Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Baba album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maya Maya

From Baba · 2002

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Karthik, Sujatha Mohan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Baba
Movie release year
2002
Lyrics added on
4 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Gatham gatham
……………………………………..
Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya
Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
Chaaya chaaya chaaya
Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi nee
Santhosam kondaadum sanyaasi
Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi un
Santhosam un kaiyil nee yosi
{ Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya } (2)
Pattum padamalae thottum thodamalae
{ Thamarai ilaitha neer pol nee otti ottaamal iru } (2)
Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya
Vaasanai irukum varayinil sirikum
Pookalin kathaithaan boomiyil namakum
Ulaginil ethuvum nirantharam illai
Urangidum varaiyil suthanthiram illai
Avan avan solvaan aayiram seithi
Alapavan peyarthaan arasiyalvaathi
Adharkenna seiya adhu andha pathaviyin jaathi
Unadhu kai kaalgalae uthavum nanbargalae
Thirai kadal mel ennai thuliyinai pol
Nee otti ottaamal iru
{ Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya } (2)
Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi nee
Santhosam kondaadum sanyaasi
Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi un
Santhosam un kaiyil nee yosi
{ Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya } (2)
Pattum padamalae thottum thodamalae
{ Thamarai ilaitha neer pol nee otti ottaamal iru } (2)
Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya
……………………………………………………..
What is past is past.
……………………………………..
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion.
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow.
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion.
Shadow, shadow, shadow...
Joyful one, joyful one, joyful one, you are,
A renunciate who celebrates happiness.
Joyful one, joyful one, joyful one, your...
Happiness is in your hands, ponder upon it.
{ Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion.
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow. } (2)
Touching yet untouched, feeling yet unfelt,
{ Like water on a lotus leaf, remain attached yet unattached. } (2)
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion.
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow.
Smiling only as long as its fragrance lasts,
The story of flowers is our story on this earth as well.
Nothing in this world is permanent.
Until final rest comes, there is no true freedom.
Every single person will utter a thousand words.
The one who boasts and measures words is called a politician.
What can be done about that? That is the nature of that post.
Your own hands and feet are the friends who truly help.
Like a drop of oil upon the wavy ocean,
Remain attached yet unattached.
{ Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion.
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow. } (2)
Joyful one, joyful one, joyful one, you are,
A renunciate who celebrates happiness.
Joyful one, joyful one, joyful one, your...
Happiness is in your hands, ponder upon it.
{ Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion.
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow. } (2)
Touching yet untouched, feeling yet unfelt,
{ Like water on a lotus leaf, remain attached yet unattached. } (2)
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion.
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow.
……………………………………………………..
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Maya Maya' from Rajinikanth's 2002 film Baba delivers a deep philosophical message regarding spiritual detachment, impermanence, and self-reliance. Lyricist Vaali uses metaphors to illustrate how worldly pleasures, fame, and political babble are mere transient illusions (Maya) and shadows (Chaaya). The song advises the listener to navigate life with detatched involvement, comparing an ideal spiritual mind to water resting on a lotus leaf or oil floating atop the ocean. Ultimately, it preaches that true happiness is entirely an internal state of mind controlled by oneself rather than external circumstances.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

“Thamarai ilaitha neer pol nee otti ottaamal iru”

Compares living detached in the material world to water on a lotus leaf, which sits on the leaf without soaking into it.

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

“Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya”

Repeats 'Maaya' and 'Chaaya' multiple times for rhythmic emphasis on the illusory nature of existence.

Metaphor / Analogy

“Vaasanai irukum varayinil sirikum / Pookalin kathaithaan boomiyil namakum”

Compares human life on earth to the brief existence of a fragrant flower.

Rhyme (Edugai / Monai)

“Ulaginil ethuvum nirantharam illai / Urangidum varaiyil suthanthiram illai”

Uses rhyming pairs ('Vaasanai' / 'Pookalin', 'Ulaginil' / 'Urangidum') to establish rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The opening phrase 'Gatham Gatham' is a famous catchphrase uttered by Rajinikanth in the film Baba, derived from Sanskrit/Pali meaning 'that which is past is past'. Composed by A.R. Rahman and sung by Sujatha Mohan and Kartik, the song encapsulates the spiritual themes central to the movie's storyline.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Piraiye Piraiye2003
PithamaganImpermanenceContemplative
Ponal Pogattum Poda1961
Palum PazhamumImpermanenceContemplative
Aaru Maname1964
Aandavan Kattalai (1964)SpiritualityContemplative
Ninaipathellaam Nadanthu Vitaal1962
Nenjil Or AalayamImpermanenceContemplative
Ninaipatharkku Neramillai1963
Ninaipatharkku NeramillaiSpiritualityContemplative
Anbu Ennum Oru Manthiram1985
Sri RaghavendrarSpiritualityNature

From the same album

More songs from Baba

View album
Rajyama Illai Emaiyama2002
BabaContemplative
Sakthi Kodu2002
BabaDefiant
Dippu Dippu2002
BabaCelebratory
Kichu Kichu Tha2002
BabaPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.