Yen Aluthaai
From Iruvar Ullam · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Iruvar Ullam1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai | Why did you cry, why did you cry? |
| Ennuyirae yen aluthaai | Oh my precious life, why did you cry? |
| Naan aluthu ointhatharkku | Because my own crying finally ceased, |
| Nandri sollavoo aluthaai | Did you cry just to say thank you? |
| Male | |
| Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai | Why did you cry, why did you cry? |
| Ennuyirae yen aluthaai | Oh my precious life, why did you cry? |
| Naan aluthu ointhatharkku | Because my own crying finally ceased, |
| Nandri sollavoo aluthaai | Did you cry just to say thank you? |
| Male | |
| Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai | Why did you cry, why did you cry? |
| Ennuyirae yen aluthaai | Oh my precious life, why did you cry? |
| Male | |
| Aana varai sollivitten | I have spoken as much as I possibly could, |
| Aluthaluthu paarthu vitten | I have wept and seen it all. |
| Thaai mozhiyil vaarthai illai | There are no words left in my mother tongue, |
| Vaai mozhikkum valimai illai | Spoken words no longer hold any strength. |
| Male | |
| Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai | Why did you cry, why did you cry? |
| Ennuyirae yen aluthaai | Oh my precious life, why did you cry? |
| Male | |
| En valakkil saatchi illai | There are no witnesses in my defense, |
| Enadhu pakkam yaarum illai | There is no one standing by my side. |
| Sattam tharum salugai kooda | Even the small concessions that the law permits, |
| Samudhaayam tharavillayae | This harsh society has refused to grant me. |
| Male | |
| Maranam vanthaal therinthu vidum | When death arrives, the truth will come to light, |
| Naan manidhan endru purindhu vidum | It will finally be understood that I am human. |
| Oor sumandhu pogum podhu | When the whole town carries my body away, |
| Unakkum kooda vilangi vidum | Even to you, everything will become clear. |
| Male | |
| Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai | Why did you cry, why did you cry? |
| Ennuyirae yen aluthaai | Oh my precious life, why did you cry? |
| Naan aluthu ointhatharkku | Because my own crying finally ceased, |
| Nandri sollavoo aluthaai | Did you cry just to say thank you? |
| Male | |
| Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai | Why did you cry, why did you cry? |
| Ennuyirae yen aluthaai | Oh my precious life, why did you cry? |
ஏனழுதாய் ஏனழுதாய்
என்னுயிரே ஏனழுதாய்
நானழுது ஓய்ந்ததற்கு
நன்றி சொல்லவோ அழுதாய்
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
Because my own crying finally ceased,
Did you cry just to say thank you?
ஏனழுதாய் ஏனழுதாய்
என்னுயிரே ஏனழுதாய்
நானழுது ஓய்ந்ததற்கு
நன்றி சொல்லவோ அழுதாய்
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
Because my own crying finally ceased,
Did you cry just to say thank you?
ஏனழுதாய் ஏனழுதாய்
என்னுயிரே ஏனழுதாய்
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
ஆன வரை சொல்லிவிட்டேன்
அழுதழுது பார்த்து விட்டேன்
தாய் மொழியில் வார்த்தையில்லை
வாய் மொழிக்கும் வலிமை இல்லை
I have spoken as much as I possibly could,
I have wept and seen it all.
There are no words left in my mother tongue,
Spoken words no longer hold any strength.
ஏனழுதாய் ஏனழுதாய்
என்னுயிரே ஏனழுதாய்
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
என் வழக்கில் சாட்சியில்லை
எனது பக்கம் யாருமில்லை
சட்டம் தரும் சலுகை கூட
சமுதாயம் தரவில்லையே
There are no witnesses in my defense,
There is no one standing by my side.
Even the small concessions that the law permits,
This harsh society has refused to grant me.
மரணம் வந்தால் தெரிந்து விடும்
நான் மனிதன் என்று புரிந்து விடும்
ஊர் சுமந்து போகும் போது
உனக்கும் கூட விளங்கிவிடும்
When death arrives, the truth will come to light,
It will finally be understood that I am human.
When the whole town carries my body away,
Even to you, everything will become clear.
ஏனழுதாய் ஏனழுதாய்
என்னுயிரே ஏனழுதாய்
நானழுது ஓய்ந்ததற்கு
நன்றி சொல்லவோ அழுதாய்
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
Because my own crying finally ceased,
Did you cry just to say thank you?
ஏனழுதாய் ஏனழுதாய்
என்னுயிரே ஏனழுதாய்
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Ennuyirae yen aluthaai
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
Naan aluthu ointhatharkku
Because my own crying finally ceased,
Nandri sollavoo aluthaai
Did you cry just to say thank you?
Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Ennuyirae yen aluthaai
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
Naan aluthu ointhatharkku
Because my own crying finally ceased,
Nandri sollavoo aluthaai
Did you cry just to say thank you?
Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Ennuyirae yen aluthaai
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
Aana varai sollivitten
I have spoken as much as I possibly could,
Aluthaluthu paarthu vitten
I have wept and seen it all.
Thaai mozhiyil vaarthai illai
There are no words left in my mother tongue,
Vaai mozhikkum valimai illai
Spoken words no longer hold any strength.
Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Ennuyirae yen aluthaai
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
En valakkil saatchi illai
There are no witnesses in my defense,
Enadhu pakkam yaarum illai
There is no one standing by my side.
Sattam tharum salugai kooda
Even the small concessions that the law permits,
Samudhaayam tharavillayae
This harsh society has refused to grant me.
Maranam vanthaal therinthu vidum
When death arrives, the truth will come to light,
Naan manidhan endru purindhu vidum
It will finally be understood that I am human.
Oor sumandhu pogum podhu
When the whole town carries my body away,
Unakkum kooda vilangi vidum
Even to you, everything will become clear.
Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Ennuyirae yen aluthaai
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
Naan aluthu ointhatharkku
Because my own crying finally ceased,
Nandri sollavoo aluthaai
Did you cry just to say thank you?
Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai
Why did you cry, why did you cry?
Ennuyirae yen aluthaai
Oh my precious life, why did you cry?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from Iruvar Ullam (1963), penned by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan, is a poignant reflection on suffering, societal injustice, and emotional exhaustion. The protagonist addresses a beloved companion, questioning the reason behind their tears and wonderingly asking if those tears are an offering of gratitude now that his own endless crying has dried up. He laments that words have lost their power to plead innocence, as no language can express the depth of his pain.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Monai
“Yen aluthaai yen aluthaai”
Repetition of the phrase 'Yen aluthaai' creates an emphatic, rhythmic opening line emphasizing anguish.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Thaai mozhiyil vaarthai illai / Vaai mozhikkum valimai illai”
Both lines end with the word 'illai', creating a cohesive auditory rhythm that underlines despair.
Muran (Contrast / Antithesis)
“Sattam tharum salugai kooda / Samudhaayam tharavillayae”
Contrasts the formal mercy offered by law against the relentless cruelty and denial of grace by society.
Did you know?
Trivia
Iruvar Ullam (1963) featured music composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with memorable vocal renditions by T. M. Soundararajan and lyrics by Kannadasan, starring Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi.
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