Male Toppula Five
From Ivan · 2002
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singers
- Pithukuli Murugadas, Janaki Iyer
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ivan2002
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mel toppula five staru da | At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man |
| Keel townla tea stallu da | Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man |
| Nadu centre il fast food da | Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man |
| Last kadaisiyil verum yeppamda | At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man |
| Male | |
| Ada aaru suvaiyai thinaalum | Even if you feast on all six tastes of food |
| Arai vayirumaaga thinaalum | Or even if you eat with only a half-filled stomach |
| Pogum bothu onnaavaai | When you depart, you will become one |
| Indha boomi thinnum mannaavaai | You will become the soil that this earth consumes |
| Merpadi naattai purindhuvittaal | If you understand the state of the world above |
| En vayir unpasi adangidumae | My stomach and your hunger will be satisfied |
| Male | |
| Mel toppula five staru da | At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man |
| Keel townla tea stallu da | Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man |
| Nadu centre il fast food da | Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man |
| Last kadaisiyil verum yeppamda | At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man |
| Chorus | |
| Kundakka mandakka vendakka sundakka | Higgledy-piggledy, okra, turkey berry |
| Kundakka mandakka | Higgledy-piggledy |
| Kundakka mandakka vendakka sundakka | Higgledy-piggledy, okra, turkey berry |
| Kundakka mandakka | Higgledy-piggledy |
| Female | |
| Inbathai varuthi kudippadhu polae | Like straining pleasure to drink it |
| Pathum pathaamal sittrundi unavoo | A small snack meal that is barely enough |
| Ilai virithadhum enai thudaithen | As soon as the leaf was spread, I wiped myself |
| Alli thinbaai ammavaasai virundhae | Scoop up and eat, it is a feast on a new moon night |
| Female | |
| Kattil kuzhandhaiyin thookathai kalaippen | I will disturb the sleeping child on the bed |
| Buttipaalinai poonaikku tharuven | I will offer the bottle of milk to the cat |
| Nudhal mudhal paadhangal varaiyae | From the forehead down to the feet |
| Noolin idaiyil sikka veippen unaiyae | I will make you get entangled in the middle of a thread |
| Male | |
| Pennodu serthu ullasam kondaal | If one indulges in pleasure with a woman |
| Killadi kooda thalladi poovaan | Even an expert player will stagger and falter |
| Pugai oodhuvadhum madhu naaduvadhum | Blowing smoke and seeking liquor |
| Thadumaarum varai sugamae | Is blissful only until you lose your balance |
| Dhinam dhinam sugam edhu therindhu kondaal | If you understand what true daily pleasure is |
| Ovvoru nimidamum udhavidumae | It will help you every single minute |
| Male | |
| Haei mel toppula | Hey, at the very top |
| Female :Five staru da | Five-star hotel, man |
| Male :Keel townla | Down in the town |
| Female :Tea stallu da | Tea stall, man |
| Male :Nadu centre il | Right in the center |
| Female :Fast food da | Fast food joint, man |
| Male :Last kadaisiyil | At the very end |
| Female :Verum yeppamda | Just a simple belch, man |
| Female | |
| Poovil eriyum jodhiyum nanaae | I am the flame burning within the flower |
| Ellai thaandiya theeviram naanae | I am the passion that crosses all boundaries |
| Dhinam oru panjanaiyil paduppen | I sleep on a different bed every day |
| Kaalai urangi iravinil vizhippen | I sleep in the morning and stay awake at night |
| Female | |
| Netru vaazhkai yaarukku vendu, | Who wants yesterday's life? |
| Naalai vaazhkai yaarukku vendum | Who needs tomorrow's life? |
| Nigazhkaala nimishathai rasippom | Let us savor the present moment |
| Neeyum naanum sugangalil vasippom | You and I shall live in pleasures |
| Male | |
| Aathigam enna naathigam enna | What is theism, what is atheism? |
| Raathiri pennin vaazhkaiyil ondrae | In the life of a night woman, both are the same |
| Kuzhal inidha yaazh inidha | Is the flute sweet, or is the lute sweet? |
| Pasi oosaiyin munnae | Before the cry of hunger, none of it matters |
| Janangalin thevaigal theerndha pinnae | Only after fulfilling the basic needs of the people |
| Jana gana managadhi paadidudaa | Go ahead and sing the national anthem! |
| Male | |
| Mel toppula five staru da | At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man |
| Keel townla tea stallu da | Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man |
| Nadu centre il fast food da | Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man |
| Last kadaisiyil verum yeppamda | At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man |
| Male | |
| Ada aaru suvaiyai thinaalum | Even if you feast on all six tastes of food |
| Arai vayirumaaga thinaalum | Or even if you eat with only a half-filled stomach |
| Pogum bothu onnaavaai | When you depart, you will become one |
| Indha boomi thinnum mannaavaai | You will become the soil that this earth consumes |
| Merpadi naattai purindhuvittaal | If you understand the state of the world above |
| En vayir unpasi adangidumae | My stomach and your hunger will be satisfied |
| Male | |
| Mel toppula five staru da | At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man |
| Keel townla tea stallu da | Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man |
| Nadu centre il fast food da | Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man |
| Last kadaisiyil verum yeppamda | At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man |
மேல் டாப்புல பைவ் ஸ்டாரு டா
கீழ் டவுனுல டீ ஸ்டாலு டா
நடு சென்டரில் பாஸ்ட் புட்டு டா
லாஸ்ட் கடைசியில் வெறும் ஏப்பம்டா
At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man
Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man
Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man
At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man
அட ஆறு சுவையை தின்னாலும்
அரை வயிறுமாக தின்னாலும்
போகும்போது ஒண்ணாவாய்
இந்த பூமி தின்னும் மண்ணாவாய்
மேற்படி நாட்டை புரிந்துவிட்டால்
என் வயிற் நுண் பசி அடங்கிடுமே
Even if you feast on all six tastes of food
Or even if you eat with only a half-filled stomach
When you depart, you will become one
You will become the soil that this earth consumes
If you understand the state of the world above
My stomach and your hunger will be satisfied
மேல் டாப்புல பைவ் ஸ்டாரு டா
கீழ் டவுனுல டீ ஸ்டாலு டா
நடு சென்டரில் பாஸ்ட் புட்டு டா
லாஸ்ட் கடைசியில் வெறும் ஏப்பம்டா
At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man
Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man
Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man
At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man
ஹே ஹே ஹோ ஹோ ஹே ஹொஹ்...
Higgledy-piggledy, okra, turkey berry
Higgledy-piggledy
Higgledy-piggledy, okra, turkey berry
Higgledy-piggledy
குண்டக்க மண்டக்க வெண்டக்கா சுண்டக்கா
குண்டக்க மண்டக்க
குண்டக்க மண்டக்க வெண்டக்கா சுண்டக்கா
குண்டக்க மண்டக்க..
Like straining pleasure to drink it
A small snack meal that is barely enough
As soon as the leaf was spread, I wiped myself
Scoop up and eat, it is a feast on a new moon night
இன்பத்தை வருத்தி குடிப்பது போலே
பத்தும் பத்தாமல் சிற்றுண்டி உணவோ
இலை விரித்ததுடன் என்னை துடைத்தேன்
அள்ளி தின்பாய் அம்மாவாசை விருந்தே
I will disturb the sleeping child on the bed
I will offer the bottle of milk to the cat
From the forehead down to the feet
I will make you get entangled in the middle of a thread
கட்டில் குழந்தையின் தூக்கத்தை கலைப்பேன்
புட்டிப்பாலினை பூனைக்கு தருவேன்
நுதல் முதல் பாதங்கள் வரையே
நூலின் இடையில் சிக்க வைப்பேன் உனையே
If one indulges in pleasure with a woman
Even an expert player will stagger and falter
Blowing smoke and seeking liquor
Is blissful only until you lose your balance
If you understand what true daily pleasure is
It will help you every single minute
பெண்ணோடு சேர்த்து உல்லாசம் கொண்டால்
கில்லாடி கூட தள்ளாடி போவான்
புகை ஊதுவதும் மது நாடுவதும்
தடுமாறும் வரை சுகமே
தினம் தினம் சுகமெது தெரிந்துக் கொண்டால்
ஒவ்வொரு நிமிடமும் உதவிடுமே
Hey, at the very top
Five-star hotel, man
Down in the town
Tea stall, man
Right in the center
Fast food joint, man
At the very end
Just a simple belch, man
ஹேய் மேல் டாப்புல
பைவ் ஸ்டாரு டா
கீழ் டவுனுல
டீ ஸ்டாலு டா
நடு சென்டரில்
பாஸ்ட் புட்டு டா
லாஸ்ட் கடைசியில்
வெறும் ஏப்பம்டா
I am the flame burning within the flower
I am the passion that crosses all boundaries
I sleep on a different bed every day
I sleep in the morning and stay awake at night
பூவில் எரியும் ஜோதியும் நானே
எல்லை தாண்டிய தீவிரம் நானே
தினம் ஒரு பஞ்சணையில் படுப்பேன்
காலையில் உறங்கி இரவினில் விழிப்பேன்
Who wants yesterday's life?
Who needs tomorrow's life?
Let us savor the present moment
You and I shall live in pleasures
நேற்று வாழ்க்கை யாருக்கு வேண்டும்
நாளை வாழ்க்கை யாருக்கு வேண்டும்
நிகழ்கால நிமிஷத்தை ரசிப்போம்
நீயும் நானும் சுகங்களில் வசிப்போம்
What is theism, what is atheism?
In the life of a night woman, both are the same
Is the flute sweet, or is the lute sweet?
Before the cry of hunger, none of it matters
Only after fulfilling the basic needs of the people
Go ahead and sing the national anthem!
ஆத்திகம் என்ன நாத்திகம் என்ன
ராத்திரி பெண்ணின் வாழ்க்கையில் ஒன்றே
குழல் இனிதா யாழ் இனிதா
பசி ஓசையின் முன்னே
ஜனங்களின் தேவைகள் தீர்ந்த பின்னே
ஜனகண மனகதி பாடிடடா
At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man
Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man
Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man
At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man
மேல் டாப்புல பைவ் ஸ்டாரு டா
கீழ் டவுனுல டீ ஸ்டாலு டா
நடு சென்டரில் பாஸ்ட் புட்டு டா
லாஸ்ட் கடைசியில் வெறும் ஏப்பம்டா
Even if you feast on all six tastes of food
Or even if you eat with only a half-filled stomach
When you depart, you will become one
You will become the soil that this earth consumes
If you understand the state of the world above
My stomach and your hunger will be satisfied
அட ஆறு சுவையை தின்னாலும்
அரை வயிறுமாக தின்னாலும்
போகும்போது ஒண்ணாவாய்
இந்த பூமி தின்னும் மண்ணாவாய்
ஹேய் மேற்படி நாட்டை புரிந்துவிட்டால்
என் வயிற் நுண் பசி அடங்கிடுமே
At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man
Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man
Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man
At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man
மேல் டாப்புல பைவ் ஸ்டாரு டா
கீழ் டவுனுல டீ ஸ்டாலு டா
நடு சென்டரில் பாஸ்ட் புட்டு டா
லாஸ்ட் கடைசியில் வெறும் ஏப்பம்டா....
Mel toppula five staru da
At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man
Keel townla tea stallu da
Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man
Nadu centre il fast food da
Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man
Last kadaisiyil verum yeppamda
At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man
Ada aaru suvaiyai thinaalum
Even if you feast on all six tastes of food
Arai vayirumaaga thinaalum
Or even if you eat with only a half-filled stomach
Pogum bothu onnaavaai
When you depart, you will become one
Indha boomi thinnum mannaavaai
You will become the soil that this earth consumes
Merpadi naattai purindhuvittaal
If you understand the state of the world above
En vayir unpasi adangidumae
My stomach and your hunger will be satisfied
Mel toppula five staru da
At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man
Keel townla tea stallu da
Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man
Nadu centre il fast food da
Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man
Last kadaisiyil verum yeppamda
At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man
Kundakka mandakka vendakka sundakka
Higgledy-piggledy, okra, turkey berry
Kundakka mandakka
Higgledy-piggledy
Kundakka mandakka vendakka sundakka
Higgledy-piggledy, okra, turkey berry
Kundakka mandakka
Higgledy-piggledy
Inbathai varuthi kudippadhu polae
Like straining pleasure to drink it
Pathum pathaamal sittrundi unavoo
A small snack meal that is barely enough
Ilai virithadhum enai thudaithen
As soon as the leaf was spread, I wiped myself
Alli thinbaai ammavaasai virundhae
Scoop up and eat, it is a feast on a new moon night
Kattil kuzhandhaiyin thookathai kalaippen
I will disturb the sleeping child on the bed
Buttipaalinai poonaikku tharuven
I will offer the bottle of milk to the cat
Nudhal mudhal paadhangal varaiyae
From the forehead down to the feet
Noolin idaiyil sikka veippen unaiyae
I will make you get entangled in the middle of a thread
Pennodu serthu ullasam kondaal
If one indulges in pleasure with a woman
Killadi kooda thalladi poovaan
Even an expert player will stagger and falter
Pugai oodhuvadhum madhu naaduvadhum
Blowing smoke and seeking liquor
Thadumaarum varai sugamae
Is blissful only until you lose your balance
Dhinam dhinam sugam edhu therindhu kondaal
If you understand what true daily pleasure is
Ovvoru nimidamum udhavidumae
It will help you every single minute
Haei mel toppula
Hey, at the very top
Female :Five staru da
Five-star hotel, man
Male :Keel townla
Down in the town
Female :Tea stallu da
Tea stall, man
Male :Nadu centre il
Right in the center
Female :Fast food da
Fast food joint, man
Male :Last kadaisiyil
At the very end
Female :Verum yeppamda
Just a simple belch, man
Poovil eriyum jodhiyum nanaae
I am the flame burning within the flower
Ellai thaandiya theeviram naanae
I am the passion that crosses all boundaries
Dhinam oru panjanaiyil paduppen
I sleep on a different bed every day
Kaalai urangi iravinil vizhippen
I sleep in the morning and stay awake at night
Netru vaazhkai yaarukku vendu,
Who wants yesterday's life?
Naalai vaazhkai yaarukku vendum
Who needs tomorrow's life?
Nigazhkaala nimishathai rasippom
Let us savor the present moment
Neeyum naanum sugangalil vasippom
You and I shall live in pleasures
Aathigam enna naathigam enna
What is theism, what is atheism?
Raathiri pennin vaazhkaiyil ondrae
In the life of a night woman, both are the same
Kuzhal inidha yaazh inidha
Is the flute sweet, or is the lute sweet?
Pasi oosaiyin munnae
Before the cry of hunger, none of it matters
Janangalin thevaigal theerndha pinnae
Only after fulfilling the basic needs of the people
Jana gana managadhi paadidudaa
Go ahead and sing the national anthem!
Mel toppula five staru da
At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man
Keel townla tea stallu da
Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man
Nadu centre il fast food da
Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man
Last kadaisiyil verum yeppamda
At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man
Ada aaru suvaiyai thinaalum
Even if you feast on all six tastes of food
Arai vayirumaaga thinaalum
Or even if you eat with only a half-filled stomach
Pogum bothu onnaavaai
When you depart, you will become one
Indha boomi thinnum mannaavaai
You will become the soil that this earth consumes
Merpadi naattai purindhuvittaal
If you understand the state of the world above
En vayir unpasi adangidumae
My stomach and your hunger will be satisfied
Mel toppula five staru da
At the very top, there is a five-star hotel, man
Keel townla tea stallu da
Down in the town, there is a tea stall, man
Nadu centre il fast food da
Right in the center, there is a fast food joint, man
Last kadaisiyil verum yeppamda
At the very end, it all reduces to just a simple belch, man
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Mel Toppula Five Staru Da' is a philosophical, satirical, and energetic street-style song from Parthiban's movie 'Ivan' (2002), composed by Ilaiyaraaja and penned by lyricist Na. Muthukumar. The song uses food and social satire as metaphors to deliver a profound equalizer message: regardless of whether one dines in a high-class five-star hotel, a middle-class fast food joint, or a humble roadside tea stall, human consumption ultimately ends in the same basic physiological belch, and every human being ultimately returns to the dust of the earth. The verse sections dive into raw reality, juxtaposing nocturnal desires, economic divide, existential presentism ('live in the present, forget past and future'), and societal hypocrisy. It famously references Tirukkural philosophy ('Kuzhal inidha yaazh inidha') to point out that art, high culture, and national pride are meaningless to a starving person until basic hunger and human needs are met.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Mel toppula / Keel townla”
Matching second consonants across lines (e.g., 'Toppula' and 'Keel townla', 'Aaru' and 'Arai').
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Mel toppula five staru da / Keel townla tea stallu da”
Ending consecutive lines with the emphasis marker 'da' (Five staru da, tea stallu da, fast food da, yeppamda).
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Kundakka mandakka vendakka sundakka”
Repetition of initial 'K' sounds creating rhythmic nonsense-rhyme (Kundakka mandakka vendakka sundakka).
Literary Allusion & Satire
“Kuzhal inidha yaazh inidha / Pasi oosaiyin munnae”
Direct allusion to Thiruvalluvar's famous Tirukkural Kural 66 ('Kuzhal inidhu yaazh inidhu...'), subverting it to highlight that hunger supersedes all artistic beauty.
Metaphor
“Indha boomi thinnum mannaavaai”
Comparing human mortality and physical decay to soil being eaten by the earth.
Did you know?
Trivia
The track features legendary devotional singer Pithukuli Murugadas in a rare and surprising playback appearance for a mainstream film song, bringing an energetic, folk-philosophical vocal texture alongside Janaki Iyer/Febi. Director Parthiban is known for his unconventional, socially sharp lyric concepts, and this song remains one of Na. Muthukumar's early breakout hits demonstrating his mastery over mixing street slang with high classical Tamil philosophy.
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