Mustafa Mustafa
From Kadhal Desam · 1996
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- A. R. Rahman
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Kadhal Desam1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| ………………………………… | |
| Male | |
| { Mustafa mustafa don’t worry mustafa | Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa |
| Kaalam nam thozhan Mustafa } (2) | Time is our friend, Mustafa (Repeat) |
| Male | |
| Day by day day by day | Day by day, day by day |
| Vaazhkai payanam day by day | Life's journey goes on day by day |
| Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan | Friendship is the ship that never sinks |
| Male | |
| Mustafa mustafa don’t worry mustafa | Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa |
| Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa | Time is our friend, Mustafa |
| Female | |
| ………………………………… | |
| Male | |
| June pirakum july pirakum | June will be born, July will be born |
| Juniorkum seniorkum | For juniors and for seniors |
| Kalloori vaasal engum | Everywhere at the college entrance |
| Ragging nadakum | Ragging will take place |
| Male | |
| Students manam oar nanthavanamae | Students' hearts are a flower garden |
| Roja irukum mullum irukum | There will be roses, and there will be thorns |
| Natpuku ragging kooda paathai vagukum | Even ragging paves a pathway for friendship |
| Male | |
| Nanban oruvan vantha piragu | Once a true friend arrives |
| Vinnai thodalaam undhan siragu | Your wings can touch the sky |
| Vaanukum ellai undu natpukillaiyae | Even the sky has a limit, but friendship has none |
| Male | |
| Thunbam varalaam inbam varalaam | Sorrow may come, joy may come |
| Nanban oruvan pangu peralaam | A friend can share in both |
| Kalloori natpukillai mutrupulliyae | College friendship knows no full stop |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………………………. | |
| Male | |
| Mustafa mustafa don’t worry mustafa | Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa |
| Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa | Time is our friend, Mustafa |
| Female | |
| Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa | Time is our friend, Mustafa |
| Male | |
| Day by day day by day | Day by day, day by day |
| Vaazhkai payanam day by day | Life's journey goes on day by day |
| Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan | Friendship is the ship that never sinks |
| Female | |
| Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan | Friendship is the ship that never sinks |
| Male | |
| Mustafa mustafa don’t worry mustafa | Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa |
| Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa | Time is our friend, Mustafa |
| Male | |
| Ingu parakum vanna paravai | Colorful birds flying here |
| Yengiruntho vantha paravai | Birds that came from somewhere |
| Kalloori manthaan engal vedanthaangal | The college campus is our bird sanctuary |
| Male | |
| Kanni malargal kooda padikum | Young blooming maidens study alongside us |
| Kaalai manathil saaral adikum | A cool drizzle blows in young men's hearts |
| Kalloori chaalai engal kodaikaanal | The college path is our Kodaikanal |
| Male | |
| Kalvi payilum kaalam varaiyil | Until the end of our student days |
| Thulli thiriyum engal vizhiyil | In our joyful, playful eyes |
| Kanneerai kandathillai thendral saatchi | We haven't seen tears, the breeze is witness |
| Male | |
| Nanban pirinthu oor thirumbum | Only on the day a friend leaves for home |
| Naalil matumthaan neer arumbum | Do tears begin to swell |
| Kanneeril thaanae engal farewell party | Our farewell party is bathed in tears |
| Chorus | |
| …………………………………. | |
| Male | |
| { Mustafa mustafa don’t worry mustafa | Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa |
| Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa | Time is our friend, Mustafa |
| Female | |
| Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa | Time is our friend, Mustafa |
| Male | |
| Day by day day by day | Day by day, day by day |
| Vaazhkai payanam day by day | Life's journey goes on day by day |
| Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan | Friendship is the ship that never sinks |
| Female | |
| Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan } (2) | Friendship is the ship that never sinks (Repeat) |
{முஸ்தபா முஸ்தபா
டோண்ட் வொர்ரிமுஸ்தபா
காலம் நம் தோழன் முஸ்தபா} (2)
டே பை டே.... டே பை டே
வாழ்க்கைப் பயணம் டே பை டே
மூழ்காத ஷிப்பே ஃபிரண்ட்ஷிப்பா
Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa (Repeat)
முஸ்தபா முஸ்தபா
டோண்ட் வொர்ரி முஸ்தபா
காலம் நம் தோழன் முஸ்தபா
Day by day, day by day
Life's journey goes on day by day
Friendship is the ship that never sinks
.......................................
Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa
ஜூன் பிறக்கும் ஜூலை பிறக்கும்
ஜூனியருக்கும் சீனியருக்கும்
கல்லூரிச் சாலை எங்கும்
ராகிங் நடக்கும்
ஸ்டூடண்ஸ் மனமோ நந்தவனமே
ரோஜா இருக்கும் முள்ளும் இருக்கும்
நட்புக்கு ராகிங் கூட
பாதை வகுக்கும்
June will be born, July will be born
For juniors and for seniors
Everywhere at the college entrance
Ragging will take place
நண்பன் ஒருவன் வந்த பிறகு
விண்ணை தொடலாம் உந்தன் சிறகு
வாணுக்கும் எல்லை உண்டு
நட்புக்கில்லையே
Students' hearts are a flower garden
There will be roses, and there will be thorns
Even ragging paves a pathway for friendship
துன்பம் வரலாம் இன்பம் வரலாம்
நண்பன் ஒருவன் பங்கு பெறலாம்
கல்லூரி நட்புக்கில்லை
முற்றுப்புள்ளியே
Once a true friend arrives
Your wings can touch the sky
Even the sky has a limit, but friendship has none
{ஒஹோ ஓஓஒ....ஒஹோ ஓஓஒ....
ஒஹோ ஓஓஒ....} (2)
Sorrow may come, joy may come
A friend can share in both
College friendship knows no full stop
முஸ்தபா முஸ்தபா
டோண்ட் வொர்ரி முஸ்தபா
காலம் நம் தோழன் முஸ்தபா
காலம் நம் தோழன் முஸ்தபா
டே பை டே.... டே பை டே
வாழ்க்கைப் பயணம் டே பை டே
மூழ்காத ஷிப்பே ஃபிரண்ட்ஷிப்பா
மூழ்காத ஷிப்பே ஃபிரண்ட்ஷிப்பா
Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa
முஸ்தபா முஸ்தபா
டோண்ட் வொர்ரி முஸ்தபா
காலம் நம் தோழன் முஸ்தபா
Time is our friend, Mustafa
இங்கு பறக்கும் வண்ணப் பறவை
எங்கு இருந்தோ வந்த பறவை
கல்லூரி மண்தான் எங்கள்
வேடந்தாங்கல்
Day by day, day by day
Life's journey goes on day by day
Friendship is the ship that never sinks
கன்னி மலர்கள் கூடப் படிக்கும்
காளை மனதில் சாரல் அடிக்கும்
கல்லூரி சாலை எங்கள்
கோடைக்கானல்
Friendship is the ship that never sinks
கல்வி பயிலும் காலம் வரையில்
துள்ளித் திரியும் எங்கள் விழியில்
கண்ணீரைக் கண்டதில்லை
தென்றல் சாட்சி
Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa
நண்பன் பிரிந்து ஊர் திரும்பும்
நாளில் மட்டும்தான் நீர் அரும்பும்
கண்ணீரில்தானே எங்கள்
ஃபேர்வல் பார்ட்டி
Colorful birds flying here
Birds that came from somewhere
The college campus is our bird sanctuary
{ஒஹோ ஓஓஒ....ஒஹோ ஓஓஒ....
ஒஹோ ஓஓஒ....} (2)
Young blooming maidens study alongside us
A cool drizzle blows in young men's hearts
The college path is our Kodaikanal
{முஸ்தபா முஸ்தபா
டோண்ட் வொர்ரி முஸ்தபா
காலம் நம் தோழன் முஸ்தபா
காலம் நம் தோழன் முஸ்தபா
Until the end of our student days
In our joyful, playful eyes
We haven't seen tears, the breeze is witness
டே பை டே.... டே பை டே
வாழ்க்கைப் பயணம் டே பை டே
மூழ்காத ஷிப்பே ஃபிரண்ட்ஷிப்பா
மூழ்காத ஷிப்பே ஃபிரண்ட்ஷிப்பா} (2)
Only on the day a friend leaves for home
Do tears begin to swell
Our farewell party is bathed in tears
Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa
Day by day, day by day
Life's journey goes on day by day
Friendship is the ship that never sinks
Friendship is the ship that never sinks (Repeat)
…………………………………
{ Mustafa mustafa don’t worry mustafa
Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa
Kaalam nam thozhan Mustafa } (2)
Time is our friend, Mustafa (Repeat)
Day by day day by day
Day by day, day by day
Vaazhkai payanam day by day
Life's journey goes on day by day
Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan
Friendship is the ship that never sinks
Mustafa mustafa don’t worry mustafa
Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa
Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa
…………………………………
June pirakum july pirakum
June will be born, July will be born
Juniorkum seniorkum
For juniors and for seniors
Kalloori vaasal engum
Everywhere at the college entrance
Ragging nadakum
Ragging will take place
Students manam oar nanthavanamae
Students' hearts are a flower garden
Roja irukum mullum irukum
There will be roses, and there will be thorns
Natpuku ragging kooda paathai vagukum
Even ragging paves a pathway for friendship
Nanban oruvan vantha piragu
Once a true friend arrives
Vinnai thodalaam undhan siragu
Your wings can touch the sky
Vaanukum ellai undu natpukillaiyae
Even the sky has a limit, but friendship has none
Thunbam varalaam inbam varalaam
Sorrow may come, joy may come
Nanban oruvan pangu peralaam
A friend can share in both
Kalloori natpukillai mutrupulliyae
College friendship knows no full stop
……………………………………….
Mustafa mustafa don’t worry mustafa
Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa
Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa
Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa
Day by day day by day
Day by day, day by day
Vaazhkai payanam day by day
Life's journey goes on day by day
Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan
Friendship is the ship that never sinks
Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan
Friendship is the ship that never sinks
Mustafa mustafa don’t worry mustafa
Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa
Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa
Ingu parakum vanna paravai
Colorful birds flying here
Yengiruntho vantha paravai
Birds that came from somewhere
Kalloori manthaan engal vedanthaangal
The college campus is our bird sanctuary
Kanni malargal kooda padikum
Young blooming maidens study alongside us
Kaalai manathil saaral adikum
A cool drizzle blows in young men's hearts
Kalloori chaalai engal kodaikaanal
The college path is our Kodaikanal
Kalvi payilum kaalam varaiyil
Until the end of our student days
Thulli thiriyum engal vizhiyil
In our joyful, playful eyes
Kanneerai kandathillai thendral saatchi
We haven't seen tears, the breeze is witness
Nanban pirinthu oor thirumbum
Only on the day a friend leaves for home
Naalil matumthaan neer arumbum
Do tears begin to swell
Kanneeril thaanae engal farewell party
Our farewell party is bathed in tears
………………………………….
{ Mustafa mustafa don’t worry mustafa
Mustafa, Mustafa, don't worry Mustafa
Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa
Kaalam nam thozhan mustafa
Time is our friend, Mustafa
Day by day day by day
Day by day, day by day
Vaazhkai payanam day by day
Life's journey goes on day by day
Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan
Friendship is the ship that never sinks
Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan } (2)
Friendship is the ship that never sinks (Repeat)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Mustafa Mustafa is the definitive Tamil anthem of college life and friendship. Lyricist Vaali uses vivid campus imagery—ranging from the anxiety of college ragging to shared everyday moments—to show how strangers from different places come together and form unbreakable bonds. The central message is that while time keeps moving forward and college eventually ends, true friendship remains a constant, unsinkable anchor throughout life's ups and downs. Composed and sung by A.R. Rahman for the 1996 film Kadhal Desam, the song balances high-energy youthful optimism with a bittersweet touch of nostalgia. It captures the transformation of a college campus from an unfamiliar ground into a sanctuary of joy, culminating in the painful yet memorable realization of farewell.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan”
Friendship is directly metaphorized as an unsinkable ship ('Muzhgaatha shipae friendship thaan').
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Students manam oar nanthavanamae”
The minds of students are described as a lush garden containing both flowers (joy) and thorns (challenges).
Metaphor / Imagery (உருவகம்)
“Kalloori manthaan engal vedanthaangal”
The college ground is metaphorically compared to 'Vedanthangal', a famous bird sanctuary, sheltering students who fly in from different places like colorful birds.
Personification (தற்குறிப்பேற்ற அணி)
“Kanneerai kandathillai thendral saatchi”
The breeze ('thendral') is personified as a silent witness to their carefree, tearless college days.
Second-letter Rhyme (எதுகை - Edhukai)
“Nanban oruvan vantha piragu / Vinnai thodalaam undhan siragu”
The second consonants in 'Nanban' (ன்) and 'Vinnai' (ன்) rhyme to create melodic internal harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed and sung by A.R. Rahman himself, 'Mustafa Mustafa' became a cultural phenomenon across India upon its release in 1996. It permanently cemented itself as the ultimate farewell and friendship anthem in South Indian colleges, popularizing English-Tamil code-switching in mainstream film music.
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