Thom Karuvil Irunthom
From Star · 2001
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Shankar Mahadevan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Star2001
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| ……………………………….. | |
| Male | |
| Thom karuvil irunthom | Thom, we were inside the womb |
| Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom | We lay there closing our eyes without any worry |
| Thom tharaiyil vizhunthom | Thom, we fell onto the earth |
| Vizhunthuvudan kann thookam tholaithom | The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep |
| Male | |
| Appothu appothu pona thookam | The sleep that left back then |
| Namm kangalillae | In our eyes |
| Eppothu eppothu vanthu serum | When will it ever return? |
| Vidai thonalaiyae | An answer doesn't come to mind |
| Male | |
| Thom karuvil irunthom | Thom, we were inside the womb |
| Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom | We lay there closing our eyes without any worry |
| Thom tharaiyil vizhunthom | Thom, we fell onto the earth |
| Vizhunthuvudan kann thookam tholaithom | The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep |
| Male | |
| Thom karuvil irunthom | Thom, we were inside the womb |
| Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom | We lay there closing our eyes without any worry |
| Male | |
| Appothu appothu pona thookam | The sleep that left back then |
| Namm kangalillae | In our eyes |
| Eppothu eppothu vanthu serum | When will it ever return? |
| Vidai thonalaiyae…ae…ae…. | An answer doesn't come to mind... |
| Male | |
| Thanneril vaazhkindrom | We live in water |
| Naam kooda machavathaaram thaan | We too are an avatar of Matsya |
| Male | |
| Thom karuvil irunthom | Thom, we were inside the womb |
| Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom | We lay there closing our eyes without any worry |
| Male | |
| Alaigalai alaigalai pidithu kondu | Holding onto the waves |
| Karaigalai adainthavar yaarumillai | No one has ever reached the shore |
| Thanimaiyil thanimaiyil thavithu kondu | Suffering in solitude |
| Sowkiyam adaivathu gnyayamillai | It is not fair to attain comfort |
| Male | |
| Kavalaikku maranthu intha raja thavam | Forgetting sorrow is this royal penance |
| Kanner kooda bothayin maruvadivam | Even tears are another form of intoxication |
| Vazhi ethu vazhkai ethu vilangavillai | Which is the path? What is life? It is not clear |
| Vattathukku thodakamum mudivumillai | A circle has neither a beginning nor an end |
| Male | |
| Kaiyil koppai illai endraal | If there is no cup in hand |
| Karpanai varaivathu nindruvidum | Imagination will cease to paint |
| Kanavugal mattum illai endral | If not for dreams |
| Kavalaigal nam udal thindru vidum | Sorrows will devour our body |
| Male | |
| Thom karuvil irunthom | Thom, we were inside the womb |
| Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom | We lay there closing our eyes without any worry |
| Thom tharaiyil vizhunthom | Thom, we fell onto the earth |
| Vizhunthuvudan kann thookam tholaithom | The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep |
| Male | |
| Appothu appothu pona thookam | The sleep that left back then |
| Namm kangalillae | In our eyes |
| Eppothu eppothu vanthu serum | When will it ever return? |
| Vidai thonalaiyae | An answer doesn't come to mind |
| Male | |
| ………………………………………… | |
| Male | |
| Jananam enbathu oru karaithan | Birth is one bank of the river |
| Maranam enbathu maru karaithan | Death is the other bank |
| Erandukkum naduvae oduvathu | Running between the two |
| Thalaividhi ennum oru nadhithan | Is a river called destiny |
| Male | |
| Vaazhkaiyin pidimaanam | A firm grip on life |
| Yethum illai | There is none |
| Intha kinnamthaanae pidimaanam | Only this goblet is the grip |
| Veru illai | Nothing else |
| Thraatshai thinpaavan puthisaliyaa | Is the one who eats grapes wise? |
| Pazharasam kudipavan kutravaaliya | Is the one who drinks fruit juice a criminal? |
| Male | |
| Pennukkul thodangum vazhkai ithu | This life begins inside a woman |
| Aaaaa….aaaa | Aaaaa....aaaa |
| Mannukkul mudikirathae | And ends inside the earth |
| Aaaaa…aaaa… | Aaaaa...aaaa... |
| Vishayam therinthum manitha inam | Even knowing this reality, humankind |
| Aaaaa…aaaa… | Aaaaa...aaaa... |
| Vinnukkum mannukkum parakirathae | Flies restlessly between the sky and the earth |
| Aaaaa…aaaa… | Aaaaa...aaaa... |
| Male | |
| Thom karuvil irunthom | Thom, we were inside the womb |
| Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom | We lay there closing our eyes without any worry |
| Thom tharaiyil vizhunthom | Thom, we fell onto the earth |
| Vizhunthuvudan kann thookam tholaithom | The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep |
| Male | |
| Appothu appothu pona thookam | The sleep that left back then |
| Namm kangalillae | In our eyes |
| Eppothu eppothu vanthu serum | When will it ever return? |
| Vidai thonalaiyae…ae……ae…… | An answer doesn't come to mind... |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………………………… | |
...............................................
தோம் கருவில் இருந்தோம்
கவலை இன்றி கண்மூடி கிடந்தோம்
தோம் தரையில் விழுந்தோம்
விழுந்துவுடன் கண் தூக்கம் தொலைத்தோம்
Thom, we were inside the womb
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
Thom, we fell onto the earth
The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep
அப்போது அப்போது போன
தூக்கம் நம் கண்களிலே
எப்போது எப்போது வந்து சேரும்
விடை தோணலையே
The sleep that left back then
In our eyes
When will it ever return?
An answer doesn't come to mind
தோம் கருவில் இருந்தோம்
கவலை இன்றி கண்மூடி கிடந்தோம்
தோம் தரையில் விழுந்தோம்
விழுந்துவுடன் கண் தூக்கம் தொலைத்தோம்
Thom, we were inside the womb
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
Thom, we fell onto the earth
The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep
தோம் கருவில் இருந்தோம்
கவலை இன்றி கண்மூடி கிடந்தோம்
Thom, we were inside the womb
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
அப்போது அப்போது போன
தூக்கம் நம் கண்களிலே
எப்போது எப்போது வந்து சேரும்
விடை தோணலையே..ஏ...ஏ....
The sleep that left back then
In our eyes
When will it ever return?
An answer doesn't come to mind...
தண்ணீரில் வாழ்கின்றேன்
நாம் கூட மச்சாவதாரம் தான்
We live in water
We too are an avatar of Matsya
தோம் கருவில் இருந்தோம்
கவலை இன்றி கண்மூடி கிடந்தோம்
Thom, we were inside the womb
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
அலைகளை அலைகளை
பிடித்து கொண்டு
கரைகளை அடைந்தவர் யாருமில்லை
தனிமையில் தனிமையில் தவித்து கொண்டு
சௌக்கியம் அடைவது ஞாயமில்லை
Holding onto the waves
No one has ever reached the shore
Suffering in solitude
It is not fair to attain comfort
கவலைக்கு மருந்து
இந்த ராஜா தவம்
கண்ணீர் கூட போதையின் மறுவடிவம்
வழி எது வாழ்கை எது விளங்கவில்லை
வட்டத்துக்கு தொடக்கமும் முடிவுமில்லை
Forgetting sorrow is this royal penance
Even tears are another form of intoxication
Which is the path? What is life? It is not clear
A circle has neither a beginning nor an end
கையில் கோப்பை
இல்லை என்றால்
கற்பனை வரைவது நின்று விடும்
கனவுகள் மட்டும் இல்லை என்றால்
கவலைகள் நம் உடல் தின்று விடும்
If there is no cup in hand
Imagination will cease to paint
If not for dreams
Sorrows will devour our body
தோம் கருவில் இருந்தோம்
கவலை இன்றி கண்மூடி கிடந்தோம்
தோம் தரையில் விழுந்தோம்
விழுந்துவுடன் கண் தூக்கம் தொலைத்தோம்
Thom, we were inside the womb
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
Thom, we fell onto the earth
The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep
அப்போது அப்போது போன
தூக்கம் நம் கண்களிலே
எப்போது எப்போது வந்து சேரும்
விடை தோணலையே
The sleep that left back then
In our eyes
When will it ever return?
An answer doesn't come to mind
..........................................
ஜனனம் என்பது ஒரு கரைதான்
மரணம் என்பது மறு கரை தான்
இரண்டுக்கும் நடுவே ஓடுவது
தலைவிதி என்னும் ஒரு நதி தான்
Birth is one bank of the river
Death is the other bank
Running between the two
Is a river called destiny
வாழ்கையின் பிடிமானம்
ஏதுமில்லை
இந்த கிண்ணம் தானே பிடிமானம்
வேரு இல்லை
திராட்ஷை தின்பவன் புத்திசாலியா
பழரசம் குடிப்பவன் குற்றவாளியா
A firm grip on life
There is none
Only this goblet is the grip
Nothing else
Is the one who eats grapes wise?
Is the one who drinks fruit juice a criminal?
பெண்ணுக்குள் தொடங்கும்
வாழ்க்கை இது....ஆஆஆ.......ஆஅ....
மண்ணுக்குள் முடிகிறதே
ஆஆஆ.......ஆஅ....
விஷயம் தெரிந்தும் மனித இனம்
ஆஆஆ.......ஆஅ....
விண்ணுக்கும் மண்ணுக்கும் பறக்கிறதே
ஆஆஆ.......ஆஅ....
This life begins inside a woman
Aaaaa....aaaa
And ends inside the earth
Aaaaa...aaaa...
Even knowing this reality, humankind
Aaaaa...aaaa...
Flies restlessly between the sky and the earth
Aaaaa...aaaa...
தோம் கருவில் இருந்தோம்
கவலை இன்றி கண்மூடி கிடந்தோம்
தோம் தரையில் விழுந்தோம்
விழுந்துவுடன் கண் தூக்கம் தொலைத்தோம்
Thom, we were inside the womb
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
Thom, we fell onto the earth
The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep
அப்போது அப்போது போன
தூக்கம் நம் கண்களிலே
எப்போது எப்போது வந்து சேரும்
விடை தோணலையே....ஏ.....ஏ.....
The sleep that left back then
In our eyes
When will it ever return?
An answer doesn't come to mind...
...............................................
………………………………..
Thom karuvil irunthom
Thom, we were inside the womb
Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
Thom tharaiyil vizhunthom
Thom, we fell onto the earth
Vizhunthuvudan kann thookam tholaithom
The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep
Appothu appothu pona thookam
The sleep that left back then
Namm kangalillae
In our eyes
Eppothu eppothu vanthu serum
When will it ever return?
Vidai thonalaiyae
An answer doesn't come to mind
Thom karuvil irunthom
Thom, we were inside the womb
Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
Thom tharaiyil vizhunthom
Thom, we fell onto the earth
Vizhunthuvudan kann thookam tholaithom
The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep
Thom karuvil irunthom
Thom, we were inside the womb
Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
Appothu appothu pona thookam
The sleep that left back then
Namm kangalillae
In our eyes
Eppothu eppothu vanthu serum
When will it ever return?
Vidai thonalaiyae…ae…ae….
An answer doesn't come to mind...
Thanneril vaazhkindrom
We live in water
Naam kooda machavathaaram thaan
We too are an avatar of Matsya
Thom karuvil irunthom
Thom, we were inside the womb
Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
Alaigalai alaigalai pidithu kondu
Holding onto the waves
Karaigalai adainthavar yaarumillai
No one has ever reached the shore
Thanimaiyil thanimaiyil thavithu kondu
Suffering in solitude
Sowkiyam adaivathu gnyayamillai
It is not fair to attain comfort
Kavalaikku maranthu intha raja thavam
Forgetting sorrow is this royal penance
Kanner kooda bothayin maruvadivam
Even tears are another form of intoxication
Vazhi ethu vazhkai ethu vilangavillai
Which is the path? What is life? It is not clear
Vattathukku thodakamum mudivumillai
A circle has neither a beginning nor an end
Kaiyil koppai illai endraal
If there is no cup in hand
Karpanai varaivathu nindruvidum
Imagination will cease to paint
Kanavugal mattum illai endral
If not for dreams
Kavalaigal nam udal thindru vidum
Sorrows will devour our body
Thom karuvil irunthom
Thom, we were inside the womb
Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
Thom tharaiyil vizhunthom
Thom, we fell onto the earth
Vizhunthuvudan kann thookam tholaithom
The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep
Appothu appothu pona thookam
The sleep that left back then
Namm kangalillae
In our eyes
Eppothu eppothu vanthu serum
When will it ever return?
Vidai thonalaiyae
An answer doesn't come to mind
…………………………………………
Jananam enbathu oru karaithan
Birth is one bank of the river
Maranam enbathu maru karaithan
Death is the other bank
Erandukkum naduvae oduvathu
Running between the two
Thalaividhi ennum oru nadhithan
Is a river called destiny
Vaazhkaiyin pidimaanam
A firm grip on life
Yethum illai
There is none
Intha kinnamthaanae pidimaanam
Only this goblet is the grip
Veru illai
Nothing else
Thraatshai thinpaavan puthisaliyaa
Is the one who eats grapes wise?
Pazharasam kudipavan kutravaaliya
Is the one who drinks fruit juice a criminal?
Pennukkul thodangum vazhkai ithu
This life begins inside a woman
Aaaaa….aaaa
Aaaaa....aaaa
Mannukkul mudikirathae
And ends inside the earth
Aaaaa…aaaa…
Aaaaa...aaaa...
Vishayam therinthum manitha inam
Even knowing this reality, humankind
Aaaaa…aaaa…
Aaaaa...aaaa...
Vinnukkum mannukkum parakirathae
Flies restlessly between the sky and the earth
Aaaaa…aaaa…
Aaaaa...aaaa...
Thom karuvil irunthom
Thom, we were inside the womb
Kavalai indri kannmoodi kidanthom
We lay there closing our eyes without any worry
Thom tharaiyil vizhunthom
Thom, we fell onto the earth
Vizhunthuvudan kann thookam tholaithom
The moment we fell, we lost our eye's sleep
Appothu appothu pona thookam
The sleep that left back then
Namm kangalillae
In our eyes
Eppothu eppothu vanthu serum
When will it ever return?
Vidai thonalaiyae…ae……ae……
An answer doesn't come to mind...
………………………………………
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thom Karuvil Irunthom is a deeply philosophical song from the film Star (2001), composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics written by Vairamuthu and sung by Shankar Mahadevan. The song reflects on the trajectory of human existence, contrasting the peaceful, worry-free state of a fetus floating in the embryonic fluid of the womb with the constant turmoil, anxiety, and sleeplessness experienced upon being born into the world.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Jananam enbathu oru karaithan / Maranam enbathu maru karaithan / Erandukkum naduvae oduvathu / Thalaividhi ennum oru nadhithan”
Birth and death are portrayed as two banks of a river, while destiny is depicted as the river flowing between them.
Anaphora / Repetition (Edukku Thodai)
“Appothu appothu pona thookam / Eppothu eppothu vanthu serum”
Repetition of words like 'Appothu appothu' and 'Eppothu eppothu' reinforces the intense yearning for peace and rhythmic emphasis.
Rhetorical Question
“Thraatshai thinpaavan puthisaliyaa / Pazharasam kudipavan kutravaaliya”
The lyricist uses ironical questioning about eating grapes vs drinking fermented juice to challenge moral dogmas.
Edukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Thom karuvil irunthom / Thom tharaiyil vizhunthom”
The second consonant 'ru' in Karuvil rhymes with 'ra' in Tharaiyil, bringing classical Tamil poetic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
The soundtrack of Star (2001) comprised recycled tunes by A.R. Rahman from various non-Tamil projects, including songs originally composed for the 1999 Hindi film Thakshak ('Jambo' / 'Boombai Nagariya' melody) and Telugu tracks. 'Thom Karuvil Irunthom' features dynamic vocals by Shankar Mahadevan and stands out for Vairamuthu's existentialist lyrics.
Keep listening
More from Star
Star
Star
Star
Star