Elay Sevathavane Lyrics Meaning: Rail | S. J. Jananiy

S. J. Jananiy’s ‘Elay Sevathavane’ from the album ‘Rail’ carries a visceral maternal grief through sparse composition. Lyricist Rameshvaidya structures this Tamil ‘oppari’ as raw questions from a searching mother. Jananiy’s dual role as composer and singer amplifies the haunting sorrow.

Released: July 5, 2024

Elay Sevathavane

S. J. Jananiy • From “Rail”

Lyricist

Rameshvaidya

Composer

S. J. Jananiy

Elay Sevathavane Lyrics Translation (from “Rail”)

Rameshvaidya contrasts undried breast milk with the son potentially ‘eating raw earth’ to underline life interrupted. The mother notes ‘final-rite rice’ growing in northern fields, confirming fate’s cruel harvest before formal rites.

InterleavedOriginalTranslation

Ele SevaththavaneOh, my fair-skinned boy,

Enga Vandhu KedakkuriyoWhere have you ended up lying?

Paale VaththalayeThe milk in my breasts hasn’t even dried up,

Pachchamanna ThinguriyoAre you already eating the raw earth?

Paathi Vazhi PogaiyileWhile you were only halfway through your journey,

Padalu Vandhu MarachiruchoDid a fence come and block your way?

Oodhi Vacha Moochu KaaththuThe breath of life I breathed into you,

Odala Vittu PoyiruchoHas it left your body?

Bethiyila Pona VidhiThis wretched, cruel fate,

Pedani Kidda SirichiruchoDid it laugh right behind your back?

Veedhiyila Pona PullaThe child who walked down the street,

Veraku Katta AayiruchoHas he turned into a log for the funeral pyre?

Ele SevaththavaneOh, my fair-skinned boy,

Enga Vandhu KedakkuriyoWhere have you ended up lying?

Paale VaththalayeThe milk in my breasts hasn’t even dried up,

Pachchamanna ThinguriyoAre you already eating the raw earth?

Pesagaana SaamiyappoIf the God of Justice were there,

Peya Vittu AdichchirukkumHe’d have driven the evil spirits away.

Asaluurla KaaththirukkumWaiting in a distant town,

Aaththaalukku ThudichchirukkumYour mother’s heart would’ve been aching for you.

Ponamaana PokkisameMy treasure, now just a lifeless body,

Pozhudhu Kettu Thaai PaakkumYour mother searches for you as the day ends.

Kanavoda Sedhi VandhuWhen news of this comes in a dream,

Garba Paiyi KalangirukkumMy very womb will be shattered with grief.

Ele SevaththavaneOh, my fair-skinned boy,

Enga Vandhu KedakkuriyoWhere have you ended up lying?

Paale VaththalayeThe milk in my breasts hasn’t even dried up,

Pachchamanna ThinguriyoAre you already eating the raw earth?

Kadakkaalu Natta KambomThe pillar planted as our foundation,

Karuvazhichu PaaththirucheI’ve seen it get destroyed from the roots.

Kodakkooli VaangamunnaBefore even paying the house rent,

Kottai Idi VizhundhurucheThe fort has crumbled and fallen down.

Podakkaali Kenaththu KuzhiThe pit of the backyard well,

Pongi MuzhugadichchiruchcheHas overflowed and drowned everything.

Vadakkaa On VayakkaatlaIn the fields to your north,

Vaaikkarisi VelanchiruchcheThe ‘final-rite rice’ has already grown.

Vaaikkarisi VelanchiruchcheThe ‘final-rite rice’ has already grown.

Vaaikkarisi VelanchiruchcheThe ‘final-rite rice’ has already grown.

Ele SevaththavaneOh, my fair-skinned boy,

Enga Vandhu KedakkuriyoWhere have you ended up lying?

Paale VaththalayeThe milk in my breasts hasn’t even dried up,

Pachchamanna ThinguriyoAre you already eating the raw earth?