- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, A. L. Raghavan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Kumudham
- Movie release year
- 1961
- Lyrics added on
- 25 Jan 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaayamae idhu poiyadaa..
Verum kaatradaitha paiyadaa..
Namachivaayaa
Kelu maayanaaraam kuyavan seidha
Mannu paandam odadaa
Kaayamae idhu poiyadaa..
Verum kaatradaitha paiyadaa..
Kelu maayanaaraam kuyavan seidha
Mannu paandam odadaa…haa…aa…
Daei niruthu…
Namachivaayaa
Neeyum poiyaa naanum poiyaa
Ninaithu paarthu solladaa
Neeyum poiyaa naanum poiyaa
Ninaithu paarthu solladaa
Un vaayum poiyaa vayirum poiyaa
Vaadham ozhungaa cheiyadaa
Vaayum poiyaa vayirum poiyaa
Vaadham ozhungaa cheiyadaa
Sarakku… sarakku…
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu vidu
Illae salaam pottu odi vidu
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu vidu
Illae salaam pottu odi vidu
Vaayum poi thaan vayirum poi thaan
Yaavum poiyae thaanadaa
Vaayum poi thaan vayirum poi thaan
Yaavum poiyae thaanadaa
Maaya ulagil mayangum manidhaa
Vambu vaadham yenadaa
Maaya ulagil mayangum manidhaa
Vambu vaadham yenadaa
Namchivaaya sivaaya sivaaya
Namchivaaya sivaaya sivaaya
Om namchivaaya sivaaya sivaaya
Namchivaaya sivaaya sivaaya
What… poiyaa…
Vaayum vayirum poi endraalae
Kaayum kaniyum edharkadaa
Vaayum vayirum poi endraalae
Kaayum kaniyum edharkadaa
Saayam veluthu pogum munnae
Jaldhi answer pannadaa
Saayam veluthu pogum munnae
Jaldhi answer pannadaa
Sarakku… sarakku…
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu vidu
Illae salaam pottu odi vidu
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu vidu
Illae salaam pottu odi vidu
Kaayum kaniyum udalai valarkka
Kadavul padaitha poruladaa engappaa
Kaayum kaniyum udalai valarkka
Kadavul padaitha poruladaa
Kaalai pola paaya vendaam
Neeyum summaa nilladaa
Kaalai pola paaya vendaam
Neeyum summaa nilladaa
Daei… ennaiyaa insult panra…
Aalai paarthu kaalai endru
Azhaikkum idiot keladaa
Moolai illaa neeyum idhai un
Mudhugil vaangi kolladaa
Aalai paarthu kaalai endru
Azhaikkum idiot keladaa
Moolai illaa neeyum idhai un
Mudhugil vaangi kolladaa
Sarakku… sarakku…
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu vidu
Illae salaam pottu odi vidu
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu vidu
Illae salaam pottu odi viduidu
Neeyum poi thaan naanum poi thaan
Unadhu vaarthai meiyadaa
Indha kaayam poi thaan adikkum enadhu
Kaiyum kooda poiyadaa
Neeyum poi thaan naanum poi thaan
Unadhu vaarthai meiyadaa
Indha kaayam poi thaan adikkum enadhu
Kaiyum kooda poiyadaa…
This body is just an illusion, my friend!
It is merely a bag filled with air!
Namasivaya!
Listen! Made by the mystic Potter,
this clay vessel is just a broken shard!
This body is just an illusion, my friend!
It is merely a bag filled with air!
Listen! Made by the mystic Potter,
this clay vessel is just a broken shard... ha... ah...
Hey, stop it!
Namasivaya!
Are you a lie? Am I a lie?
Think it over and tell me!
Are you a lie? Am I a lie?
Think it over and tell me!
Is your mouth a lie? Is your stomach a lie?
Argue your point properly!
Is your mouth a lie? Is your stomach a lie?
Argue your point properly!
Got the stuff... got the stuff...
If you have real substance, unpack it!
Otherwise, salute and run away!
If you have real substance, unpack it!
Otherwise, salute and run away!
The mouth is a lie, and the stomach is a lie,
everything is truly an illusion, my friend!
The mouth is a lie, and the stomach is a lie,
everything is truly an illusion, my friend!
O human dazzled by this illusory world,
why get into this pointless dispute?
O human dazzled by this illusory world,
why get into this pointless dispute?
Namasivaya Sivaya Sivaya!
Namasivaya Sivaya Sivaya!
Om Namasivaya Sivaya Sivaya!
Namasivaya Sivaya Sivaya!
What... a lie?!
If the mouth and the stomach are lies,
then what are vegetables and fruits for?
If the mouth and the stomach are lies,
then what are vegetables and fruits for?
Before your true colors wash out,
give me a quick answer!
Before your true colors wash out,
give me a quick answer!
Got the stuff... got the stuff...
If you have real substance, unpack it!
Otherwise, salute and run away!
If you have real substance, unpack it!
Otherwise, salute and run away!
To nourish the body, vegetables and fruits
are things created by God, my friend!
To nourish the body, vegetables and fruits
are things created by God, my friend!
Don't charge at me like a bull,
just stand there quietly!
Don't charge at me like a bull,
just stand there quietly!
Hey... what man, are you insulting me?
Looking at a man and calling him a bull—
listen to me, you idiot!
You brainless fool, take this blow
right across your back!
Looking at a man and calling him a bull—
listen to me, you idiot!
You brainless fool, take this blow
right across your back!
Got the stuff... got the stuff...
If you have real substance, unpack it!
Otherwise, salute and run away!
If you have real substance, unpack it!
Otherwise, salute and run away!
You are a lie, and I am a lie,
and your words are the truth, my friend!
This body is a lie, and my hand
that beats you is also a lie!
You are a lie, and I am a lie,
and your words are the truth, my friend!
This body is a lie, and my hand
that beats you is also a lie...
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song presents a comical philosophical debate between two opposing viewpoints: ascetic spiritual detachment versus worldly materialism. One character argues from the perspective of Siddhar philosophy, claiming that the physical body (Kaayam) is a temporary illusion (Maya), a mere vessel of air and clay destined to crumble. He advocates chanting Lord Shiva's name and looking beyond worldly desires.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Verum kaatradaitha paiyadaa..”
Compares the human body ('Kaayam') to a bag of air ('Kaatradaitha pai') and an earthen pot ('Mannu paandam').
Moni / Rhyming (Ethirudhai)
“Un vaayum poiyaa vayirum poiyaa”
Use of internal rhyming across pairs of words such as 'Kaayum' and 'Kaniyum' or 'Vaayum' and 'Vayirum'.
Simile (Uvamanai)
“Kaalai pola paaya vendaam”
Direct comparison comparing aggressive charging behavior to a wild bull ('Kaalai pola').
Irony and Satire
“Indha kaayam poi thaan adikkum enadhu Kaiyum kooda poiyadaa”
Uses high philosophical truth to justify a physical slap or fight at the end.
Did you know?
Trivia
This satirical song from 'Kumudham' (1961) parodies the traditional Siddhar philosophical song 'Kaayamae Idhu Poiyada' composed by Pattinathar. Kannadasan cleverly blends high Tamil spiritual philosophical concepts with colloquial English words like 'idiot' and 'answer' for comic relief.
Keep listening
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