Vattam
From Vattam · 2022
- Lyricist
- Super Subu
- Singers
- Nivas K. Prasanna, Malgudi Subha
- Music director
- Nivas K. Prasanna
- Details
- Vattam2022
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| I can create life | I can create life |
| People say | Some people say |
| I’m a protector – | I am a protector |
| Someone say | Some say |
| I destroy things some people do say | Some people say I destroy things |
| I don’t exist some say | Some say I do not exist |
| I got something to say ennoda raasaa | I have something to say, my dear king |
| I can’t change your fate | I cannot change your fate |
| But, i can always oversee | But I can always oversee |
| I can so foresee | I can foresee everything |
| Female | |
| Vattam thaan ilakkiyam raasaa | Literature is a circle, my king |
| Vattam thaan vedhiyal raasaa | Chemistry is a circle, my king |
| Vattam thaan sariththiram raasaa | History is a circle, my king |
| Ellaam vattam | Everything is a circle |
| Female | |
| Vattam thaan sooniyam raasaa | Emptiness is a circle, my king |
| Vattam thaan kodiyum raasaa | Even ten million is a circle, my king |
| Vattam thaan nerandharam raasaa | Eternity is a circle, my king |
| Ellaam vattam | Everything is a circle |
| Chorus | |
| Thakkaali anbaalae | Does a tomato ripen |
| Thaan pazhukkumaa | Just out of love? |
| En pangaali panaththaala thaan | My partner, is it only through money |
| Un olagame sozhalumaa | That your world revolves? |
| Chorus | |
| ………………… | ... |
| Female | |
| Sozhaludhaa uruludhaa | Is it spinning? Is it rolling? |
| Thirumbunaa kozhambudhaa | When it turns around, does it get confused? |
| Mudivule thodangudhaa | Does it begin at the end? |
| Surundadhum velangudha..aaa | When curled up, does it become clear? |
| Chorus | |
| Vittaththa paaththuttae | Looking up at the empty ceiling |
| Kattam pottu puttaano | Did he draw grid boxes/plans? |
| Thittaththa theettith thaan | Sharpening his plan |
| Vattaththukkul nattaano | Did he plant it inside the circle? |
| Kal mela suttaano | Did he shoot on stone? |
| Compass aala ittaano | Did he draw it with a compass? |
| Kallaadha paadaththa | The unlearned lesson |
| Kaththukka thaan vuttaano | Did he leave it for us to learn? |
| Chorus | |
| Hoo oo oo….. | Hoo oo oo... |
| Female | |
| You are such a fool one day | You are such a fool one day |
| But you are cool one day | But you are cool one day |
| You bury your head in earth one day | You bury your head in the earth one day |
| You shine it on one day | You shine on one day |
| But you’re never the same ennoda raasaa | But you are never the same, my dear king |
| You can choose your fate.. | You can choose your fate... |
| But do you choose itwisely | But do you choose it wisely? |
| Would you choose wisely | Would you choose wisely? |
| Male | |
| Vattam thaan ilakkiyam raasaa | Literature is a circle, my king |
| Vattam thaan vedhiyal raasaa | Chemistry is a circle, my king |
| Vattam thaan sariththiram raasaa | History is a circle, my king |
| Ellaam vattam | Everything is a circle |
| Male | |
| Sozhaludhaa | Is it spinning? |
| Chorus :Sozhaludhaa | Chorus: Is it spinning? |
| Male :Uruludhaa | Male: Is it rolling? |
| Chorus :Uruludhaa | Chorus: Is it rolling? |
| Male :Thirumbunaa | Male: When turned |
| Chorus :Thirumbunaa | Chorus: When turned |
| Male :Kozhambudhaa | Male: Is it confused? |
| Chorus :Kozhambudhaa | Chorus: Is it confused? |
| Male :Mudivule | Male: At the end |
| Chorus :Mudivule | Chorus: At the end |
| Male :Thodangudhaa | Male: Does it begin? |
| Chorus :Thodangudhaa | Chorus: Does it begin? |
| Male :Surundadhum | Male: When curled up |
| Chorus :Surundadhum | Chorus: When curled up |
| Male :Velangudhaa | Male: Is it understood? |
| Chorus :Velangudhaa | Chorus: Is it understood? |
| Chorus | |
| ……………… | ... |
| Chorus | |
| Single tea dharmaththaala | Is a single tea obtained |
| Thaan kedaikkuma | Out of charity? |
| En uncle nee korichadhum | My uncle, whatever you consumed |
| Un panaththula serikkumaa | Will it digest through your money? |
| Chorus | |
| Oppukkun chappaano | Is he a mere plaything? |
| Uchcham thotta machchaano | Or a brother-in-law who reached the peak? |
| Thappukkum serththu thaan | Even for the mistakes made |
| Kappam katta vachchaano | Did he make you pay the tribute? |
| Gadigaaram paaththukko | Watch the clock |
| Parigaaraththa theerththukko | Fulfill your remedies |
| Aridhaaram vittu thaan | Shed the makeup |
| Adhigaaraththa yeththukko | And assume authority |
| Chorus | |
| Hoo oo oo…… | Hoo oo oo... |
ஐ கேன் க்ரேட் லைஃப்
பீப்பிள் சே
ஐ அம் எ ப்ரொடெக்டர்
சம்ஒண் சே
ஐ டெஸ்ட்ராய் திங்ஸ் சம் பீப்பிள் டூ சே
ஐ டோன்’ட் எக்ஸிஸ்ட் சம் சே
ஐ கோட் சம்திங் டு சே என்னோட ராசா
ஐ கான்’ட் சேஞ்ச் யுவர் பேட்
பட், ஐ கேன் ஆல்வெய்ஸ் ஓவர்ஸீ
ஐ கேன் சோ போர்ஸீ
I can create life
Some people say
I am a protector
Some say
Some people say I destroy things
Some say I do not exist
I have something to say, my dear king
I cannot change your fate
But I can always oversee
I can foresee everything
வட்டம் தான் இலக்கியம் ராசா
வட்டம் தான் வேதியல் ராசா
வட்டம் தான் சரித்திரம் ராசா
எல்லாம் வட்டம்
Literature is a circle, my king
Chemistry is a circle, my king
History is a circle, my king
Everything is a circle
வட்டம் தான் சூனியம் ராசா
வட்டம் தான் கோடியும் ராசா
வட்டம் தான் நேரந்தரம் ராசா
எல்லாம் வட்டம்
Emptiness is a circle, my king
Even ten million is a circle, my king
Eternity is a circle, my king
Everything is a circle
தக்காளி அன்பாலே
தான் பழுக்குமா
என் பங்காளி பணத்தால தான்
உன் ஒலகமே சொழலுமா
Does a tomato ripen
Just out of love?
My partner, is it only through money
That your world revolves?
.....................
...
சொழலுதா உருளுதா
திரும்புனா கொழம்புதா
முடிவுலே தொடங்குதா
சுருண்டதும் வெளங்குதா..ஆ ..
Is it spinning? Is it rolling?
When it turns around, does it get confused?
Does it begin at the end?
When curled up, does it become clear?
விட்டத்த பாத்துட்டே
கட்டம் போட்டு புட்டானோ
திட்டத்த தீட்டித் தான்
வட்டத்துக்குள் நட்டானோ
கல் மேல சுட்டானோ
காம்பஸ் ஆல இட்டானோ
கல்லாத பாடத்த
கத்துக்க தான் வுட்டானோ
Looking up at the empty ceiling
Did he draw grid boxes/plans?
Sharpening his plan
Did he plant it inside the circle?
Did he shoot on stone?
Did he draw it with a compass?
The unlearned lesson
Did he leave it for us to learn?
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ
Hoo oo oo...
யு ஆர் சச் எ பூல் ஒன் டே
பட் யு ஆர் கூல் ஒன் டே
யு புரி யுவர் ஹெட் இன் எர்த் ஒன் டே
யு ஷைன் இட் ஆன் ஒன் டே
பட் யு ஆர் னெவர் தி சேம் என்னோட ராசா
யு கேன் சூஸ் யுவர் பேட்
பட் டூ யு சூஸ் இட் விஸ்லி
வுட் யு சூஸ் விஸ்லி
You are such a fool one day
But you are cool one day
You bury your head in the earth one day
You shine on one day
But you are never the same, my dear king
You can choose your fate...
But do you choose it wisely?
Would you choose wisely?
வட்டம் தான் இலக்கியம் ராசா
வட்டம் தான் வேதியல் ராசா
வட்டம் தான் சரித்திரம் ராசா
எல்லாம் வட்டம்
Literature is a circle, my king
Chemistry is a circle, my king
History is a circle, my king
Everything is a circle
சொழலுதா
குழு :
சொழலுதா
உருளுதா
குழு :
உருளுதா
திரும்புனா
குழு :
திரும்புனா
கொழம்புதா
குழு :
கொழம்புதா
முடிவுலே
குழு :
முடிவுலே
தொடங்குதா
குழு :
தொடங்குதா
சுருண்டதும்
குழு :
சுருண்டதும்
வெளங்குதா
குழு :
வெளங்குதா
Is it spinning?
Chorus: Is it spinning?
Male: Is it rolling?
Chorus: Is it rolling?
Male: When turned
Chorus: When turned
Male: Is it confused?
Chorus: Is it confused?
Male: At the end
Chorus: At the end
Male: Does it begin?
Chorus: Does it begin?
Male: When curled up
Chorus: When curled up
Male: Is it understood?
Chorus: Is it understood?
..................
...
சிங்கிள் டீ தர்மத்தால
தான் கெடைக்குமா
என் அங்கிள் நீ கொரிச்சதும்
உன் பணத்துல செரிக்குமா
Is a single tea obtained
Out of charity?
My uncle, whatever you consumed
Will it digest through your money?
ஒப்புக்குன் சப்பானோ
உச்சம் தொட்ட மச்சானோ
தப்புக்கும் சேர்த்து தான்
கப்பம் கட்ட வச்சானோ
கடிகாரம் பாத்துக்கோ
பரிகாரத்த தீர்த்துக்கோ
அரிதாரம் விட்டு தான்
அதிகாரத்த ஏத்துக்கோ
Is he a mere plaything?
Or a brother-in-law who reached the peak?
Even for the mistakes made
Did he make you pay the tribute?
Watch the clock
Fulfill your remedies
Shed the makeup
And assume authority
ஹோ ஓ ஓ....
Hoo oo oo...
I can create life
I can create life
People say
Some people say
I’m a protector –
I am a protector
Someone say
Some say
I destroy things some people do say
Some people say I destroy things
I don’t exist some say
Some say I do not exist
I got something to say ennoda raasaa
I have something to say, my dear king
I can’t change your fate
I cannot change your fate
But, i can always oversee
But I can always oversee
I can so foresee
I can foresee everything
Vattam thaan ilakkiyam raasaa
Literature is a circle, my king
Vattam thaan vedhiyal raasaa
Chemistry is a circle, my king
Vattam thaan sariththiram raasaa
History is a circle, my king
Ellaam vattam
Everything is a circle
Vattam thaan sooniyam raasaa
Emptiness is a circle, my king
Vattam thaan kodiyum raasaa
Even ten million is a circle, my king
Vattam thaan nerandharam raasaa
Eternity is a circle, my king
Ellaam vattam
Everything is a circle
Thakkaali anbaalae
Does a tomato ripen
Thaan pazhukkumaa
Just out of love?
En pangaali panaththaala thaan
My partner, is it only through money
Un olagame sozhalumaa
That your world revolves?
…………………
...
Sozhaludhaa uruludhaa
Is it spinning? Is it rolling?
Thirumbunaa kozhambudhaa
When it turns around, does it get confused?
Mudivule thodangudhaa
Does it begin at the end?
Surundadhum velangudha..aaa
When curled up, does it become clear?
Vittaththa paaththuttae
Looking up at the empty ceiling
Kattam pottu puttaano
Did he draw grid boxes/plans?
Thittaththa theettith thaan
Sharpening his plan
Vattaththukkul nattaano
Did he plant it inside the circle?
Kal mela suttaano
Did he shoot on stone?
Compass aala ittaano
Did he draw it with a compass?
Kallaadha paadaththa
The unlearned lesson
Kaththukka thaan vuttaano
Did he leave it for us to learn?
Hoo oo oo…..
Hoo oo oo...
You are such a fool one day
You are such a fool one day
But you are cool one day
But you are cool one day
You bury your head in earth one day
You bury your head in the earth one day
You shine it on one day
You shine on one day
But you’re never the same ennoda raasaa
But you are never the same, my dear king
You can choose your fate..
You can choose your fate...
But do you choose itwisely
But do you choose it wisely?
Would you choose wisely
Would you choose wisely?
Vattam thaan ilakkiyam raasaa
Literature is a circle, my king
Vattam thaan vedhiyal raasaa
Chemistry is a circle, my king
Vattam thaan sariththiram raasaa
History is a circle, my king
Ellaam vattam
Everything is a circle
Sozhaludhaa
Is it spinning?
Chorus :Sozhaludhaa
Chorus: Is it spinning?
Male :Uruludhaa
Male: Is it rolling?
Chorus :Uruludhaa
Chorus: Is it rolling?
Male :Thirumbunaa
Male: When turned
Chorus :Thirumbunaa
Chorus: When turned
Male :Kozhambudhaa
Male: Is it confused?
Chorus :Kozhambudhaa
Chorus: Is it confused?
Male :Mudivule
Male: At the end
Chorus :Mudivule
Chorus: At the end
Male :Thodangudhaa
Male: Does it begin?
Chorus :Thodangudhaa
Chorus: Does it begin?
Male :Surundadhum
Male: When curled up
Chorus :Surundadhum
Chorus: When curled up
Male :Velangudhaa
Male: Is it understood?
Chorus :Velangudhaa
Chorus: Is it understood?
………………
...
Single tea dharmaththaala
Is a single tea obtained
Thaan kedaikkuma
Out of charity?
En uncle nee korichadhum
My uncle, whatever you consumed
Un panaththula serikkumaa
Will it digest through your money?
Oppukkun chappaano
Is he a mere plaything?
Uchcham thotta machchaano
Or a brother-in-law who reached the peak?
Thappukkum serththu thaan
Even for the mistakes made
Kappam katta vachchaano
Did he make you pay the tribute?
Gadigaaram paaththukko
Watch the clock
Parigaaraththa theerththukko
Fulfill your remedies
Aridhaaram vittu thaan
Shed the makeup
Adhigaaraththa yeththukko
And assume authority
Hoo oo oo……
Hoo oo oo...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The title song of 'Vattam' serves as a philosophical and cynical reflection on the cyclical nature of life, fate, and human behavior. Expressed through the personification of Time or Destiny (speaking in both English and Tamil), the lyrics emphasize that everything in the world—literature, chemistry, history, zero, and eternity—operates in circles ('Vattam'). Humanity is depicted as caught in endless loops of folly, pride, ambition, and greed, believing money drives the world when in reality cosmic cycles govern all actions. In the second half, the song takes on a punchy, satirical tone directed at societal constructs, material wealth, and political power. It urges the listener to shed illusions ('aridhaaram' / makeup), take control of their destiny wisely, and understand that life's end is often just another beginning.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora (Repetition)
“Vattam thaan ilakkiyam raasaa”
The phrase 'Vattam thaan' (It is a circle) is repeated at the start of consecutive lines to strongly reinforce the central philosophical theme of life's cyclicality.
Emoni / Ethirukai (Tamil Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kattam pottu puttaano / Thittaththa theettith thaan”
Second-letter rhyming (Kattugalaai/Kattam - Thittam - Vattam) and ending rhymes create a rhythmic, conversational flow typical of modern Tamil lyric writing.
Metaphor
“Vattam thaan vedhiyal raasaa”
Comparing various abstract disciplines and cosmic truths (Literature, Chemistry, History, Zero, Eternity) directly to a circle ('Vattam').
Rhetorical Questioning
“Sozhaludhaa uruludhaa / Thirumbunaa kozhambudhaa”
A series of quick rhetorical questions ('Sozhaludhaa uruludhaa...') used to provoke thought regarding the confusion and endless motion of human existence.
Antithesis / Contrast
“You are such a fool one day / But you are cool one day”
Contrasting opposing human states ('fool' vs 'cool', 'bury your head' vs 'shine') to show the volatile, changing nature of human mood and fate.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed by Nivas K. Prasanna for the 2022 Tamil film 'Vattam', directed by Kamalakannan and starring Sibiraj. Lyricist Super Subu uses a blend of casual Tamil colloquialisms and English introspections to embody the voice of an omniscient observer (Time/Fate). Veteran singer Malgudi Shubha provides powerful background vocals alongside composer Nivas K. Prasanna.
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