Poikkaal Kuthirai
From Samar · 2013
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singer
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Samar2013
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Poikkaal gudhirai vaazhkkaiyadaa | Life is like a wooden dummy horse dance, my friend, |
| Pogum vazhiyo thooramada | And the path ahead is long, my friend. |
| Irulum oliyum idaiyinilae | In the middle between darkness and light, |
| Sadugudu nadathidum neramadaa | It is time to play a game of tag, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Kaalaiyil kan vizhikaiyil | When waking up in the morning, |
| Indru enna varum yaarukkum | What will happen today, to anyone, |
| Therivadhillai | Is not known. |
| Saalaiyil kal modhinaal | If a stone trips us on the road, |
| Naam marubadi nadandhida | We do not refuse to walk again. |
| Maruppadhillai | To fill up given empty spaces, |
| Male | |
| Kodutha idangalai nirappa | Life is not a question paper. |
| Vaazhkkai ondrum kelviyillai | Even if rivers move in the darkness, |
| Iruttinil nadhigal nagarndhaalum | The sound will reveal it. |
| Saththam adhai sollividum | Until burning on the funeral pyre, |
| Male | |
| Sudalaiyilae eriyum varai | Try to learn this secret formula: |
| Sooththiram idhai thaan katruppaar | Step outside of your own body, |
| Un udalai vittu veliyeri | And look closely at yourself. |
| Unnai neeyae utruppaar | In this kaleidoscope, |
| Male | |
| Indha keladioscopil | The pieces of broken glass... |
| Kannaadi thundugalai | Who rolls them? Who threatens with them? |
| Uruttuvadhu yaar mirattuvadhu yaar | Who chases with them? Who turns them upside down? |
| Thurathuvadhu yaar purattuvadhu yaar | Who? Who? Who? Who? |
| Male | |
| Yaar yaar yaar yaar | The sights that he witnessed, |
| Male | |
| Ivan paarththa kaatchigal | Did he survive them? |
| Pizhaithaanaa | Or is it a continuously chasing rain? |
| Illai thodarndhu thurathidum | Gasping for breath... |
| Mazhaithaanaa | Gasping for breath... |
| Male | |
| Moochu vaangudhae | Gasping heavily for breath intermittently... |
| Moochu vaangudhae | The scene is changing... |
| Vittu vittu vittu moochu vaangudhae | The scene is changing... |
| Kaatchi maarudhae | Blindfolding the eyes, the witness is changing... |
| Kaatchi maarudhae | Into this fire of illusion, |
| Kannai kattivittu saatchi maarudhae | Did he fall? |
| Male | |
| Ivan maaya theeyilae | Will he now rise without any injuries? |
| Vizhundhaanaa | Gasping for breath... |
| Ini kaayam indriyae ezhuvaanaa | Gasping for breath... |
| Male | |
| Moochu vaangudhae | Gasping heavily for breath intermittently... |
| Moochu vaangudhae | The scene is changing... |
| Vittu vittu vittu moochu vaangudhae | The scene is changing... |
| Kaatchi maarudhae | Blindfolding the eyes, the witness is changing... |
| Kaatchi maarudhae | Is there pain everywhere along his path? |
| Kannai kattivittu saatchi maarudhae | Is this the price paid for what was sought after? |
| Male | |
| Ivan paadhai engilum valithaanaa | |
| Idhu thedi vandhadhil vilai thaanaa | |
பொய்க்கால் குதிரை வாழ்க்கையடா
போகும் வழியோ தூரமடா
இருளும் ஒளியும் இடையினிலே
சடுகுடு நடத்திடும் நேரமடா
Life is like a wooden dummy horse dance, my friend,
And the path ahead is long, my friend.
In the middle between darkness and light,
It is time to play a game of tag, my friend.
காலையில் கண் விழிக்கையில்
இன்று என்ன வரும் யாருக்கும்
தெரிவதில்லை
சாலையில் கல் மோதினால்
நாம் மறுபடி நடந்திட மறுப்பதில்லை
When waking up in the morning,
What will happen today, to anyone,
Is not known.
If a stone trips us on the road,
We do not refuse to walk again.
To fill up given empty spaces,
கொடுத்த இடங்களை நிரப்ப
வாழ்க்கை ஒன்றும் கேள்வியில்லை
இருட்டினில் நதிகள் நகர்ந்தாலும்
சத்தம் அதை சொல்லிவிடும்
Life is not a question paper.
Even if rivers move in the darkness,
The sound will reveal it.
Until burning on the funeral pyre,
சுடலையிலே எரியும் வேலை
சூத்திரம் இதை தான் கற்றுப்பார்
உன் உடலை விட்டு வெளியேறி
உன்னை நீயே உற்றுப்பார்
Try to learn this secret formula:
Step outside of your own body,
And look closely at yourself.
In this kaleidoscope,
இந்த கெளடியோஸ்கோப்பில்
கண்ணாடி துண்டுகளை
உருட்டுவது யார் மிரட்டுவது யார்
துரத்துவது யார் புரட்டுவது யார்
The pieces of broken glass...
Who rolls them? Who threatens with them?
Who chases with them? Who turns them upside down?
Who? Who? Who? Who?
யார் யார் யார் யார்
The sights that he witnessed,
இவன் பார்த்த காட்சிகள்
பிழைதானா
இல்லை தெடர்ந்து துரத்திடும்
மழைதானா
Did he survive them?
Or is it a continuously chasing rain?
Gasping for breath...
Gasping for breath...
மூச்சு வாங்குதே மூச்சு வாங்குதே
விட்டு விட்டு விட்டு மூச்சு வாங்குதே
காட்சி மாறுதே காட்சி மாறுதே
கண்ணை கட்டி விட்டு சாட்சி மாறுதே
Gasping heavily for breath intermittently...
The scene is changing...
The scene is changing...
Blindfolding the eyes, the witness is changing...
Into this fire of illusion,
Did he fall?
இவன் மாய தீயிலே
வீழுந்தானா
இனி காயம் இன்றியே எழுவானா
Will he now rise without any injuries?
Gasping for breath...
Gasping for breath...
மூச்சு வாங்குதே மூச்சு வாங்குதே
விட்டு விட்டு விட்டு மூச்சு வாங்குதே
காட்சி மாறுதே காட்சி மாறுதே
கண்ணை கட்டி விட்டு சாட்சி மாறுதே
Gasping heavily for breath intermittently...
The scene is changing...
The scene is changing...
Blindfolding the eyes, the witness is changing...
Is there pain everywhere along his path?
Is this the price paid for what was sought after?
இவன் பாதை எங்கிளும்
வலிதானா
இது தேடி வந்ததில் விலை தானா
Poikkaal gudhirai vaazhkkaiyadaa
Life is like a wooden dummy horse dance, my friend,
Pogum vazhiyo thooramada
And the path ahead is long, my friend.
Irulum oliyum idaiyinilae
In the middle between darkness and light,
Sadugudu nadathidum neramadaa
It is time to play a game of tag, my friend.
Kaalaiyil kan vizhikaiyil
When waking up in the morning,
Indru enna varum yaarukkum
What will happen today, to anyone,
Therivadhillai
Is not known.
Saalaiyil kal modhinaal
If a stone trips us on the road,
Naam marubadi nadandhida
We do not refuse to walk again.
Maruppadhillai
To fill up given empty spaces,
Kodutha idangalai nirappa
Life is not a question paper.
Vaazhkkai ondrum kelviyillai
Even if rivers move in the darkness,
Iruttinil nadhigal nagarndhaalum
The sound will reveal it.
Saththam adhai sollividum
Until burning on the funeral pyre,
Sudalaiyilae eriyum varai
Try to learn this secret formula:
Sooththiram idhai thaan katruppaar
Step outside of your own body,
Un udalai vittu veliyeri
And look closely at yourself.
Unnai neeyae utruppaar
In this kaleidoscope,
Indha keladioscopil
The pieces of broken glass...
Kannaadi thundugalai
Who rolls them? Who threatens with them?
Uruttuvadhu yaar mirattuvadhu yaar
Who chases with them? Who turns them upside down?
Thurathuvadhu yaar purattuvadhu yaar
Who? Who? Who? Who?
Yaar yaar yaar yaar
The sights that he witnessed,
Ivan paarththa kaatchigal
Did he survive them?
Pizhaithaanaa
Or is it a continuously chasing rain?
Illai thodarndhu thurathidum
Gasping for breath...
Mazhaithaanaa
Gasping for breath...
Moochu vaangudhae
Gasping heavily for breath intermittently...
Moochu vaangudhae
The scene is changing...
Vittu vittu vittu moochu vaangudhae
The scene is changing...
Kaatchi maarudhae
Blindfolding the eyes, the witness is changing...
Kaatchi maarudhae
Into this fire of illusion,
Kannai kattivittu saatchi maarudhae
Did he fall?
Ivan maaya theeyilae
Will he now rise without any injuries?
Vizhundhaanaa
Gasping for breath...
Ini kaayam indriyae ezhuvaanaa
Gasping for breath...
Moochu vaangudhae
Gasping heavily for breath intermittently...
Moochu vaangudhae
The scene is changing...
Vittu vittu vittu moochu vaangudhae
The scene is changing...
Kaatchi maarudhae
Blindfolding the eyes, the witness is changing...
Kaatchi maarudhae
Is there pain everywhere along his path?
Kannai kattivittu saatchi maarudhae
Is this the price paid for what was sought after?
Ivan paadhai engilum valithaanaa
Idhu thedi vandhadhil vilai thaanaa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Poikkaal Gudhirai from the movie Samar (2013) is an intense, philosophical, and atmospheric track that delves into themes of existential uncertainty, illusion, and psychological tension. The song metaphorically portrays life as a dummy horse dance and a kaleidoscope where scenes and circumstances constantly shift beyond one's control. The lyrics reflect the protagonist's inner turmoil, questioning who is manipulating his reality while he struggles through pain, breathlessness, and confusion. Written by Na. Muthu Kumar, the song asks profound questions about identity and self-awareness, encouraging one to step outside of oneself to observe life's true nature. Despite the dark mystery and obstacles represented by the metaphor of rivers flowing silently in the night, the song emphasizes resilience—reminding us that just as tripping on a stone doesn't stop us from walking, one must navigate through life's illusions without surrendering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Poikkaal gudhirai vaazhkkaiyadaa”
Compares human life to a dummy horse dance ('Poikkaal gudhirai vaazhkkaiyadaa') and a kaleidoscope ('Indha keladioscopil'), highlighting life's illusory and rapidly shifting nature.
Rhyme & Rhythm (Iyaibu & Antaathi-like Repetition)
“Uruttuvadhu yaar mirattuvadhu yaar”
Uses rhythmic rhyming words 'Uruttuvadhu', 'mirattuvadhu', 'Thurathuvadhu', and 'purattuvadhu' to create psychological urgency and dramatic tempo.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)
“Uruttuvadhu yaar mirattuvadhu yaar”
Employs persistent questions asking 'Who?' to heighten mystery, uncertainty, and paranoia.
Imagery & Contrast
“Iruttinil nadhigal nagarndhaalum”
Contrasts darkness and light ('Irulum oliyum') and invisible motion detected by sound ('Iruttinil nadhigal nagarndhaalum saththam adhai sollividum').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Poikkaal Gudhirai' was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for the mystery thriller Samar (2013), directed by Thiru and starring Vishal and Trisha. Na. Muthu Kumar's philosophical lyrics mirror the central plot of the film, where the protagonist is trapped in a orchestrated mystery game by unseen handlers.
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