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Lyrics & meaning

Praaptham

From Chekka Chivantha Vaanam · 2018

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Karthik
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Chekka Chivantha Vaanam2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Engae engaeWhere, oh where
Veezhvom endraeWill we fall?
Ariyaa mazhai thuligalThe raindrops do not know.
Vidhai mel ondraaiOne upon a seed,
Sidhai mel ondraaiOne upon a funeral pyre,
Veezhvathae…Falling...
Male
PraapthamDestiny.
PraapthamDestiny.
Vidhi vetkaiyaeThe thirst of fate.
PraapthamDestiny.
PraapthamDestiny.
Male
SoozhgirathaeSurrounding us.
Idhayamatra kaalamaeO heartless time!
Uthiram soozhgirathaeBlood surrounds us.
Uthiram soozhgirathaeBlood surrounds us.
Vazhvaiyae uthiram soozhgirathaeBlood surrounds life itself.
Entha vazhi yegaWhich path to tread?
Entha vazhi yegaWhich path to tread?
Ohooo..ooo..ooo oooOhooo..ooo..ooo ooo
Ohooo..ooo..ooo oooOhooo..ooo..ooo ooo
Male
Aasai theeyilIn the fire of desire,
Logam vegindra pothuWhen the world burns,
Vaanum mannumSky and earth
Sekka chivakkumWill turn crimson red.
Kadal neelamThe ocean's blue,
Ellaam uthiram aanalIf everything turns into blood,
Semmazhai thaanaeOnly a crimson rain
Vaiyyam engum peiyumWill pour all over the world.
Male
:Uthiram soozhgirathaeBlood surrounds us.
Uthiram soozhgirathaeBlood surrounds us.
Uthiram soozhgirathaeBlood surrounds us.
VazhvaiyaeLife itself.
Ohooo..ooo..ooo oooOhooo..ooo..ooo ooo
Ohooo..ooo..ooo oooOhooo..ooo..ooo ooo
Male
Aasai theeyilIn the fire of desire,
Logam vegindra pothuWhen the world burns,
Vaanum mannumSky and earth
Sekka chivakkumWill turn crimson red.
Kadal neelamThe ocean's blue,
Ellaam uthiram aanalIf everything turns into blood,
Semmazhai thaanaeOnly a crimson rain
Vaiyyam engum peiyumWill pour all over the world.
Male
Vetrigalo tholvigaloWhether victories or defeats,
Mudivagalo koodaEven the ultimate endings,
PraapthamAre destiny.
Male
Kolgal ellaamAll the planets
Sooriyanai sutruvathumRevolving around the sun,
Kaalathin saripaathiAnd half of time
Irulukkul neenthuvathumSwimming in darkness,
Vazhvodu nee kaanumAll that you witness in life,
Varam pondra saabam ellaamThe curses disguised as blessings,
Inbam pol kaanum thunbam ellaamAll the sorrow that appears as pleasure,
Male
PraapthamAre destiny.
Inbam pol thunbamSorrow disguised as pleasure,
PraapthamIs destiny.
Ohooo..ooo..oooOhooo..ooo..ooo
Ohooo..ooo..oooOhooo..ooo..ooo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poetic track from Mani Ratnam's 'Chekka Chivantha Vaanam' (composed by A. R. Rahman) delves into philosophical themes of fate, bloodline conflict, unchecked ambition, and karma. Vairamuthu uses the metaphor of raindrops falling indiscriminately—some giving life to a seed, others vanishing upon a funeral pyre—to illustrate how human beings are driven by predetermined fate ('Praaptham'). As insatiable greed and desire burn the world, sky and earth turn crimson red with blood. The lyricist reflects on the dualities of life: victories and defeats, light and darkness, and blessings that turn into curses. It serves as a haunting musical commentary on the movie's central plot involving three brothers consumed by greed and violent power struggles.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Vidhai mel ondraai / Sidhai mel ondraai”

Compares human lives to raindrops whose landing places (a sprouting seed or a burning funeral pyre) are governed entirely by fate.

Paradox / Oxymoron (Muran)

“Varam pondra saabam ellaam / Inbam pol kaanum thunbam ellaam”

Juxtaposes opposing concepts like blessings appearing as curses and pain appearing as pleasure to highlight life's deceptive nature.

Color Symbolism and Imagery

“Vaanum mannum / Sekka chivakkum”

Uses 'sekka chivakkum' (crimson red) and 'uthiram' (blood) to evoke vivid visuals of violence, destruction, and intense passion.

Monai and Edhukai (Rhyme & Alliteration)

“Vidhai mel ondraai / Sidhai mel ondraai”

Maintains Tamil prosodic harmony through rhyming second consonants ('Vidhai' / 'Sidhai').

Did you know?

Trivia

The film's title 'Chekka Chivantha Vaanam' translates directly to 'Crimson Red Sky', a central motif written into the chorus by Vairamuthu ('Vaanum mannum sekka chivakkum'). Composed by A. R. Rahman, the soundtrack received wide acclaim for blending atmospheric orchestral arrangements with traditional Tamil philosophical poetry.

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