Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaayum Konja Kaalam

From Kangaroo · 2015

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Harihara Sudhan
Music director
Srinivas
Movie name
Kangaroo
Movie release year
2015
Lyrics added on
8 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karu vazhiyaa vandhadhedhuvum…
Nirandharamilla…
Kattaiyila pora varaiyil…
Sudhandhiram illa…
Ingu sudhandhiram illa
Edhuvum nirandharamilla
Thaayum konja kaalam
Thagappanum konja kaalam
Oorum konja kaalam
Vandha uravum konja kaalam
Thaayum konja kaalam
Thagappanum konja kaalam
Oorum konja kaalam
Vandha uravum konja kaalam
Nenachu nenachu paathaakkaa
Neeyum konja kaalam
On nenappu konja kaalam
Sariththiramthu mannargalum
Konja konja kaalam
Andha chandhirarum sooriyarum
Innum konja kaalam
Innum konja kaalam
Thaayum konja kaalam
Thagappanum konja kaalam
Oorum konja kaalam
Vandha uravum konja kaalam
Tuttoo tuttoo toottoo
Toottoo toottoo
Tuttoo tuttoo toottoo toottoo toottoo
Ettaadha mala mela
Kadavul irukkudhu
Adha ettivida manusa paya
Idhayam thudikkudhu
Tuttoo tuttoo toottoo
Toottoo too
Sondha bandham odi vandhu
Kaala izhukkudhu
Ada sothu pathu aasa vandhu
Kaiya amukkudhu…
Kaamam vera kadaisi varaikkum
Kazhutha pudikkudhu…
Kaamam vera kadaisi varaikkum
Kazhutha pudikkudhu
Idhil kadavul kitta pora vazhi
Enga irukkudhu
Enga irukkudhu…
Kattaiyila pora varaiyil
Sudhandhiram illa
Karu vazhiyaa vandha edhuvum
Nirandharamilla
Thaayum konja kaalam
Thagappanum konja kaalam
Oorum konja kaalam
Vandha uravum konja kaalam
Tuttoo tuttoo toottoo
Toottoo toottoo
Tuttoo tuttoo toottoo toottoo toottoo
Muppadhukku mela
Unakku mudiyum udhirudhu
Ada naappadhukku mela
Paarva nadukkamaagudhu
Tuttoo tuttoo
Ambadhukku mela pallu
Aadi pogudhu
Arubadhukku mela a
Aanma adangi pogudhu
Odamboda porandhadhellaam
Onna piriyudhu…
Odamboda porandhadhellaam
Onna piriyudhu
Idhil ongooda porandhadhuvaa
Irukka pogudhu
Kattaiyila pora varaiyil
Sudhandhiram illa
Karu vazhiyaa vandha edhuvum
Nirandharamilla
Thaayum konja kaalam
Thagappanum konja kaalam
Oorum konja kaalam
Vandha uravum konja kaalam
Nenachu nenachu paathaakkaa
Neeyum konja kaalam
On nenappu konja kaalam
Sariththiramthu mannargalum
Konja konja kaalam
Andha chandhirarum sooriyarum
Innum konja kaalam
Innum konja kaalam
Nothing born through the womb...
is permanent...
Until we end up on the funeral wood...
there is no freedom...
There is no freedom here,
nothing is permanent.
A mother is here for a short time,
a father is here for a short time.
The hometown is here for a short time,
the relations who joined us are here for a short time.
A mother is here for a short time,
a father is here for a short time.
The hometown is here for a short time,
the relations who joined us are here for a short time.
If you reflect and think about it,
even you are here for a short time,
your memory is here for a short time.
Kings who made history
lasted just a little while.
Even that moon and sun
are here for just a little longer,
just a little longer.
A mother is here for a short time,
a father is here for a short time.
The hometown is here for a short time,
the relations who joined us are here for a short time.
Toot-too toot-too too-too
Too-too too-too
Toot-too toot-too too-too too-too too-too
High upon an unreachable mountain,
God resides.
And to reach Him, a man's
heart yearns and beats.
Toot-too toot-too too-too
Too-too too
Relatives come running
and pull at your legs.
Ah, greed for wealth and property
presses down your hands...
And desire grips you by the neck
until the very end...
And desire grips you by the neck
until the very end.
In all of this, the path to reach God—
where is it?
Where is it...?
Until we end up on the funeral wood,
there is no freedom.
Nothing born through the womb
is permanent.
A mother is here for a short time,
a father is here for a short time.
The hometown is here for a short time,
the relations who joined us are here for a short time.
Toot-too toot-too too-too
Too-too too-too
Toot-too toot-too too-too too-too too-too
Past the age of thirty,
your hair begins to fall.
Ah, past the age of forty,
your eyesight starts to waver.
Toot-too toot-too
Past fifty, your teeth
begin to shake loose.
Past sixty,
the soul calms down and fades away.
Everything born with this body
separates and leaves one by one...
Everything born with this body
separates and leaves one by one.
In all of this, will those born beside you
remain with you forever?
Until we end up on the funeral wood,
there is no freedom.
Nothing born through the womb
is permanent.
A mother is here for a short time,
a father is here for a short time.
The hometown is here for a short time,
the relations who joined us are here for a short time.
If you reflect and think about it,
even you are here for a short time,
your memory is here for a short time.
Kings who made history
lasted just a little while.
Even that moon and sun
are here for just a little longer,
just a little longer.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Thaayum Konja Kaalam' from the film Kangaroo is a profound philosophical meditation on transience, physical decay, and the ultimate impermanence of mortal life. Lyricist Vairamuthu explores how human ties—parents, relatives, material possessions, and sensual desires—bind a person throughout life, preventing ultimate freedom until death ('kattaiyila pora varaiyil'). He chronicles the inevitable aging process decade by decade (hair loss in the 30s, failing eyesight in the 40s, loose teeth in the 50s, and fading vitality in the 60s) to emphasize that even our own bodies are temporary companions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Refrain)

Thaayum konja kaalam / Thagappanum konja kaalam

Repetition of the refrain 'konja kaalam' (a short time) at the end of multiple lines emphasizes the underlying theme of impermanence.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Thaayum konja kaalam / Thagappanum konja kaalam

Matching initial 'Th' sounds create a rhythmic, song-like cadence in the couplet.

Metaphor and Synecdoche

Kattaiyila pora varaiyil / Sudhandhiram illa

'Kattaiyila' (wooden pyre/bier) serves as a metaphor for death and mortality.

Numerical Progression Imagery

Muppadhukku mela... / Naappadhukku mela...

A chronological countdown of physical decline mapped across human decades (30s to 60s).

Did you know?

Trivia

The soundtrack for 'Kangaroo' (2015) was composed by A. R. Reihana (sister of A. R. Rahman). This philosophical song was rendered by the legendary playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, whose energetic yet soulful delivery highlights Vairamuthu's deeply contemplative Tamil lyrics.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Kangaroo

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.