Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Vathikuchi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ari Unnai

From Vathikuchi · 2013

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singers
Shabir, Sasiharan
Music director
Ghibran
Movie name
Vathikuchi
Movie release year
2013
Lyrics added on
14 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ari ari… ari ari…. ari ari…. unnai (2)
Ari ari… ari ari…. ari ari…unnai
Ppa….
{Chakka chakka chakka pathi pathi erikuthu
Manidhanin aattangal
Takku rakku takku suthi suthi adikuthu
Avanathu veshangal} (2)
Kannil thonridaa…
Theemai nammai theduthae….
Naalum vettai aaduthae…
Naadagangal poduthae…
Nammai naamae nambum kaalam illai
Soodhukingae ellai kodu illai
Ari ari… ari ari… ari ari… unnai (4)
Theruvil ulavum
Mirugam dhan manithan
Avanai edhanaal adakkuvatho
Nagarum ulagil avano oor kirumi
Avanai ethanaal thurathuvatho
Aayuthamum oru kedayamae
Suzhnilaigal tharum kaaranamae
Ethiriyin balam arivadhu nandru porkkalathil
Chakku chakku chakku chakku
Ari ari… ari ari… ari ari…
Ari ari… ari ari… ari ari…
Ari ari… ari ari… ari ari… unnai (4)
Jananam maranam
Athai yaar yaar arivaar
Athanaal puviyil sirithirupom
Uravum pagaium
Athai naam naam arivom
Athanaal dhinamum vizhithirupom
Vazhavathae varam agidumae
Vaaduvathaal pari poi vidumae
Edhuvarai irupozhuthilum unnai nee thurathi
Chak chak chakku chakku
Ari ari… ari ari…. ari ari…. unnai (2)
Ari ari… ari ari…. ari ari…. unnai
Ari ari… ari ari…. ari ari…unnai nee ari
Ari ari… ari ari.. ari ari… unnai
Unnai unnai unnai unnai hoi
Ari ari… ari ari.. ari.. ari… unnai (4)
Know, know... know, know... know yourself!
Know, know... know, know... know yourself!
Ppa...
Chakku chakku chakku, blazing and burning,
are the wicked games of mankind.
Dakku rakku dakku, striking from every side,
are the disguises he puts on.
Unseen to the eye...
evil comes searching for us...
preying on us every day...
putting on deceptive acts...
This is no time when we can trust even ourselves,
and treachery has no limit here.
Know, know... know, know... know yourself!
Roaming through the streets,
man is nothing but a beast.
How can one control him?
In this moving world, he is a plague;
how can we drive him away?
Even a weapon becomes a shield,
if the situation demands it.
It is wise to know your enemy's strength on the battlefield.
Chakku chakku chakku chakku
Know, know... know, know... know...
Know, know... know, know... know...
Know, know... know, know... know yourself!
Birth and death,
who can ever predict them?
So let us live with a smile on this earth.
Kinship and rivalry,
we understand them well.
So let us stay alert every single day.
Just living is a blessing,
worrying will only strip it away.
How long will you keep chasing yourself, day and night?
Chak chak chakku chakku
Know, know... know, know... know yourself!
Know, know... know, know... know yourself!
Know, know... know, know... you must know yourself!
Know, know, know... know, know... know yourself!
Yourself, yourself, yourself, yourself, hey!
Know, know... know, know... know yourself!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Ari Ari' from Vathikuchi is a gritty, high-energy track centered on theme of self-awareness and survival in a deceptive world. 'Ari' in Tamil translates to 'know' or 'understand', repeatedly urging the listener to understand themselves ('Unnai Ari'). The lyrics paint a dark picture of modern society where evil acts go unseen, people put on masks (veshangal), and trust is rare. Man is compared to a wild beast roaming the streets and an infectious germ in a moving world. Despite its cautionary tone about human deceit and enemies, the song promotes resilience, vigilance, and finding joy amidst unpredictability. Since birth and death remain unknown mysteries, one must stay alert, face situations bravely, and live life fully without wilting away.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Ari ari… ari ari…. ari ari…. unnai”

Words like 'Ari ari', 'Chakka chakka', 'Pathi pathi', and 'Suthi suthi' are repeated successively to build rhythm, urgency, and intensity.

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

“Theruvil ulavum / Mirugam dhan manithan”

Human beings living without morals are directly metaphorized as street beasts ('Mirugam dhan manithan') and harmful germs ('Nagarum ulagil avano oor kirumi').

Iyaibu (Rhyme) & Anthesis

“Athanaal puviyil sirithirupom... Athanaal dhinamum vizhithirupom”

Juxtaposition of opposites like birth/death (Jananam/Maranam) and friendship/enmity (Uravum/Pagaium) with end-rhyme scheme (Sirithirupom / Vizhithirupom).

Did you know?

Trivia

The track 'Ari Ari' features music composed by Ghibran with lyrics written by Yugabharathi for the 2013 action thriller film 'Vathikuchi'. Sung dynamic sung by Singaporean artist Shabir alongside Ghibran, the song fuses raw urban rhythm with philosophical Tamil folk phrasing.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Mannennum Maaya2021
BoomikaIdentityMortality
Netru Indha Neram Title Track2023
Netru Indha NeramIdentityMortality
Oru Saayangalam2019
K-13IdentityFate
Kannile2022
Andhagan The PianistIdentityMortality
Thangakathi2018
SavarakathiIdentityMortality
Rummy Rummy2026
Gandhi TalksContemplativeFate

From the same album

More songs from Vathikuchi

View album
Amma Wake Me2013
VathikuchiPlayful
Kuru Kuru2013
VathikuchiEuphoric
Kanna Kanna2013
VathikuchiPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.