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Lyrics & meaning

Yaarai Nondhu Kolvathinge

From Pudhu Vazhvu · 1957

Lyricist
Suratha
Singer
M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Pudhu Vazhvu1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yaarai nondhu kolvathingaeWhom can I blame here?
Yaarai nondhu kolvathingaeWhom can I blame here?
Enadhu murpaava vinaigal irukkaWhen my own past sins exist?
Yaarai nondhu kolvathingaeWhom can I blame here?
Enadhu murpaava vinaigal irukkaWhen my own past sins exist?
Yaarai nondhu kolvathingaeWhom can I blame here?
Male
Ooraiyum uttraaraiyum marandhenI forgot my town and my relatives,
Pettra thaaiyaiyum thandhaiyaiyumMy mother who gave birth to me and my father,
Thavikka vittenI left them to languish in sorrow!
Naan yaarai nondhu kolvathingaeWhom can I blame here?
Male
Dhasanu dhasana irupaarHe poses as a humble servant of servants,
Dharmarajanai polavae nadappaarHe conducts himself like the righteous Dharmaraja,
Thiruvasagamae sadha padipaarHe constantly recites the holy Thiruvasagam,
Ubadhesangal palavum uraippaarHe imparts numerous moral sermons,
Male
Indha dhesamae poiyena veruppaarHe pretends to despise this world as a mere illusion,
Unmai nesanai polavae nadippaarHe acts like a true and devoted friend,
Pinnaal mosamae seiyavae ninaippaarYet behind my back, he plans total treachery,
Kai kaasaiyum paripaar kanneerum viduvaarHe snatches the cash from my hand while shedding crocodile tears!
Yaarai nondhu kolvathingaeWhom can I blame here?
Enadhu murpaava vinaigal irukkaWhen my own past sins exist?
Yaarai nondhu kolvathingaeWhom can I blame here?
Naan yaarai nondhu kolvathingaeWhom can I blame here?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a poignant lamentation of self-reproach and heartbreak. The protagonist reflects on his downfall, acknowledging that his suffering is not the fault of others, but the consequence of his own past karmic deeds (murpaava vinaigal). He feels profound guilt for neglecting his loving parents, relatives, and homeland in pursuit of worldly distractions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai Ani (Simile)

Dharmarajanai polavae nadappaar

Compares the deceptive person's false righteous demeanor to Lord Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), the embodiment of virtue.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Dhasanu dhasana irupaar... Dharmarajanai polavae nadappaar... Thiruvasagamae sadha padipaar...

Successive lines end with the rhyming sound 'aar' (irupaar, nadappaar, padipaar, uraippaar, veruppaar, nadippaar, ninaippaar, viduvaar), creating a rhythmic cadence.

Rhetorical Question

Yaarai nondhu kolvathingae

The repeated question 'Whom can I blame here?' emphasizes the singer's acceptance of responsibility and helplessness over his karmic fate.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song features in the 1957 film 'Pudhu Vazhvu' starring M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar (MKT), one of early Tamil cinema's iconic singing superstars. The lyrics were penned by Suratha, fondly celebrated in Tamil literature as 'Uvamaikavinjar' (The Poet of Similes), with music composed by G. Ramanathan.

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