestones of human existence—from being birthed by a mother to being consumed by fire, from being conceived by two people to being carried to the grave by four. Utilizing theatrical imagery, Vaali portrays life as a drama where mortal bodies are merely temporary disguises. As the protagonist faces his terminal fate in the movie, the song serves as a poignant reminder of mortality, destiny, and the impermanence of worldly attachments.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Upamai)
“Thanneeril podum kolam”
Compares worldly existence and mortal achievements to a pattern drawn on water, emphasizing impermanence.
Wordplay / Polysemy (Sledai)
“Mei endru meniyai yaar sonnathu…”
Plays on the dual meaning of 'Mei', which in Tamil means both 'body' and 'truth', questioning why a physical body is mistaken for ultimate reality.
Monai & Edhugai (Alliteration & Rhyme)
“Thaayaalae vandhathu / Theeyaalae vendhathu”
Uses matching initial and second-letter sounds (Thaayaalae / Theeyaalae) to sharply contrast birth by a mother with destruction by fire.
Numerical Antithesis
“Undaavathu rendaalathaan / Oorpovathu naalaaladhaan”
Contrasts the number two ('rendu' - parents) involved in birth with four ('naalu' - pallbearers) carrying the dead body.
Extended Metaphor (Allegory)
“Yaar yaarkku enna vesamo / Ingae yaar yaarkku entha medaiyo…”
Frames life as a theatrical performance where people put on disguises ('vesham') on stage ('medai') until the climax ('uchcha kaatchi').
Did you know?
Trivia
The title of the 1982 superhit film 'Vazhvey Maayam', starring Kamal Haasan, Sridevi, and Sripriya, is derived directly from this song. Composed by Gangai Amaran and rendered by K. J. Yesudas, the song occurs at the emotional climax of the movie when the lead character comes to terms with his terminal cancer diagnosis.
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