Tappasu Neram
From Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha · 2020
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Tappasu neram tent-ah moodu | It is cracker time, close up the tent |
| Tough-ana match-ah nee vilaiyaadu | Play this tough match with grit |
| Female | |
| Yaaradhu boomiyin maaberum thirudan | Who is the biggest thief on this Earth? |
| Per enna? Kaalam endra per konda kayavan | What is his name? A rogue named Time |
| Otti vandha rettaiyaaga nimida kattaiyaaga | Attached like twins, ticking like clock hands |
| Thozhanaaga thevanaaga vedamitta vedhanaaga | Disguised as a friend, a god, or a hunter in disguise |
| Female | |
| Ore ore ore ore | Just one, one, one, one |
| Orumurai nerapparisu vazhanga varuvaan | He will arrive once to grant the gift of time |
| Vaazhvin ovvoru nodiyilum pugundhu | Entering into every single second of life |
| Nodigal thirudi sendru viduvaan | He steals those seconds away and leaves |
| Female | |
| Ninaivugalae avan edhiri | Memories are his only enemy |
| Netraiyum naalaiyum udhari | Shaking off both yesterday and tomorrow |
| Indha nimidathin inba rasametri | Infusing the sweet elixir of this current second |
| Seivoma oru nyaabaga kumuzhi | Shall we create a bubble of memories? |
| Male | |
| Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa | Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa |
| Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa | Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa |
| Male | |
| Soda bottle-u road-u mela | Like a soda bottle lying on the road |
| Yaanai walking pona pola | Being crushed as an elephant walks over it |
| Ennavum edhavumo namma side-u | Everything on our side is totally chaotic |
| Male | |
| Beeda adcha pallu pola | Like teeth stained after chewing betel nut |
| Scene-u scene-ah maarum mella | The scenes slowly shift frame by frame |
| Adhukkandi thaama vechom warning board-u | That is why we put up a warning board ourselves |
| Female | |
| Hey tappasu neram tent-ah moodu | Hey, it is cracker time, close up the tent |
| Tough-ana match-ah nee vilaiyaadu | Play this tough match with grit |
| Male | |
| Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa | Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa |
| Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa | Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa |
| Female | |
| Yaarumillai indha nimidam | There is no one right at this moment |
| En kalathil kaththi vaikka | To hold a knife at my throat in my field |
| Neramullai siluvai aakki | There is no time to turn it into a cross |
| Ennai angu kuththi vaikka | To impale and crucify me right there |
| Female | |
| Vizhundhaalum adhu indralla piragu | Even if I fall, it won't be today, but later |
| Tharaiyai thodum munbu kidaikkum siragu | Before touching the ground, I will gain wings to fly |
| Male | |
| Paasa kaiyiril indha pulla | Tied up in the rope of affection, this kid |
| Skipping aaduthu enna solla | Is playing skipping rope, what can I say? |
| Idhu vootu parking mela eruma maadu | This is like a buffalo parked in a home parking spot |
| Male | |
| Naalu aalu oththa olai | Four people sent a single death notice |
| Evano anuppi vuttaan pola | Looks like someone sent it over |
| Avanukkae olai katti dance-ah podu | Tie that same notice back to him and dance away |
| Male | |
| Voodu thee paththi | The house has caught fire |
| Ini thedadha vaththi | Don't search for matchsticks anymore |
| Ada one two three four | Oh, one two three four |
| Male | |
| Tappasu neram tent-ah moodu | It is cracker time, close up the tent |
| Tough-ana match-ah nee vilaiyaadu | Play this tough match with grit |
| Male | |
| Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa | Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa |
| Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa | Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa |
டப்பாசு நேரம் டென்ட் அ மூடு
டப் ஆன மேட்ச் அ நீ விளையாடு
It is cracker time, close up the tent
Play this tough match with grit
யாரது பூமியின் மாபெரும் திருடன்
பேர் என்ன? காலம் என்ற பேர் கொண்ட கயவன்
ஒட்டி வந்த ரெட்டையாக நிமிட கட்டையாக
தோழனாக தேவனாக வேடமிட்ட வேதனாக
Who is the biggest thief on this Earth?
What is his name? A rogue named Time
Attached like twins, ticking like clock hands
Disguised as a friend, a god, or a hunter in disguise
ஒரே ஒரே ஒரே ஒரே
ஒருமுறை நேரப்பரிசு வழங்க வருவான்
வாழ்வின் ஒவ்வொரு நொடியிலும் புகுந்து
நொடிகள் திருடி சென்று விடுவான்
Just one, one, one, one
He will arrive once to grant the gift of time
Entering into every single second of life
He steals those seconds away and leaves
நினைவுகளே அவன் எதிரி
நேற்றையும் நாளையும் உதறி
இந்த நிமிடத்தின் இன்ப ரசமேற்றி
செய்வோமா ஒரு ஞாபக குமுழி
Memories are his only enemy
Shaking off both yesterday and tomorrow
Infusing the sweet elixir of this current second
Shall we create a bubble of memories?
ப ப ப ப ப பா பா பா பா
ப ப ப ப ப பா பா பா பா
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
சோடா பாட்டில் ரோடு மேல
யானை வாக்கிங் போனா போல
என்னவும் எதவுமோ நம்ம சைடு
Like a soda bottle lying on the road
Being crushed as an elephant walks over it
Everything on our side is totally chaotic
பீடா அடுச்ச பல்லு போல
சீனு உ சீனு ஆ மாறும் மெல்ல
அதுக்காண்டி தாமா வெச்சோம் வார்னிங் போர்டு உ
Like teeth stained after chewing betel nut
The scenes slowly shift frame by frame
That is why we put up a warning board ourselves
ஹே டப்பாசு நேரம் டென்ட் அ மூடு
டப் ஆன மேட்ச் அ நீ விளையாடு
Hey, it is cracker time, close up the tent
Play this tough match with grit
ப ப ப ப ப பா பா பா பா
ப ப ப ப ப பா பா பா பா
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
யாருமில்லை இந்த நிமிடம்
என் கழுத்தில் கத்தி வைக்க
நேரமுள்ளை சிலுவை ஆக்கி
என்னை அங்கு குத்தி வைக்க
There is no one right at this moment
To hold a knife at my throat in my field
There is no time to turn it into a cross
To impale and crucify me right there
விழுந்தாலும் அது இன்றல்ல பிறகு
தரையை தொடும் முன்பு கிடைக்கும் சிறகு
Even if I fall, it won't be today, but later
Before touching the ground, I will gain wings to fly
பாச கயிறில் இந்த புள்ள
ஸ்கிப்பிங் ஆடுது என்ன சொல்ல
இது வூட்டு பார்க்கிங் மேல ஏறுமா மாடு
Tied up in the rope of affection, this kid
Is playing skipping rope, what can I say?
This is like a buffalo parked in a home parking spot
நாலு ஆளு ஒத்த ஓலை
எவனோ அனுப்பி வுட்டான் போல
அவனுக்கே ஓலை கட்டி டான்ஸ் அ போடு
Four people sent a single death notice
Looks like someone sent it over
Tie that same notice back to him and dance away
வூடு தீ பத்தி
இனி தேடாத வத்தி
அட ஒன் டூ த்ரீ போர்
The house has caught fire
Don't search for matchsticks anymore
Oh, one two three four
டப்பாசு நேரம் டென்ட் அ மூடு
டப் ஆன மேட்ச் அ நீ விளையாடு
It is cracker time, close up the tent
Play this tough match with grit
ப ப ப ப ப பா பா பா பா
ப ப ப ப ப பா பா பா பா
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Tappasu neram tent-ah moodu
It is cracker time, close up the tent
Tough-ana match-ah nee vilaiyaadu
Play this tough match with grit
Yaaradhu boomiyin maaberum thirudan
Who is the biggest thief on this Earth?
Per enna? Kaalam endra per konda kayavan
What is his name? A rogue named Time
Otti vandha rettaiyaaga nimida kattaiyaaga
Attached like twins, ticking like clock hands
Thozhanaaga thevanaaga vedamitta vedhanaaga
Disguised as a friend, a god, or a hunter in disguise
Ore ore ore ore
Just one, one, one, one
Orumurai nerapparisu vazhanga varuvaan
He will arrive once to grant the gift of time
Vaazhvin ovvoru nodiyilum pugundhu
Entering into every single second of life
Nodigal thirudi sendru viduvaan
He steals those seconds away and leaves
Ninaivugalae avan edhiri
Memories are his only enemy
Netraiyum naalaiyum udhari
Shaking off both yesterday and tomorrow
Indha nimidathin inba rasametri
Infusing the sweet elixir of this current second
Seivoma oru nyaabaga kumuzhi
Shall we create a bubble of memories?
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Soda bottle-u road-u mela
Like a soda bottle lying on the road
Yaanai walking pona pola
Being crushed as an elephant walks over it
Ennavum edhavumo namma side-u
Everything on our side is totally chaotic
Beeda adcha pallu pola
Like teeth stained after chewing betel nut
Scene-u scene-ah maarum mella
The scenes slowly shift frame by frame
Adhukkandi thaama vechom warning board-u
That is why we put up a warning board ourselves
Hey tappasu neram tent-ah moodu
Hey, it is cracker time, close up the tent
Tough-ana match-ah nee vilaiyaadu
Play this tough match with grit
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Yaarumillai indha nimidam
There is no one right at this moment
En kalathil kaththi vaikka
To hold a knife at my throat in my field
Neramullai siluvai aakki
There is no time to turn it into a cross
Ennai angu kuththi vaikka
To impale and crucify me right there
Vizhundhaalum adhu indralla piragu
Even if I fall, it won't be today, but later
Tharaiyai thodum munbu kidaikkum siragu
Before touching the ground, I will gain wings to fly
Paasa kaiyiril indha pulla
Tied up in the rope of affection, this kid
Skipping aaduthu enna solla
Is playing skipping rope, what can I say?
Idhu vootu parking mela eruma maadu
This is like a buffalo parked in a home parking spot
Naalu aalu oththa olai
Four people sent a single death notice
Evano anuppi vuttaan pola
Looks like someone sent it over
Avanukkae olai katti dance-ah podu
Tie that same notice back to him and dance away
Voodu thee paththi
The house has caught fire
Ini thedadha vaththi
Don't search for matchsticks anymore
Ada one two three four
Oh, one two three four
Tappasu neram tent-ah moodu
It is cracker time, close up the tent
Tough-ana match-ah nee vilaiyaadu
Play this tough match with grit
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Pa pa pa pa pa paa paa paa paa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This energetic track from 'Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha' blends high-octane action vibes with playful street-smart philosophy. The lyrics portray 'Time' (Kaalam) as an ultimate thief who constantly steals precious seconds from life. It urges the listener to stop worrying about yesterday or tomorrow, shake off past baggage, and fully embrace the present moment.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Per enna? Kaalam endra per konda kayavan”
Time is personified as a rogue thief ('Kayavan') who sneaks into life to steal seconds.
Simile (Upamai)
“Soda bottle-u road-u mela / Yaanai walking pona pola”
Compares chaotic unpredictability to a soda bottle crushed under an elephant's foot.
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Soda bottle-u road-u mela / Beeda adcha pallu pola”
The second consonant sound 'da' rhymes between 'Soda' and 'Beeda'.
Monaai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Netraiyum naalaiyum udhari”
The starting letter 'N' repeats across 'Netraiyum' and 'Naalaiyum'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Karthik for Gautham Vasudev Menon's action-thriller 'Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha', the song features lyricist Vivek blending contemporary urban slang with upbeat street (Gaana) rhythms sung by Krishna K and Gana Guna.
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