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Uchakattam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Siththar Kooda

From Uchakattam · 1980

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Uchakattam
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
19 Jun 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam
Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa…haang
Odam oru vandiyil varum
Nilaththil irunthaal
Vandiyum oru odaththil varum
Neerilae irunthaal
Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam
Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa..
Muttai vazhiyaa kozhi porakkum
Kozhi vazhiyaa muttai porakkum
Thaai piranthu seayaa seai piranthu thaayaa
Kandathaaru neeyaa sol
Muttai vazhiyaa kozhi porakkum
Kozhi vazhiyaa muttai porakkum
Thaai piranthu seayaa seai piranthu thaayaa
Kandathaaru neeyaa sol
Megam neeraagaa maarum
Neerum vaan megam aagum
Ulagae maayam
Shapapaapaa rabababappaa shapapaapaa rapappaa
Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam
Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa..
Naanenthum thaen kinnam vaazhga vaazhga
Naanenthum thaen kinnam vaazhga vaazhga
Emai neengaamal uravaadum santhosamae
Chorus :Santhosamae
Santhosam kondaadum sorkkam
Adhu saaraayam uruvaakkum saamraajyamae
Chorus :Saamraajyamae
Kudiyaatha veedu vidiyaathadaa
Adiyaatha maadu padiyaathadaa
Chorus :Padiyaathadaa
Naanenthum thaen kinnam vaazhga vaazhga
Paththu maasamthaan annai sumappaal
Maththa naalellaam yaaru sumappaar
Paal kudikkum pillai kaal mulaicha pinnae
Thol kodukka yaaru sol
Paththu maasamthaan annai sumappaal
Maththa naalellaam yaaru sumappaar
Paal kudikkum pillai kaal mulaicha pinnae
Thol kodukka yaaru sol
Vaazhu neeyaaga vaazhu..aahhhaa
Valaru thaanaaga valaru….hahaah
Vaazhu valaru…rapapappaa shapapaapaa
Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam
Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa..
Even a mystic may lose his mind and turn into a madman,
even a madman can become a mystic and preach philosophies.
For foolish humans,
what is the need for philosophy, my friend?
For foolish humans,
what is the need for philosophy, man? Ha!
A boat will ride on a cart
when it is on land,
and a cart will ride on a boat
when it is in the water.
Even a mystic may lose his mind and turn into a madman,
even a madman can become a mystic and preach philosophies.
For foolish humans,
what is the need for philosophy, my friend?
For foolish humans,
what is the need for philosophy, my friend?
A hen is born from an egg,
an egg is born from a hen.
Did the mother come first or the child?
Who has ever figured it out? Tell me!
A hen is born from an egg,
an egg is born from a hen.
Did the mother come first or the child?
Who has ever figured it out? Tell me!
Clouds turn into water,
and water becomes clouds in the sky.
The whole world is an illusion!
Shabababa rabababpa shabababa rabappa
Even a mystic may lose his mind and turn into a madman,
even a madman can become a mystic and preach philosophies.
For foolish humans,
what is the need for philosophy, my friend?
For foolish humans,
what is the need for philosophy, my friend?
Long live the cup of nectar I hold!
Long live the cup of nectar I hold!
It is a joy that stays with us and never leaves!
Chorus: Pure joy!
A heaven that celebrates happiness,
it is an empire created by liquor!
Chorus: An empire!
A house without drinking never sees a new dawn, my friend,
and an ox that is never struck will never obey!
Chorus: It will never obey!
Long live the cup of nectar I hold!
A mother carries you for only ten months,
who will carry you through all the other days?
Once the nursing child learns to walk on his own feet,
who will lend a shoulder to lean on? Tell me!
A mother carries you for only ten months,
who will carry you through all the other days?
Once the nursing child learns to walk on his own feet,
who will lend a shoulder to lean on? Tell me!
Live as your own person, live... aha!
Grow on your own strength, grow... haha!
Live and grow... rababappa shabababa
Even a mystic may lose his mind and turn into a madman,
even a madman can become a mystic and preach philosophies.
For foolish humans,
what is the need for philosophy, my friend?
For foolish humans,
what is the need for philosophy, my friend?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Sithar Kooda Pitharaga from the movie Uchakattam (1980) is a philosophical yet upbeat song composed by Shankar-Ganesh and written by Vaali. The lyrics explore the paradoxical and unpredictable nature of existence, emphasizing that situational context alters reality—much like a boat carried on a cart over land versus a cart carried on a boat over water. It questions fundamental existential mysteries, such as the chicken and egg dilemma, to argue that elevated philosophical talk is futile for people who lack fundamental wisdom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox (Aronba / Ethirsol)

Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam / Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam

Juxtaposes sages becoming madmen and madmen becoming sages to highlight life's unpredictable reversals.

Metaphor (Uvameya)

Naanenthum thaen kinnam vaazhga vaazhga

Refers to alcoholic beverage metaphorically as a 'thaen kinnam' (cup of honey).

Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Muttai vazhiyaa kozhi porakkum / Kozhi vazhiyaa muttai porakkum

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds across line pairings like 'Muttai' and 'Kozhi' / 'Thaai' and 'Seai'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Uchakattam (1980) is a famous Tamil thriller directed by N. S. Rajbharath. Lyricist Vaali infused Siddhar-style philosophical tradition into a catchy, modern rhythm, which was masterfully performed with vocal versatility and ad-libbing by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

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