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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thappu Thalangal

From Thappu Thalangal · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thappu Thalangal
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
27 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thappu thaalangal
Vazhi thavariya paadhangal
Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena
Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal
Avanadhu laabangal
Avan aakiya paavangal
Aasaiyil raagangal
Aanaal abasura geethangal
Thappu thaalangal
Vazhi thavariya paadhangal
Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena
Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal
Neraaga vaazhgindra mogam
Nerathil maraikindra megam
Madhiyodu nadakindra dhagam
Vidhiyodu selgindra vegam
Paaraalum veshangal
Paradesi kolangal
Vidhi vazhi dhinam odum odangal
Thappu thaalangal
Vazhi thavariya paadhangal
Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena
Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal
Ninaivengum mangalyam thaaimai
Nidham thorum vilayattu bommai
Poruladharam seidha vindhai
Ival porul dharam aagivita sandhai
Aval maanam parungal
Avamaana kolangal
Vidhi vazhi dhinam odum odangal
Thappu thaalangal
Vazhi thavariya paadhangal
Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena
Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal
Samudhaaya sandhaikku ponaal
Ivan pola pala perai kaanbom
Pidipatta pinthaanae kalvan
Adhu matum avan perum thalaivan
Idhu pondra paavangal
Samudhaaya paadangal
Vidhi vazhi dhinam odum odangal
Thappu thaalangal
Vazhi thavariya paadhangal
Ivar ipadi vaazhvadhena
Avan yezhudhiya vedhangal
False rhythms,
Feet that have lost their way.
That they should live like this,
Are the scriptures written by Him.
The gains He made,
The sins He created,
Melodies born of longing,
Yet turned into off-key songs!
False rhythms,
Feet that have lost their way.
That they should live like this,
Are the scriptures written by Him.
The desire to live an honest life
Is clouded over by ill-timed shadows.
The urge to walk guided by reason
Is swept away by the rush of fate.
Disguises that rule the world,
Forms of wandering beggars,
Boats drifting each day along the stream of fate.
False rhythms,
Feet that have lost their way.
That they should live like this,
Are the scriptures written by Him.
Thoughts filled with marriage and motherhood,
Yet every day, she is just a plaything.
The cruel trick played by money—
In this market, she became bought merchandise.
Look at her self-respect now,
Reduced to pitiful disgrace.
Boats drifting each day along the stream of fate.
False rhythms,
Feet that have lost their way.
That they should live like this,
Are the scriptures written by Him.
If you step into society's marketplace,
You will find many people just like him.
A man is called a thief only after being caught;
Until then, his name is that of a leader!
Sins such as these
Are lessons for society.
Boats drifting each day along the stream of fate.
False rhythms,
Feet that have lost their way.
That they should live like this,
Are the scriptures written by Him.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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