Maya Maya
From Baba · 2002
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Karthik, Sujatha Mohan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Baba2002
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Gatham gatham | What is gone is gone |
| Female | |
| …………………………………….. | ... |
| Male | |
| Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya | Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion |
| Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya | Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow |
| Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya | Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion |
| Chaaya chaaya chaaya | Shadow, shadow, shadow |
| Male | |
| Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi nee | Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, you |
| Santhosam kondaadum sanyaasi | A saint who celebrates happiness |
| Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi un | Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, your |
| Santhosam un kaiyil nee yosi | Happiness is in your own hands, ponder upon it |
| Male | |
| { Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya | { Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion |
| Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya } (2) | Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow } (x2) |
| Male | |
| Pattum padamalae thottum thodamalae | Touching without touching, reaching without holding |
| { Thamarai ilaitha neer pol nee otti ottaamal iru } (2) | { Like water on a lotus leaf, stay attached yet unattached } (x2) |
| Male | |
| Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya | Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion |
| Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya | Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow |
| Male | |
| Vaasanai irukum varayinil sirikum | Flowers smile only as long as fragrance remains |
| Pookalin kathaithaan boomiyil namakum | Our story on earth is just like that of flowers |
| Ulaginil ethuvum nirantharam illai | Nothing in this world is permanent |
| Urangidum varaiyil suthanthiram illai | There is no true freedom until one falls asleep forever |
| Male | |
| Avan avan solvaan aayiram seithi | Each person will spin a thousand stories |
| Alapavan peyarthaan arasiyalvaathi | The one who exaggerates and boasts is called a politician |
| Adharkenna seiya adhu andha pathaviyin jaathi | What can be done about it? That is the nature of that post |
| Unadhu kai kaalgalae uthavum nanbargalae | Your own hands and legs are your true helpful friends |
| Male | |
| Thirai kadal mel ennai thuliyinai pol | Like a drop of oil floating over the wavy sea |
| Nee otti ottaamal iru | Stay attached yet unattached |
| Male | |
| { Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya | { Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion |
| Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya } (2) | Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow } (x2) |
| Male | |
| Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi nee | Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, you |
| Santhosam kondaadum sanyaasi | A saint who celebrates happiness |
| Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi un | Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, your |
| Santhosam un kaiyil nee yosi | Happiness is in your own hands, ponder upon it |
| Male | |
| { Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya | { Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion |
| Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya } (2) | Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow } (x2) |
| Male | |
| Pattum padamalae thottum thodamalae | Touching without touching, reaching without holding |
| { Thamarai ilaitha neer pol nee otti ottaamal iru } (2) | { Like water on a lotus leaf, stay attached yet unattached } (x2) |
| Male | |
| Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya | Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion |
| Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya | Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow |
| Male | |
| …………………………………………………….. | ... |
கதம் கதம்
What is gone is gone
.........................
...
மாயா மாயா
மாயா எல்லாம் மாயா
சாயா சாயா சாயா
எல்லாம் சாயா மாயா
மாயா மாயா எல்லாம்
மாயா சாயா சாயா சாயா
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Shadow, shadow, shadow
சந்தோஷி சந்தோஷி
சந்தோஷி நீ சந்தோஷம்
கொண்டாடும் சந்நியாசி
சந்தோஷி சந்தோஷி சந்தோஷி
உன் சந்தோஷம் உன் கையில்
நீ யோசி
Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, you
A saint who celebrates happiness
Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, your
Happiness is in your own hands, ponder upon it
{ மாயா மாயா
மாயா எல்லாம் மாயா
சாயா சாயா சாயா
எல்லாம் சாயா } (2)
{ Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow } (x2)
பட்டும் படாமலே
தொட்டும் தொடாமலே
{ தாமரை இளைத்த நீர்
போல் நீ ஒட்டி ஒட்டாமலிரு } (2)
Touching without touching, reaching without holding
{ Like water on a lotus leaf, stay attached yet unattached } (x2)
மாயா மாயா
மாயா எல்லாம் மாயா
சாயா சாயா சாயா
எல்லாம் சாயா
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow
வாசனை
இருக்கும் வரையினில்
சிரிக்கும் பூக்களின் கதை
தான் பூமியில் நமக்கும்
உலகினில் எதுவும் நிரந்தரம்
இல்லை உறங்கிடும் வரையில்
சுதந்திரம் இல்லை
Flowers smile only as long as fragrance remains
Our story on earth is just like that of flowers
Nothing in this world is permanent
There is no true freedom until one falls asleep forever
அவனவன்
சொல்வான் ஆயிரம்
சேதி அளப்பவன் பேர்தான்
அரசியல் வாதி அதற்கென்ன
செய்ய அது அந்த பதவியின்
ஜாதி உனது கை கால்களே
உதவும் நண்பர்களே
Each person will spin a thousand stories
The one who exaggerates and boasts is called a politician
What can be done about it? That is the nature of that post
Your own hands and legs are your true helpful friends
திரைகடல் மேல்
எண்ணெய் துளியினை
போல் நீ ஒட்டி ஒட்டாமலிரு
Like a drop of oil floating over the wavy sea
Stay attached yet unattached
{ மாயா மாயா
மாயா எல்லாம் மாயா
சாயா சாயா சாயா
எல்லாம் சாயா } (2)
{ Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow } (x2)
சந்தோஷி சந்தோஷி
சந்தோஷி நீ சந்தோஷம்
கொண்டாடும் சந்நியாசி
சந்தோஷி சந்தோஷி சந்தோஷி
உன் சந்தோஷம் உன் கையில்
நீ யோசி
Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, you
A saint who celebrates happiness
Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, your
Happiness is in your own hands, ponder upon it
{ மாயா மாயா
மாயா எல்லாம் மாயா
சாயா சாயா சாயா
எல்லாம் சாயா } (2)
{ Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow } (x2)
பட்டும் படாமலே
தொட்டும் தொடாமலே
{ தாமரை இளைத்த நீர்
போல் நீ ஒட்டி ஒட்டாமலிரு } (2)
Touching without touching, reaching without holding
{ Like water on a lotus leaf, stay attached yet unattached } (x2)
மாயா மாயா
மாயா எல்லாம் மாயா
சாயா சாயா சாயா
எல்லாம் சாயா
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow
..........................
...
Gatham gatham
What is gone is gone
……………………………………..
...
Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow
Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Chaaya chaaya chaaya
Shadow, shadow, shadow
Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi nee
Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, you
Santhosam kondaadum sanyaasi
A saint who celebrates happiness
Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi un
Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, your
Santhosam un kaiyil nee yosi
Happiness is in your own hands, ponder upon it
{ Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
{ Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya } (2)
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow } (x2)
Pattum padamalae thottum thodamalae
Touching without touching, reaching without holding
{ Thamarai ilaitha neer pol nee otti ottaamal iru } (2)
{ Like water on a lotus leaf, stay attached yet unattached } (x2)
Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow
Vaasanai irukum varayinil sirikum
Flowers smile only as long as fragrance remains
Pookalin kathaithaan boomiyil namakum
Our story on earth is just like that of flowers
Ulaginil ethuvum nirantharam illai
Nothing in this world is permanent
Urangidum varaiyil suthanthiram illai
There is no true freedom until one falls asleep forever
Avan avan solvaan aayiram seithi
Each person will spin a thousand stories
Alapavan peyarthaan arasiyalvaathi
The one who exaggerates and boasts is called a politician
Adharkenna seiya adhu andha pathaviyin jaathi
What can be done about it? That is the nature of that post
Unadhu kai kaalgalae uthavum nanbargalae
Your own hands and legs are your true helpful friends
Thirai kadal mel ennai thuliyinai pol
Like a drop of oil floating over the wavy sea
Nee otti ottaamal iru
Stay attached yet unattached
{ Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
{ Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya } (2)
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow } (x2)
Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi nee
Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, you
Santhosam kondaadum sanyaasi
A saint who celebrates happiness
Santhoshi santhoshi santhoshi un
Oh happy person, happy person, happy person, your
Santhosam un kaiyil nee yosi
Happiness is in your own hands, ponder upon it
{ Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
{ Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya } (2)
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow } (x2)
Pattum padamalae thottum thodamalae
Touching without touching, reaching without holding
{ Thamarai ilaitha neer pol nee otti ottaamal iru } (2)
{ Like water on a lotus leaf, stay attached yet unattached } (x2)
Maaya maaya maaya ellam maaya
Illusion, illusion, illusion, everything is an illusion
Chaaya chaaya chaaya ellam chaaya
Shadow, shadow, shadow, everything is a shadow
……………………………………………………..
...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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