- Lyricist
- Muthulingam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Kasi
- Movie release year
- 2001
- Lyrics added on
- 16 Aug 2021
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nenjamennum poongadalil
Aasai kanaa pooththirukku
Kaigalilae alli thara
Kaalam ingae kaaththirukku
Aah rokkam irukkira makkal manasula
Thukkam illai aah thukkam illai
Rokkaththa saerththida innum silarukku
Vetkkam illai aah vetkkam illai
Dheivam konjam kann thoranthaa
Yaezhaikku oru vazhi porakkum
Inba vellam pongi nikkum
Maththalam maththalam kottu kottu
Thukkam tholaiyattum nammai vittu
Male and Chorus :
Aah maththalam maththalam kottu kottu
Thukkam tholaiyattum nammai vittu
Rokkam irukkira makkal manasula
Thukkam illai
Male and Chorus :Aah thukkam illai
Male :Rokkaththa saerththida innum silarukku
Vetkkam illai
Male and Chorus :Aah vetkkam illai
Thaana thanthanaa thaana thanthanaa
Ullam kai alavu
Ullaththilae yaekkam evvalavu
Velli megam suththi varum
Ellaiyillai vaanam avvalavu
Kadalu thanneer thaagam theerkaathappaa
Kandathu neeyum enni yaengaathappaa
Ellarukkum alanthu vachchaa yaaru athu
Adhu ezhuthaama ezhuthi vachchaa evvalavu
Inga iruppathu mattum pothum pothum endru nee
Thantha thakkida thakkidatham
Maththalam maththalam kottu kottu
Aah thukkam tholaiyattum nammai vittu
Male and Chorus :
Aah maththalam maththalam kottu kottu
Thukkam tholaiyattum nammai vittu
Rokkam irukkira makkal manasula
Thukkam illai
Male and Chorus :Aah thukkam illai
Male :Rokkaththa saerththida innum silarukku
Vetkkam illai
Male and Chorus :Aah vetkkam illai
Dheivam konjam kann thoranthaa
Yaezhaikku oru vazhi porakkum
Inba vellam pongi nikkum
Maththalam maththalam kottu kottu
Aah thukkam tholaiyattum nammai vittu
Male and Chorus :
Aah maththalam maththalam kottu kottu
Thukkam tholaiyattum nammai vittu
Neela vaanam ennum odaiyilae
Neenthum venilavae
Nee pesum mouna mozhi inbam solli
Paadum kannmaniyae
Kanae poovae poovaaramae
Thunbam anbukku endrum aadhaaramae
Poo vaasam thannai sollum nanthavanam
Un mana vaasam solvathu ingae entha manam
Vanthu mana poovil maalai katti vanthaenae
Thantha thakkida thakkidatham
Maththalam maththalam kottu kottu
Ada thukkam tholaiyattum nammai vittu
Maththalam maththalam kottu kottu
Ada thukkam tholaiyattum nammai vittu
Rokkam irukkira makkal manasula
Thukkam illai
Male and Chorus :Aah thukkam illai
Male :Rokkaththa saerththida innum silarukku
Vetkkam illai
Male and Chorus :Aah vetkkam illai
Dheivam konjam kann thoranthaa
Yaezhaikku oru vazhi porakkum
Inba vellam pongi nikkum
Maththalam maththalam kottu kottu
Thukkam tholaiyattum nammai vittu
Male and Chorus :
Aah maththalam maththalam kottu kottu
Yaeh thukkam tholaiyattum nammai vittu
In the ocean of blooms within the heart,
Dreams of desire have blossomed.
To gather them up and offer them to you,
Time is waiting right here.
Ah, in the hearts of people with money,
There is no sorrow, ah, there is no sorrow!
To hoard even more cash, some people
Have no shame, ah, have no shame!
If God would only open His eyes a little,
A way will open up for the poor,
And a flood of happiness will surge!
Beat the drum, beat the drum,
Let sorrow disappear and leave us!
Male and Chorus:
Ah, beat the drum, beat the drum,
Let sorrow disappear and leave us!
In the hearts of people with money,
There is no sorrow,
Male and Chorus: Ah, there is no sorrow!
Male: To hoard even more cash, some people
Have no shame,
Male and Chorus: Ah, have no shame!
Thaanaa thandhanaa thaanaa thandhanaa
The heart is only the size of a palm,
Yet how much longing is filled inside it?
Silver clouds wander all around,
And the sky spreads out with no end.
Sea water can never quench your thirst, my friend,
Do not yearn for everything you see, my friend!
Who is it that measured out life for everyone?
Without writing a word, how much has fate decided?
Saying, "Whatever we have here is enough, just enough,"
Thandha thakkida thakkidatham
Beat the drum, beat the drum,
Ah, let sorrow disappear and leave us!
Male and Chorus:
Ah, beat the drum, beat the drum,
Let sorrow disappear and leave us!
In the hearts of people with money,
There is no sorrow,
Male and Chorus: Ah, there is no sorrow!
Male: To hoard even more cash, some people
Have no shame,
Male and Chorus: Ah, have no shame!
If God would only open His eyes a little,
A way will open up for the poor,
And a flood of happiness will surge!
Beat the drum, beat the drum,
Ah, let sorrow disappear and leave us!
Male and Chorus:
Ah, beat the drum, beat the drum,
Let sorrow disappear and leave us!
In the stream of the blue sky,
O white moon swimming along,
Speaking of joy in your silent words,
O darling who sings!
My precious one, my flower, my garland of blooms,
Pain is always the true foundation of love.
A garden reveals the fragrance of flowers,
Yet which heart here can know the sweetness of your soul?
I have come weaving a garland with the flowers of my heart!
Thandha thakkida thakkidatham
Beat the drum, beat the drum,
Hey, let sorrow disappear and leave us!
Beat the drum, beat the drum,
Hey, let sorrow disappear and leave us!
In the hearts of people with money,
There is no sorrow,
Male and Chorus: Ah, there is no sorrow!
Male: To hoard even more cash, some people
Have no shame,
Male and Chorus: Ah, have no shame!
If God would only open His eyes a little,
A way will open up for the poor,
And a flood of happiness will surge!
Beat the drum, beat the drum,
Let sorrow disappear and leave us!
Male and Chorus:
Ah, beat the drum, beat the drum,
Hey, let sorrow disappear and leave us!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from the film Kasi (2001) presents a poignant folk reflection on human desire, wealth, and spiritual contentment. Through rhythmic drum beats, the lyrics contrast the shameless pursuit of money with the innocence and hope of the poor. It urges listeners to find happiness in what they possess rather than chasing endless worldly desires, comparing boundless greed to attempting to quench thirst with salty sea water.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Nenjamennum poongadalil”
Compares the human heart to a flower-filled ocean, symbolizing deep and blossoming feelings.
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Maththalam maththalam kottu kottu”
Repetition of the 'Ma' sound creating a rhythmic percussion effect reflecting drum beats.
Analogy
“Kadalu thanneer thaagam theerkaathappaa”
Uses sea water's inability to satisfy thirst as an analogy for insatiable material greed.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kasi (2001) features Vikram playing a blind street musician. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, and this song features soulful folk-pop vocals by Hariharan alongside a traditional percussion chorus.
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