Kotti Kidakkuthu
From Theertha Karaiyinile · 1987
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Theertha Karaiyinile1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Laalalla laalalla laalalla laalalla laa | Laalalla laalalla laalalla laalalla laa |
| Female | |
| Kotti kidakkudhu selvangal | Wealth lies scattered in abundance |
| Boomiyilae hoi | On this earth, oh! |
| Adhai alli vazhangidum nenjangal | Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously |
| Yedhum illae hoi | Do not exist at all, oh! |
| Engengilum vanjamo vanjam | Everywhere, there is deception upon deception |
| Anbadharkku panjamo panjam | There is severe scarcity when it comes to love |
| Engalukku panjamum illae saami haa haa | But we have no shortage of anything, my friend, ha ha! |
| Female | |
| Kotti kidakkudhu selvangal | Wealth lies scattered in abundance |
| Boomiyilae hoi | On this earth, oh! |
| Adhai alli vazhangidum nenjangal | Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously |
| Yedhum illae | Do not exist at all. |
| Female | |
| Boomikkul ooridum neeradhu thaan | The water that springs forth from deep within the earth |
| Aaraaga oorengum oduvadhu | Flows everywhere across the land as rivers |
| Aarodum paadhaiyai yaaru ingae | Who here carved or guided the path |
| Neraaga seeraaga aakkiyadhu | That the flowing river so straightly and perfectly takes? |
| Female | |
| Ennadhendrum unnadhendrum | Claiming 'this is mine' and 'that is yours' |
| Baedhangal thaan yaeno | Why are there such divisions and discriminations? |
| Enna idhu enna idhu kevalangal thaano | What disgraceful behavior is this, oh what disgraceful acts! |
| Female | |
| Aarodum neeradhu | Can the water flowing in a river |
| Neraaga pin sellumaa hoi | Turn around and flow straight back, oh? |
| Ooriya ootrukkul | Into the spring from which it originated |
| Thaanaaga thaan pogumaa hoi | Will it go back automatically, oh? |
| Female | |
| Anbu nenjam boomikkum undu | Earth possesses a compassionate heart |
| Andha nenjam neerukkum undu | Water too possesses that loving heart |
| Ingu adhu yaarukku undu kooradiyo haa haa | Tell me, who among humans here possesses such a heart? Ha ha! |
| Female | |
| Kotti kidakkudhu selvangal | Wealth lies scattered in abundance |
| Boomiyilae hoi | On this earth, oh! |
| Adhai alli vazhangidum nenjangal | Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously |
| Yedhum illae | Do not exist at all. |
| Female | |
| Mannil kidaikkindra kallu ondru | A simple stone found lying in the dirt |
| Vairakkal endradhai yaar sonnadhu | Who declared it to be a precious diamond? |
| Kannil kidaippadhai sondham kollum | Trying to claim ownership over whatever catches the eye |
| Chinna buthi adhai yaar thandhadhu | Who bestowed humans with such a petty mindset? |
| Female | |
| Solluvadhum ketpadhuvum | Saying things and listening to them |
| Naamallavo maanae | Is it not us, my dear? |
| Alluvadhum kolluvadhum | Hoarding riches and destroying lives |
| Nambikkaiyaal thaanae | Is all driven by misplaced trust! |
| Ntthamum suttri | Spinning continuously day after day |
| Chuzhandridum man thanilae hoi | On this revolving earth of soil, oh |
| Otti uzhandridum | Clinging on and struggling aimlessly |
| Man puzhu maanidamae hoi | Human beings are merely earthworms in the soil, oh! |
| Female | |
| Kotti kidakkudhu selvangal | Wealth lies scattered in abundance |
| Boomiyilae hoi | On this earth, oh! |
| Adhai alli vazhangidum nenjangal | Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously |
| Yedhum illae hoi | Do not exist at all, oh! |
| Engengilum vanjamo vanjam | Everywhere, there is deception upon deception |
| Anbadharkku panjamo panjam | There is severe scarcity when it comes to love |
| Engalukku panjamum illae saami haa haa | But we have no shortage of anything, my friend, ha ha! |
| Female | |
| Kotti kidakkudhu selvangal | Wealth lies scattered in abundance |
| Boomiyilae hoi | On this earth, oh! |
| Adhai alli vazhangidum nenjangal | Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously |
| Yedhum illae | Do not exist at all. |
ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ....
ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ....
லாலல்ல லாலல்ல லாலல்ல லாலல்ல லா
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Laalalla laalalla laalalla laalalla laa
கொட்டிக் கிடக்குது செல்வங்கள்
பூமியிலே ஹோய்
அதை அள்ளி வழங்கிடும் நெஞ்சங்கள்
ஏதும் இல்லே ஹோய்
எங்கெங்கிலும் வஞ்சமோ வஞ்சம்
அன்பதற்க்கு பஞ்சமோ பஞ்சம்
எங்களுக்குப் பஞ்சமும் இல்லே சாமி ஹா ஹா
Wealth lies scattered in abundance
On this earth, oh!
Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously
Do not exist at all, oh!
Everywhere, there is deception upon deception
There is severe scarcity when it comes to love
But we have no shortage of anything, my friend, ha ha!
கொட்டிக் கிடக்குது செல்வங்கள்
பூமியிலே ஹோய்
அதை அள்ளி வழங்கிடும் நெஞ்சங்கள்
ஏதும் இல்லே
Wealth lies scattered in abundance
On this earth, oh!
Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously
Do not exist at all.
பூமிக்குள் ஊறிடும் நீரதுதான்
ஆறாக ஊரெங்கும் ஓடுவது
ஆறோடும் பாதையை யாரு இங்கே
நேராக சீராக ஆக்கியது
The water that springs forth from deep within the earth
Flows everywhere across the land as rivers
Who here carved or guided the path
That the flowing river so straightly and perfectly takes?
என்னதென்றும் உன்னதென்றும்
பேதங்கள்தான் ஏனோ
என்ன இது என்ன இது கேவலங்கள் தானோ
Claiming 'this is mine' and 'that is yours'
Why are there such divisions and discriminations?
What disgraceful behavior is this, oh what disgraceful acts!
ஆறோடும் நீரது
நேராகப் பின் செல்லுமா ஹோய்
ஊறிய ஊற்றுக்குள்
தானாகத்தான் போகுமா ஹோய்
Can the water flowing in a river
Turn around and flow straight back, oh?
Into the spring from which it originated
Will it go back automatically, oh?
அன்பு நெஞ்சம் பூமிக்கும் உண்டு
அந்த நெஞ்சம் நீருக்கும் உண்டு
இங்கு அது யாருக்கு உண்டு கூறடியோ ஹா ஹா
Earth possesses a compassionate heart
Water too possesses that loving heart
Tell me, who among humans here possesses such a heart? Ha ha!
கொட்டிக் கிடக்குது செல்வங்கள்
பூமியிலே ஹோய்
அதை அள்ளி வழங்கிடும் நெஞ்சங்கள்
ஏதும் இல்லே
Wealth lies scattered in abundance
On this earth, oh!
Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously
Do not exist at all.
மண்ணில் கிடக்கின்ற கல்லு ஒன்று
வைரக்கல் என்றதை யார் சொன்னது
கண்ணில் கிடைப்பதை சொந்தம் கொள்ளும்
சின்ன புத்தி அதை யார் தந்தது
A simple stone found lying in the dirt
Who declared it to be a precious diamond?
Trying to claim ownership over whatever catches the eye
Who bestowed humans with such a petty mindset?
சொல்லுவதும் கேட்பதுவும்
நாமல்லவோ மானே
அள்ளுவதும் கொள்ளுவதும்
நம்பிக்கையால் தானே
நித்தமும் சுற்றிச்
சுழன்றிடும் மண் தனிலே ஹோய்
ஒட்டி உழன்றிடும்
மண் புழு மானிடமே ஹோய்
Saying things and listening to them
Is it not us, my dear?
Hoarding riches and destroying lives
Is all driven by misplaced trust!
Spinning continuously day after day
On this revolving earth of soil, oh
Clinging on and struggling aimlessly
Human beings are merely earthworms in the soil, oh!
என்றென்றைக்கும் சொந்தமோ சொந்தம்
ஏழைக்குள்ள இன்பமோ இன்பம்
வானம் மேகம் காற்று மட்டும்தான்
பாரடியோ ஹா ஹா
Wealth lies scattered in abundance
On this earth, oh!
Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously
Do not exist at all, oh!
Everywhere, there is deception upon deception
There is severe scarcity when it comes to love
But we have no shortage of anything, my friend, ha ha!
கொட்டிக் கிடக்குது செல்வங்கள்
பூமியிலே ஹோய்
அதை அள்ளி வழங்கிடும் நெஞ்சங்கள்
ஏதும் இல்லே ஹோய்
எங்கெங்கிலும் வஞ்சமோ வஞ்சம்
அன்பதற்க்கு பஞ்சமோ பஞ்சம்
எங்களுக்குப் பஞ்சமும் இல்லே சாமி ஹா ஹா
Wealth lies scattered in abundance
On this earth, oh!
Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously
Do not exist at all.
கொட்டிக் கிடக்குது செல்வங்கள்
பூமியிலே ஹோய்
அதை அள்ளி வழங்கிடும் நெஞ்சங்கள்
ஏதும் இல்லே
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Laalalla laalalla laalalla laalalla laa
Laalalla laalalla laalalla laalalla laa
Kotti kidakkudhu selvangal
Wealth lies scattered in abundance
Boomiyilae hoi
On this earth, oh!
Adhai alli vazhangidum nenjangal
Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously
Yedhum illae hoi
Do not exist at all, oh!
Engengilum vanjamo vanjam
Everywhere, there is deception upon deception
Anbadharkku panjamo panjam
There is severe scarcity when it comes to love
Engalukku panjamum illae saami haa haa
But we have no shortage of anything, my friend, ha ha!
Kotti kidakkudhu selvangal
Wealth lies scattered in abundance
Boomiyilae hoi
On this earth, oh!
Adhai alli vazhangidum nenjangal
Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously
Yedhum illae
Do not exist at all.
Boomikkul ooridum neeradhu thaan
The water that springs forth from deep within the earth
Aaraaga oorengum oduvadhu
Flows everywhere across the land as rivers
Aarodum paadhaiyai yaaru ingae
Who here carved or guided the path
Neraaga seeraaga aakkiyadhu
That the flowing river so straightly and perfectly takes?
Ennadhendrum unnadhendrum
Claiming 'this is mine' and 'that is yours'
Baedhangal thaan yaeno
Why are there such divisions and discriminations?
Enna idhu enna idhu kevalangal thaano
What disgraceful behavior is this, oh what disgraceful acts!
Aarodum neeradhu
Can the water flowing in a river
Neraaga pin sellumaa hoi
Turn around and flow straight back, oh?
Ooriya ootrukkul
Into the spring from which it originated
Thaanaaga thaan pogumaa hoi
Will it go back automatically, oh?
Anbu nenjam boomikkum undu
Earth possesses a compassionate heart
Andha nenjam neerukkum undu
Water too possesses that loving heart
Ingu adhu yaarukku undu kooradiyo haa haa
Tell me, who among humans here possesses such a heart? Ha ha!
Kotti kidakkudhu selvangal
Wealth lies scattered in abundance
Boomiyilae hoi
On this earth, oh!
Adhai alli vazhangidum nenjangal
Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously
Yedhum illae
Do not exist at all.
Mannil kidaikkindra kallu ondru
A simple stone found lying in the dirt
Vairakkal endradhai yaar sonnadhu
Who declared it to be a precious diamond?
Kannil kidaippadhai sondham kollum
Trying to claim ownership over whatever catches the eye
Chinna buthi adhai yaar thandhadhu
Who bestowed humans with such a petty mindset?
Solluvadhum ketpadhuvum
Saying things and listening to them
Naamallavo maanae
Is it not us, my dear?
Alluvadhum kolluvadhum
Hoarding riches and destroying lives
Nambikkaiyaal thaanae
Is all driven by misplaced trust!
Ntthamum suttri
Spinning continuously day after day
Chuzhandridum man thanilae hoi
On this revolving earth of soil, oh
Otti uzhandridum
Clinging on and struggling aimlessly
Man puzhu maanidamae hoi
Human beings are merely earthworms in the soil, oh!
Kotti kidakkudhu selvangal
Wealth lies scattered in abundance
Boomiyilae hoi
On this earth, oh!
Adhai alli vazhangidum nenjangal
Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously
Yedhum illae hoi
Do not exist at all, oh!
Engengilum vanjamo vanjam
Everywhere, there is deception upon deception
Anbadharkku panjamo panjam
There is severe scarcity when it comes to love
Engalukku panjamum illae saami haa haa
But we have no shortage of anything, my friend, ha ha!
Kotti kidakkudhu selvangal
Wealth lies scattered in abundance
Boomiyilae hoi
On this earth, oh!
Adhai alli vazhangidum nenjangal
Yet hearts that scoop it up to share generously
Yedhum illae
Do not exist at all.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kotti Kidakkudhu Selvangal is a deeply philosophical Tamil song from the movie Theertha Karaiyinile (1987), featuring music composed and lyrics written by Ilaiyaraaja. The song offers a sharp critique of human greed, selfishness, and artificial social divisions. It contrasts nature's infinite capacity for selfless giving with humanity's obsession with ownership, petty pride, and moral bankruptcy. Through poignant nature metaphors—such as river waters that flow without asking for ownership and human beings living transient lives like earthworms in the dirt—the song highlights the absurdity of material greed. It reminds listeners that nature's wealth belongs to all, yet human society lacks the broad-minded compassion to share it fairly.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Man puzhu maanidamae hoi”
Compares human beings directly to earthworms struggling in dirt to highlight human insignificance, mortality, and petty material attachments.
Rhyme / Monai & Edhugai
“Engengilum vanjamo vanjam / Anbadharkku panjamo panjam”
Uses parallel rhyme schemes and internal alliteration (vanjam/panjam) to contrast widespread deceit with the severe lack of genuine affection.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)
“Mannil kidaikkindra kallu ondru / Vairakkal endradhai yaar sonnadhu”
Uses rhetorical questioning to ask who designated a stone as a valuable diamond, challenging human vanity and arbitrary valuation of wealth.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song features lyrics authored by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja himself. Though widely celebrated as a master composer, Ilaiyaraaja occasionally wrote lyric tracks that featured profound philosophical and social commentaries, as seen here in Theertha Karaiyinile (1987).
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