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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vandi Vandi Railu Vandi

From Jayam · 2003

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singers
Tippu, Manikka Vinayagam
Music director
R. P. Patnaik
Movie name
Jayam
Movie release year
2003
Lyrics added on
14 Aug 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Taraththa rathathatha
Rathathatha rathathatha
Taraththa rathathatha
Rathathatha rathathatha
Sabashi sabashu….
Sabashi sabashu….
{Onna dhabba
Onna dhabba..ho} (2)
Vandi vandi rail vandi
Vellakaaran kodutha vandi
Thandavaalam mela ninnu
Dhum adikkum dhum adikkum
Thadak thadak sound-il
Idhu vedalai ponnai pola
Iduppa kulukki varumda
Thalaivaa….
Hey kalakku kalakku kalakku
Nee gaana paadi kalakku
Kadalai pottu madakku
Thalaivaa…..
Sabashi sabashu….
Sabashi sabashu….
Onna dhabba
Onna dhabba….
Paattanukku paattam pona
Maattu vandi da
Naama kaathirundhu porandhadhaala
Rail vandi da
Hey kurumbu kaara pasangaloda
Dhosth vandi da
Idhu kumari ponnai paarkum bodhu
Whistle adikkum da
Kaatha vachu izhuthu pogum da
Dei machaan nee
Kizhakkae pogum
Rail-ah paaruda
Oonjalaadi payanam pogayil
Namma ammavoda
Thaalaattu
Paattai keluda
Ada theendaamai paarkaadha
Aandavanda rail vandi
Sabashi sabashu….
Sabashi sabashu….
Vandi vandi rail vandi
Vellakaaran kodutha vandi
Thandavaalam mela ninnu
Dhum adikkum dhum adikkum
{Onna dhabba
Onna dhabba..ho} (2)
Sabashi sabashu….
Sabashi sabashu….
Yeh kammaakarai vellam vandhaal
Summa nikkaadhu
Idhu kanda kanda idathilellaam
Puncture aagaadhu
Hey car bus lorry ellaam
Gate-il nirkum da
Idhu kalakkalaaga thaandi poyi
Taataa kaattum da
Endha court-il divorce vaanguchoo
Ada thandavaalam
Rendum eppavum
Pirinchirukkudhu
Endha kadaiyil sarakku adichudhoo
Ada marangal ellaam
Jannal oram
Pinnaal nadakkudhu
Ada train inna middle class
Flight-nu purinchikada
Vandi vandi rail vandi
Vellakaaran kodutha vandi
Thandavaalam mela ninnu
Dhum adikkum dhum adikkum
Thadak thadak sound-il
Idhu vedalai ponnai pola
Iduppa kulukki varumda
Thalaivaa….
Hey kalakku kalakku kalakku
Nee gaana paadi kalakku
Kadalai pottu madakku
Thalaivaa…..
Sabashi sabashu….
Sabashi sabashu….
Taratha rathathathaa
Rathathathaa rathathathaa
Taratha rathathathaa
Rathathathaa rathathathaa
Bravo, well done!
Bravo, well done!
Compartment number one,
Compartment number one, oh!
What a vehicle, this train!
The vehicle the British gave us!
Standing proud upon the tracks,
It blows out clouds of smoke!
To the beat of its clack-clack sound,
Just like a teenage girl,
It sways its hips as it rolls in, buddy!
Boss!
Hey, rock it, rock it, rock it!
Sing a Gaana (Chennai street song) and rock the show!
Flirt with her and win her over,
Boss!
Bravo, well done!
Bravo, well done!
Compartment number one!
Compartment number one!
Back in our great-grandfathers' era,
They had the bullock cart!
Since we were born in modern times,
We got the railway train!
Hey, for all the mischievous guys,
It is a trusty friend!
Whenever it spots a young woman,
It blows a loud whistle!
Catching the wind, it pulls along!
Hey buddy, look,
Look at the train
Heading toward the east!
As you travel swaying like a swing,
Listen closely
To our mother's
Lullaby song!
Ah, practicing no untouchability,
The train itself is a god!
Bravo, well done!
Bravo, well done!
What a vehicle, this train!
The vehicle the British gave us!
Standing proud upon the tracks,
It blows out clouds of smoke!
Compartment number one,
Compartment number one, oh!
Bravo, well done!
Bravo, well done!
Hey, even if the lake banks overflow,
It will never stop running!
No matter where it goes,
It never gets a flat tire!
Hey, cars, buses, and lorries
All stand waiting at the railway gate!
But this train zooms past in style
And waves goodbye to them all!
In which court did they get divorced?
Look, both railway tracks
Are running side by side,
Yet separated forever!
At which bar did they get drunk?
Look, all the trees
Outside the window
Are stumbling backward!
Hey, understand that the train
Is the flight for the middle class!
What a vehicle, this train!
The vehicle the British gave us!
Standing proud upon the tracks,
It blows out clouds of smoke!
To the beat of its clack-clack sound,
Just like a teenage girl,
It sways its hips as it rolls in, buddy!
Boss!
Hey, rock it, rock it, rock it!
Sing a Gaana (Chennai street song) and rock the show!
Flirt with her and win her over,
Boss!
Bravo, well done!
Bravo, well done!
Chorus
Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This celebratory and energetic song is an ode to the train ('Rail Vandi'), comparing its rhythm, movement, and social role to everyday life. The lyrics playfully personify the train as a stylish entity that whistles at girls, moves like a dancing young woman, and ignores social barriers like untouchability, treating all passengers equally regardless of status.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Ada train inna middle class Flight-nu purinchikada

Compares the train to a middle-class airplane ('train inna middle class flight-nu purinchikada').

Personification

Idhu kumari ponnai paarkum bodhu Whistle adikkum da

Attributes human qualities like whistling at young women and swaying waist to the train.

Onomatopoeia

Thadak thadak sound-il

Uses rhythmic sounds mimicking the train running on tracks ('Thadak thadak sound-il').

Simile

Idhu vedalai ponnai pola Iduppa kulukki varumda

Compares the movement of the train on tracks to the swaying hips of a young girl.

Did you know?

Trivia

This energetic folk-style track features music composed by R. P. Patnaik for the hit movie Jayam (2003), starring Jayam Ravi and Sadha. The song captures a fun, celebratory spirit during a train journey.

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