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Thozhar Pandian album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Arakoraya Sethavanum

From Thozhar Pandian · 1994

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Mano, Sriram
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thozhar Pandian
Movie release year
1994
Lyrics added on
23 Dec 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aehae hehhaehae haehae
Hohohohoh oho hohho hoho
Ara koraiyaa sethavanum
Aaviyaaga alaivadhundu
Kaadhalilae sethavanum
Kaathu karuppu aavadhundu
Raatchasa koottam
Indha raathiri neram
Misaa vilae sethavanum
Pisaasaaga alivadhundu
Motor yeri sethavanum
Kaatteriyaa aavadhundu
Thayir vada dhesigana theriyumaa
Enga koottathukku thalaivanunnu
Sonnaa puriyumaa
Thalaivanin theni enna theriyumaa
Manusan thala kariyum
Elumbu thaannu
Sonnaa puriyumaa
Avan ulavum boomi idhu
Yaar varavum naanga vidavae maattom
Avan idathai vaarisugal
Kettu vandhaa naanga tharavae maattom
Ohohoho ho hohoho ohohoho
Ohohoho ho hohoho hoho hoho ho
Udukkaiyum veppilaiyum adichidum
Endha poosaariyum inga vandhaa
Baachaa palikkumaa
Manja thanni mandhirathaal
Virattinaa
Indha paguttharivu peigalukku
Acham pirakkumaa
Idhu varaikkum neeyum ingae
Irundhadhukku rent tharavae venaa
Padukkaiyaiyum paayaiyum thaan
Suruttikkittu ponaa thodavae maattom
Ara koraiyaa sethavanum
Aaviyaaga alaivadhundu
Kaadhalilae sethavanum
Kaathu karuppu aavadhundu
Raatchasa koottam
Indha raathiri neram
Misaa vilae sethavanum
Pisaasaaga alivadhundu
Motor yeri sethavanum
Kaatteriyaa aavadhundu
Hey-heh heh-heh-heh hey-heh
Ho-ho-ho-ho-h oho hoh-ho ho-ho
One who dies before their time
Often wanders as a ghost,
One who dies of love
Often turns into an evil spirit.
A monstrous horde
In the middle of the night,
One who died under MISA (detention law)
Often perishes into a demon,
One who died riding a motor vehicle
Often turns into a vampire!
Do you know Thayir Vadai Desigan?
If we tell you he is our gang's leader,
Will you understand?
Do you know what our leader eats?
Meat from human heads
And bare bones—
Will you understand if we tell you?
This is the land where he roams,
We will never let anyone enter!
If his heirs come
Demanding his land, we will never give it up!
Ohohoho ho hohoho ohohoho
Ohohoho ho hohoho hoho hoho ho
Striking an udukkai (small drum) and beating neem leaves,
If any priest comes here,
Will his tricks ever work?
With turmeric water and chanted spells,
If he tries to chase us away,
Will these rationalist ghosts
Ever feel afraid?
For staying here all this while,
You don't even need to pay rent;
Just roll up your bed and mat,
And if you leave, we won't even touch you!
One who dies before their time
Often wanders as a ghost,
One who dies of love
Often turns into an evil spirit.
A monstrous horde
In the middle of the night,
One who died under MISA (detention law)
Often perishes into a demon,
One who died riding a motor vehicle
Often turns into a vampire!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Thozhar Pandian' (1994) is a satirical, comedic track sung from the perspective of a group of ghosts protecting their domain. The lyrics categorize various spirits based on their cause of death—ranging from unfulfilled lives and tragic love stories to fatal road accidents and political deaths under MISA detention during the Emergency period.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Refrain)

“Ara koraiyaa sethavanum / Aaviyaaga alaivadhundu”

Repeated line endings like 'ethavanum' and 'aavadhundu' create a rhythmic, chant-like echo suitable for a song sung by spirits.

Oxymoron / Satirical Metaphor

“Indha paguttharivu peigalukku”

The term 'Paguttharivu peigal' (Rationalist ghosts) combines the rationalist ideology (which denies ghosts) with supernatural beings, creating humor and social satire.

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Udukkaiyum veppilaiyum adichidum”

Assonance/Alliteration of initial sounds in consecutive lines ('Udukkaiyum' / 'Endha').

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Pulamaipithan cleverly infuses political and Dravidian rationalist commentary into what appears to be a typical horror-comedy song. The mention of 'MISA' refers to the Maintenance of Internal Security Act, under which many political activists were detained during the 1975-77 Emergency in India.

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