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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Arivukku Velaikodu

From Thalaivan · 1970

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Thalaivan
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
14 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Arivukku vaelai kodu
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
Arivukku vaelai kodu
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
Mooda pazhakkathai vittu vidu
Kaalam maarudhu karuthum maarudhu
Naamum maara vaendum
Nammaal naadum maara vaendum
Arivukku vaelai kodu
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
{Onbadhu vaasal vaithae udambenum
Kottaiyia katti vaithaan
Andha kottaikku vilakkaaga
Arivenum dheebatthai yaettri vaithaan} (2)
Aagaadha vazhakkamellaam
Arivukku porundhaadha pazhakkamellaam
Aakkathai keduthu vaikkum
Manidhanin azhivukku vazhi vagukkum
Aakkathai keduthu vaikkum
Manidhanin azhivukku vazhi vaghukkum
Arivukku vaelai kodu
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
{Mann vetti kaiyil eduppaar
Sila paer mattravarkku kuzhi parippaar
Adhu than pakkam paarthirukkum
Enbadhai thaanariya marandhiruppaar} (2)
Pandheduthu vittu erindhaal
Suvar mael pattadhu pol thirumbi varum
Pandheduthu vittu erindhaal
Suvar mael pattadhu pol thirumbi varum
Indha thattuvatthai thaanarindhaal
Pirarkku theengu seiya ennam varumo
Indha thattuvatthai thaanarindhaal
Pirarkku theengu seiya ennam varumo
Arivukku vaelai kodu
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
Mooda pazhakkathai vittu vidu
Kaalam maarudhu karuthum maarudhu
Naamum maara vaendum
Nammaal naadum maara vaendum
Arivukku vaelai kodu
Pagutharivukku vaelai kodu
Aahaa aa haa… aahaa aa haa…
Hoo oo hoooo
Put your mind to work,
Put your reason to work,
Put your mind to work,
Put your reason to work,
Give up superstitious habits.
Times are changing, ideas are changing,
We must change too,
And through us, the nation must change.
Put your mind to work,
Put your reason to work,
With nine gates, the fortress of the body
Was built and created,
And as a lamp inside that fortress,
He lit the flame of wisdom.
All harmful habits,
And customs unfit for the mind,
Will ruin our progress
And pave the way to human ruin.
Will ruin our progress
And pave the way to human ruin.
Put your mind to work,
Put your reason to work,
Some pick up a spade in hand
And dig a pit for others,
Forgetting that it lies before their own path,
Failing to realize it themselves.
If you throw a ball,
It hits the wall and bounces right back.
If you throw a ball,
It hits the wall and bounces right back.
If one truly understands this truth,
Would the thought to harm others ever arise?
If one truly understands this truth,
Would the thought to harm others ever arise?
Put your mind to work,
Put your reason to work,
Give up superstitious habits.
Times are changing, ideas are changing,
We must change too,
And through us, the nation must change.
Put your mind to work,
Put your reason to work,
Aaha aa ha... Aaha aa ha...
Ho oh ho...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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