Ada Avatharam Eduthu
From Katha Nayagan · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Katha Nayagan1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ada avatharam eduthu vandhaal | Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives, |
| Appa raaman than kadhanaayagan | Back then, Lord Rama was the hero. |
| Konjam make up pottu vandhaal | If one puts on a little makeup and arrives, |
| Ippa naan kooda kadhanaayagan | Now even I am a hero. |
| Male | |
| Ada avatharam eduthu vandhaal | Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives, |
| Appa raaman than kadhanaayagan | Back then, Lord Rama was the hero. |
| Konjam make up pottu vandhaal | If one puts on a little makeup and arrives, |
| Ippa naan kooda kadhanaayagan | Now even I am a hero. |
| Male | |
| Ullukkul ellamae mosam | On the inside, everything is rotten, |
| Idhu unmaikku thindaadum dhesam | This is a country where truth struggles to survive. |
| Oorodu naam vaazhum vaazhkai | The life we live among the townspeople, |
| Adhu arithaaram poosaadha vesham | Is a mask worn without applying makeup. |
| Male | |
| Unmaigal veliyaagum late-ah | The truth comes out late, |
| Ingae aandi vesham pottavanae taata | Here, goodbye to the one who put on the disguise of a beggar. |
| Unmaigal veliyaagum late-ah | The truth comes out late, |
| Ingae aandi vesham pottavanae taata | Here, goodbye to the one who put on the disguise of a beggar. |
| Male | |
| Konjam kaiyodu kaasirundhaa | If you have a little money in hand, |
| Ippa ellarum kadhanaayagan | Now everyone becomes a hero. |
| Male | |
| Ada avadharam eduthu vandhaal | Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives, |
| Appa raman thaan kadhanaayagan | Back then, Lord Rama was the hero. |
| Konjam make up pottu vandhaal | If one puts on a little makeup and arrives, |
| Ippa naan kooda kadhanaayagan | Now even I am a hero. |
| Male | |
| Paadatha kuyil koda undu | There is a cuckoo bird that does not sing, |
| Paattu padikkindra kottanum undu | And an owl that sings a song. |
| Thaguthikku mariyathai engae | Where is the respect for true merit? |
| Verum padhavikku mariyathai ingae | Here respect exists only for mere position. |
| Male | |
| Vaaivittu pesaadhu vauram | A diamond does not speak out loud, |
| Ingae sathamittaal pithalaiyum thangam | Here, if brass makes enough noise, it is treated as gold. |
| Vaaivittu pesaadhu vauram | A diamond does not speak out loud, |
| Ingae sathamittaal pithalaiyum thangam | Here, if brass makes enough noise, it is treated as gold. |
| Male | |
| Naadellaam sirkka veikka | To make the whole country laugh, |
| Ippa naanthaanae kadhanaayagan | Now I am the hero. |
| Tamilnadellaam sirikka veikka | To make all of Tamil Nadu laugh, |
| Ippa naanthaanae kadhanaayagan | Now I am the hero. |
| Male | |
| {Ada avatharam eduthu vandhaal | {Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives, |
| Appa raaman than kadhanaayagan | Back then, Lord Rama was the hero. |
| Konjam make up pottu vandhaal | If one puts on a little makeup and arrives, |
| Ippa naan kooda kadhanaayagan} (2) | Now even I am a hero.} (Repeated) |
{அட அவதாரம் எடுத்து வந்தால்
அப்ப ராமன் தான் கதாநாயகன்
கொஞ்சம் மேக்கப் போட்டு வந்தால்
இப்ப நான் கூட கதாநாயகன்} ( 2 )
Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives,
Back then, Lord Rama was the hero.
If one puts on a little makeup and arrives,
Now even I am a hero.
உள்ளுக்குள் எல்லாமே மோசம்
இது உண்மைக்கு திண்டாடும் தேசம்
ஊரோடு நாம் வாழும் வாழ்க்கை
அது அரிதாரம் பூசாத வேஷம்
Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives,
Back then, Lord Rama was the hero.
If one puts on a little makeup and arrives,
Now even I am a hero.
உண்மைகள் வெளியாகும் லேட்டா
இங்கே ஆண்டி வேஷம் போட்டவனே டாட்டா
உண்மைகள் வெளியாகும் லேட்டா
இங்கே ஆண்டி வேஷம் போட்டவனே டாட்டா
On the inside, everything is rotten,
This is a country where truth struggles to survive.
The life we live among the townspeople,
Is a mask worn without applying makeup.
கொஞ்சம் கையோடு காசிருந்தா
இப்ப எல்லாரும் கதாநாயகன்
The truth comes out late,
Here, goodbye to the one who put on the disguise of a beggar.
The truth comes out late,
Here, goodbye to the one who put on the disguise of a beggar.
அட அவதாரம் எடுத்து வந்தால்
அப்ப ராமன் தான் கதாநாயகன்
கொஞ்சம் மேக்கப் போட்டு வந்தால்
இப்ப நான் கூட கதாநாயகன்
If you have a little money in hand,
Now everyone becomes a hero.
பாடாத குயில் கூட உண்டு
பாட்டு படிக்கின்ற கோட்டானும் உண்டு
தகுதிக்கு மரியாதை எங்கே
வெறும் பதவிக்கு மரியாதை இங்கே
Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives,
Back then, Lord Rama was the hero.
If one puts on a little makeup and arrives,
Now even I am a hero.
வாய்விட்டு பேசாது வைரம் இங்கே
சத்தமிட்டால் பித்தளையும் தங்கம்
வாய்விட்டு பேசாது வைரம் இங்கே
சத்தமிட்டால் பித்தளையும் தங்கம்
There is a cuckoo bird that does not sing,
And an owl that sings a song.
Where is the respect for true merit?
Here respect exists only for mere position.
நாடெல்லாம் சிரிக்க வைக்க
இப்ப நான்தானே கதாநாயகன்
தமிழ்நாடெல்லாம் சிரிக்க வைக்க
இப்ப நான்தானே கதாநாயகன்
A diamond does not speak out loud,
Here, if brass makes enough noise, it is treated as gold.
A diamond does not speak out loud,
Here, if brass makes enough noise, it is treated as gold.
{அட அவதாரம் எடுத்து வந்தால்
அப்ப ராமன் தான் கதாநாயகன்
கொஞ்சம் மேக்கப் போட்டு வந்தால்
இப்ப நான் கூட கதாநாயகன்} ( 2 )
To make the whole country laugh,
Now I am the hero.
To make all of Tamil Nadu laugh,
Now I am the hero.
{Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives,
Back then, Lord Rama was the hero.
If one puts on a little makeup and arrives,
Now even I am a hero.} (Repeated)
Ada avatharam eduthu vandhaal
Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives,
Appa raaman than kadhanaayagan
Back then, Lord Rama was the hero.
Konjam make up pottu vandhaal
If one puts on a little makeup and arrives,
Ippa naan kooda kadhanaayagan
Now even I am a hero.
Ada avatharam eduthu vandhaal
Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives,
Appa raaman than kadhanaayagan
Back then, Lord Rama was the hero.
Konjam make up pottu vandhaal
If one puts on a little makeup and arrives,
Ippa naan kooda kadhanaayagan
Now even I am a hero.
Ullukkul ellamae mosam
On the inside, everything is rotten,
Idhu unmaikku thindaadum dhesam
This is a country where truth struggles to survive.
Oorodu naam vaazhum vaazhkai
The life we live among the townspeople,
Adhu arithaaram poosaadha vesham
Is a mask worn without applying makeup.
Unmaigal veliyaagum late-ah
The truth comes out late,
Ingae aandi vesham pottavanae taata
Here, goodbye to the one who put on the disguise of a beggar.
Unmaigal veliyaagum late-ah
The truth comes out late,
Ingae aandi vesham pottavanae taata
Here, goodbye to the one who put on the disguise of a beggar.
Konjam kaiyodu kaasirundhaa
If you have a little money in hand,
Ippa ellarum kadhanaayagan
Now everyone becomes a hero.
Ada avadharam eduthu vandhaal
Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives,
Appa raman thaan kadhanaayagan
Back then, Lord Rama was the hero.
Konjam make up pottu vandhaal
If one puts on a little makeup and arrives,
Ippa naan kooda kadhanaayagan
Now even I am a hero.
Paadatha kuyil koda undu
There is a cuckoo bird that does not sing,
Paattu padikkindra kottanum undu
And an owl that sings a song.
Thaguthikku mariyathai engae
Where is the respect for true merit?
Verum padhavikku mariyathai ingae
Here respect exists only for mere position.
Vaaivittu pesaadhu vauram
A diamond does not speak out loud,
Ingae sathamittaal pithalaiyum thangam
Here, if brass makes enough noise, it is treated as gold.
Vaaivittu pesaadhu vauram
A diamond does not speak out loud,
Ingae sathamittaal pithalaiyum thangam
Here, if brass makes enough noise, it is treated as gold.
Naadellaam sirkka veikka
To make the whole country laugh,
Ippa naanthaanae kadhanaayagan
Now I am the hero.
Tamilnadellaam sirikka veikka
To make all of Tamil Nadu laugh,
Ippa naanthaanae kadhanaayagan
Now I am the hero.
{Ada avatharam eduthu vandhaal
{Oh, if one takes a divine avatar and arrives,
Appa raaman than kadhanaayagan
Back then, Lord Rama was the hero.
Konjam make up pottu vandhaal
If one puts on a little makeup and arrives,
Ippa naan kooda kadhanaayagan} (2)
Now even I am a hero.} (Repeated)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This satirical track from the 1988 film Katha Nayagan contrasts traditional ideals of heroism with modern social superficiality. In ancient mythology, heroism required divine virtues like those of Lord Rama. In contemporary society, however, heroism is reduced to superficial appearances, cosmetic makeup, wealth, and power.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Contrast / Antithesis
“Appa raaman than kadhanaayagan / Konjam make up pottu vandhaal Ippa naan kooda kadhanaayagan”
Compares ancient divine heroism (Lord Rama's avatar) with modern artificial heroism gained merely through makeup and money.
Metaphor & Paradox
“Paadatha kuyil koda undu / Paattu padikkindra kottanum undu”
Uses the silent cuckoo and singing owl to represent quiet merit being ignored while loud, unqualified people gain prominence.
Metaphor
“Vaaivittu pesaadhu vauram / Ingae sathamittaal pithalaiyum thangam”
Compares quiet capability to a silent diamond and loud superficiality to noisy brass pretending to be gold.
Ethirai (Second letter rhyme)
“Thaguthikku mariyathai engae / Verum padhavikku mariyathai ingae”
The second letter 'g' in 'Thaguthikku' rhymes with 'dha' in 'padhavikku'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Katha Nayagan (1988) is a popular Tamil comedy film directed by Muktha Srinivasan, starring Pandiarajan and S. V. Sekhar. Lyricist Vairamuthu used sharp satirical wordplay to mock societal double standards, while composer Chandrabose created an upbeat rhythm sung energetically by Malaysia Vasudevan.
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