Adi Vaadi Thimiraa
From Magalir Mattum · 2017
- Lyricist
- Uma Devi
- Singer
- Gold Devaraj
- Music director
- Ghibran
- Details
- Magalir Mattum2017
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Adi vaadi thimiraa | Come on with pride, |
| Pulioottum moramaa | Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger! |
| Namma vaazhkkai bayamaa… | Is our life a fear... |
| Varamaa… maa… maa… | Or a boon? Maa... maa... maa... |
| Female | |
| Oru koodi siragaa | Like a crore of wings, |
| Namma paarvai virinjaa | If our vision expands, |
| Intha boomi thagumaa… | Will this earth be enough? |
| Thagumaa.. maa… maa… | Be enough?.. maa... maa... |
| Chorus | |
| Maa… maa…maa… maa… | Maa... maa... maa... maa... |
| Male | |
| Vaathaada | To argue, |
| Uurukku solli thanthaalaa | Did she teach the town? |
| Vedhatha | The scriptures, |
| Thoorathil oththi vachchaalaa | Did she set them aside at a distance? |
| Kaaaththooda | With the wind, |
| Vaanaththa katti vittaalaa | Did she tie up the sky? |
| Valiyoo oliyoo | Is she pain or light? |
| Analoo punaloo ivaloooo… | Fire or water, is she all this? |
| Male | |
| Kaalaththa | Time itself, |
| Manikattil katti vechaalaa | Did she tie to her wrist like a watch? |
| Niyaayaththa | Justice, |
| Thalaipottil thatti sonnaalaa | Did she state boldly on her forehead bindi? |
| Saayatta | To remove the dye, |
| Veluttu unmai kandala | Did she wash and find the truth? |
| Veyiloo kuliroo | Is she heat or cold? |
| Mazhaiyoo kudaiyoo ivaloooo…. | Rain or umbrella, is she all this? |
| Male | |
| Neruppukku paravida | For fire to spread, |
| Thooram yethammaa | Is distance an obstacle, my friend? |
| Uravukku panjam yethammaa… | Is there any scarcity for relationships? |
| Male | |
| Paravaikku paranthida | For a bird to fly, |
| Ellai yethammaa | Is there any boundary, my friend? |
| Kiliyaa kuyilaa | Like a parrot or a cuckoo, |
| Parunthaa parappom vaaaa…aaaa | Or an eagle, let us fly, come! |
| Female | |
| Adi vaadi thimiraa | Come on with pride, |
| Pulioottum moramaa | Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger! |
| Namma vaazhkkai bayamaa… | Is our life a fear... |
| Varamaa… maa… maa… | Or a boon? Maa... maa... maa... |
| Female | |
| Oru koodi siragaa | Like a crore of wings, |
| Namma paarvai virinjaa | If our vision expands, |
| Intha boomi thagumaa… | Will this earth be enough? |
| Thagumaa.. maa… maa… | Be enough?.. maa... maa... |
| Male | |
| Aanum ponnum aattam pooda… | For man and woman to dance together... |
| Andamithu apple thottam | This universe is an apple orchard! |
| Onnukkonnu adimaigal illai… | No one is a slave to another... |
| Male | |
| Kaatu yaanaikoottam pola | Like a herd of wild elephants, |
| Kondaattam pooduvoomae | Let us celebrate together! |
| Vazhkkaioru sengarumbu solai | Life is a grove of sweet sugarcane. |
| Male | |
| Siru Poochipuzhuvellaam | Even tiny insects and worms, |
| Ada namma uravammaa | Ah, they are all our kin, my friend! |
| Pall therikka sirichchaalae | If someone laughs showing their teeth, |
| Athu namma sanamammaa | They are our people, my friend! |
| Male | |
| Ulagaththai suththuvoom | We will travel around the world, |
| Oru kappalyerammaa | By boarding a ship, my friend! |
| Karaiyillaa kadalukku | For a shoreless ocean, |
| Nanguuram yenammaa… | Why do we need an anchor, my friend? |
| Male | |
| Vaazhvunna orusottu | In life, even a single drop, |
| Michcham vaikkavaa | Should we leave it behind as leftover? |
| Kaaththaadi noolaattam | Like a kite string, |
| Kattivaikkavaa | Should we keep life tied down? |
| Male | |
| Adi vaadi thimiraa | Come on with pride, |
| Pulioottum moramaa | Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger! |
| Namma vaazhkkai bayamaa… | Is our life a fear... |
| Varamaa… maa… maa… | Or a boon? Maa... maa... maa... |
| Male | |
| Oru koodi siragaa | Like a crore of wings, |
| Namma paarvai virinjaa | If our vision expands, |
| Intha boomi thagumaa… | Will this earth be enough? |
| Thagumaa.. maa… maa… | Be enough?.. maa... maa... |
| Male | |
| Vaathaada | To argue, |
| Uurukku solli thanthaalaa | Did she teach the town? |
| Vedhatha | The scriptures, |
| Thoorathil oththi vachchaalaa | Did she set them aside at a distance? |
| Kaaaththooda | With the wind, |
| Vaanaththa katti vittaalaa | Did she tie up the sky? |
| Valiyoo oliyoo | Is she pain or light? |
| Analoo punaloo ivaloooo… | Fire or water, is she all this? |
| Female | |
| Neruppukku paravida | For fire to spread, |
| Thooram yethammaa | Is distance an obstacle, my friend? |
| Uravukku panjam yethammaa… | Is there any scarcity for relationships? |
| Male | |
| Paravaikku paranthida | For a bird to fly, |
| Ellai yethammaa | Is there any boundary, my friend? |
| Kiliyaa kuyilaa | Like a parrot or a cuckoo, |
| Parunthaa parappom vaaaa…aaaa | Or an eagle, let us fly, come! |
| Male | |
| Adi vaadi thimiraa | Come on with pride, |
| Pulioottum moramaa | Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger! |
| Namma vaazhkkai bayamaa… | Is our life a fear... |
| Varamaa… | Or a boon? |
அடி வாடி திமிரா
புலி ஓட்டும் மொரமா
நம்ம வாழ்க்கை பயமா
வரமா மா மா
Come on with pride,
Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger!
Is our life a fear...
Or a boon? Maa... maa... maa...
ஒரு கோடி
சிறகா நம்ம பாா்வை
விாிஞ்சா இந்த பூமி
தகுமா தகுமா மா மா
Like a crore of wings,
If our vision expands,
Will this earth be enough?
Be enough?.. maa... maa...
மா மா மா மா
Maa... maa... maa... maa...
வாதாட ஊருக்குச்
சொல்லித் தந்தாளா வேதத்த
தூரத்தில் ஒத்தி வச்சாளா
காத்தோட வானத்த கட்டி
விட்டாளா வலியோ ஒளியோ
அனலோ புனலோ இவளோ
To argue,
Did she teach the town?
The scriptures,
Did she set them aside at a distance?
With the wind,
Did she tie up the sky?
Is she pain or light?
Fire or water, is she all this?
காலத்த மணிக்
கட்டில் கட்டி வச்சாளா
நியாயத்த தல பொட்டில்
தட்டிச் சொன்னாளா
சாயத்த வெளுத்து உண்மை
கண்டாளா வெயிலோ குளிரோ
மழையோ குடையோ இவளோ
Time itself,
Did she tie to her wrist like a watch?
Justice,
Did she state boldly on her forehead bindi?
To remove the dye,
Did she wash and find the truth?
Is she heat or cold?
Rain or umbrella, is she all this?
நெருப்புக்குப்
பரவிட தூரம் ஏதம்மா
உறவுக்குப் பஞ்சம்
ஏதம்மா பறவைக்குப்
பறந்திட எல்லை ஏதம்மா
கிளியா குயிலா பருந்தா
பறப்போம் வா
For fire to spread,
Is distance an obstacle, my friend?
Is there any scarcity for relationships?
அடி வாடி திமிரா
புலி ஓட்டும் மொரமா
நம்ம வாழ்க்கை பயமா
வரமா மா மா
For a bird to fly,
Is there any boundary, my friend?
Like a parrot or a cuckoo,
Or an eagle, let us fly, come!
ஒரு கோடி
சிறகா நம்ம பாா்வை
விாிஞ்சா இந்த பூமி
தகுமா தகுமா மா மா
Come on with pride,
Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger!
Is our life a fear...
Or a boon? Maa... maa... maa...
ஆணும் பொண்ணும்
ஆட்டம் போட அண்டம் இது
ஆப்பிள் தோட்டம் ஒன்னு
கொன்னு அடிமைகள் இல்லை
Like a crore of wings,
If our vision expands,
Will this earth be enough?
Be enough?.. maa... maa...
காட்டு யானை
கூட்டம் போல கொண்டாட்டம்
போடுவோமே வாழ்க்கை ஒரு
செங்கரும்புச்சோலை
For man and woman to dance together...
This universe is an apple orchard!
No one is a slave to another...
சிறு பூச்சி
புழுவெல்லாம் அட
நம்ம உறவம்மா
பல் தெறிக்க சிரிச்சாலே
அது நம்ம சனமம்மா
Like a herd of wild elephants,
Let us celebrate together!
Life is a grove of sweet sugarcane.
உலகத்தை
சுத்துவோம் ஒரு கப்பல்
ஏறம்மா கரை இல்லா
கடலுக்கு நங்கூரம் ஏனம்மா
Even tiny insects and worms,
Ah, they are all our kin, my friend!
If someone laughs showing their teeth,
They are our people, my friend!
வாழ்வுன்னா ஒரு
சொட்டு மிச்சம் வைக்கவா
காத்தாடி நூலாட்டம் கட்டி
வைக்கவா
We will travel around the world,
By boarding a ship, my friend!
For a shoreless ocean,
Why do we need an anchor, my friend?
அடி வாடி திமிரா
புலி ஓட்டும் மொரமா
நம்ம வாழ்க்கை பயமா
வரமா மா மா
In life, even a single drop,
Should we leave it behind as leftover?
Like a kite string,
Should we keep life tied down?
ஒரு கோடி
சிறகா நம்ம பாா்வை
விாிஞ்சா இந்த பூமி
தகுமா தகுமா மா மா
Come on with pride,
Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger!
Is our life a fear...
Or a boon? Maa... maa... maa...
வாதாட ஊருக்குச்
சொல்லித் தந்தாளா வேதத்த
தூரத்தில் ஒத்தி வச்சாளா
காத்தோட வானத்த கட்டி
விட்டாளா வலியோ ஒளியோ
அனலோ புனலோ இவளோ
Like a crore of wings,
If our vision expands,
Will this earth be enough?
Be enough?.. maa... maa...
நெருப்புக்குப்
பரவிட தூரம் ஏதம்மா
உறவுக்குப் பஞ்சம்
ஏதம்மா
To argue,
Did she teach the town?
The scriptures,
Did she set them aside at a distance?
With the wind,
Did she tie up the sky?
Is she pain or light?
Fire or water, is she all this?
பறவைக்குப்
பறந்திட எல்லை ஏதம்மா
கிளியா குயிலா பருந்தா
பறப்போம் வா
For fire to spread,
Is distance an obstacle, my friend?
Is there any scarcity for relationships?
அடி வாடி திமிரா
புலி ஓட்டும் மொரமா
நம்ம வாழ்க்கை பயமா
வரமா
For a bird to fly,
Is there any boundary, my friend?
Like a parrot or a cuckoo,
Or an eagle, let us fly, come!
Come on with pride,
Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger!
Is our life a fear...
Or a boon?
Adi vaadi thimiraa
Come on with pride,
Pulioottum moramaa
Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger!
Namma vaazhkkai bayamaa…
Is our life a fear...
Varamaa… maa… maa…
Or a boon? Maa... maa... maa...
Oru koodi siragaa
Like a crore of wings,
Namma paarvai virinjaa
If our vision expands,
Intha boomi thagumaa…
Will this earth be enough?
Thagumaa.. maa… maa…
Be enough?.. maa... maa...
Maa… maa…maa… maa…
Maa... maa... maa... maa...
Vaathaada
To argue,
Uurukku solli thanthaalaa
Did she teach the town?
Vedhatha
The scriptures,
Thoorathil oththi vachchaalaa
Did she set them aside at a distance?
Kaaaththooda
With the wind,
Vaanaththa katti vittaalaa
Did she tie up the sky?
Valiyoo oliyoo
Is she pain or light?
Analoo punaloo ivaloooo…
Fire or water, is she all this?
Kaalaththa
Time itself,
Manikattil katti vechaalaa
Did she tie to her wrist like a watch?
Niyaayaththa
Justice,
Thalaipottil thatti sonnaalaa
Did she state boldly on her forehead bindi?
Saayatta
To remove the dye,
Veluttu unmai kandala
Did she wash and find the truth?
Veyiloo kuliroo
Is she heat or cold?
Mazhaiyoo kudaiyoo ivaloooo….
Rain or umbrella, is she all this?
Neruppukku paravida
For fire to spread,
Thooram yethammaa
Is distance an obstacle, my friend?
Uravukku panjam yethammaa…
Is there any scarcity for relationships?
Paravaikku paranthida
For a bird to fly,
Ellai yethammaa
Is there any boundary, my friend?
Kiliyaa kuyilaa
Like a parrot or a cuckoo,
Parunthaa parappom vaaaa…aaaa
Or an eagle, let us fly, come!
Adi vaadi thimiraa
Come on with pride,
Pulioottum moramaa
Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger!
Namma vaazhkkai bayamaa…
Is our life a fear...
Varamaa… maa… maa…
Or a boon? Maa... maa... maa...
Oru koodi siragaa
Like a crore of wings,
Namma paarvai virinjaa
If our vision expands,
Intha boomi thagumaa…
Will this earth be enough?
Thagumaa.. maa… maa…
Be enough?.. maa... maa...
Aanum ponnum aattam pooda…
For man and woman to dance together...
Andamithu apple thottam
This universe is an apple orchard!
Onnukkonnu adimaigal illai…
No one is a slave to another...
Kaatu yaanaikoottam pola
Like a herd of wild elephants,
Kondaattam pooduvoomae
Let us celebrate together!
Vazhkkaioru sengarumbu solai
Life is a grove of sweet sugarcane.
Siru Poochipuzhuvellaam
Even tiny insects and worms,
Ada namma uravammaa
Ah, they are all our kin, my friend!
Pall therikka sirichchaalae
If someone laughs showing their teeth,
Athu namma sanamammaa
They are our people, my friend!
Ulagaththai suththuvoom
We will travel around the world,
Oru kappalyerammaa
By boarding a ship, my friend!
Karaiyillaa kadalukku
For a shoreless ocean,
Nanguuram yenammaa…
Why do we need an anchor, my friend?
Vaazhvunna orusottu
In life, even a single drop,
Michcham vaikkavaa
Should we leave it behind as leftover?
Kaaththaadi noolaattam
Like a kite string,
Kattivaikkavaa
Should we keep life tied down?
Adi vaadi thimiraa
Come on with pride,
Pulioottum moramaa
Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger!
Namma vaazhkkai bayamaa…
Is our life a fear...
Varamaa… maa… maa…
Or a boon? Maa... maa... maa...
Oru koodi siragaa
Like a crore of wings,
Namma paarvai virinjaa
If our vision expands,
Intha boomi thagumaa…
Will this earth be enough?
Thagumaa.. maa… maa…
Be enough?.. maa... maa...
Vaathaada
To argue,
Uurukku solli thanthaalaa
Did she teach the town?
Vedhatha
The scriptures,
Thoorathil oththi vachchaalaa
Did she set them aside at a distance?
Kaaaththooda
With the wind,
Vaanaththa katti vittaalaa
Did she tie up the sky?
Valiyoo oliyoo
Is she pain or light?
Analoo punaloo ivaloooo…
Fire or water, is she all this?
Neruppukku paravida
For fire to spread,
Thooram yethammaa
Is distance an obstacle, my friend?
Uravukku panjam yethammaa…
Is there any scarcity for relationships?
Paravaikku paranthida
For a bird to fly,
Ellai yethammaa
Is there any boundary, my friend?
Kiliyaa kuyilaa
Like a parrot or a cuckoo,
Parunthaa parappom vaaaa…aaaa
Or an eagle, let us fly, come!
Adi vaadi thimiraa
Come on with pride,
Pulioottum moramaa
Like the winnowing basket that chased the tiger!
Namma vaazhkkai bayamaa…
Is our life a fear...
Varamaa…
Or a boon?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Gubaal' (also known as 'Adi Vaadi Thimiraa') from Magalir Mattum (2017) is an empowering feminist anthem celebrating women's liberation, independence, and solidarity. Written by lyricist Uma Devi, the song invokes historical and Sangam-era motifs of female bravery, such as the legendary Tamil woman who scared off a tiger using only a winnowing basket (Moram). It urges women to shed their fear, embrace self-worth, and break free from patriarchal boundaries. The lyrics call for equality, joy, and unrestrained freedom, comparing life to an endless ocean and a sugarcane grove meant to be fully tasted. It challenges conventional norms and religious scriptures that restrict women's autonomy, inspiring them to soar across boundaries like wild birds and celebrate life together as equals.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Cultural Allusion / Sangam Motif
“Pulioottum moramaa”
Refers to the ancient Tamil Sangam poetry trope of a brave mother or woman chasing away a wild tiger using a simple winnowing basket (Moram).
Metaphor
“Vazhkkaioru sengarumbu solai”
Compares life directly to a sweet sugarcane grove, emphasizing the joy and sweetness of a free existence.
Simile
“Kaatu yaanaikoottam pola”
Uses 'pola' (like) to compare women celebrating free of fear to a free herd of wild elephants in the forest.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Valiyoo oliyoo Analoo punaloo ivaloooo…”
Contrasts opposing elements (pain/light, fire/water, heat/cold) to portray the multifaceted, powerful nature of women.
Monai (Alliteration)
“Paravaikku paranthida”
Repetition of the initial letter 'P' in adjacent words ('Paravaikku', 'Paranthida').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Magalir Mattum' (2017) was produced by Suriya and stars Jyothika in the lead role. The song's lyrics were penned by popular poet-lyricist Uma Devi, known for her sharp socio-political and feminist imagery in Tamil cinema.
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