Thappu Thalangal
From Thappu Thalangal · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Thappu Thalangal1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thappu thaalangal | Wrong rhythms / Mistaken beats |
| Vazhi thavariya paadhangal | Feet that have strayed from their path |
| Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena | Why do these people live like this? |
| Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal | Such are the fate-scripts written by Him |
| Avanadhu laabangal | His profits |
| Avan aakiya paavangal | The sins created by Him |
| Aasaiyil raagangal | Melodies born out of desires |
| Aanaal abasura geethangal | Yet turned into discordant, off-key songs |
| Male | |
| Thappu thaalangal | Wrong rhythms |
| Vazhi thavariya paadhangal | Feet that have strayed from their path |
| Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena | Why do these people live like this? |
| Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal | Such are the fate-scripts written by Him |
| Male | |
| Neraaga vaazhgindra mogam | The desire to live an upright life |
| Nerathil maraikindra megam | Is a cloud that disappears when the time comes |
| Madhiyodu nadakindra dhagam | A thirst that walks alongside intellect |
| Vidhiyodu selgindra vegam | A speed that rushes alongside destiny |
| Paaraalum veshangal | Disguises that rule the world |
| Paradesi kolangal | Attires of destitute wanderers |
| Vidhi vazhi dhinam odum odangal | Boats floating daily along the course of fate |
| Male | |
| Thappu thaalangal | Wrong rhythms |
| Vazhi thavariya paadhangal | Feet that have strayed from their path |
| Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena | Why do these people live like this? |
| Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal | Such are the fate-scripts written by Him |
| Male | |
| Ninaivengum mangalyam thaaimai | Her mind longs for marriage and motherhood |
| Nidham thorum vilayattu bommai | Yet every single day she is treated as a playtoy |
| Poruladharam seidha vindhai | The marvel created by economic hardship |
| Ival porul dharam aagivita sandhai | A marketplace where her modesty becomes a commercial product |
| Aval maanam parungal | Look at her dignity |
| Avamaana kolangal | Reduced to forms of humiliation |
| Vidhi vazhi dhinam odum odangal | Boats floating daily along the course of fate |
| Male | |
| Thappu thaalangal | Wrong rhythms |
| Vazhi thavariya paadhangal | Feet that have strayed from their path |
| Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena | Why do these people live like this? |
| Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal | Such are the fate-scripts written by Him |
| Male | |
| Samudhaaya sandhaikku ponaal | If you go into the open market of society |
| Ivan pola pala perai kaanbom | We will see many men just like him |
| Pidipatta pinthaanae kalvan | A man is labeled a thief only after he gets caught |
| Adhu matum avan perum thalaivan | Until then, he is revered as a great leader |
| Idhu pondra paavangal | Sins such as these |
| Samudhaaya paadangal | Are eye-opening lessons for society |
| Vidhi vazhi dhinam odum odangal | Boats floating daily along the course of fate |
| Male | |
| Thappu thaalangal | Wrong rhythms |
| Vazhi thavariya paadhangal | Feet that have strayed from their path |
| Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena | Why do these people live like this? |
| Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal | Such are the fate-scripts written by Him |
தப்பு தாளங்கள்
வழி தவறிய பாதங்கள்
இவர் இப்படி வாழ்வதென
அவன் எழுதிய வேதங்கள்
அவனது லாபங்கள்
அவன் ஆக்கிய பாவங்கள்
ஆசையில் ராகங்கள்
ஆனால் அபசுர கீதங்கள்
Wrong rhythms / Mistaken beats
Feet that have strayed from their path
Why do these people live like this?
Such are the fate-scripts written by Him
His profits
The sins created by Him
Melodies born out of desires
Yet turned into discordant, off-key songs
தப்பு தாளங்கள்
வழி தவறிய பாதங்கள்
இவர் இப்படி வாழ்வதென
அவன் எழுதிய வேதங்கள்
Wrong rhythms
Feet that have strayed from their path
Why do these people live like this?
Such are the fate-scripts written by Him
நேராக வாழ்கின்ற மோகம்
நேரத்தில் மறைக்கின்ற மேகம்
மதியோடு நடக்கின்ற தாகம்
விதியோடு செல்கின்ற வேகம்
பாராளும் வேஷங்கள்
பரதேசி கோலங்கள்
விதி வழி தினம் ஓடும் ஓடங்கள்
The desire to live an upright life
Is a cloud that disappears when the time comes
A thirst that walks alongside intellect
A speed that rushes alongside destiny
Disguises that rule the world
Attires of destitute wanderers
Boats floating daily along the course of fate
தப்பு தாளங்கள்
வழி தவறிய பாதங்கள்
இவர் இப்படி வாழ்வதென
அவன் எழுதிய வேதங்கள்
Wrong rhythms
Feet that have strayed from their path
Why do these people live like this?
Such are the fate-scripts written by Him
நினைவெங்கும் மாங்கல்யம் தாய்மை
நிதம் தோறும் விளையாட்டு பொம்மை
பொருளாதாரம் செய்த விந்தை
இவள் பொருள் தாரம் ஆகிவிட்ட சந்தை
அவள் மானம் பாருங்கள்
அவமான கோலங்கள்
விதி வழி தினம் ஓடும் ஓடங்கள்
Her mind longs for marriage and motherhood
Yet every single day she is treated as a playtoy
The marvel created by economic hardship
A marketplace where her modesty becomes a commercial product
Look at her dignity
Reduced to forms of humiliation
Boats floating daily along the course of fate
தப்பு தாளங்கள்
வழி தவறிய பாதங்கள்
இவர் இப்படி வாழ்வதென
அவன் எழுதிய வேதங்கள்
Wrong rhythms
Feet that have strayed from their path
Why do these people live like this?
Such are the fate-scripts written by Him
சமுதாய சந்தைக்கு போனால்
இவன் போல பல பேரை காண்போம்
பிடிபட்ட பின்தானே கள்வன்
அது மட்டும் அவன் பேரும் தலைவன்
இது போன்ற பாவங்கள்
சமுதய பாடங்கள்
விதி வழி தினம் ஓடும் ஓடங்கள்
If you go into the open market of society
We will see many men just like him
A man is labeled a thief only after he gets caught
Until then, he is revered as a great leader
Sins such as these
Are eye-opening lessons for society
Boats floating daily along the course of fate
தப்பு தாளங்கள்
வழி தவறிய பாதங்கள்
இவர் இப்படி வாழ்வதென
அவன் எழுதிய வேதங்கள்
Wrong rhythms
Feet that have strayed from their path
Why do these people live like this?
Such are the fate-scripts written by Him
Thappu thaalangal
Wrong rhythms / Mistaken beats
Vazhi thavariya paadhangal
Feet that have strayed from their path
Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena
Why do these people live like this?
Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal
Such are the fate-scripts written by Him
Avanadhu laabangal
His profits
Avan aakiya paavangal
The sins created by Him
Aasaiyil raagangal
Melodies born out of desires
Aanaal abasura geethangal
Yet turned into discordant, off-key songs
Thappu thaalangal
Wrong rhythms
Vazhi thavariya paadhangal
Feet that have strayed from their path
Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena
Why do these people live like this?
Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal
Such are the fate-scripts written by Him
Neraaga vaazhgindra mogam
The desire to live an upright life
Nerathil maraikindra megam
Is a cloud that disappears when the time comes
Madhiyodu nadakindra dhagam
A thirst that walks alongside intellect
Vidhiyodu selgindra vegam
A speed that rushes alongside destiny
Paaraalum veshangal
Disguises that rule the world
Paradesi kolangal
Attires of destitute wanderers
Vidhi vazhi dhinam odum odangal
Boats floating daily along the course of fate
Thappu thaalangal
Wrong rhythms
Vazhi thavariya paadhangal
Feet that have strayed from their path
Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena
Why do these people live like this?
Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal
Such are the fate-scripts written by Him
Ninaivengum mangalyam thaaimai
Her mind longs for marriage and motherhood
Nidham thorum vilayattu bommai
Yet every single day she is treated as a playtoy
Poruladharam seidha vindhai
The marvel created by economic hardship
Ival porul dharam aagivita sandhai
A marketplace where her modesty becomes a commercial product
Aval maanam parungal
Look at her dignity
Avamaana kolangal
Reduced to forms of humiliation
Vidhi vazhi dhinam odum odangal
Boats floating daily along the course of fate
Thappu thaalangal
Wrong rhythms
Vazhi thavariya paadhangal
Feet that have strayed from their path
Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena
Why do these people live like this?
Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal
Such are the fate-scripts written by Him
Samudhaaya sandhaikku ponaal
If you go into the open market of society
Ivan pola pala perai kaanbom
We will see many men just like him
Pidipatta pinthaanae kalvan
A man is labeled a thief only after he gets caught
Adhu matum avan perum thalaivan
Until then, he is revered as a great leader
Idhu pondra paavangal
Sins such as these
Samudhaaya paadangal
Are eye-opening lessons for society
Vidhi vazhi dhinam odum odangal
Boats floating daily along the course of fate
Thappu thaalangal
Wrong rhythms
Vazhi thavariya paadhangal
Feet that have strayed from their path
Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena
Why do these people live like this?
Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal
Such are the fate-scripts written by Him
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The title track 'Thappu Thalangal' serves as a philosophical commentary on the lives of people forced into crime and prostitution due to harsh societal and economic circumstances. Written by Kannadasan, the song uses musical metaphors such as off-beat rhythms (Thappu Thalangal) and discordant notes (Abasura Geethangal) to symbolize lives that have deviated from moral norms. It questions divine destiny and social hypocrisy, pointing out how society judges people while ignoring the systemic pressures that drove them there.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Thappu thaalangal”
Comparing strayed human lives to out-of-tune music ('Thappu thaalangal') and boats driven helplessly by destiny ('Vidhi vazhi dhinam odum odangal').
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Aasaiyil raagangal / Aanaal abasura geethangal”
Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds across words in lines, such as 'Aasaiyil' and 'Aanaal' or 'Poruladharam' and 'Porul dharam'.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Neraaga vaazhgindra mogam / Nerathil maraikindra megam”
Consistent rhyming end-syllables across stanzas such as 'mogam', 'megam', 'dhagam', and 'vegam'.
Irony / Social Satire
“Pidipatta pinthaanae kalvan / Adhu matum avan perum thalaivan”
Highlighting societal hypocrisy where a criminal is respected as a leader until caught.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Thappu Thalangal' (1978) was directed by K. Balachander, starring Rajinikanth and Saritha. The movie's music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and the title track sung by Balamuralikrishna effectively sets the dark, realistic tone of the film exploring crime, prostitution, and redemption.
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