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Lyrics & meaning

Buddhan Sonna

From Vizhithelu · 2023

Lyricist
Selvaraja
Singer
Priyanka
Music director
Nallathambi
Details
Vizhithelu2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Buddhan sonna thathuvathaBuddha's philosophy,
Othukala yaarum ingaeNobody here accepted it.
Bodhi maram gyanam sonnaWhen the Bodhi tree imparted wisdom,
Pudikala namakkingaeWe did not like it here.
Female
Peraasai peru nasthamExcessive greed brings immense loss,
PurinjuthammaIt is understood now, oh friend.
Pei aattam aadi usaraPlaying a devilish dance,
KudichudhammaIt consumed precious lives.
MudhichadhammaIt finished everything.
Female
Buddhan sonna thathuvathaBuddha's philosophy,
Othukala yaarum ingaeNobody here accepted it.
Bodhi maram gyanam sonnaWhen the Bodhi tree imparted wisdom,
Pudikala namakkingaeWe did not like it here.
Female
Nizhal thandha aalamaramumEven the banyan tree that offered shade,
Verodu sainthadhammaHas fallen down with its roots.
Koodu izhandha kakkai kuruviThe crows and birds that lost their nests,
Kondattam oindhadhammaTheir joyous celebration has come to an end.
Female
Kannukulla nerunji mullaiThorns of puncture vine inside the eyes,
Yaar theithadhuWho rubbed them in?
Adhu nenjakuzhi sogathukkuThat became the reason,
Karanamaai aanadhu inguFor the deep sorrow inside the heart here.
Anju uyir thookathirkkuFor the eternal sleep of five lives,
Thookku kayiraanadhu inguIt became the hanging rope here.
Thodarkadhai tholaivadhendruWhen will this continuous tragic story end?
Female
Buddhan sonna thathuvathaBuddha's philosophy,
Othukala yaarum ingaeNobody here accepted it.
Bodhi maram gyanam sonnaWhen the Bodhi tree imparted wisdom,
Pudikala namakkingaeWe did not like it here.
Female
Kannagiyin karpu neriyumThe virtue and chastity of Kannagi,
Kaappaattra vendum ammaaMust be protected, oh mother.
Dhraupadhi thugil urithuBy disrobing Draupadi,
Soodhattam olindhidumaaCan the evil of gambling ever be concealed?
Female
Ondrukulla ondraai inguOne hidden inside another,
Vidhi vaithathuFate has placed it here.
Ada ondrukkuthaan erandu endraalAh, if two are offered for just one,
Aasai manam oduthu anguThe greedy mind runs towards it.
Female
Oosaiyindri aasanukkumSilently, even within a master,
Seendum gunam thoondruthu inguA provoking bad trait gets triggered here.
Vizhithelu kodumai kanduAwaken upon witnessing such cruelty!
Female
Buddhan sonna thathuvathaBuddha's philosophy,
Othukala yaarum ingaeNobody here accepted it.
Bodhi maram gyanam sonnaWhen the Bodhi tree imparted wisdom,
Pudikala namakkingaeWe did not like it here.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Vizhithelu' serves as a poignant social critique emphasizing how humanity's rejection of spiritual wisdom and moral boundaries leads to tragic destruction. By invoking the Buddha and the Bodhi tree, the lyricist highlights human indifference toward timeless truth, pointing out how unbridled greed ('peraasai') acts like a destructive demonic force that claims innocent lives.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (Purana / Epics)

Kannagiyin karpu neriyum

References to historical and mythological icons like Buddha, Kannagi from Silappatikaram, and Draupadi from Mahabharata to highlight moral ideals and social injustices.

Metaphor

Kannukulla nerunji mullai Yaar theithadhu

Comparing grief and pain to thorns rubbed directly into the eyes, emphasizing intense emotional suffering.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Buddhan sonna thathuvatha / Bodhi maram gyanam sonna

A traditional Tamil poetic device where the second letter of consecutive lines share the same consonant sound (e.g., 'dd' in Buddhan / Bodhi).

Symbolism

Nizhal thandha aalamaramum Verodu sainthadhamma

The fallen banyan tree and homing birds represent the loss of shelter, protection, and societal stability due to human greed.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 2023 Tamil film 'Vizhithelu', this track is composed by Nallathambi and rendered by Priyanka NK. The lyrics written by Selvaraja draw heavily upon classical Tamil literary references and Buddhist philosophy to present a stark message against greed and ethical decay.

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