Arivukku Velaikodu
From Thalaivan · 1970
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Thalaivan1970
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Arivukku vaelai kodu | Put your intellect to work |
| Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu | Put your rational thinking to work |
| Arivukku vaelai kodu | Put your intellect to work |
| Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu | Put your rational thinking to work |
| Mooda pazhakkathai vittu vidu | Give up superstitious habits |
| Kaalam maarudhu karuthum maarudhu | Times are changing, and thoughts are changing |
| Naamum maara vaendum | We too must change |
| Nammaal naadum maara vaendum | Through us, the country must change |
| Male | |
| Arivukku vaelai kodu | Put your intellect to work |
| Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu | Put your rational thinking to work |
| Male | |
| {Onbadhu vaasal vaithae udambenum | Having created nine openings, the body |
| Kottaiyia katti vaithaan | He built as a fortress |
| Andha kottaikku vilakkaaga | As a lamp for that fortress |
| Arivenum dheebatthai yaettri vaithaan} (2) | He lit the lamp called wisdom |
| Male | |
| Aagaadha vazhakkamellaam | Having created nine openings, the body |
| Arivukku porundhaadha pazhakkamellaam | He built as a fortress |
| Aakkathai keduthu vaikkum | As a lamp for that fortress |
| Manidhanin azhivukku vazhi vagukkum | He lit the lamp called wisdom |
| Aakkathai keduthu vaikkum | All bad and harmful customs |
| Manidhanin azhivukku vazhi vaghukkum | All practices that do not accord with reason |
| Male | |
| Arivukku vaelai kodu | Will destroy constructive progress |
| Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu | And pave the way for human ruin |
| Male | |
| {Mann vetti kaiyil eduppaar | Will destroy constructive progress |
| Sila paer mattravarkku kuzhi parippaar | And pave the way for human ruin |
| Adhu than pakkam paarthirukkum | Put your intellect to work |
| Enbadhai thaanariya marandhiruppaar} (2) | Put your rational thinking to work |
| Male | |
| Pandheduthu vittu erindhaal | Taking a spade in hand |
| Suvar mael pattadhu pol thirumbi varum | Some people dig a pit for others |
| Pandheduthu vittu erindhaal | That the blade is facing towards themselves |
| Suvar mael pattadhu pol thirumbi varum | They forget to realize |
| Indha thattuvatthai thaanarindhaal | Taking a spade in hand |
| Pirarkku theengu seiya ennam varumo | Some people dig a pit for others |
| Indha thattuvatthai thaanarindhaal | That the blade is facing towards themselves |
| Pirarkku theengu seiya ennam varumo | They forget to realize |
| Male | |
| Arivukku vaelai kodu | If you throw a ball with force |
| Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu | It returns bouncing back off the wall |
| Mooda pazhakkathai vittu vidu | If you throw a ball with force |
| Kaalam maarudhu karuthum maarudhu | It returns bouncing back off the wall |
| Naamum maara vaendum | If one understands this philosophy |
| Nammaal naadum maara vaendum | Would the thought to harm others ever arise? |
| Male | |
| Arivukku vaelai kodu | If one understands this philosophy |
| Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu | Would the thought to harm others ever arise? |
| Aahaa aa haa… aahaa aa haa… | Put your intellect to work |
| Hoo oo hoooo | Put your rational thinking to work |
அறிவுக்கு வேலைகொடு
பகுத்தறிவுக்கு வேலை கொடு
அறிவுக்கு வேலைகொடு
பகுத்தறிவுக்கு வேலை கொடு
மூடப் பழக்கத்தை விட்டுவிடு
காலம் மாறுது கருத்தும் மாறுது
நாமும் மாற வேண்டும்
நம்மால் நாடும் மாற வேண்டும்
Put your intellect to work
Put your rational thinking to work
Put your intellect to work
Put your rational thinking to work
Give up superstitious habits
Times are changing, and thoughts are changing
We too must change
Through us, the country must change
அறிவுக்கு வேலைகொடு
பகுத்தறிவுக்கு வேலை கொடு
Put your intellect to work
Put your rational thinking to work
{ஒன்பது வாசல் வைத்தே உடம்பென்னும்
கோட்டைய கட்டி வைத்தான்
அந்த கோட்டைக்கு விளக்காக
அறிவென்னும் தீபத்தில் ஏற்றி வைத்தான்} (2)
Having created nine openings, the body
He built as a fortress
As a lamp for that fortress
He lit the lamp called wisdom
ஆகாத பழக்கமெல்லாம்
மனதுக்குப் பொருந்தாத வழக்கமெல்லாம்
ஆக்கத்தைக் கெடுத்துவிடும்
மனிதனின் அழிவுக்கு வழி வகுக்கும்
ஆக்கத்தைக் கெடுத்துவிடும்
மனிதனின் அழிவுக்கு வழி வகுக்கும்
Having created nine openings, the body
He built as a fortress
As a lamp for that fortress
He lit the lamp called wisdom
All bad and harmful customs
All practices that do not accord with reason
அறிவுக்கு வேலைகொடு
பகுத்தறிவுக்கு வேலை கொடு
Will destroy constructive progress
And pave the way for human ruin
{மண்வெட்டி கையில் எடுப்பார்
சில பேர் மற்றவர்க்கு குழி பறிப்பார்
அது தன் பக்கம் பார்த்திருக்கும்
என்பதை தானறிய மறந்திருப்பார்} (2)
Will destroy constructive progress
And pave the way for human ruin
Put your intellect to work
Put your rational thinking to work
பந்தெடுத்து விட்டு எறிந்தால்
சுவர் மேல் பட்டது போல் திரும்பி வரும்
பந்தெடுத்து விட்டு எறிந்தால்
சுவர் மேல் பட்டது போல் திரும்பி வரும்
இந்தத் தத்துவத்தைத் தானறிந்தால்
பிறர்க்கு தீங்கு செய்ய எண்ணம் வருமோ
இந்தத் தத்துவத்தைத் தானறிந்தால்
பிறர்க்கு தீங்கு செய்ய எண்ணம் வருமோ
Taking a spade in hand
Some people dig a pit for others
That the blade is facing towards themselves
They forget to realize
Taking a spade in hand
Some people dig a pit for others
That the blade is facing towards themselves
They forget to realize
அறிவுக்கு வேலைகொடு
பகுத்தறிவுக்கு வேலை கொடு
மூடப் பழக்கத்தை விட்டுவிடு
காலம் மாறுது கருத்தும் மாறுது
நாமும் மாற வேண்டும்
நம்மால் நாடும் மாற வேண்டும்
If you throw a ball with force
It returns bouncing back off the wall
If you throw a ball with force
It returns bouncing back off the wall
If one understands this philosophy
Would the thought to harm others ever arise?
அறிவுக்கு வேலைகொடு
பகுத்தறிவுக்கு வேலை கொடு
ஆஹா ஆ ஹா.....ஆஹா ஆ ஹா.....
ஹோ ஓ ஹோ
If one understands this philosophy
Would the thought to harm others ever arise?
Put your intellect to work
Put your rational thinking to work
Arivukku vaelai kodu
Put your intellect to work
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
Put your rational thinking to work
Arivukku vaelai kodu
Put your intellect to work
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
Put your rational thinking to work
Mooda pazhakkathai vittu vidu
Give up superstitious habits
Kaalam maarudhu karuthum maarudhu
Times are changing, and thoughts are changing
Naamum maara vaendum
We too must change
Nammaal naadum maara vaendum
Through us, the country must change
Arivukku vaelai kodu
Put your intellect to work
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
Put your rational thinking to work
{Onbadhu vaasal vaithae udambenum
Having created nine openings, the body
Kottaiyia katti vaithaan
He built as a fortress
Andha kottaikku vilakkaaga
As a lamp for that fortress
Arivenum dheebatthai yaettri vaithaan} (2)
He lit the lamp called wisdom
Aagaadha vazhakkamellaam
Having created nine openings, the body
Arivukku porundhaadha pazhakkamellaam
He built as a fortress
Aakkathai keduthu vaikkum
As a lamp for that fortress
Manidhanin azhivukku vazhi vagukkum
He lit the lamp called wisdom
Aakkathai keduthu vaikkum
All bad and harmful customs
Manidhanin azhivukku vazhi vaghukkum
All practices that do not accord with reason
Arivukku vaelai kodu
Will destroy constructive progress
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
And pave the way for human ruin
{Mann vetti kaiyil eduppaar
Will destroy constructive progress
Sila paer mattravarkku kuzhi parippaar
And pave the way for human ruin
Adhu than pakkam paarthirukkum
Put your intellect to work
Enbadhai thaanariya marandhiruppaar} (2)
Put your rational thinking to work
Pandheduthu vittu erindhaal
Taking a spade in hand
Suvar mael pattadhu pol thirumbi varum
Some people dig a pit for others
Pandheduthu vittu erindhaal
That the blade is facing towards themselves
Suvar mael pattadhu pol thirumbi varum
They forget to realize
Indha thattuvatthai thaanarindhaal
Taking a spade in hand
Pirarkku theengu seiya ennam varumo
Some people dig a pit for others
Indha thattuvatthai thaanarindhaal
That the blade is facing towards themselves
Pirarkku theengu seiya ennam varumo
They forget to realize
Arivukku vaelai kodu
If you throw a ball with force
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
It returns bouncing back off the wall
Mooda pazhakkathai vittu vidu
If you throw a ball with force
Kaalam maarudhu karuthum maarudhu
It returns bouncing back off the wall
Naamum maara vaendum
If one understands this philosophy
Nammaal naadum maara vaendum
Would the thought to harm others ever arise?
Arivukku vaelai kodu
If one understands this philosophy
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
Would the thought to harm others ever arise?
Aahaa aa haa… aahaa aa haa…
Put your intellect to work
Hoo oo hoooo
Put your rational thinking to work
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Arivukku Vaelai Kodu from the film Thalaivan (1970) is a rationalist and philosophical song written by Vaali. The song serves as a social clarion call encouraging individuals to abandon blind superstitions, embrace critical thinking, and keep pace with evolving times. It emphasizes that social progress and national development depend directly on individual moral and intellectual awakening. Using vivid imagery, the lyricist compares the human body to a fortress with nine gates illuminated by the lamp of wisdom. It cautions against harming others, using simple everyday analogies like digging a hole or throwing a ball against a wall to demonstrate that evil intentions inevitably rebound on oneself.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Onbadhu vaasal vaithae udambenum kottaiyia katti vaithaan”
Compares the human body with nine sensory/excretory openings to a constructed fortress.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Arivenum dheebatthai yaettri vaithaan”
Compares human intellect/wisdom to a lamp lighting up the fortress of the body.
Analogy
“Pandheduthu vittu erindhaal suvar mael pattadhu pol thirumbi varum”
Uses the cause-and-effect motion of a ball bouncing off a wall to illustrate the law of karma and consequences of actions.
Rhyme & Monai (Alliteration)
“Kaalam maarudhu karuthum maarudhu”
Rhythmic repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Kaalam' / 'Karuthum') enhancing political and social preaching delivery.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from 'Thalaivan' (1970), starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), reflects the rationalist Dravidian reform ideology popularized in Tamil cinema during that era. The music was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and sung by T. M. Soundararajan.
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