English Translations for Tamil songs

FILM: Ayirthil Oruvan
SONG: THAAI THINDRA MANNE
LYRICS: none other than legendary Thiru.VAIRAMUTHU avargal.
SINGER: Vijay Yesudas
MUSIC: G.V.Prakash
DIRECTOR: Selvaragavan

I guess most of the people won't recognize this song, but The lyrics is out of this world. I think Vairamuthu sir has imagined the situation of Ezham people while writing this song. Whenever I listen this song in my mp3 player I will put it in loop, and all the time I get goosebumps and a little of tears at the corner of my eyes. This song is describing a King's sorrow of not able to see his homeland, and can't take his people to the homeland. Even now by thinking it, I get goosebumps. The lyrics is:

தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே இது பிள்ளையின் கதறல் 
ஒரு பேரரசன் புலம்பல் (2)

(Translation: Oh! land which fed on my mother, This is a son's yelp, 
one king's bawl)

நெல்லாடிய நிலம் எங்கே சொல்லாடிய அவை எங்கே 
வில்லாடிய களம் எங்கே கல்லாடிய சிலை எங்கே 
தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே

(Translation: Where is the land of paddy fields that danced in gentle breeze?
Where is the court in which the words where dancing?
Where is  the battle-field in which bow and arrow was playing?
Oh! land which fed on my mother, This is a son's yelp, 
one king's bawl)

கயல் விளையாடும் வயல்வெளி தேடி 
காய்ந்து கழிந்தன கண்கள் 
காவிரி மலரின் கடி மணம்  தேடி கருகி முடிந்தது நாசி 
சிலை வடிமேவும் உளி ஒலி தேடி திருகி விழுந்தன செவிகள் 

(Translation: My eyes have become barren by searching for the beautiful girls with eyes like fish, (now this has two meaning, Kayal is the word for a fish and in cangam literature it is often referred to a girl's eyes, so the sentence has two meanings as, the field where beautiful fishes play or the girls with beautiful eyes play)
My nose has become senseless by searching the striking aroma of flowers in  the banks of Cauvery river,
My Ears have fallen hopelessly  by searching for the sound of chisel striking the stone for making a statue,)

ஊன் பொதி சோற்றின் தேன் சுவை கருதி 
ஒட்டி உலர்ந்தது நாவும் 
புலிக்கொடி பொறித்த சோழ மாந்தர்கள் 
எலிக்கறி கொறிப்பதுவோ 
காற்றை குடிக்கும் தாவரமாகி கழிப்பதுவோ… ஓ… 
மண்டை ஓடுகள் மண்டிய நாட்டை 
மன்னன் ஆளுவதோ மன்னன் ஆளுவதோ… ஓ… (தாய்)

(Translation: My tongue has become sticky and dried searching for the honey like taste from a Briyani (Yes,,,you read it right...BRIYANI is mentioned in cangam literature as OON POTHISORU, OON means flesh, and POTHISORU is the variety of making rice)
The Chozhan people bearing Tiger flags are now frying rats for the food,(in Tamil PULI is tiger and ELI is Rat, Chozhan empire's flag has the Tiger as their symbol),
We have become like plants which lives by utilizing air for its survival,
Is it fair for a king to rule a country filled with nothing but skulls?
Is it fair for a king to rule that country?
O!  land which fed on my mother, This is a son's yelp,
one king's bawl)

நொறுங்கும் உடல்கள் பிதுங்கும் உயிர்கள் 
அழுகும் நாடு அழுகின்ற அரசன் 
பழம் தின்னும் கிளியோ பிணம் தின்னும் கழுகோ

சூதோ முன் வினை தீதோ 

களங்கலும் அதிர களிறுகள் பிளிர 
சோழம் அழைத்து போவாயோ 

(Translation: pulverizing bodies, slipping up life,
crying nation, crying KING,
Is it fruit eating parakeet or corpse eating vulture?
is this because of gambling or previous karma?
Will you take us to our mother land where it will tremble because of the majestic sound coming from the bugles?)

தங்கமே என்னை தாய் மண்ணில் சேர்த்தால் 
புரவிகள் போலே புரண்டிருப்போம் 
ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் சேர்த்த கண்ணீரை 
அருவிகள் போலே அழுதிருப்போம் 
அது வரை அது வரை… ஓ…

(Translation: Oh! my golden ray of hope, if you help us reach our homeland,
We will lay down in the land like horses lying on the side for rest,
and we will let out our river of tears,
which was stored for 1000 years,
Until we reach...until we reach..)THE FOLLOWING WORDS PERFECTLY DESCRIBES THE PRESENT SITUATION OF TAMIZH PEOPLE IN EZHAM - SRI LANKA

தமிழன் காணும் துயரம் கண்டு 

தலையை சுற்றும் கோளே அழாதே 

என்றோ ஒரு நாள் விடியும் என்றே 

இரவை சுமக்கும் நாடே அழாதே 

நூற்றாண்டுகளும் துருவை தாங்கி 

உரையில் தூங்கும் வாளே அழாதே 

எந்தன் கண்ணின் கண்ணீர் கழுவ 

என்னோடு அழுவும் யாழே அழாதே (நெல்லாடிய)

(Translation: Seeing the TAMIZHAN's dolor,
the planets which revolves around our head,
don't cry,
The nation which carries a night with a belief that someday we will see a daylight, 
don't cry
The sword which is carrying centuries of rust, 
don't cry
And for cleaning my tears, O! harp which is crying with me,
don't cry.)

தாய் தின்ற மண்ணே…. இது பிள்ளையின் கதறல்…… 
ஒரு பேரரசன் புலம்பல்…

(Translation: Oh!  land which fed on my mother, This is a son's yelp,
one king's bawl)

This is a great lyrics, next time when you guys listen to this song, get the feeling of the song, the music rendition by G.V.Prakash and great singing by Vijay Yesudas has made this song a wonder, feelings flow like a river with this song.

Disclaimer: The above translation is purely my own understanding of the song, please correct me if something is wrong.

Thank you for your patience to read it fully.


The following link is for the video of this song, But the song filmed is different version than the one above. The video song is the version contains the Telugu Carnatic keerthanas sung by Nithyashree Mahadevan. It is little bit different than the song version mentioned above.

Page on youtube.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FILM: Avataaram(1995)
SONG: Thendral Vanthu Theendum podhu
LYRICS: Vaali.
SINGER:  IsaiGnani Illayaraja,  S.Janaki
MUSIC: IsaiGnani Illayaraja
DIRECTOR: Nassar


This song my all time best, whenever I feel low in spirits, this song helps me to beat any stress or depression, this song do have a magic which can't be explained.

The movie is about a village folk and drama artiste(Nasar) develops a love towards a blind girl and this song is about their pure love and innocent feelings. This song particularly comes when the heroine (blind girl) asks the hero "What are the colors? how it will be?" , so, he takes the most difficult job of explaining about colours to a blind person.

Male:
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது என்ன வண்ணமோ மனசுல 
திங்கள் வந்து காயும் போது என்ன வண்ணமோ நெனப்புல 
வந்து வந்து போகுதம்ம எண்ணமெல்லாம் வண்ணமம்மா 
எண்ணங்களுக்கேற்றபடி வண்ணமெல்லாம் மாறுமம்மா 
உண்மையம்மா உள்ளத நானும் சொன்னேன் 
பொன்னம்மா சின்ன கண்ணே 
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது என்ன வண்ணமோ மனசுல 
திங்கள் வந்து காயும் போது என்ன வண்ணமோ நெனப்புல 
------------------------------------------------------------
Translation:
Male:
what is the color in heart,
when gentle breeze brushes your skin?,
what is the color in thoughts, 
when the shine of moon's akin,
Like the mind thoughts come and go,
Each thoughts are different Colors,
These are the truth, Oh! my love.
what is the color in heart,
when gentle breeze brushes your skin?

----------------------------------------------------------
Female:
எவரும் சொல்லாமே பூக்களும் வாசம் வீசுது 
உறவும் இல்லாமலே இருமனம் ஏதோ பேசுது 
Male:
எவரும் சொல்லாமலே குயிலெல்லாம் தேனா பாடுது 
எதுவும் இல்லாமலே மனசெல்லாம் இனிப்பா இனிக்குது 
Female:
ஓடை நீரோடை எந்தன் மனசும் அதுபோல 
Male:
ஓடம் அது ஓடும இந்த காலம் அது போல 
Female:
நிலையா நில்லாது நினைவில் வரும் நிறங்களே 
Male:
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது என்ன வண்ணமோ மனசுல 
திங்கள் வந்து காயும் போது என்ன வண்ணமோ நெனப்புல 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translation:
Female:
Flowers spread fragrance, but without revelation.
Hearts speak consensus, devoid of a lawful union.
Male:
Cuckoos sing the melody, not for one man's whimsy.
My heart feels a mystic bliss, but nothing do I fancy.
Female:
Stream, Water stream, that is what my thoughts are like,
male:
Boat, like the water boat, The time travels on that life stream,
Female:
Like boat won't stand still, the colors generating in my thoughts too wont be still,
Male:
what is the color in heart,
when gentle breeze brushes your skin?,
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Male:
ஈரம் விழுந்தாலே நிலத்திலே எல்லாம் துளிர்க்குது 
நேசம் பொறந்தாலே உடம்பெல்லாம் ஏனோ சிலிர்க்குது 
Female:
ஆலம் விழுதாக ஆசைகள் ஊஞ்சல் ஆடுது 
அலையும் அல போல அழகெல்லம் கோலம் போடுது 
Male:
குயிலே குயிலினமே அந்த இசையா கூவுதம்மா 
Female:
கிளியே கிளியினமே அந்த கதையா பேசுதம்மா 
male:
கதையா விடுகதையா யாவுமில்லையே அன்பு தான் 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translation:
Male:
A sprinkle sweeps the earth, and lives spring alive.
Love leaps in my mind, and skin's million gets a high.
Female:
Wishes swing along, like the pendent banyan roots.
Beauty bestows magic, like the swaying tuft of waves.
Male:
The cuckoo's clan sings aloud
in music's own voice,
Female:
and a flock of parrots recount this story.
male:
Neither does love fade like a forgotten story,
nor is it forgotten like an unworthy puzzle's mystery.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது என்ன வண்ணமோ மனசுல 
திங்கள் வந்து காயும் போது என்ன வண்ணமோ நெனப்புல 
வந்து வந்து போகுதம்ம எண்ணமெல்லாம் வண்ணமம்மா 
எண்ணங்களுக்கேற்றபடி வண்ணமெல்லாம் மாறுமம்மா 
உண்மையம்மா உள்ளத நானும் சொன்னேன் 
பொன்னம்மா சின்ன கண்ணே 
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது என்ன வண்ணமோ மனசுல 
திங்கள் வந்து காயும் போது என்ன வண்ணமோ நெனப்புல 
------------------------------------------------------------
Translation:
Male:
what is the color in heart,
when gentle breeze brushes your skin?,
what is the color in thoughts, 
when the shine of moon's akin,
Like the mind thoughts come and go,
Each thoughts are different Colors,
These are the truth, Oh! my love.
what is the color in heart,
when gentle breeze brushes your skin?

----------------------------------------------------------

The great music by Illayaraja made this song a masterpiece.
with impeccable Vaali's lyrics.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FILM: Moonraam Pirai
SONG: Kanne Kalai Maane
LYRICS: none other than legendary Thiru.Kaviarasu Kannadaasan avargal.
SINGER: Yesudas
MUSIC: IsaiGnani Illayaraja
DIRECTOR: Balu Mahendra

This song is one the masterpiece which excels in all the formats, best lyrics, best music, best song rendition, best picturization And not to forget amazing acting by Sridevi and Kamal. The song deals with a guy developing a love feeling towards a mentally challenged girl who is being taken care by him. This song is designed as the typical Tamil cultural heritage genre called "Thaalaatu" (lullaby), "THAAL" means tongue and "AATU" means shaking, the sound coming from shaking the tongue is used to make the babies to sleep. 

The lyrics goes as:

Kanne Kalaimaanae Kanni Mayil Ena
Kanden Unai Naane
Anthi Pagal Unnai Naan Paarkiren
Aandavanai Ithaithaan Ketkiren
Raariraaro.. Oaraariro..
Raariraaro.. Oaraariro..

(Translation: Oh!  apple of my eye, I see you as beautiful buck,
I am caring for you like peahen,
day and night I care for you,
Its what I ask God to look to,
Raariraaro.. Oaraariro..
Raariraaro.. Oaraariro.. --- these are the typical Thaalatu(lullaby sounds) used to make a baby sleep
)

Kanne Kalaimaane Kanni Mayil Ena

Kanden Unai Naane
Oomai Enraal Oru Vagai Amaithi
Aezhai Enraal Athil Oru Amaithi
Neeyo Kilipedu Pan Paadum Aananda Kuyil Pedu
Aeno Deivam Sathi Seithathu
Pethai Pola Vithi Seithathu

(Translation: Oh!  apple of my eye, I see you as beautiful buck,
I am caring for you like peahen,
Muteness is one type of peace, 
Indigence is another type of peace,
you are like a beautiful bird which sings in morning during a sunrise,
But God made you incompetent like birds which cant understand about its beauty.
---- Wow..What a metaphor...Only Kannadaasan can make it happen. He uses this because she can't understand about her beauty because of her mental illness. Non Tamil guys...I wish you learn Tamil to get the exact feeling of these 2 lines....
)

Kanne Kalaimaanae Kanni Mayil Ena
Kandaen Unai Naanae(repeat 1st para)

Kaathal Kondaen Kanavinai Valarthen
Kanmani Unai Naan Karuthinil Niraithen
Unakke Uyiraanen Ennaalum Enai Nee Maravaathey
Nee Illaamal Ethu Nimmathi
Neethaane En Sannithi

(Translation: Oh! apple of my eye, I see you as beautiful buck,
I am caring for you like peahen, (Same as first para)

I possessed Love, I grew the dreams,
Oh! apple of my eye, I made you as my omphalos,
I've become life for you, please don't ever overpass,
Without you, what is tranquility?,
you are my abode of God, that is what my sensibility
)

Kanne Kalaimaanae Kanni Mayil Ena
Kandaen Unai Naanae
Anthi Pagal Unnai Naan Paarkiraen
Aandavanai Ithaithaan Kaetkiraen
Raariraarø.. Oaraarirø..
Raariraarø.. Oaraarirø..

(Translation: Oh!  apple of my eye, I see you as beautiful buck,
I am caring for you like peahen,
day and night I care for you,
Its what I ask God to look to,
Raariraaro.. Oaraariro..
Raariraaro.. Oaraariro..
)

The video link for this song,

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer: The above translation is purely my own understanding of the song, please correct me if something is wrong.

Thank you for your patience to read it fully.