Siththar Kooda
From Uchakattam · 1980
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Uchakattam1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam | Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane |
| Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam | Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy |
| Male | |
| Puthi ketta maanidarkku | For foolish human beings who have lost their mind |
| Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa | What is the need for philosophy, my friend? |
| Puthi ketta maanidarkku | For foolish human beings who have lost their mind |
| Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa…haang | What is the need for philosophy, my friend? ...haang |
| Male | |
| Odam oru vandiyil varum | A boat can travel riding on a cart |
| Nilaththil irunthaal | If it is on dry land |
| Vandiyum oru odaththil varum | And a cart can travel riding on a boat |
| Neerilae irunthaal | If it is in the water |
| Male | |
| Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam | Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane |
| Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam | Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy |
| Male | |
| Puthi ketta maanidarkku | For foolish human beings who have lost their mind |
| Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa | What is the need for philosophy, my friend? |
| Puthi ketta maanidarkku | For foolish human beings who have lost their mind |
| Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa.. | What is the need for philosophy, my friend?.. |
| Male | |
| Muttai vazhiyaa kozhi porakkum | A chicken comes out through an egg |
| Kozhi vazhiyaa muttai porakkum | An egg comes out through a chicken |
| Thaai piranthu seayaa seai piranthu thaayaa | Did the mother give birth to the child, or did the child give birth to the mother? |
| Kandathaaru neeyaa sol | Who are you to have seen it? Tell me |
| Male | |
| Muttai vazhiyaa kozhi porakkum | A chicken comes out through an egg |
| Kozhi vazhiyaa muttai porakkum | An egg comes out through a chicken |
| Thaai piranthu seayaa seai piranthu thaayaa | Did the mother give birth to the child, or did the child give birth to the mother? |
| Kandathaaru neeyaa sol | Who are you to have seen it? Tell me |
| Male | |
| Megam neeraagaa maarum | Clouds turn into water |
| Neerum vaan megam aagum | And water turns into sky clouds |
| Ulagae maayam | The entire world is an illusion |
| Shapapaapaa rabababappaa shapapaapaa rapappaa | Vocal scatting sounds |
| Male | |
| Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam | Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane |
| Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam | Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy |
| Male | |
| Puthi ketta maanidarkku | For foolish human beings who have lost their mind |
| Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa | What is the need for philosophy, my friend? |
| Puthi ketta maanidarkku | For foolish human beings who have lost their mind |
| Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa.. | What is the need for philosophy, my friend?.. |
| Male | |
| Naanenthum thaen kinnam vaazhga vaazhga | Long live the cup of honey that I hold, long live! |
| Naanenthum thaen kinnam vaazhga vaazhga | Long live the cup of honey that I hold, long live! |
| Emai neengaamal uravaadum santhosamae | Oh happiness that mingles with us without leaving! |
| Chorus :Santhosamae | Chorus: Happiness! |
| Male | |
| Santhosam kondaadum sorkkam | Heaven is where happiness is celebrated |
| Adhu saaraayam uruvaakkum saamraajyamae | It is an empire created by liquor |
| Chorus :Saamraajyamae | Chorus: Empire! |
| Male | |
| Kudiyaatha veedu vidiyaathadaa | A home without drinking will never see a bright dawn |
| Adiyaatha maadu padiyaathadaa | A bull that is not beaten will not submit |
| Chorus :Padiyaathadaa | Chorus: Will not submit! |
| Male | |
| Naanenthum thaen kinnam vaazhga vaazhga | Long live the cup of honey that I hold, long live! |
| Male | |
| Paththu maasamthaan annai sumappaal | A mother carries her child for only ten months |
| Maththa naalellaam yaaru sumappaar | Who will carry you for all the remaining days? |
| Paal kudikkum pillai kaal mulaicha pinnae | After the milk-drinking child grows legs of its own |
| Thol kodukka yaaru sol | Tell me, who is there to give a supporting shoulder? |
| Male | |
| Paththu maasamthaan annai sumappaal | A mother carries her child for only ten months |
| Maththa naalellaam yaaru sumappaar | Who will carry you for all the remaining days? |
| Paal kudikkum pillai kaal mulaicha pinnae | After the milk-drinking child grows legs of its own |
| Thol kodukka yaaru sol | Tell me, who is there to give a supporting shoulder? |
| Male | |
| Vaazhu neeyaaga vaazhu..aahhhaa | Live as yourself, live!.. ahhhaa |
| Valaru thaanaaga valaru….hahaah | Grow on your own, grow!.... hahaah |
| Vaazhu valaru…rapapappaa shapapaapaa | Live and grow!... vocal scatting sounds |
| Male | |
| Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam | Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane |
| Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam | Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy |
| Male | |
| Puthi ketta maanidarkku | For foolish human beings who have lost their mind |
| Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa | What is the need for philosophy, my friend? |
| Puthi ketta maanidarkku | For foolish human beings who have lost their mind |
| Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa.. | What is the need for philosophy, my friend?.. |
சித்தர் கூட பித்தராக புத்தி மாறி செல்லலாம்
பித்தர் கூட சித்தராகி தத்துவங்கள் சொல்லலாம்
Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane
Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy
புத்தி கெட்ட மானிடர்க்கு
தத்துவங்கள் தேவையென்னடா
புத்தி கெட்ட மானிடர்க்கு
தத்துவங்கள் தேவையென்னடா.....ஹாங்.....
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
What is the need for philosophy, my friend? ...haang
ஓடம் ஒரு வண்டியில் வரும்
நிலத்தில் இருந்தால்
வண்டியும் ஒரு ஓடத்தில் வரும்
நீரிலே இருந்தால்......
A boat can travel riding on a cart
If it is on dry land
And a cart can travel riding on a boat
If it is in the water
சித்தர் கூட பித்தராக புத்தி மாறி செல்லலாம்
பித்தர் கூட சித்தராகி தத்துவங்கள் சொல்லலாம்
Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane
Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy
புத்தி கெட்ட மானிடர்க்கு
தத்துவங்கள் தேவையென்னடா
புத்தி கெட்ட மானிடர்க்கு
தத்துவங்கள் தேவையென்னடா....
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?..
முட்டை வழியா கோழி பொறக்கும்
கோழி வழியா முட்டை பொறக்கும்
தாய் பிறந்து சேயா சேய் பிறந்து தாயா
கண்டதாரு நீயா சொல் ஹாங்....
A chicken comes out through an egg
An egg comes out through a chicken
Did the mother give birth to the child, or did the child give birth to the mother?
Who are you to have seen it? Tell me
முட்டை வழியா கோழி பொறக்கும்
கோழி வழியா முட்டை பொறக்கும்
தாய் பிறந்து சேயா சேய் பிறந்து தாயா
கண்டதாரு நீயா சொல்
A chicken comes out through an egg
An egg comes out through a chicken
Did the mother give birth to the child, or did the child give birth to the mother?
Who are you to have seen it? Tell me
மேகம் நீராக மாறும்
நீரும் வான் மேகம் ஆகும்......
உலகே மாயம்
ஷபபாபாபா ரபபபப்பா ஷபபாபா ரபப்ப்பா
Clouds turn into water
And water turns into sky clouds
The entire world is an illusion
Vocal scatting sounds
சித்தர் கூட பித்தராக புத்தி மாறி செல்லலாம்
பித்தர் கூட சித்தராகி தத்துவங்கள் சொல்லலாம்
Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane
Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy
புத்தி கெட்ட மானிடர்க்கு
தத்துவங்கள் தேவையென்னடா
புத்தி கெட்ட மானிடர்க்கு
தத்துவங்கள் தேவையென்னடா....
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?..
நானேந்தும் தேன் கிண்ணம் வாழ்க வாழ்க
நானேந்தும் தேன் கிண்ணம் வாழ்க வாழ்க
எமை நீங்காமல் உறவாடும் சந்தோஷமே
குழு :
சந்தோஷமே......
Long live the cup of honey that I hold, long live!
Long live the cup of honey that I hold, long live!
Oh happiness that mingles with us without leaving!
Chorus: Happiness!
சந்தோசம் கொண்டாடும் சொர்க்கம்
அது சாராயம் உருவாக்கும் சாம்ராஜ்யமே
குழு :
சாம்ராஜ்யமே
Heaven is where happiness is celebrated
It is an empire created by liquor
Chorus: Empire!
குடியாத வீடு விடியாதடா
அடியாத மாடு படியாதடா....
குழு :
படியாதடா....
A home without drinking will never see a bright dawn
A bull that is not beaten will not submit
Chorus: Will not submit!
நானேந்தும் தேன் கிண்ணம் வாழ்க வாழ்க
Long live the cup of honey that I hold, long live!
பத்து மாசம்தான் அன்னை சுமப்பாள்
மத்த நாளெல்லாம் யாரு சுமப்பார்
பால் குடிக்கும் பிள்ளை கால் முளைச்ச பின்னே
தோள் கொடுக்க யாரு சொல்.....
A mother carries her child for only ten months
Who will carry you for all the remaining days?
After the milk-drinking child grows legs of its own
Tell me, who is there to give a supporting shoulder?
பத்து மாசம்தான் அன்னை சுமப்பாள்
மத்த நாளெல்லாம் யாரு சுமப்பார்
பால் குடிக்கும் பிள்ளை கால் முளைச்ச பின்னே
தோள் கொடுக்க யாரு சொல்.....
A mother carries her child for only ten months
Who will carry you for all the remaining days?
After the milk-drinking child grows legs of its own
Tell me, who is there to give a supporting shoulder?
வாழு....நீயாக வாழு..ஆஹ்ஹ்ஹ
வளரு.......தானாக வளரு....ஹஹாஹ்
வாழு...வளரு....ரபபபப்பா ஷபபாபா
Live as yourself, live!.. ahhhaa
Grow on your own, grow!.... hahaah
Live and grow!... vocal scatting sounds
சித்தர் கூட பித்தராக புத்தி மாறி செல்லலாம்
பித்தர் கூட சித்தராகி தத்துவங்கள் சொல்லலாம்
Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane
Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy
புத்தி கெட்ட மானிடர்க்கு
தத்துவங்கள் தேவையென்னடா
புத்தி கெட்ட மானிடர்க்கு
தத்துவங்கள் தேவையென்னடா....
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?..
Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam
Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane
Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam
Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa…haang
What is the need for philosophy, my friend? ...haang
Odam oru vandiyil varum
A boat can travel riding on a cart
Nilaththil irunthaal
If it is on dry land
Vandiyum oru odaththil varum
And a cart can travel riding on a boat
Neerilae irunthaal
If it is in the water
Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam
Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane
Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam
Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa..
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?..
Muttai vazhiyaa kozhi porakkum
A chicken comes out through an egg
Kozhi vazhiyaa muttai porakkum
An egg comes out through a chicken
Thaai piranthu seayaa seai piranthu thaayaa
Did the mother give birth to the child, or did the child give birth to the mother?
Kandathaaru neeyaa sol
Who are you to have seen it? Tell me
Muttai vazhiyaa kozhi porakkum
A chicken comes out through an egg
Kozhi vazhiyaa muttai porakkum
An egg comes out through a chicken
Thaai piranthu seayaa seai piranthu thaayaa
Did the mother give birth to the child, or did the child give birth to the mother?
Kandathaaru neeyaa sol
Who are you to have seen it? Tell me
Megam neeraagaa maarum
Clouds turn into water
Neerum vaan megam aagum
And water turns into sky clouds
Ulagae maayam
The entire world is an illusion
Shapapaapaa rabababappaa shapapaapaa rapappaa
Vocal scatting sounds
Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam
Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane
Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam
Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa..
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?..
Naanenthum thaen kinnam vaazhga vaazhga
Long live the cup of honey that I hold, long live!
Naanenthum thaen kinnam vaazhga vaazhga
Long live the cup of honey that I hold, long live!
Emai neengaamal uravaadum santhosamae
Oh happiness that mingles with us without leaving!
Chorus :Santhosamae
Chorus: Happiness!
Santhosam kondaadum sorkkam
Heaven is where happiness is celebrated
Adhu saaraayam uruvaakkum saamraajyamae
It is an empire created by liquor
Chorus :Saamraajyamae
Chorus: Empire!
Kudiyaatha veedu vidiyaathadaa
A home without drinking will never see a bright dawn
Adiyaatha maadu padiyaathadaa
A bull that is not beaten will not submit
Chorus :Padiyaathadaa
Chorus: Will not submit!
Naanenthum thaen kinnam vaazhga vaazhga
Long live the cup of honey that I hold, long live!
Paththu maasamthaan annai sumappaal
A mother carries her child for only ten months
Maththa naalellaam yaaru sumappaar
Who will carry you for all the remaining days?
Paal kudikkum pillai kaal mulaicha pinnae
After the milk-drinking child grows legs of its own
Thol kodukka yaaru sol
Tell me, who is there to give a supporting shoulder?
Paththu maasamthaan annai sumappaal
A mother carries her child for only ten months
Maththa naalellaam yaaru sumappaar
Who will carry you for all the remaining days?
Paal kudikkum pillai kaal mulaicha pinnae
After the milk-drinking child grows legs of its own
Thol kodukka yaaru sol
Tell me, who is there to give a supporting shoulder?
Vaazhu neeyaaga vaazhu..aahhhaa
Live as yourself, live!.. ahhhaa
Valaru thaanaaga valaru….hahaah
Grow on your own, grow!.... hahaah
Vaazhu valaru…rapapappaa shapapaapaa
Live and grow!... vocal scatting sounds
Sithar kooda pitharaga puthi maari sellalaam
Even a sage can lose his mind and become insane
Piththar kooda sitharaagi thaththuvangal sollalaam
Even a madman can become a sage and speak philosophy
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?
Puthi ketta maanidarkku
For foolish human beings who have lost their mind
Thaththuvangal thevaiyennadaa..
What is the need for philosophy, my friend?..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
Keep listening
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