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Isaimozhi
Naan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thapellam Thape Illai

From Naan · 2012

Lyricist
Asmin
Singers
Santosh Hariharan, Hip Hop Thamizha Aathi
Music director
Vijay Antony
Movie name
Naan
Movie release year
2012
Lyrics added on
9 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thappellam thappae illai
Sari yellaam sariyae illai
Thappai nee sariyaai seithaal
Thappu illai thappu ilai
Open the doors
Let me show you something
You gotto call me
My name is salim
Everyday that i keep hunting
Let me go on
Let me go strong..
Gaandhiyum Buddhanum thapputhaan
Senji thirundhinal
Move it move it always
Everyday i keep living
I will be fine
Until someone in the future finds me
I will be fine
Thappellam thappae illai
Sari yellaam sariyae illai
Thappai nee sariyaai seithaal
Thappu illai thappu ilai
Open the doors
Let me show you something
You gotto call me
My name is salim
Everyday that i keep hunting
Let me go on
Let me go strong..
………………………
Paambil visham ullathendru
Thooram thalli anji nirpaan
Pavam andha aadugalai
Ulayil vaipaan
Nyayangalai pesum podhu
Kholaiena thalli vaipaan
Kaiyil kaththi ullavanai
Thalivan yenbaan
Eppodhu poigal nee solvaayo
Appodhu unnai pol
Ulaghil yaar enbaar
Eppodhu unmai nee solvaayo
Appodhu unnaipol
Yemaali yaar enbaar
Thappellam thappae illai
Sari yellaam sariyae illai
Thappai nee sariyaai seithaal
Thappu illai thappu ilai
Vazhkai oru poraatam thaan
Vazhvae oru viyabaram thaan
Kile neeyum vilundhuvittaal
Pullum sirikkum
Pogum dhisai yaavum unnai
Poda ena solli solli
Yemaatrangal naalum unthan
Nenjai kilikum
Boomithaan
Kaasukku valaatum
Poigalai thaalaatum
Unmaiku theemootum
Yekkangal
Indrodu pogattum
Santhosam koodattum
Saabangal odattum
Thappellam thappae illai
Sari yellaam sariyae illai
Thappai nee sariyaai seithaal
Thappu illai thappu ilai
Open the doors
Let me show you something
You gotto call me
My name is salim
Everyday that i keep hunting
Let me go on
Let me go strong..
Gaandhiyum Buddhanum thapputhaan
Senji thirundhinal
Move it move it always
Everyday i keep living
I will be fine
Until someone in the future finds me
I will be fine
No wrong is completely wrong,
No right is completely right.
If you do a wrong thing the right way,
It is not wrong, not wrong at all.
Open the doors,
Let me show you something.
You have got to call me,
My name is Salim.
Every day that I keep hunting,
Let me go on,
Let me go strong...
Even Gandhi and Buddha did wrong
And corrected themselves!
Move it, move it, always!
Every day I keep living,
I will be fine.
Until someone in the future finds me,
I will be fine.
No wrong is completely wrong,
No right is completely right.
If you do a wrong thing the right way,
It is not wrong, not wrong at all.
Open the doors,
Let me show you something.
You have got to call me,
My name is Salim.
Every day that I keep hunting,
Let me go on,
Let me go strong...
...
Knowing a snake carries venom,
Man backs away in fear.
Yet the poor, harmless goats,
He throws into the cooking pot.
When you speak of justice and truth,
He pushes you aside as a coward.
Yet the one holding a knife,
He hails as a leader.
Whenever you tell lies,
They praise you asking,
"Who in this world is as great as you?"
Whenever you speak the truth,
They look down on you asking,
"Who in this world is a bigger fool than you?"
No wrong is completely wrong,
No right is completely right.
If you do a wrong thing the right way,
It is not wrong, not wrong at all.
Life is indeed a struggle,
Life is just a business.
If you ever fall down,
Even the grass will laugh at you.
Every path you try to take
Will push you away and say, "Get lost!"
Every single day, disappointments
Will tear your heart apart.
This world
Wags its tail for money,
Sings lullabies to lies,
And sets fire to the truth.
Let all longings and pain
Disappear with today!
Let happiness multiply,
Let all curses run away!
No wrong is completely wrong,
No right is completely right.
If you do a wrong thing the right way,
It is not wrong, not wrong at all.
Open the doors,
Let me show you something.
You have got to call me,
My name is Salim.
Every day that I keep hunting,
Let me go on,
Let me go strong...
Even Gandhi and Buddha did wrong
And corrected themselves!
Move it, move it, always!
Every day I keep living,
I will be fine.
Until someone in the future finds me,
I will be fine.
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Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Thappellam Thappae Illai' serves as a cynical and philosophical reflection on moral ambiguity and societal hypocrisy. It posits that righteousness and wrongdoing are relative concepts defined by execution and perception rather than inherent virtue. The lyrics expose how society fears power, praises deceitful individuals, and ridicules honest people, treating life as a ruthless marketplace where money dictates respect.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox

Thappellam thappae illai / Sari yellaam sariyae illai

The phrase contradicts conventional morality to highlight a pragmatic worldview where flawless execution redefines wrong as right.

Social Irony

Kaiyil kaththi ullavanai thalivan yenbaan

Highlights societal double standards where dangerous tyrants are revered while peacemakers are discarded.

Personification

Kaasukku valaatum / Poigalai thaalaatum / Unmaiku theemootum

Attributes human behaviors (wagging tail like a dog, lulling, setting fire) to the earth and concepts.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thappellam Thappae Illai' is the signature track from the 2012 Tamil crime thriller 'Naan', which marked composer Vijay Antony's debut as a lead actor. The character's assumed identity in the movie, 'Salim', is directly referenced in the song's English rap lyrics, and the movie's sequel was subsequently titled 'Salim' (2014).

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