Oru Koappai
From Taramani · 2017
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singer
- Andrea Jeremiah
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Taramani2017
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Hey… | Hey… |
| Oru koppai vendum | I need a cup, |
| Kondu vaa… | Bring it to me… |
| Female | |
| Kadavulae | Oh God! |
| Indha ulagamae | Is this entire world |
| Thalai suttra vaikkum | A liquor bottle |
| Madhu kuppiyaa | That makes one's head spin? |
| Chorus | |
| Kal pirandhadhum | Before stone was born, |
| Man pirandhadhum | Before soil was born, |
| Pennum pirandhaalae | Woman was born; |
| Aval kannil andrae | On that very day, in her eyes, |
| Kanneer thuligal | Tear drops |
| Kannam theendiyadhae | Touched her cheeks. |
| Chorus | |
| Pen enbaval | Is a woman, |
| Aan paarvaiyil | In a man's gaze, |
| Moga chadhai thaanaa | Just a piece of lustful flesh? |
| Ennai vetti koorida | To cut me into pieces, |
| Kuththi kichithida | To stab and tear apart, |
| Viralgal neendiduthae | Fingers reach out! |
| Female | |
| Vizhi urangavillai | My eyes do not sleep, |
| Unavirangavillai | Food does not go down my throat, |
| Indha naal enai | This day does not |
| Vittu vittu nagaravillai | Move away from me. |
| Female | |
| Oru iragenavae | Like a feather, |
| Varum maranam adhil | In the approaching death, |
| Naan parandhida | To fly away, |
| Thudithenae | I yearned desperately! |
| Female | |
| Hey… | Hey… |
| Oru koppai vendum | I need a cup, |
| Kondu vaa..aaahh…. | Bring it to me… |
| Female | |
| Hey… | Hey… |
| Adhil saavai oottri | Pouring death into it, |
| Yendhi vaa..aahhh… | Carry it and bring it… |
| Male | |
| Tharkkolai ennam | If suicidal thoughts |
| Ungalukkul thalai thookumaiyin | Rear their head within you, |
| Neengal udanadiyaaga | What you should immediately |
| Seiya vendiyathu | Do is: |
| 104 endra intha ennirku | Dial this number 104 |
| Thodarbu kondu pesuvadhu thaan | And talk to them. |
| Marumunaiyil ungal meedhu | On the other end, with affection |
| Piriyathudan akkarai kondu pesi | And genuine care, |
| Ungal ennathai matruvatharkaaga | To change your mindset, |
| Arasanga paniyalargal | Government employees |
| Kaathirukiraargal (Dialogue) | Are waiting to help. (Dialogue) |
| Male | |
| Idhai eppadi da | You might ask, 'How can you |
| Oru pattuku naduvula | Say this in the middle |
| Sollalam nu ketpinga | Of a song?' |
| Aana oru padathukku | But when in the middle of a movie, |
| Naduvula dum adika kudathu | They say 'Do not smoke' |
| Thanni adika kudathu nu | And 'Do not drink alcohol', |
| Sollalam bodhu | When they can say that, |
| Idhayum sollalam (Dialogue) | Why not say this too? (Dialogue) |
| Female | |
| En thanimai theevil | On my island of solitude, |
| Varum vellai poovae | O white flower that arrives, |
| Nee marnam kaakkum | Are you divine wings |
| Dheivachiragaa | Protecting me from death? |
| Female | |
| Unmayyilae | In truth, |
| Eppozhudho irandhuvitten | I died a long time ago; |
| Irappai naan ippozhudhae | I have now even forgotten |
| Marandhuvitten… | Death itself… |
| Female | |
| Kollaamal kollum | The intoxicating love |
| Kaadhal bodhai | That kills without killing, |
| Vendi vaanginen | I begged and acquired it. |
| Nillaamal odum boomi | On this endlessly spinning earth, |
| Podhum saaga yenginen | I felt enough is enough and longed to die. |
| Chorus | |
| Pengal nenjil | Inside women's hearts, |
| Ulla thunbam ellaam | All the suffering that resides, |
| Seththaal kooda | Even if they die, |
| Saagaadhirukkum | Will never die. |
| Female | |
| Hey… | Hey… |
| Oru koppai vendum | I need a cup, |
| Kondu vaa…aahhhh… | Bring it to me… |
| Female | |
| Hey… | Hey… |
| Adhil saavai oottri | Pouring death into it, |
| Yendhi vaa…aaahhh… | Carry it and bring it… |
ஹேய் .....
ஒரு கோப்பை வேண்டும்
கொண்டுவா .....
Hey…
I need a cup,
Bring it to me…
கடவுளே இந்த உலகமே
தலை சுற்றவைக்கும் மதுக்குப்பியா
Oh God!
Is this entire world
A liquor bottle
That makes one's head spin?
கல் பிறந்ததும்
மண் பிறந்ததும்
பெண்ணும் பிறந்தாளே
அவள் கண்ணில் அன்றே
கண்ணீர் துளிகள்
கண்ணம் தீண்டியதே
Before stone was born,
Before soil was born,
Woman was born;
On that very day, in her eyes,
Tear drops
Touched her cheeks.
பெண் என்பவள்
ஆண்பார்வையில்
மோகச்சதைதானா
என்னை வெட்டி கூறிட
குத்திக்கிழித்திட
விரல்கள் நீண்டிடுதே
Is a woman,
In a man's gaze,
Just a piece of lustful flesh?
To cut me into pieces,
To stab and tear apart,
Fingers reach out!
விழி உறங்கவில்லை
உணவிறங்கவில்லை
இந்த நாள் எனை
விட்டுவிட்டு நகரவில்லை
My eyes do not sleep,
Food does not go down my throat,
This day does not
Move away from me.
ஒரு இறகெனவே
வரும் மரணம் அதில்
நான் பறந்திடத்துடித்தேனே
Like a feather,
In the approaching death,
To fly away,
I yearned desperately!
ஹேய் .....
ஒரு கோப்பை வேண்டும்
கொண்டுவா .....
Hey…
I need a cup,
Bring it to me…
ஹேய் .....
அதில் சாவை ஊற்றி
ஏந்தி வா......
Hey…
Pouring death into it,
Carry it and bring it…
தற்கொலை எண்ணம்
உங்களுக்குள் தலைதூக்குமாயின்
நீங்கள் உடனடியாக செய்ய வேண்டியது
104 என்ற இந்த எண்ணிற்கு
தொடர்பு கொண்டு பேசுவதுதான்
மறுமுனையில் உங்கள் மீது
பிரியத்துடன் அக்கறை கொண்டு பேசி
உங்கள் எண்ணத்தை மாற்றுவதற்காக
அரசாங்க பணியாளர்கள் காத்திருக்கிறார்கள்
If suicidal thoughts
Rear their head within you,
What you should immediately
Do is:
Dial this number 104
And talk to them.
On the other end, with affection
And genuine care,
To change your mindset,
Government employees
Are waiting to help. (Dialogue)
இதை எப்பிட்றா ஒரு பாட்டுக்கு நடுவுல
சொல்லலாம்ன்னு கேட்பீங்க
ஆனா ஒரு படத்திற்கு நடுவுல
தம்மடிக்கக்கூடாது
தண்ணியடிக்கக்கூடாதுன்னு
சொல்லலாம்ங்கிறப்ப
இதையும் சொல்லலாம்
You might ask, 'How can you
Say this in the middle
Of a song?'
But when in the middle of a movie,
They say 'Do not smoke'
And 'Do not drink alcohol',
When they can say that,
Why not say this too? (Dialogue)
என் தனிமை தீவில்
வரும் வெள்ளை பூவே
நீ மரணம் காக்கும்
தெய்வச்சிறகா
On my island of solitude,
O white flower that arrives,
Are you divine wings
Protecting me from death?
உண்மையிலே
எப்பொழுதோ இறந்து விட்டேன்
இறப்பை நான் இப்பொழுதே
மறந்துவிட்டேன்
In truth,
I died a long time ago;
I have now even forgotten
Death itself…
கொல்லாமல் கொல்லும்
காதல் போதை
வேண்டி வாங்கினேன்
நில்லாமல் ஓடும்
பூமி போதும்
சாக ஏங்கினேன்
The intoxicating love
That kills without killing,
I begged and acquired it.
On this endlessly spinning earth,
I felt enough is enough and longed to die.
பெண்கள் நெஞ்சில்
உள்ளத்துன்பம்மெல்லாம்
செத்தால் கூட சாகாது இருக்கும்
Inside women's hearts,
All the suffering that resides,
Even if they die,
Will never die.
ஹேய் .....
ஒரு கோப்பை வேண்டும்
கொண்டுவா .....
Hey…
I need a cup,
Bring it to me…
ஹேய் .....
அதில் சாவை ஊற்றி
ஏந்தி வா......
Hey…
Pouring death into it,
Carry it and bring it…
Hey…
Hey…
Oru koppai vendum
I need a cup,
Kondu vaa…
Bring it to me…
Kadavulae
Oh God!
Indha ulagamae
Is this entire world
Thalai suttra vaikkum
A liquor bottle
Madhu kuppiyaa
That makes one's head spin?
Kal pirandhadhum
Before stone was born,
Man pirandhadhum
Before soil was born,
Pennum pirandhaalae
Woman was born;
Aval kannil andrae
On that very day, in her eyes,
Kanneer thuligal
Tear drops
Kannam theendiyadhae
Touched her cheeks.
Pen enbaval
Is a woman,
Aan paarvaiyil
In a man's gaze,
Moga chadhai thaanaa
Just a piece of lustful flesh?
Ennai vetti koorida
To cut me into pieces,
Kuththi kichithida
To stab and tear apart,
Viralgal neendiduthae
Fingers reach out!
Vizhi urangavillai
My eyes do not sleep,
Unavirangavillai
Food does not go down my throat,
Indha naal enai
This day does not
Vittu vittu nagaravillai
Move away from me.
Oru iragenavae
Like a feather,
Varum maranam adhil
In the approaching death,
Naan parandhida
To fly away,
Thudithenae
I yearned desperately!
Hey…
Hey…
Oru koppai vendum
I need a cup,
Kondu vaa..aaahh….
Bring it to me…
Hey…
Hey…
Adhil saavai oottri
Pouring death into it,
Yendhi vaa..aahhh…
Carry it and bring it…
Tharkkolai ennam
If suicidal thoughts
Ungalukkul thalai thookumaiyin
Rear their head within you,
Neengal udanadiyaaga
What you should immediately
Seiya vendiyathu
Do is:
104 endra intha ennirku
Dial this number 104
Thodarbu kondu pesuvadhu thaan
And talk to them.
Marumunaiyil ungal meedhu
On the other end, with affection
Piriyathudan akkarai kondu pesi
And genuine care,
Ungal ennathai matruvatharkaaga
To change your mindset,
Arasanga paniyalargal
Government employees
Kaathirukiraargal (Dialogue)
Are waiting to help. (Dialogue)
Idhai eppadi da
You might ask, 'How can you
Oru pattuku naduvula
Say this in the middle
Sollalam nu ketpinga
Of a song?'
Aana oru padathukku
But when in the middle of a movie,
Naduvula dum adika kudathu
They say 'Do not smoke'
Thanni adika kudathu nu
And 'Do not drink alcohol',
Sollalam bodhu
When they can say that,
Idhayum sollalam (Dialogue)
Why not say this too? (Dialogue)
En thanimai theevil
On my island of solitude,
Varum vellai poovae
O white flower that arrives,
Nee marnam kaakkum
Are you divine wings
Dheivachiragaa
Protecting me from death?
Unmayyilae
In truth,
Eppozhudho irandhuvitten
I died a long time ago;
Irappai naan ippozhudhae
I have now even forgotten
Marandhuvitten…
Death itself…
Kollaamal kollum
The intoxicating love
Kaadhal bodhai
That kills without killing,
Vendi vaanginen
I begged and acquired it.
Nillaamal odum boomi
On this endlessly spinning earth,
Podhum saaga yenginen
I felt enough is enough and longed to die.
Pengal nenjil
Inside women's hearts,
Ulla thunbam ellaam
All the suffering that resides,
Seththaal kooda
Even if they die,
Saagaadhirukkum
Will never die.
Hey…
Hey…
Oru koppai vendum
I need a cup,
Kondu vaa…aahhhh…
Bring it to me…
Hey…
Hey…
Adhil saavai oottri
Pouring death into it,
Yendhi vaa…aaahhh…
Carry it and bring it…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song from 'Taramani' explores themes of deep emotional suffering, heart-wrenching loneliness, and the historical struggle of women in a male-dominated society. The narrator views the world as a dizzying, intoxicating mess and contemplates death as a gentle escape from sleepless nights, pain, and objectification. She yearns for 'a cup of death' to end her suffering, expressing how womanhood has been burdened with sorrow since time immemorial. In a unique breaking of the fourth wall, director Ram inserts a spoken dialogue midway through the song, addressing the audience directly. He shares the 104 helpline number for suicide prevention, arguing that if statutory disclaimers against smoking and drinking belong in movies, a public mental health advisory during a dark song is just as necessary. The song concludes with a tragic reflection that the suffering harbored within a woman's heart is so vast that even death cannot extinguish it.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Indha ulagamae / Thalai suttra vaikkum / Madhu kuppiyaa”
Compares the overwhelming, dizzying nature of the world directly to a liquor bottle that makes one's head spin.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Vizhi urangavillai / Unavirangavillai”
Both consecutive lines end with the matching rhyming cadence 'rangavillai'.
Metaphor
“En thanimai theevil / Varum vellai poovae”
Compares absolute loneliness to an isolated island ('thanimai theevu').
Oxymoron / Paradox
“Kollaamal kollum / Kaadhal bodhai”
Uses the paradoxical phrase 'kills without killing' to describe the agonizing obsession of love.
Hyperbole / Paradox
“Pengal nenjil / Ulla thunbam ellaam / Seththaal kooda / Saagaadhirukkum”
Exaggerates the eternal permanence of female sorrow by declaring that even physical death cannot kill the pain in a woman's heart.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from 'Taramani' (2017), composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja with lyrics by Na. Muthu Kumar, is famously known for director Ram's fourth-wall-breaking commentary. During the track, director Ram personally delivers a dialogue urging viewers contemplating suicide to contact the Tamil Nadu state helpline '104'. This was one of lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar's final film projects before his untimely demise in August 2016.
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