Thedi Thedi
From Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal · 2017
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Thiruvudiyan
- Music director
- Bharadwaj
- Details
- Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal2017
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thedi thedi paakkuraen | I keep searching and searching |
| Avan odi odi oliyuraan | He keeps running and hiding |
| Thedi thedi paakkuraen | I keep searching and searching |
| Avan odi odi oliyuraan | He keeps running and hiding |
| Male | |
| Ottaipaanai odambukkulla | Inside this body like a leaky pot |
| Usuraiyum ooththi vachchavanae | Oh Creator who poured in the life force! |
| Male | |
| Thedi thedi paakkuraen | I keep searching and searching |
| Avan odi odi oliyuraan | He keeps running and hiding |
| Male | |
| Vantha vazhi sollaama | Without revealing the way we came |
| Pora vazhi illaama | Without showing a path to go forward |
| Kanna katti aanum ponna | Blindfolding both man and woman |
| Kaattu vazhi vittavanae | Oh Creator who left us on a forest path! |
| Male | |
| Thedi thedi paakkuraen | I keep searching and searching |
| Avan odi odi oliyuraan | He keeps running and hiding |
| Male | |
| Oruththanukku oruththunaa | If a man belongs to a single woman |
| Adhuvum ingae kaaviyam | That too becomes an epic here |
| Anju perukku oruththinaa | If a woman belongs to five men |
| Adhuvum ingae kaaviyam | That too becomes an epic here |
| Male | |
| Karpu needhi idhiyaathu | Chastity and justice are not fixed |
| Kaalam seiyum kaariyam | They are merely the doings of time |
| Kaalam pogum pokka paaththu | Observing the direction time takes |
| Maaruthaiyaa jeevitham | Human life keeps changing |
| Male | |
| Kaalam potta road-tu vazhi | Along the road laid out by time |
| Manushan koottam pogala | The crowd of humans does not travel |
| Manushan potta road-tu vazhi | Along the road laid out by humans |
| Kaalam vanthu serala | Time never arrives to walk |
| Male | |
| Kaalaththoda manushanaiyum | Pitting man against time |
| Manusanoda kaalaththaiyum | And time against man |
| Mutta vittu mutta vittu | Making them collide again and again |
| Etti ninni sirippavana | Oh Creator who stands at a distance and laughs! |
| Male | |
| Thedi thedi paakkuraen | I keep searching and searching |
| Avan odi odi oliyuraan | He keeps running and hiding |
| Male | |
| Innaarukku innaaruyinnu | That this person is meant for that person |
| Ezhuthi onnum vaikkala | Nothing has been pre-written |
| Ezhuthi vachu paaththaalum | Even if we write it down and see |
| Ellaamae nikkala | Nothing stays permanent |
| Male | |
| Saththiyaththil vaazhnthavanum | The one who lives with truth |
| Sattapadi thokkuraan | Loses according to human law |
| Sattam meeri poravanum | The one who breaks the law |
| Saththiyaththai jeyikkiraan | Triumphs over truth |
| Male | |
| Savak kuzhikku pona silar | Some who went into the grave |
| Seththa pinnum irakkuraan | Continue to live even after death |
| Saalaiyilae pogum palar | Many who walk upon the street |
| Vaazhnthu kondae marikkiraan | Keep dying while still alive |
| Male | |
| Aalukkoru vidukathaiyai | Posing a riddle for each person |
| Pottu vittu ponavana | And walking away |
| Naalukkoru vidaiya mattum | Changing the answer every day |
| Maaththi maaththi sonnavana | Oh Creator who keeps changing it! |
| Male | |
| Thedi thedi paakkuraen | I keep searching and searching |
| Avan odi odi oliyuraan | He keeps running and hiding |
| Avan odi odi oliyuraan | He keeps running and hiding |
தேடி தேடி பாக்குறேன்
அவன் ஓடி ஓடி ஒளியுறான்
தேடி தேடி பாக்குறேன்
அவன் ஓடி ஓடி ஒளியுறான்
I keep searching and searching
He keeps running and hiding
I keep searching and searching
He keeps running and hiding
ஒட்டைபானை ஒடம்புக்குள்ள
உசுரையும் ஊத்தி வச்சவனே
Inside this body like a leaky pot
Oh Creator who poured in the life force!
தேடி தேடி பாக்குறேன்
அவன் ஓடி ஓடி ஒளியுறான்
I keep searching and searching
He keeps running and hiding
வந்த வழி சொல்லாம
போற வழி இல்லாம
கண்ண கட்டி ஆணும் பொண்ண
காட்டு வழி விட்டவனே
Without revealing the way we came
Without showing a path to go forward
Blindfolding both man and woman
Oh Creator who left us on a forest path!
தேடி தேடி பாக்குறேன்
அவன் ஓடி ஓடி ஒளியுறான்
I keep searching and searching
He keeps running and hiding
ஒருத்தனுக்கு ஒருத்தினா
அதுவும் இங்கே காவியம்
அஞ்சு பேருக்கு ஒருத்தினா
அதுவும் இங்கே காவியம்
If a man belongs to a single woman
That too becomes an epic here
If a woman belongs to five men
That too becomes an epic here
கற்பு நீதி இதியாதி
காலம் செய்யும் காரியம்
காலம் போகும் போக்க பாத்து
மாறுதையா ஜீவிதம்
Chastity and justice are not fixed
They are merely the doings of time
Observing the direction time takes
Human life keeps changing
காலம் போட்ட ரோட்டு வழி
மனுஷன் கூட்டம் போகல
மனுஷன் போட்ட ரோட்டு வழி
காலம் வந்து சேரல
Along the road laid out by time
The crowd of humans does not travel
Along the road laid out by humans
Time never arrives to walk
காலத்தோட மனுஷனையும்
மனுசனோட காலத்தையும்
முட்ட விட்டு முட்ட விட்டு
எட்டி நின்னு சிரிப்பவன
Pitting man against time
And time against man
Making them collide again and again
Oh Creator who stands at a distance and laughs!
தேடி தேடி பாக்குறேன்
அவன் ஓடி ஓடி ஒளியுறான்
I keep searching and searching
He keeps running and hiding
இன்னாருக்கு இன்னாருயின்னு
எழுதி ஒன்னும் வைக்கல
எழுதி வச்சு பாத்தாலும்
எல்லாமே நிக்கல
That this person is meant for that person
Nothing has been pre-written
Even if we write it down and see
Nothing stays permanent
சத்தியத்தில் வாழ்ந்தவனும்
சட்டப்படி தோக்குறான்
சட்டம் மீறி போறவனும்
சத்தியத்தை ஜெயிக்கிறான்
The one who lives with truth
Loses according to human law
The one who breaks the law
Triumphs over truth
சவக் குழிக்கு போன சிலர்
செத்த பின்னும் இறக்குறான்
சாலையிலே போகும் பலர்
வாழ்ந்து கொண்டே மறிக்கிறான்
Some who went into the grave
Continue to live even after death
Many who walk upon the street
Keep dying while still alive
ஆளுக்கொரு விடுகதையை
போட்டு விட்டு போனவன
நாளுக்கொரு விடைய மட்டும்
மாத்தி மாத்தி சொன்னவன
Posing a riddle for each person
And walking away
Changing the answer every day
Oh Creator who keeps changing it!
தேடி தேடி பாக்குறேன்
அவன் ஓடி ஓடி ஒளியுறான்
அவன் ஓடி ஓடி ஒளியுறான்
I keep searching and searching
He keeps running and hiding
He keeps running and hiding
Thedi thedi paakkuraen
I keep searching and searching
Avan odi odi oliyuraan
He keeps running and hiding
Thedi thedi paakkuraen
I keep searching and searching
Avan odi odi oliyuraan
He keeps running and hiding
Ottaipaanai odambukkulla
Inside this body like a leaky pot
Usuraiyum ooththi vachchavanae
Oh Creator who poured in the life force!
Thedi thedi paakkuraen
I keep searching and searching
Avan odi odi oliyuraan
He keeps running and hiding
Vantha vazhi sollaama
Without revealing the way we came
Pora vazhi illaama
Without showing a path to go forward
Kanna katti aanum ponna
Blindfolding both man and woman
Kaattu vazhi vittavanae
Oh Creator who left us on a forest path!
Thedi thedi paakkuraen
I keep searching and searching
Avan odi odi oliyuraan
He keeps running and hiding
Oruththanukku oruththunaa
If a man belongs to a single woman
Adhuvum ingae kaaviyam
That too becomes an epic here
Anju perukku oruththinaa
If a woman belongs to five men
Adhuvum ingae kaaviyam
That too becomes an epic here
Karpu needhi idhiyaathu
Chastity and justice are not fixed
Kaalam seiyum kaariyam
They are merely the doings of time
Kaalam pogum pokka paaththu
Observing the direction time takes
Maaruthaiyaa jeevitham
Human life keeps changing
Kaalam potta road-tu vazhi
Along the road laid out by time
Manushan koottam pogala
The crowd of humans does not travel
Manushan potta road-tu vazhi
Along the road laid out by humans
Kaalam vanthu serala
Time never arrives to walk
Kaalaththoda manushanaiyum
Pitting man against time
Manusanoda kaalaththaiyum
And time against man
Mutta vittu mutta vittu
Making them collide again and again
Etti ninni sirippavana
Oh Creator who stands at a distance and laughs!
Thedi thedi paakkuraen
I keep searching and searching
Avan odi odi oliyuraan
He keeps running and hiding
Innaarukku innaaruyinnu
That this person is meant for that person
Ezhuthi onnum vaikkala
Nothing has been pre-written
Ezhuthi vachu paaththaalum
Even if we write it down and see
Ellaamae nikkala
Nothing stays permanent
Saththiyaththil vaazhnthavanum
The one who lives with truth
Sattapadi thokkuraan
Loses according to human law
Sattam meeri poravanum
The one who breaks the law
Saththiyaththai jeyikkiraan
Triumphs over truth
Savak kuzhikku pona silar
Some who went into the grave
Seththa pinnum irakkuraan
Continue to live even after death
Saalaiyilae pogum palar
Many who walk upon the street
Vaazhnthu kondae marikkiraan
Keep dying while still alive
Aalukkoru vidukathaiyai
Posing a riddle for each person
Pottu vittu ponavana
And walking away
Naalukkoru vidaiya mattum
Changing the answer every day
Maaththi maaththi sonnavana
Oh Creator who keeps changing it!
Thedi thedi paakkuraen
I keep searching and searching
Avan odi odi oliyuraan
He keeps running and hiding
Avan odi odi oliyuraan
He keeps running and hiding
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song from Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal reflects on human existence, destiny, time, and the elusive nature of God. The protagonist seeks the Almighty, portraying Him as a cosmic trickster who endows fragile bodies with life, leaves humans in a maze without directions, and laughs at their struggles against time. The lyrics question rigid societal morality and contrast worldly ironies, such as the honest losing legally while the lawbreakers triumph. Vairamuthu's verses emphasize that life is an ever-shifting riddle created by God, where physical death isn't true demise and living doesn't guarantee being truly alive. Through Bharadwaj's music and Thiruvudaiyan's grounded vocals, the song captures a profound existential angst.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Ottaipaanai odambukkulla”
Compares the human physical body to a leaky earthen pot ('Ottaipaanai odambukkulla'), emphasizing the fragility and impermanence of mortal life.
Adukku Thodar (Repetition / Anaphora)
“Thedi thedi paakkuraen / Avan odi odi oliyuraan”
Repetition of words like 'Thedi thedi' and 'Odi odi' to emphasize continuous, repeated actions of searching and hiding.
Paradox / Irony (Muraan)
“Savak kuzhikku pona silar Seththa pinnum irakkuraan / Saalaiyilae pogum palar Vaazhnthu kondae marikkiraan”
Juxtaposes how those who are dead still live (through their legacy/impact) while those walking alive are spiritually dead inside.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal, directed by Thangar Bachan and starring Prabhu Deva and Bhumika Chawla, experienced a severe release delay of nearly ten years. Though production began in 2008, the movie was finally released in late December 2017. The track features powerful vocals by folk singer Thiruvudaiyan, composed by veteran director Bharadwaj.
Keep listening
More from Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal
Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal
Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal
Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal
Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal