Aasai Aasai Aasai
From Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa · 1999
- Lyricist
- Ramanarayanan
- Singer
- Unnikrishnan
- Music director
- S. A. Rajkumar
- Details
- Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Aasai aasai aasai aasai | Desires, desires, desires, desires |
| Male | |
| Thookkam vittru thaanae | Selling away sleep itself |
| Oru kattil vaanga aasai | Desire to buy a bed |
| Thoondil vittru thaanae ada | Selling away the fishing rod itself |
| Ada meengal vaanga aasai | Desire to buy fish |
| Male | |
| Naakkai vittru thaenai vaangi | Selling the tongue to buy honey |
| Neerai vittru thaagam vaangi | Selling water to buy thirst |
| Poovai vittru vaasam vaangi | Selling the flower to buy fragrance |
| Thaayai vittru paasam vaangi | Selling the mother to buy affection |
| Poottai vittru saavi vaangum | Selling the lock to buy a key |
| Polladha aasai aasai | Such wicked desires, desires! |
| Chorus | |
| Aasai aasai aasai aasai | Desires, desires, desires, desires |
| Aasai aasai aasai aasai | Desires, desires, desires, desires |
| Male | |
| Thookkam vittru thaanae | Selling away sleep itself |
| Oru kattil vaanga aasai | Desire to buy a bed |
| Thoondil vittru thaanae ada | Selling away the fishing rod itself |
| Ada meengal vaanga aasai | Desire to buy fish |
| Chorus | |
| Hoo oo oo | Hoo oo oo |
| Male | |
| Neerinil vaazhum meengalin koottam | Schools of fish living in water |
| Adhisayam yedhum illai | Is nothing of a wonder |
| Andha neerinil vegum meengalum | And those fish cooking in that water |
| Kuzhambhaai maaridum maatram illai | Turning into curry is no surprise either |
| Male | |
| Alavukku meeri aasaigalai vandhaal | If desires cross all reasonable limits |
| Nimamdhi sendru vidum | Peace of mind will vanish |
| Varavukku meeri selavugal vandhaal | If expenses exceed income |
| Vazhigal maarividum | One's path in life will stray |
| Male | |
| Venkatesanaae sreenivaasanae | Oh Lord Venkatesa, Oh Srinivasa |
| Manam pogudhae | The mind strays away |
| Panam potta paadhaiyilae thaanae | Only along the path paved by money |
| Chorus | |
| Aasai aasai aasai aasai | Desires, desires, desires, desires |
| Aasai aasai aasai aasai | Desires, desires, desires, desires |
| Male | |
| Thookkam vittru thaanae | Selling away sleep itself |
| Oru kattil vaanga aasai | Desire to buy a bed |
| Thoondil vittru thaane ada | Selling away the fishing rod itself |
| ada meengal vaanga aasai .. | Desire to buy fish.. |
| Chorus | |
| Hoo .. oo … oo | Hoo .. oo … oo |
| Male | |
| Manidhan pasikku kozhigal irai thaan | Chickens are food for human hunger |
| Kozhikku pulu irai thaan | Worms are food for the chicken |
| Puzhuvin pasikku mann irai thaan | Soil is food for the worm's hunger |
| Manukku manidhan thaan | And man becomes food for the soil |
| Male | |
| Mannil vandhadhu mannil mudiyum | What came from dust returns to dust |
| Manadhukku theriyadhillai | Yet the human mind fails to realize |
| Uravil vandhadhu viragil mudiyum | What began in relationships ends on funeral firewood |
| Ulagam arivadhillai | The world does not understand this truth |
| Male | |
| Alaipaayudhae niram maarudhae | Wavering and changing colors |
| Manidha vaazhvilae | In human life |
| Aasaiyai aasai thindru vidum | Desire itself consumes desire |
| Chorus | |
| Aasai aasai aasai aasai | Desires, desires, desires, desires |
| Aasai aasai aasai aasai | Desires, desires, desires, desires |
| Male | |
| Thookkam vittru thaanae | Selling away sleep itself |
| Oru kattil vaanga aasai | Desire to buy a bed |
| Thoondil vittru thaane ada | Selling away the fishing rod itself |
| Ada meengal vaanga aasai | Desire to buy fish |
| Male | |
| Naakkai vittru thaenai vaangi | Selling the tongue to buy honey |
| Neerai vittru thaagam vaangi | Selling water to buy thirst |
| Poovai vittru vaasam vaangi | Selling the flower to buy fragrance |
| Thaayai vittru paasam vaangi | Selling the mother to buy affection |
| Poottai vittru saavi vaangum | Selling the lock to buy a key |
| Polladha aasai aasai | Such wicked desires, desires! |
| Chorus | |
| Aasai aasai aasai aasai | Desires, desires, desires, desires |
| Aasai aasai aasai aasai | Desires, desires, desires, desires |
ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை
Desires, desires, desires, desires
தூக்கம் விற்று தானே
ஒரு கட்டில் வாங்க ஆசை
தூண்டில் விற்று தானே அட
மீன்கள் வாங்க ஆசை
Selling away sleep itself
Desire to buy a bed
Selling away the fishing rod itself
Desire to buy fish
நாக்கை விற்று தேனை வாங்கி
நீரை விற்று தாகம் வாங்கி
பூவை விற்று வாசம் வாங்கி
தாயை விற்று பாசம் வாங்கி
பூட்டை விற்று சாவி வாங்கும்
பொல்லாத ஆசை ஆசை
Selling the tongue to buy honey
Selling water to buy thirst
Selling the flower to buy fragrance
Selling the mother to buy affection
Selling the lock to buy a key
Such wicked desires, desires!
ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை
ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Desires, desires, desires, desires
தூக்கம் விற்று தானே
ஒரு கட்டில் வாங்க ஆசை
தூண்டில் விற்று தானே
அட மீன்கள் வாங்க ஆசை..
Selling away sleep itself
Desire to buy a bed
Selling away the fishing rod itself
Desire to buy fish
ஓஓஒ....
Hoo oo oo
நீரினில் வாழும் மீன்களின் கூட்டம்
அதிசயம் ஏதும் இல்லை
அந்த நீரினில் வேகும் மீன்களும்
குழம்பாய் மாறிடும் மாற்றமில்லை
Schools of fish living in water
Is nothing of a wonder
And those fish cooking in that water
Turning into curry is no surprise either
அளவுக்கு மீறி ஆசைகள் வந்தால்
நிம்மதி சென்று விடும்
வரவுக்கு மீறி செலவுகள் வந்தால்
வழிகள் மாறிவிடும்
If desires cross all reasonable limits
Peace of mind will vanish
If expenses exceed income
One's path in life will stray
வெங்கடேசனே சீனிவாசனே
மனம் போகுதே
பணம் போட்ட பாதையில் தானே
Oh Lord Venkatesa, Oh Srinivasa
The mind strays away
Only along the path paved by money
ஆசை ஆசை...ஆசை ஆசை
ஆசை ஆசை..ஆசை ஆசை
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Desires, desires, desires, desires
தூக்கம் விற்று தானே
ஒரு கட்டில் வாங்க ஆசை
தூண்டில் விற்று தானே
அட மீன்கள் வாங்க ஆசை...
Selling away sleep itself
Desire to buy a bed
Selling away the fishing rod itself
Desire to buy fish..
ஓஓஒ..
Hoo .. oo … oo
மனிதன் பசிக்கு கோழிகள் இரை தான்
கோழிக்கு புழு இரை தான்
புழுவின் பசிக்கு மண் இரை தான்
மண்ணுக்கு மனிதன் தான்
Chickens are food for human hunger
Worms are food for the chicken
Soil is food for the worm's hunger
And man becomes food for the soil
மண்ணில் வந்தது மண்ணில் முடியும்
மனதுக்கு தெரிவதில்லை
உறவில் வந்தது விறகில் முடியும்
உலகம் அறிவதில்லை
What came from dust returns to dust
Yet the human mind fails to realize
What began in relationships ends on funeral firewood
The world does not understand this truth
அலைபாயுதே நிறம் மாறுதே
மனித வாழ்விலே
ஆசையை ஆசை தின்று விடும்...
Wavering and changing colors
In human life
Desire itself consumes desire
ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை...
ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Desires, desires, desires, desires
தூக்கம் விற்று தானே
ஒரு கட்டில் வாங்க ஆசை
தூண்டில் விற்று தானே
அட மீன்கள் வாங்க ஆசை
Selling away sleep itself
Desire to buy a bed
Selling away the fishing rod itself
Desire to buy fish
நாக்கை விற்று தேனை வாங்கி
நீரை விற்று தாகம் வாங்கி
பூவை விற்று வாசம் வாங்கி
தாயை விற்று பாசம் வாங்கி
பூட்டை விற்று சாவி வாங்கும்
பொல்லாத ஆசை ஆசை
Selling the tongue to buy honey
Selling water to buy thirst
Selling the flower to buy fragrance
Selling the mother to buy affection
Selling the lock to buy a key
Such wicked desires, desires!
ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை
ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை ஆசை
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Aasai aasai aasai aasai
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Thookkam vittru thaanae
Selling away sleep itself
Oru kattil vaanga aasai
Desire to buy a bed
Thoondil vittru thaanae ada
Selling away the fishing rod itself
Ada meengal vaanga aasai
Desire to buy fish
Naakkai vittru thaenai vaangi
Selling the tongue to buy honey
Neerai vittru thaagam vaangi
Selling water to buy thirst
Poovai vittru vaasam vaangi
Selling the flower to buy fragrance
Thaayai vittru paasam vaangi
Selling the mother to buy affection
Poottai vittru saavi vaangum
Selling the lock to buy a key
Polladha aasai aasai
Such wicked desires, desires!
Aasai aasai aasai aasai
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Aasai aasai aasai aasai
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Thookkam vittru thaanae
Selling away sleep itself
Oru kattil vaanga aasai
Desire to buy a bed
Thoondil vittru thaanae ada
Selling away the fishing rod itself
Ada meengal vaanga aasai
Desire to buy fish
Hoo oo oo
Hoo oo oo
Neerinil vaazhum meengalin koottam
Schools of fish living in water
Adhisayam yedhum illai
Is nothing of a wonder
Andha neerinil vegum meengalum
And those fish cooking in that water
Kuzhambhaai maaridum maatram illai
Turning into curry is no surprise either
Alavukku meeri aasaigalai vandhaal
If desires cross all reasonable limits
Nimamdhi sendru vidum
Peace of mind will vanish
Varavukku meeri selavugal vandhaal
If expenses exceed income
Vazhigal maarividum
One's path in life will stray
Venkatesanaae sreenivaasanae
Oh Lord Venkatesa, Oh Srinivasa
Manam pogudhae
The mind strays away
Panam potta paadhaiyilae thaanae
Only along the path paved by money
Aasai aasai aasai aasai
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Aasai aasai aasai aasai
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Thookkam vittru thaanae
Selling away sleep itself
Oru kattil vaanga aasai
Desire to buy a bed
Thoondil vittru thaane ada
Selling away the fishing rod itself
ada meengal vaanga aasai ..
Desire to buy fish..
Hoo .. oo … oo
Hoo .. oo … oo
Manidhan pasikku kozhigal irai thaan
Chickens are food for human hunger
Kozhikku pulu irai thaan
Worms are food for the chicken
Puzhuvin pasikku mann irai thaan
Soil is food for the worm's hunger
Manukku manidhan thaan
And man becomes food for the soil
Mannil vandhadhu mannil mudiyum
What came from dust returns to dust
Manadhukku theriyadhillai
Yet the human mind fails to realize
Uravil vandhadhu viragil mudiyum
What began in relationships ends on funeral firewood
Ulagam arivadhillai
The world does not understand this truth
Alaipaayudhae niram maarudhae
Wavering and changing colors
Manidha vaazhvilae
In human life
Aasaiyai aasai thindru vidum
Desire itself consumes desire
Aasai aasai aasai aasai
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Aasai aasai aasai aasai
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Thookkam vittru thaanae
Selling away sleep itself
Oru kattil vaanga aasai
Desire to buy a bed
Thoondil vittru thaane ada
Selling away the fishing rod itself
Ada meengal vaanga aasai
Desire to buy fish
Naakkai vittru thaenai vaangi
Selling the tongue to buy honey
Neerai vittru thaagam vaangi
Selling water to buy thirst
Poovai vittru vaasam vaangi
Selling the flower to buy fragrance
Thaayai vittru paasam vaangi
Selling the mother to buy affection
Poottai vittru saavi vaangum
Selling the lock to buy a key
Polladha aasai aasai
Such wicked desires, desires!
Aasai aasai aasai aasai
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Aasai aasai aasai aasai
Desires, desires, desires, desires
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song from the film Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa (1999) reflects on the paradoxical and endless nature of human greed. Through satirical ironies—such as selling sleep to buy a bed or selling one's mother to buy affection—it exposes how humans often sacrifice intrinsic, essential truths for superficial, fleeting gains. The song also highlights the ultimate circle of life and death, warning that living beyond one's means or yielding to boundless desires leads to downfall and loss of peace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Paradox / Irony
“Thookkam vittru thaanae Oru kattil vaanga aasai”
Illustrates self-defeating logic where a person sacrifices the fundamental core (sleep) to acquire a tool for it (a bed).
Anaphora / Repetition
“Aasai aasai aasai aasai”
Repeats the word 'aasai' (desire) continuously to mirror the relentless and overwhelming wave of human greed.
Metaphor / Circle of Life
“Manidhan pasikku kozhigal irai thaan... Manukku manidhan thaan”
Presents an ecological cycle metaphor—man eats chicken, chicken eats worm, worm eats soil, soil consumes man—to convey mortal reality.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song was directed and written by veteran filmmaker-lyricist Rama Narayanan, known for incorporating comedic yet moralistic songs in his movies. The film features music composed by S. A. Rajkumar.
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