This is a classic, slow burn song from the evergreen movie Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), directed by someone who needs no introduction in Tamil Cinema - G.V.M aka Gautham Vasudev Menon! Starring Surya, Simran, Sameera Reddy & Divya in leading roles. The movie itself is a heartwarming journey of a son who has grown up seeing his parents' deep devotion, pure love & secure attachment to each other, wanting to replicate the same for his own lady love. For better or worse, life happens and the movie takes us along with him, as he learns to handle the peaks and troughs in his relationships, his career and his own personal development, with his dear daddy forever by his side. One of the rare Tamil movies I've seen that shows the beautiful & vulnerable side of the bond between father & son realistically.
I proceed with a warning - I will be revealing the movie's story to a significant extent to provide adequate context, as this particular song appears near the culmination point of the film. So if you haven't seen the movie (a must watch), see it & then come back. Or go ahead and enjoy the spoilers :P
An Introduction:
The song itself is a masterpiece. Composed by Harris Jayaraj, penned by the wizard of a lyricist Thamarai and sung by carnatic vocal genius Sudha Raghunathan. Harris Jayaraj is a widely recognised composer, having given Tamil Music several heartwarming (and heart wrenching) numbers. Sudha Raghunathan, carnatic vocalist extraordinaire, has sung many songs for Tamil Cinema, the most popular of which is this one.
Thamarai is known for several of her deep yet simple lyrics, with extensive usage of metaphors and euphemisms that align perfectly with the movie's context yet can stand on their own, as the words and phrases tend to be highly relatable to the listeners. She appeals to the inner world of those who listen, pulling them into her rich tapestry of Tamil. Some notable examples of her works include Vaseegara, Yaar Azhaipadhu, Paartha Mudhal Naale, and much more!
The Song Translation:
Anal Mele Pani Thuli,
Alaipaayum Oru Kili
Maram Thaedum Mazhai Thuli,
Ivaithaane Ival Ini
A dewdrop in a heatwave
A directionless parrot
A raindrop seeking its tree
She is all of these now :(
Imai Irandum Thani Thani,
Urakkangal Urai Pani
Etharkaaga Thadai Ini
Both Eyelids are separated
Sleep eludes both of us, it is frozen
Why are there barricades between us, henceforth?
Annal Maele Pani Thuli,
Alaipaayum Oru Kili
Maram Thaedum Mazhai Thuli,
Ivaithaane Ival Ini
Imai Irandum Thani Thani,
Urakkangal Urai Pani
Etharkaaga Thadai Ini
A dewdrop in a heatwave
A directionless parrot
A raindrop seeking its tree
She is all of these now :(
Both Eyelids are separated
Sleep eludes both of us, it is frozen
Why are there barricades between us, henceforth?
<beautiful musical interlude>
Entha Kaatrin Alaavalil, Malar Ithazhgal Virinthidumo?
Entha Deiva Vinaadiyil, Mana Araigal Thiranthidumo?
Under which breeze's graze, do flower petals blossom?
Under which divine moment, do the doors of the heart open up?
Oru Siruvali Irunthathuvae, Ithayathilae Ithayathilae..
Unathiru Vizhi Thadaviyathaal, Amizhthuvittaen Mayakathilae
Uthiratumae Udalin Thirai
Athu Thaan Ini Nilavin Karai Karai
Yes, a small pain used to be there, in my heart of hearts!
And, when your two eyes caressed me, I got immersed in euphoria
Let's renounce these screens over the body
Let it replace the shades of the moon
Annal Maele Pani Thuli,
Alaipaayum Oru Kili
Maram Thaedum Mazhai Thuli,
Ivaithaane Ival Ini
Imai Irandum Thani Thani,
Urakkangal Urai Pani
Etharkaaga Thadai Ini
A dewdrop in a heatwave
A directionless parrot
A raindrop seeking its tree
She is all of these now :(
Both Eyelids are separated
Sleep eludes both of us, it is frozen
Why are there barricades between us, henceforth?
Santhithomae Kanaakalil, Silamuraiyaa Palamuraiyaa
Anthi Vaanil Ulaavinøam, Athu Unnakku Ninaivillayaa
We've met in my dreams, not few but many times
In the twilight sky we've strolled in bliss, don't you remember it?
Iru Karaikalai Udaithidavae, Perugidumaa Kadal Alaiyae
Iru siru Uyir Thathalikayil, Vazhi Sollumaa Kalangaraiyae
To touch these two lonely shores, would the waves swell enough?
Two poor souls struggle to meet, would the lighthouse give saving guidance?
Unathalaigal Ennai Adikka
Karai Saervathum Kanaavil Nigazhnthida..
As your waves (of love) hit me
I too reach the shores, in my dreams!
Annal Maele Pani Thuli,
Alaipaayum Oru Kili
Maram Thaedum Mazhai
Thuli, Ivaithaane Ival Ini
Imai Irandum Thani Thani,
Urakkangal Urai Pani
Ètharkaaga Thadai Ini..
A dewdrop in a heatwave
A directionless parrot
A raindrop seeking its tree
She is all of these now :(
Both Eyelids are separated
Sleep eludes both of us, it is frozen
Why are there barricades between us, henceforth?
The Context in the Movie
(You'll appreciate the song even more, after reading its meaning and then proceeding to see the movie context)
Priya, Surya's sister Shriya's bestfriend since childhood, has always had an eye on Surya. She also happens to be the female perspective based on which the song is conceptualised. Despite having an ever growing flame for him, life takes her and Surya in different directions, leaving her to nurture a flame for a persona she rarely interacted with in depth. She comes to know the happenings in his life through Shriya.
Priya painstakingly watches Surya go through his first loss in love, when his first girlfriend Meghna is killed in a bomb attack in USA. Surya, unable to handle the loss, enters a viscious cycle of drugs, drinks and smoke, finding routes to escape his pain. Priya witnesses him hallucinate about Meghna, lament and drawl in his sleep about his memories with her, eventually snapping out of his spiral and moving on with life by working on his physique and hence himself.
At this point, she gently but boldly professes her love for him with the intention of letting him know that she sees him as more than a friend, to which Surya leaves her hanging, neither accepting nor denying her proposal. This causes a drift between them, which is noticed by Surya's dad Krishnan.
Krishnan advices Surya to not keep Priya in a limbo and let her know his decision. Surya remains poker faced, despite Priya's advances to understand why he is drifting from her without giving her closure. He then joins the Indian Army, leaving behind everyone he knows, including Priya.
Six years after her initial proposal to him, Priya goes to North India, to meet Surya in his army base. Surya, who had been thinking about speaking to Priya for a year, is surprised, overjoyed and overwhelmed at this huge gesture. He immediately proposes to Priya, who gets enraged. She had come to see Surya one last time, expecting him to reject her. Surya then explains how he can't forget the memories he had with Meghna, but that he really wants Priya in his life. Feeling angered, happy yet confused, she decides to follow her heart despite her trepidations and spends time with him at the army camp.
It is at this point the song is played in the movie. It picturizes the internal struggles of both Priya & Surya. One end being them wishing to dive into a relationship, the other end being their own fears and doubts about how the one is perceiving the other. They end up organically falling deeper in love & staying together culminating the end of the song (and the film).
Conclusion
Perhaps it took Priya 6 years to arrive at a place of fulfillment, whether or not Surya was in her life. Perhaps it took Surya 6 years to face his fears, move on and acknowledge the feelings he had for Priya. Strange is the way the world works, isn't it?
Ah, life and God have a way of gifting us the people, things and experiences we deeply desire, only when we feel content without it in our lives! As humans, we are blessed and cursed to experience such highs and lows in life, yearnings and celebrations, despair and happiness. The point of a human birth is to learn detachment, to no longer see anything as a blessing or a curse, rather to see the oneness in all that we experience, to be in love with ourselves, God in us & our surroundings, no matter where we are, what we are doing or who we are with. Enjoying this ride means graciously accepting everything in between birth and death, for it is said that even divine beings sometimes incarnate on Earth not only to establish righteousness but even also to enjoy the fun of being human!
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