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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

The Karma Theme

From U Turn · 2018

Lyricist
Subu
Singer
Anirudh Ravichander
Music director
Anirudh Ravichander
Details
U Turn2018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thisai thirumbi naalumEven if directions change
Kadal malai kadanthu ponaalumEven if one crosses seas and mountains
Manam thirunthi naalumEven if the heart repents
Vazhi ranam maranthu ponaalumEven if the pain of the path is forgotten
Male
Sagaaa…aaa…aaa….aa…O companion...
Kaalam thooram engae sendraalumWherever time and distance may go
Sagaaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…O companion...
Vinai unai thodumKarma will touch you
Male
Un sirippukku vithai…The seed for your laughter...
NeethanIs you alone
Un kanneerikkum ore vinaiThe sole cause for your tears as well
NeethanIs you alone
Ambu vitta velan…neethanThe archer who shot the arrow... is you
Ambai thaanga pogum nenjamThe heart that will bear the arrow
NeethanIs you alone
Male
Manam thirunthi naalum…Even if the heart repents...
Male
Kanaa kalaintha pothumEven when dreams shatter
Yetho vinaa enai panthadumSome question tosses me around
Yevan varaintha maayamWhose crafted illusion is this?
Ival ivan verum athyaiyamShe and he are merely a chapter
Male
Sagaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….O companion...
Vegam odum kaalam theerathaIs fast-running time never ending?
Sagaaa…aa….aaaa….aaa….O companion...
Ellai illaathathaaIs it without boundaries?
Male
Thedi chellum kangal…The eyes that go searching...
NeethanAre you alone
Kannil kaanum bimbam yethumWhatever reflection seen in those eyes
NeethanIs you alone
Bimbam kaattum paathai…neethanThe path shown by the reflection... is you
Pathai sendru serum idamThe place where the path leads to
NeethanIs you alone
Male
Yevan varaintha maayam…Whose crafted illusion is this...
Male
Neeyae vithaiYou are the seed
Neeyae mazhaiYou are the rain
Maram neeYou are the tree
Neeyae kizhaiYou are the branch
Neeyae kani marupadiYou are the fruit once again
Male
Neeyae vithaiYou are the seed
Neeyae mazhaiYou are the rain
Maram neeYou are the tree
Neeyae kizhaiYou are the branch
Neeyae kani marupadiYou are the fruit once again
Male
Sagaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…O companion...
Kaalam thooram engae sendraalumWherever time and distance may go
Sagaaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…O companion...
Vinai unai thodumKarma will touch you
Male
Manam thirunthi naalum…Even if the heart repents...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The Karma Theme from U Turn centers on the inescapable law of cause and effect (Karma). It philosophically asserts that an individual is solely responsible for their own joys, sorrows, actions, and consequences. Regardless of how far one runs, repents, or tries to escape past deeds, time ensures that karma eventually catches up to them. Using the cyclical metaphor of a seed growing into a rain-fed tree, branch, fruit, and returning to a seed, the song highlights the continuous cycle of cause and consequence. Humans are both the perpetrator and the victim, the archer and the target, reinforcing the mystery and destiny-driven narrative of the film.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition

Neethan

The word 'Neethan' (Is you alone) and 'Neeyae' (You yourself) are repeatedly used at the beginning or end of consecutive lines to emphasize absolute self-responsibility.

Metaphor

Neeyae vithai / Neeyae mazhai / Maram nee...

Comparing a person's choices and consequences to the full biological life cycle: seed, rain, tree, branch, and fruit.

Rhetorical Question

Vegam odum kaalam theeratha... Ellai illaathathaa

Asking whether time ever runs out or has boundaries, highlighting human helplessness against temporal progression.

Did you know?

Trivia

The promotional 'Karma Theme' for U Turn was composed and performed by Anirudh Ravichander, featuring actress Samantha Akkineni in a distinct dance video, while the movie's main background score and soundtrack were composed by Poornachandra Tejaswi.

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