Yen Pirandai Magane
From Bhaaga Pirivinai · 1959
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Bhaaga Pirivinai1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Yen piranthaai | Why were you born, |
| Maganae yen piranthaayo } (3) | My son, why were you born? |
| Male | |
| { Illai oru | While there are |
| Pillai endru | Many who yearn |
| Yenguvor palar iruka | Grieving that they have no child, |
| Ingu vanthu yen | Why did you come here and take birth, |
| Piranthaai selva maganae } (2) | My precious son? |
| Male | |
| Yen piranthaai | Why were you born, |
| Maganae yen piranthaayo | My son, why were you born? |
| Male | |
| { Naan pirantha | Before I myself could understand |
| Kaaranathai naanae | The very reason |
| Ariyum munnae neeyum | For why I was born, |
| Vanthu yen piranthaai | Why did you also come and take birth, |
| Selva maganae } (2) | My precious son? |
| Male | |
| Yen piranthaai | Why were you born, |
| Maganae yen piranthaayo | My son, why were you born? |
| Male | |
| Kai kaalgal | To a husband with impaired limbs, |
| Vilangaatha kanavan | Even inside a humble hut, |
| Kudisaiyilum kaadhal | So that the fragrance of love would blossom, |
| Manam vilanga | A mother came into this life, my child! |
| Vanthaal annaiyadaa | Without pride in love, |
| Male | |
| Kaadhalilum | Nor joy for the eyes, |
| Perumai illai kangalukum | Bound purely by duty, |
| Inbam illai kadamaiyil | She gave birth to you, my child! |
| Eendreduthaal unnaiyada | Why were you born, |
| Male | |
| Yen piranthaai | My son, why were you born? |
| Maganae yen piranthaayo | Possessing all the endurance |
| Male | |
| Man valartha | Nurtured by mother earth, |
| Porumai ellam | She who cultivated it within her heart, |
| Manadhil valarthavalai | A woman like a peahen with blooming eyes, |
| Kan malarntha penmayilai | I was fortunate to win her. |
| Naan adainthen | Until the day you grow up, |
| Male | |
| { Nee valarnthu | Become a giant tree and offer shade, |
| Maramagi nizhal tharum | I shall guard and treasure this mother's heart, |
| Kaalam varai thaai manadhai | My golden son! |
| Kaathirupen thanga maganae } (2) | Lullaby... Aararo aaro aariraaro |
| Male | |
| { Aaraaro aaro aariraaro } (2) | Lullaby... Aararo aaro aariraaro |
{ ஏன் பிறந்தாய்
மகனே ஏன்
பிறந்தாயோ } (3)
Why were you born,
My son, why were you born?
{ இல்லை ஒரு
பிள்ளையென்று
ஏங்குவோர் பலரிருக்க
இங்கு வந்து ஏன் பிறந்தாய்
செல்வ மகனே } (2)
While there are
Many who yearn
Grieving that they have no child,
Why did you come here and take birth,
My precious son?
ஏன் பிறந்தாய்
மகனே ஏன்
பிறந்தாயோ
Why were you born,
My son, why were you born?
{ நான் பிறந்த
காரணத்தை நானே
அறியும் முன்னே
நீயும் வந்து ஏன்
பிறந்தாய் செல்வ
மகனே } (2)
Before I myself could understand
The very reason
For why I was born,
Why did you also come and take birth,
My precious son?
ஏன் பிறந்தாய்
மகனே ஏன்
பிறந்தாயோ
Why were you born,
My son, why were you born?
கை கால்கள்
விளங்காத கணவன்
குடிசையிலும் காதல்
மனம் விளங்க வந்தாள்
அன்னையடா
To a husband with impaired limbs,
Even inside a humble hut,
So that the fragrance of love would blossom,
A mother came into this life, my child!
Without pride in love,
காதலிலும்
பெருமை இல்லை
கண்களுக்கும் இன்பமில்லை
கடமையில் ஈன்றெடுத்தாள்
உன்னையடா
Nor joy for the eyes,
Bound purely by duty,
She gave birth to you, my child!
Why were you born,
ஏன் பிறந்தாய்
மகனே ஏன்
பிறந்தாயோ
My son, why were you born?
Possessing all the endurance
மண் வளர்த்த
பொறுமையெல்லாம்
மனதில் வளர்த்தவளை
கண் மலர்ந்த பெண்
மயிலை நானடைந்தேன்
Nurtured by mother earth,
She who cultivated it within her heart,
A woman like a peahen with blooming eyes,
I was fortunate to win her.
Until the day you grow up,
{ நீ வளர்ந்து
மரமாகி நிழல் தரும்
காலம் வரை தாய் மனதை
காத்திருப்பேன் தங்க மகனே } (2)
Become a giant tree and offer shade,
I shall guard and treasure this mother's heart,
My golden son!
Lullaby... Aararo aaro aariraaro
{ ஆராரோ
ஆரோ ஆரிராரோ } (2)
Lullaby... Aararo aaro aariraaro
{ Yen piranthaai
Why were you born,
Maganae yen piranthaayo } (3)
My son, why were you born?
{ Illai oru
While there are
Pillai endru
Many who yearn
Yenguvor palar iruka
Grieving that they have no child,
Ingu vanthu yen
Why did you come here and take birth,
Piranthaai selva maganae } (2)
My precious son?
Yen piranthaai
Why were you born,
Maganae yen piranthaayo
My son, why were you born?
{ Naan pirantha
Before I myself could understand
Kaaranathai naanae
The very reason
Ariyum munnae neeyum
For why I was born,
Vanthu yen piranthaai
Why did you also come and take birth,
Selva maganae } (2)
My precious son?
Yen piranthaai
Why were you born,
Maganae yen piranthaayo
My son, why were you born?
Kai kaalgal
To a husband with impaired limbs,
Vilangaatha kanavan
Even inside a humble hut,
Kudisaiyilum kaadhal
So that the fragrance of love would blossom,
Manam vilanga
A mother came into this life, my child!
Vanthaal annaiyadaa
Without pride in love,
Kaadhalilum
Nor joy for the eyes,
Perumai illai kangalukum
Bound purely by duty,
Inbam illai kadamaiyil
She gave birth to you, my child!
Eendreduthaal unnaiyada
Why were you born,
Yen piranthaai
My son, why were you born?
Maganae yen piranthaayo
Possessing all the endurance
Man valartha
Nurtured by mother earth,
Porumai ellam
She who cultivated it within her heart,
Manadhil valarthavalai
A woman like a peahen with blooming eyes,
Kan malarntha penmayilai
I was fortunate to win her.
Naan adainthen
Until the day you grow up,
{ Nee valarnthu
Become a giant tree and offer shade,
Maramagi nizhal tharum
I shall guard and treasure this mother's heart,
Kaalam varai thaai manadhai
My golden son!
Kaathirupen thanga maganae } (2)
Lullaby... Aararo aaro aariraaro
{ Aaraaro aaro aariraaro } (2)
Lullaby... Aararo aaro aariraaro
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant lullaby from the classic movie 'Bhaaga Pirivinai' (1959) expresses the deep emotional turmoil and selfless love of a physically challenged father singing to his newborn baby. He sorrowfully questions why his son was born into a life of hardship and poverty, especially when the father himself has yet to find the purpose of his own existence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)
“Yen piranthaai Maganae yen piranthaayo”
The recurring opening phrase asks 'Why were you born?', using a rhetorical question to express existential anguish, grief, and tender fatherly love.
Extended Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Nee valarnthu Maramagi nizhal tharum”
The father compares the child's future growth to a nurturing tree that will eventually spread its branches and provide comfort and shade to the family.
Ethukai (Second-letter Assonance)
“Man valartha Porumai ellam / Kan malarntha penmayilai”
The second letters of 'Man' (earth/mind) and 'Kan' (eye) rhyme ('n'), creating rhythmic harmony across consecutive lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
From the iconic 1959 film 'Bhaaga Pirivinai', this emotional song was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, with heart-wrenching lyrics penned by Kannadasan and voiced by T. M. Soundararajan for actor Sivaji Ganesan.
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