Thangakathi
From Savarakathi · 2018
- Lyricist
- Mysskin
- Singer
- Mysskin
- Music director
- Arrol Corelli
- Details
- Savarakathi2018
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ye thangakathi vellikathi | Oh, golden knife, silver knife, |
| Sembukathi irumbukathi | Copper knife, iron knife, |
| Savarakathi eedaagumaa | Can any knife match the razor (savarakathi)? |
| Male | |
| Oh koobakathi paasakathi | Oh, knife of anger, knife of affection, |
| Veerakathi rosakathi | Knife of valor, knife of self-respect, |
| Savarakathi kuththam seiyuma | Will a barber's razor ever commit a crime? |
| Male | |
| Veettukathi naatukathi | Domestic knife, national knife, |
| Oorukathi uravukathi saathikathi | Town's knife, knife of relationships, knife of caste, |
| Vethakathi neethikathi aanalum | Even if it is a knife of scripture or justice, |
| Savarakathi polaagumaa | Can it ever equal the barber's razor? |
| Oh savarakathi polaagumaa | Oh, can it ever equal the barber's razor? |
| Male | |
| Kathi yethukku thaan | What is the knife actually meant for? |
| Thoppul kodi vettathaan | It is meant to cut the umbilical cord! |
| Kathi yethukku thaan | What is the knife actually meant for? |
| Thoppul kodi vettathaan | It is meant to cut the umbilical cord! |
| Chorus | |
| {Aah haa..aah haa | {Aah haa..aah haa |
| Aha..haa..aaa… } (4) | Aha..haa..aaa... } (Repeated 4 times) |
| Male | |
| Maramirangi tharaivanthu | Climbing down from trees to step onto the earth, |
| Kulithondi poruleduthu | Digging pits to unearth minerals, |
| Theevatti pathampaathu | Tempering metal with fire, |
| Naam aayutham senjoomae | We forged weapons for ourselves. |
| Male | |
| Uluthu aruthu maram vetti | Plugging the land, harvesting, chopping down trees, |
| Kinaru thoondi kall udaichi | Digging wells, breaking stones, |
| Koodu katti kathai solli | Building nests, telling stories, |
| Kannamoodi irul maranthu | Closing our eyes to forget the darkness, |
| Kanavoonu… kandomae… | We saw a dream... |
| Kolai senju..sirichoomae… | And yet, we committed murder and laughed... |
| Male | |
| Ye thangakathi vellikathi | Oh, golden knife, silver knife, |
| Sembukathi irumbukathi | Copper knife, iron knife, |
| Savarakathi eedaagumaa | Can any knife match the razor (savarakathi)? |
| Male | |
| Oh koobakathi paasakathi | Oh, knife of anger, knife of affection, |
| Veerakathi rosakathi | Knife of valor, knife of self-respect, |
| Savarakathi kuththam seiyuma | Will a barber's razor ever commit a crime? |
| Male | |
| Veettukathi naatukathi | Domestic knife, national knife, |
| Oorukathi uravukathi saathikathi | Town's knife, knife of relationships, knife of caste, |
| Vethakathi neethikathi aanalum | Even if it is a knife of scripture or justice, |
| Savarakathi polaagumaa | Can it ever equal the barber's razor? |
| Oh savarakathi polaagumaa | Oh, can it ever equal the barber's razor? |
| Male | |
| Kathi yethukku thaan | What is the knife actually meant for? |
| Thoppul kodi vettathaan | It is meant to cut the umbilical cord! |
| Kathi yethukku thaan | What is the knife actually meant for? |
| Thoppul kodi vettathaan | It is meant to cut the umbilical cord! |
| Chorus | |
| {Aah haa..aah haa | {Aah haa..aah haa |
| Aha..haa..aaa… } (4) | Aha..haa..aaa... } (Repeated 4 times) |
| Male | |
| Mannaasa ponnaasa | Lust for land, lust for gold, |
| Pennaasa peraasa | Lust for women, greed, |
| Por senja idamellam | Everywhere we waged war, |
| Naam sogam vithaichoomae | We sowed seeds of sorrow. |
| Male | |
| Vaanam paranthu mathithottom | We flew in the sky and touched the moon, |
| Kadala kadanthu kodi nattom | We crossed oceans and planted flags, |
| Ariva kodanju verkkandom | We dug into knowledge and found the root of existence, |
| Yemena thorathi oodavittom | We even chased away the god of death (Yama), |
| Anbathaan …tholaichoomae | Yet, we lost love along the way, |
| Vaalathaan…maranthommae… | And we forgot how to truly live... |
| Male | |
| Ye thangakathi vellikathi | Oh, golden knife, silver knife, |
| Sembukathi irumbukathi | Copper knife, iron knife, |
| Savarakathi eedaagumaa | Can any knife match the razor (savarakathi)? |
| Male | |
| Oh koobakathi paasakathi | Oh, knife of anger, knife of affection, |
| Veerakathi rosakathi | Knife of valor, knife of self-respect, |
| Savarakathi kuththam seiyuma | Will a barber's razor ever commit a crime? |
| Male | |
| Veettukathi naatukathi | Domestic knife, national knife, |
| Oorukathi uravukathi saathikathi | Town's knife, knife of relationships, knife of caste, |
| Vethakathi neethikathi aanalum | Even if it is a knife of scripture or justice, |
| Savarakathi polaagumaa | Can it ever equal the barber's razor? |
| Oh savarakathi polaagumaa | Oh, can it ever equal the barber's razor? |
| Male | |
| {Kathi yethukku thaan | {What is the knife actually meant for? |
| Thoppul kodi vettathaan} (3) | It is meant to cut the umbilical cord!} (Repeated 3 times) |
ஏ தங்ககத்தி
வெள்ளிக்கத்தி செம்புகத்தி
இரும்புக்கத்தி சவரகத்தி
ஈடாகுமா
Oh, golden knife, silver knife,
Copper knife, iron knife,
Can any knife match the razor (savarakathi)?
ஓ கோபக்கத்தி
பாசகத்தி வீரகத்தி
ரோசகத்தி சவரகத்தி
குத்தம் செய்யுமா
Oh, knife of anger, knife of affection,
Knife of valor, knife of self-respect,
Will a barber's razor ever commit a crime?
வீட்டுக்கத்தி
நாட்டுக்கத்தி ஊருக்கத்தி
உறவுகத்தி சாதிக்கத்தி
வேதகத்தி நீதிக்கத்தி
ஆனாலும் சவரகத்தி
போலாகுமா ஓ சவரகத்தி
போலாகுமா
Domestic knife, national knife,
Town's knife, knife of relationships, knife of caste,
Even if it is a knife of scripture or justice,
Can it ever equal the barber's razor?
Oh, can it ever equal the barber's razor?
கத்தி எதுக்கு தான்
தொப்புள் கொடி வெட்டத்தான்
கத்தி எதுக்கு தான் தொப்புள்
கொடி வெட்டத்தான்
What is the knife actually meant for?
It is meant to cut the umbilical cord!
What is the knife actually meant for?
It is meant to cut the umbilical cord!
{ ஆ ஹா ஆ
ஹா ஆஹா ஹா
ஆஆ } (4)
{Aah haa..aah haa
Aha..haa..aaa... } (Repeated 4 times)
மரமிறங்கி தரை
வந்து குழி தோண்டி பொருள்
எடுத்து தீவட்டி பதம்பாத்து
நாம் ஆயுதம் செஞ்சோமே
Climbing down from trees to step onto the earth,
Digging pits to unearth minerals,
Tempering metal with fire,
We forged weapons for ourselves.
உழுது அறுத்து மரம்
வெட்டி கிணறு தோண்டி கல்
உடைச்சி கூடு கட்டி கதை
சொல்லி கண்ணமூடி இருள்
மறந்து கனவொன்னு கண்டோமே
கொலை செஞ்சு சிரிச்சோமே
Plugging the land, harvesting, chopping down trees,
Digging wells, breaking stones,
Building nests, telling stories,
Closing our eyes to forget the darkness,
We saw a dream...
And yet, we committed murder and laughed...
ஏ தங்ககத்தி
வெள்ளிக்கத்தி செம்புகத்தி
இரும்புக்கத்தி சவரகத்தி
ஈடாகுமா
Oh, golden knife, silver knife,
Copper knife, iron knife,
Can any knife match the razor (savarakathi)?
ஓ கோபக்கத்தி
பாசகத்தி வீரகத்தி
ரோசகத்தி சவரகத்தி
குத்தம் செய்யுமா
Oh, knife of anger, knife of affection,
Knife of valor, knife of self-respect,
Will a barber's razor ever commit a crime?
வீட்டுக்கத்தி
நாட்டுக்கத்தி ஊருக்கத்தி
உறவுகத்தி சாதிக்கத்தி
வேதகத்தி நீதிக்கத்தி
ஆனாலும் சவரகத்தி
போலாகுமா ஓ சவரகத்தி
போலாகுமா
Domestic knife, national knife,
Town's knife, knife of relationships, knife of caste,
Even if it is a knife of scripture or justice,
Can it ever equal the barber's razor?
Oh, can it ever equal the barber's razor?
கத்தி எதுக்கு தான்
தொப்புள் கொடி வெட்டத்தான்
கத்தி எதுக்கு தான் தொப்புள்
கொடி வெட்டத்தான்
What is the knife actually meant for?
It is meant to cut the umbilical cord!
What is the knife actually meant for?
It is meant to cut the umbilical cord!
{ ஆ ஹா ஆ
ஹா ஆஹா ஹா
ஆஆ } (4)
{Aah haa..aah haa
Aha..haa..aaa... } (Repeated 4 times)
மண்ணாசை
பொன்னாசை பெண்ணாசை
பேராசை போர் செஞ்ச
இடமெல்லாம் நாம்
சோகம் விதைச்சோமே
Lust for land, lust for gold,
Lust for women, greed,
Everywhere we waged war,
We sowed seeds of sorrow.
வானம் பறந்து
மதிதொட்டோம் கடல
கடந்து கொடி நட்டோம்
அறிவ கொடஞ்சு வேர்கண்டோம்
எமனை தொரத்தி ஓட விட்டோம்
அன்பாதான் தொலைச்சோமே
வாழத்தான் மறந்தோமே
We flew in the sky and touched the moon,
We crossed oceans and planted flags,
We dug into knowledge and found the root of existence,
We even chased away the god of death (Yama),
Yet, we lost love along the way,
And we forgot how to truly live...
ஏ தங்ககத்தி
வெள்ளிக்கத்தி செம்புகத்தி
இரும்புக்கத்தி சவரகத்தி
ஈடாகுமா
Oh, golden knife, silver knife,
Copper knife, iron knife,
Can any knife match the razor (savarakathi)?
ஓ கோபக்கத்தி
பாசகத்தி வீரகத்தி
ரோசகத்தி சவரகத்தி
குத்தம் செய்யுமா
Oh, knife of anger, knife of affection,
Knife of valor, knife of self-respect,
Will a barber's razor ever commit a crime?
வீட்டுக்கத்தி
நாட்டுக்கத்தி ஊருக்கத்தி
உறவுகத்தி சாதிக்கத்தி
வேதகத்தி நீதிக்கத்தி
ஆனாலும் சவரகத்தி
போலாகுமா ஓ சவரகத்தி
போலாகுமா
Domestic knife, national knife,
Town's knife, knife of relationships, knife of caste,
Even if it is a knife of scripture or justice,
Can it ever equal the barber's razor?
Oh, can it ever equal the barber's razor?
{ கத்தி எதுக்கு
தான் தொப்புள் கொடி
வெட்டத்தான் } (3)
{What is the knife actually meant for?
It is meant to cut the umbilical cord!} (Repeated 3 times)
Ye thangakathi vellikathi
Oh, golden knife, silver knife,
Sembukathi irumbukathi
Copper knife, iron knife,
Savarakathi eedaagumaa
Can any knife match the razor (savarakathi)?
Oh koobakathi paasakathi
Oh, knife of anger, knife of affection,
Veerakathi rosakathi
Knife of valor, knife of self-respect,
Savarakathi kuththam seiyuma
Will a barber's razor ever commit a crime?
Veettukathi naatukathi
Domestic knife, national knife,
Oorukathi uravukathi saathikathi
Town's knife, knife of relationships, knife of caste,
Vethakathi neethikathi aanalum
Even if it is a knife of scripture or justice,
Savarakathi polaagumaa
Can it ever equal the barber's razor?
Oh savarakathi polaagumaa
Oh, can it ever equal the barber's razor?
Kathi yethukku thaan
What is the knife actually meant for?
Thoppul kodi vettathaan
It is meant to cut the umbilical cord!
Kathi yethukku thaan
What is the knife actually meant for?
Thoppul kodi vettathaan
It is meant to cut the umbilical cord!
{Aah haa..aah haa
{Aah haa..aah haa
Aha..haa..aaa… } (4)
Aha..haa..aaa... } (Repeated 4 times)
Maramirangi tharaivanthu
Climbing down from trees to step onto the earth,
Kulithondi poruleduthu
Digging pits to unearth minerals,
Theevatti pathampaathu
Tempering metal with fire,
Naam aayutham senjoomae
We forged weapons for ourselves.
Uluthu aruthu maram vetti
Plugging the land, harvesting, chopping down trees,
Kinaru thoondi kall udaichi
Digging wells, breaking stones,
Koodu katti kathai solli
Building nests, telling stories,
Kannamoodi irul maranthu
Closing our eyes to forget the darkness,
Kanavoonu… kandomae…
We saw a dream...
Kolai senju..sirichoomae…
And yet, we committed murder and laughed...
Ye thangakathi vellikathi
Oh, golden knife, silver knife,
Sembukathi irumbukathi
Copper knife, iron knife,
Savarakathi eedaagumaa
Can any knife match the razor (savarakathi)?
Oh koobakathi paasakathi
Oh, knife of anger, knife of affection,
Veerakathi rosakathi
Knife of valor, knife of self-respect,
Savarakathi kuththam seiyuma
Will a barber's razor ever commit a crime?
Veettukathi naatukathi
Domestic knife, national knife,
Oorukathi uravukathi saathikathi
Town's knife, knife of relationships, knife of caste,
Vethakathi neethikathi aanalum
Even if it is a knife of scripture or justice,
Savarakathi polaagumaa
Can it ever equal the barber's razor?
Oh savarakathi polaagumaa
Oh, can it ever equal the barber's razor?
Kathi yethukku thaan
What is the knife actually meant for?
Thoppul kodi vettathaan
It is meant to cut the umbilical cord!
Kathi yethukku thaan
What is the knife actually meant for?
Thoppul kodi vettathaan
It is meant to cut the umbilical cord!
{Aah haa..aah haa
{Aah haa..aah haa
Aha..haa..aaa… } (4)
Aha..haa..aaa... } (Repeated 4 times)
Mannaasa ponnaasa
Lust for land, lust for gold,
Pennaasa peraasa
Lust for women, greed,
Por senja idamellam
Everywhere we waged war,
Naam sogam vithaichoomae
We sowed seeds of sorrow.
Vaanam paranthu mathithottom
We flew in the sky and touched the moon,
Kadala kadanthu kodi nattom
We crossed oceans and planted flags,
Ariva kodanju verkkandom
We dug into knowledge and found the root of existence,
Yemena thorathi oodavittom
We even chased away the god of death (Yama),
Anbathaan …tholaichoomae
Yet, we lost love along the way,
Vaalathaan…maranthommae…
And we forgot how to truly live...
Ye thangakathi vellikathi
Oh, golden knife, silver knife,
Sembukathi irumbukathi
Copper knife, iron knife,
Savarakathi eedaagumaa
Can any knife match the razor (savarakathi)?
Oh koobakathi paasakathi
Oh, knife of anger, knife of affection,
Veerakathi rosakathi
Knife of valor, knife of self-respect,
Savarakathi kuththam seiyuma
Will a barber's razor ever commit a crime?
Veettukathi naatukathi
Domestic knife, national knife,
Oorukathi uravukathi saathikathi
Town's knife, knife of relationships, knife of caste,
Vethakathi neethikathi aanalum
Even if it is a knife of scripture or justice,
Savarakathi polaagumaa
Can it ever equal the barber's razor?
Oh savarakathi polaagumaa
Oh, can it ever equal the barber's razor?
{Kathi yethukku thaan
{What is the knife actually meant for?
Thoppul kodi vettathaan} (3)
It is meant to cut the umbilical cord!} (Repeated 3 times)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Savarakathi' (Barber's Razor) is a philosophical reflection written by Mysskin for the film of the same name. It uses the metaphor of various knives ('kathi') symbolizing human divisions, ego, weapons, caste, pride, and war, comparing them to the humble barber's razor (savarakathi) which serves a simple, non-harmful purpose. The lyricist reminds humanity that the ultimate fundamental purpose of a blade in nature was life-giving and nurturing—to cut the umbilical cord at birth. Through historical and evolutionary imagery, the song recounts human progress from tree-dwellers to builders, scientists, and conquerors of space and ocean. However, it laments that despite all technological advancements and scientific mastery, humanity has lost love and forgotten how to truly live, weaponizing everything out of greed, anger, and ego.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Rhyming Repetition (Iyaibu)
“Ye thangakathi vellikathi / Sembukathi irumbukathi”
Extensive use of the suffix '-kathi' (knife) attached to various abstract and concrete concepts (thangakathi, vellikathi, veerakathi, rosakathi, saathikathi, etc.) to construct allegories for human traits.
Rhetorical Question (Vinathal)
“Savarakathi kuththam seiyuma”
Asking 'Savarakathi kuththam seiyuma' (Will a razor ever commit a crime?) and 'Kathi yethukku thaan' (What is a knife meant for?) to provoke deep existential reflection in the listener.
Adukkuthodar / Repetition
“Mannaasa ponnaasa / Pennaasa peraasa”
Combining human desires sequentially ('Mannaasa ponnaasa / Pennaasa peraasa') to highlight the fundamental causes of human destruction.
Monai (Alliteration)
“Vaanam paranthu mathithottom”
Matching initial consonant sounds such as 'Vaanam' and 'Verkkandom' or 'Anbathaan' and 'Vaalathaan' creating rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Savarakathi' (2018) was written and produced by Mysskin, directed by his brother G. R. Adithya. Mysskin also played the antagonist in the film. The soundtrack was composed by Arrol Corelli, and Mysskin himself penned these deeply philosophical lyrics exploring human absurdity and existential themes.
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