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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Thedi Thedi

From Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal · 2017

Lyricist: Vairamuthu
Singer: Thiruvudiyan
Music director: Bharadwaj
Movie name: Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal
Movie release year: 2017
Lyrics added on: 21 Aug 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Thedi thedi paakkuraen

Avan odi odi oliyuraan

Thedi thedi paakkuraen

Avan odi odi oliyuraan

Ottaipaanai odambukkulla

Usuraiyum ooththi vachchavanae

Thedi thedi paakkuraen

Avan odi odi oliyuraan

Vantha vazhi sollaama

Pora vazhi illaama

Kanna katti aanum ponna

Kaattu vazhi vittavanae

Thedi thedi paakkuraen

Avan odi odi oliyuraan

Oruththanukku oruththunaa

Adhuvum ingae kaaviyam

Anju perukku oruththinaa

Adhuvum ingae kaaviyam

Karpu needhi idhiyaathu

Kaalam seiyum kaariyam

Kaalam pogum pokka paaththu

Maaruthaiyaa jeevitham

Kaalam potta road-tu vazhi

Manushan koottam pogala

Manushan potta road-tu vazhi

Kaalam vanthu serala

Kaalaththoda manushanaiyum

Manusanoda kaalaththaiyum

Mutta vittu mutta vittu

Etti ninni sirippavana

Thedi thedi paakkuraen

Avan odi odi oliyuraan

Innaarukku innaaruyinnu

Ezhuthi onnum vaikkala

Ezhuthi vachu paaththaalum

Ellaamae nikkala

Saththiyaththil vaazhnthavanum

Sattapadi thokkuraan

Sattam meeri poravanum

Saththiyaththai jeyikkiraan

Savak kuzhikku pona silar

Seththa pinnum irakkuraan

Saalaiyilae pogum palar

Vaazhnthu kondae marikkiraan

Aalukkoru vidukathaiyai

Pottu vittu ponavana

Naalukkoru vidaiya mattum

Maaththi maaththi sonnavana

Thedi thedi paakkuraen

Avan odi odi oliyuraan

Avan odi odi oliyuraan

I keep searching and searching for Him,

But He keeps running and hiding.

I keep searching and searching for Him,

But He keeps running and hiding.

Inside this leaky clay pot of a body,

O One who poured the breath of life!

I keep searching and searching for Him,

But He keeps running and hiding.

Without telling us where we came from,

Without showing us where to go,

Blindfolding both man and woman,

The One who left us lost in the wilderness—

I keep searching and searching for Him,

But He keeps running and hiding.

If it is one woman for one man,

That is an epic story here.

If it is one woman for five men,

That too is an epic story here.

Chastity, justice, and all such rules

Are only the play of time.

Watching the way time moves,

Human life keeps changing its course.

Along the road laid out by time,

The crowd of mankind does not walk.

Along the road built by man,

Time has never arrived.

Pitting time against man,

And man against time,

Making them clash again and again,

The One who stands far away and laughs—

I keep searching and searching for Him,

But He keeps running and hiding.

Who is destined for whom,

Nothing is written in stone.

Even when we try to write it down,

Nothing ever holds firm.

The one who lives by the truth

Loses under the law.

The one who breaks every law

Triumphs over the truth.

Some who have gone to the grave

Keep dying even after death.

Many who walk on the street

Are dead even while they live.

Leaving a riddle for each of us,

The One who walked away,

Changing the answers

With every passing day—

I keep searching and searching for Him,

He keeps running and hiding,

He keeps running and hiding.

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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