Thala Keezha
From Gemini · 2002
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Manikka Vinayagam
- Music director
- Bharathwaj
- Details
- Gemini2002
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Thalakeezhaa porakkuraan | {He is born upside down, |
| Thalakeezhaa nadakkuraan | He walks upside down, |
| Vayiru endra pallaththil | In the pit called the stomach, |
| Idhayaththaiyae podhaikkiraan} (2) | He buries the heart itself} (2) |
| Male | |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Manishan oru katta | Man is just a log of wood, |
| Makka pora matta | Dull and turning into waste, |
| Dhegham oru satta | The human body is merely a shirt, |
| Nee yara vaazha vitta | Whom have you ever allowed to truly live? |
| Male | |
| Oththa thuzhiyila | In a single drop, |
| Oththa thuzhiyila | In a single drop, |
| Oru latcham oru kodi | A hundred thousand, a crore, |
| Usuru irukkudhu | Of living souls exist, |
| Male | |
| Athana usuraiyum | Striking and chasing away all of them, |
| Adichi thorathittu | Driving them out, |
| Oththa uyir oththa uyir | A single life, a single life, |
| Karuvil valarudhu | Grows inside the womb, |
| Male | |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Male | |
| {Kannukkulla mannu pattaa | {If a speck of dust enters the eye, |
| Kannu kalangurom | Our eyes fill with tears, |
| Kadaisiyil moththathaiyum | Yet in the end, |
| Mannula podhaikkirom} (2) | We bury the entire body in dust} (2) |
| Male | |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Manishan oru katta | Man is just a log of wood, |
| Makka pora matta | Dull and turning into waste, |
| Dhegham oru satta | The human body is merely a shirt, |
| Nee yara vaazha vitta | Whom have you ever allowed to truly live? |
| Male | |
| Thalakeezhaa porakkuraan | He is born upside down, |
| Thalakeezhaa nadakkuraan | He walks upside down, |
| Vayiru endra pallaththil | In the pit called the stomach, |
| Idhayaththaiyae podhaikkiraan | He buries the heart itself, |
| Male | |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Male | |
| {Yeppo porakkurom | {When were we born, |
| Yeppo porakkurom | When were we born, |
| Pethu podum aaththaalukkum | Even to the mother who gave birth, |
| Theriyala theriyala} (2) | It is not known, not known} (2) |
| Male | |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Male | |
| {Vaazhkkaiya muzhusaa | {A life lived in true completeness, |
| Vaazhndhavan yaarammaa | Who has ever lived it, my dear? |
| Manusan oru otta paana | Man is a leaky pot, |
| Manasu neraiyumaa} (2) | Can his mind ever be fulfilled?} (2) |
| Male | |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Manishan oru katta | Man is just a log of wood, |
| Makka pora matta | Dull and turning into waste, |
| Dhegham oru satta | The human body is merely a shirt, |
| Nee yara vaazha vitta | Whom have you ever allowed to truly live? |
| Male | |
| Thalakeezhaa porakkuraan | He is born upside down, |
| Thalakeezhaa nadakkuraan | He walks upside down, |
| Vayiru endra pallaththil | In the pit called the stomach, |
| Idhayaththaiyae podhaikkiraan | He buries the heart itself, |
| Male | |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom, |
| Gnaana thanghamae | Oh golden wisdom. |
{ தலகீழா பொறக்குறான்
தலகீழா நடக்குறான் வயிறு
என்ற பள்ளத்தில் இதயத்தையே
பொதைக்கிறான் } (2)
{He is born upside down,
He walks upside down,
In the pit called the stomach,
He buries the heart itself} (2)
ஞான தங்கமே
ஞான தங்கமே மனிஷன்
ஒரு கட்ட மக்க போற மட்ட
தேகம் ஒரு சட்ட நீ யார
வாழ விட்ட
Oh golden wisdom,
Oh golden wisdom,
Man is just a log of wood,
Dull and turning into waste,
The human body is merely a shirt,
Whom have you ever allowed to truly live?
ஒத்த துளியில
ஒத்த துளியில ஒரு
லட்சம் ஒரு கோடி
உசுரு இருக்குது
In a single drop,
In a single drop,
A hundred thousand, a crore,
Of living souls exist,
அத்தன உசுரையும்
அடிச்சி தொறத்திட்டு
ஒத்த உயிர் ஒத்த உயிர்
கருவில் வளருது
Striking and chasing away all of them,
Driving them out,
A single life, a single life,
Grows inside the womb,
ஞான தங்கமே
ஞான தங்கமே
Oh golden wisdom,
Oh golden wisdom,
{ கண்ணுக்குள்ள
மண்ணு பட்டா கண்ணு
கலங்குறோம் கடைசியில்
மொத்ததையும் மண்ணுல
பொதைக்கிறோம் } (2)
{If a speck of dust enters the eye,
Our eyes fill with tears,
Yet in the end,
We bury the entire body in dust} (2)
ஞான தங்கமே
ஞான தங்கமே மனிஷன்
ஒரு கட்ட மக்க போற மட்ட
தேகம் ஒரு சட்ட நீ யார
வாழ விட்ட
Oh golden wisdom,
Oh golden wisdom,
Man is just a log of wood,
Dull and turning into waste,
The human body is merely a shirt,
Whom have you ever allowed to truly live?
தலகீழா பொறக்குறான்
தலகீழா நடக்குறான் வயிறு
என்ற பள்ளத்தில் இதயத்தையே
பொதைக்கிறான்
He is born upside down,
He walks upside down,
In the pit called the stomach,
He buries the heart itself,
ஞான தங்கமே
ஞான தங்கமே
Oh golden wisdom,
Oh golden wisdom,
{ எப்போ பொறக்குறோம்
எப்போ பொறக்குறோம் பெத்து
போடும் ஆத்தாளுக்கும் தெரியல
தெரியல } (2)
{When were we born,
When were we born,
Even to the mother who gave birth,
It is not known, not known} (2)
ஞான தங்கமே
ஞான தங்கமே
Oh golden wisdom,
Oh golden wisdom,
{ வாழ்க்கைய முழுசா
வாழ்ந்தவன் யாரம்மா மனுஷன்
ஒரு ஓட்ட பான மனசு
நெறையுமா } (2)
{A life lived in true completeness,
Who has ever lived it, my dear?
Man is a leaky pot,
Can his mind ever be fulfilled?} (2)
ஞான தங்கமே
ஞான தங்கமே மனிஷன்
ஒரு கட்ட மக்க போற மட்ட
தேகம் ஒரு சட்ட நீ யார
வாழ விட்ட
Oh golden wisdom,
Oh golden wisdom,
Man is just a log of wood,
Dull and turning into waste,
The human body is merely a shirt,
Whom have you ever allowed to truly live?
தலகீழா பொறக்குறான்
தலகீழா நடக்குறான் வயிறு
என்ற பள்ளத்தில் இதயத்தையே
பொதைக்கிறான்
He is born upside down,
He walks upside down,
In the pit called the stomach,
He buries the heart itself,
ஞான தங்கமே
ஞான தங்கமே
Oh golden wisdom,
Oh golden wisdom.
{Thalakeezhaa porakkuraan
{He is born upside down,
Thalakeezhaa nadakkuraan
He walks upside down,
Vayiru endra pallaththil
In the pit called the stomach,
Idhayaththaiyae podhaikkiraan} (2)
He buries the heart itself} (2)
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
Manishan oru katta
Man is just a log of wood,
Makka pora matta
Dull and turning into waste,
Dhegham oru satta
The human body is merely a shirt,
Nee yara vaazha vitta
Whom have you ever allowed to truly live?
Oththa thuzhiyila
In a single drop,
Oththa thuzhiyila
In a single drop,
Oru latcham oru kodi
A hundred thousand, a crore,
Usuru irukkudhu
Of living souls exist,
Athana usuraiyum
Striking and chasing away all of them,
Adichi thorathittu
Driving them out,
Oththa uyir oththa uyir
A single life, a single life,
Karuvil valarudhu
Grows inside the womb,
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
{Kannukkulla mannu pattaa
{If a speck of dust enters the eye,
Kannu kalangurom
Our eyes fill with tears,
Kadaisiyil moththathaiyum
Yet in the end,
Mannula podhaikkirom} (2)
We bury the entire body in dust} (2)
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
Manishan oru katta
Man is just a log of wood,
Makka pora matta
Dull and turning into waste,
Dhegham oru satta
The human body is merely a shirt,
Nee yara vaazha vitta
Whom have you ever allowed to truly live?
Thalakeezhaa porakkuraan
He is born upside down,
Thalakeezhaa nadakkuraan
He walks upside down,
Vayiru endra pallaththil
In the pit called the stomach,
Idhayaththaiyae podhaikkiraan
He buries the heart itself,
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
{Yeppo porakkurom
{When were we born,
Yeppo porakkurom
When were we born,
Pethu podum aaththaalukkum
Even to the mother who gave birth,
Theriyala theriyala} (2)
It is not known, not known} (2)
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
{Vaazhkkaiya muzhusaa
{A life lived in true completeness,
Vaazhndhavan yaarammaa
Who has ever lived it, my dear?
Manusan oru otta paana
Man is a leaky pot,
Manasu neraiyumaa} (2)
Can his mind ever be fulfilled?} (2)
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
Manishan oru katta
Man is just a log of wood,
Makka pora matta
Dull and turning into waste,
Dhegham oru satta
The human body is merely a shirt,
Nee yara vaazha vitta
Whom have you ever allowed to truly live?
Thalakeezhaa porakkuraan
He is born upside down,
Thalakeezhaa nadakkuraan
He walks upside down,
Vayiru endra pallaththil
In the pit called the stomach,
Idhayaththaiyae podhaikkiraan
He buries the heart itself,
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom,
Gnaana thanghamae
Oh golden wisdom.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical track from the film 'Gemini' (2002), written by Vairamuthu and composed by Bharathwaj, is composed in the tradition of Tamil Siddhar folk poetry (Siddhar Paadalgal). The lyrics examine the illusion of human existence, greed, and bodily attachment. By invoking 'Gnaana Thangame' (a spiritual call to divine wisdom), the song highlights how humans sacrifice emotion and compassion ('burying the heart') to satisfy endless bodily desires ('the pit of the stomach'). It reflects on the biological miracle of birth, the inevitability of death, and the futility of insatiable desires, reminding us that the physical body is merely a temporary garment ('sattai') and man an incomplete vessel ('otta paana').
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Dhegham oru satta”
Compares the human body to a removable shirt, symbolizing the temporary nature of physical existence.
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Manusan oru otta paana / Manasu neraiyumaa”
Compares human mind and life to a broken/leaking pot that can never be permanently filled, representing insatiable greed.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Manishan oru katta / Makka pora matta / Dhegham oru satta”
The second consonant sound ('t') rhymes across consecutive lines, creating rhythmic cadence typical of Siddhar folk poetry.
Refrain (Anaphora)
“Gnaana thanghamae”
The repeated address 'Gnaana thangame' serves as a rhythmic and thematic anchor directing philosophical truths to the inner soul/wisdom.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song structure directly draws inspiration from ancient Tamil Siddhar literature, such as the works of Kudambai Siddhar or Pambatti Siddhar, who addressed their verses to abstract figures ('Kudambaiye', 'Pambattiye', or 'Gnaana Thangame') to demystify complex spiritual philosophies into vernacular folk language.
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