- Lyricist
- Gaana Bala
- Singers
- Anirudh Ravichander, Deva
- Music director
- Anirudh Ravichander
- Movie name
- Maan Karate
- Movie release year
- 2014
- Lyrics added on
- 16 Feb 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Open the Tasmac' is a high-energy Gaana track from the 2014 movie 'Maan Karate', serving as a comedic anthem celebrating street life, alcohol culture, and carefree romance in Chennai. The song centers around 'Royapuram Peter', a local youth whose desperate quest to find an open liquor store (Tasmac) is interwoven with his romantic feelings and humorous outlook on life. Filled with energetic street slang, pop-culture references, and lighthearted ironies, the track presents a jovial character who refuses to take life's challenges too seriously. The emotional tone shifts from frantic, exaggerated desperation to pure party enthusiasm as the rhythm builds up. Combining traditional local Gaana vocals with modern electronic beats, the song captures the essence of youth celebrations, street-side humor, and the signature light-hearted charm of Chennai local culture.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile
“Vaal illa kaathadiya Vaanathula parakkuren”
Compares the protagonist's intoxicated, carefree state to a 'kite without a tail' flying uncontrollably high in the sky.
Monai (Alliteration)
“Vaal illa kaathadiya / Vaanathula parakkuren”
Repetition of the starting letter 'Vaa' (Vaal / Vaanathula) across contiguous lines creating rhythmic harmony.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“My buildingu konjam strong u ma / Aana basement u romba weaku ma”
Both lines end with the rhyming sound 'ma', producing a catchy musical refrain.
Muran (Oxymoron / Contrast)
“My buildingu konjam strong u ma / Aana basement u romba weaku ma”
Uses contrasting words ('strong' vs 'weak', 'building' vs 'basement') for humorous and ironic effect.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Open the Tasmac' was composed by Anirudh Ravichander and written/sung by Gaana Bala alongside Anirudh. The song features a famous comedic punchline 'Building strong, basement weak', originally popularized by legendary Tamil comedian Vadivelu in the film 'Thalainagaram'. The song video showcases actor Sivakarthikeyan performing energetic, signature local Chennai 'kuthu' dance moves, which contributed heavily to the film's box-office success.
Keep listening
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