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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Arutperunjodhi

From Viduthalai Part 1 · 2023

Lyricist
Vallalar Ramalinga Adigal
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Viduthalai Part 12023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pottrinin perarulPraise be to your great grace
Pottri nin perunjeerPraise be to your ultimate glory
AatralinongiyaRising high with supreme power
Arutperun jodhiThe vast light of divine grace
Male
Pottrinin perarulPraise be to your great grace
Pottri nin perunjeerPraise be to your ultimate glory
AatralinongiyaRising high with supreme power
Arutperun jodhiThe vast light of divine grace
Male
Arutperun jodhiThe vast light of divine grace
Thaniperum karunaiThe supreme unique compassion
Arutperun jodhiThe vast light of divine grace
Thaniperum karunaiThe supreme unique compassion
Male
Sathiyum madhamumCaste and religious dogma
Samayamum poiyenaAnd sectarian creeds are false
Aadhiyil unarthiya arutperun jodhiThe vast light of grace that made us realize this from the beginning
Male and Chorus :Sathiyum madhamumMale and Chorus: Caste and religious dogma
Samayamum kaanaUnable to comprehend religious divisions
Aadhiyanaagiyam arutperunjodhiBecoming the primordial vast light of grace
Male
Emmadham em niraiWhichever religion, whichever perfection
Enba uyirthiralSo say the multitude of living beings
Emmadham em niraiWhichever religion, whichever perfection
Enba uyirthiralSo say the multitude of living beings
Male
Ammadham endrarulBestowing grace that all religions lead to the same truth
ArutperunjodhiThe vast light of divine grace
Male and Chorus :Ammadham endrarulMale and Chorus: Bestowing grace that all religions lead to the same truth
Male
Aadhiyum andhamumThe beginning and the end
Arindhanai neeyaeYou alone have known
AadhiendraruliyaBlessed as the primordial origin
Arutperun jodhiThe vast light of divine grace
Male and Chorus :AadhiendraruliyaMale and Chorus: Blessed as the primordial origin
Arutperun jodhiThe vast light of divine grace
Male
Pattrugal athanaiyumAll worldly attachments
Pathena thavirthanaAvoided as mere illusions
Thattarmum neekiya arutperun jodhiThe vast light of grace that removed all obstacles
Male
Samayamum kulammudharReligious sects, clan lineages, and more
Saarbellaam vidutthaRenouncing all such affiliations
Amayan thondriya arutperun jodhiThe vast light of grace appearing at the opportune moment
Male
Arutperun jodhiThe vast light of divine grace
Thaniperum karunaiThe supreme unique compassion
Arutperun jodhiThe vast light of divine grace
Thaniperum karunaiThe supreme unique compassion
Male
Pottrinin perarulPraise be to your great grace
Pottri nin perunjeerPraise be to your ultimate glory
AatralinongiyaRising high with supreme power
Arutperun jodhiThe vast light of divine grace

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is an adaptation of the sacred spiritual verses composed by the 19th-century Tamil saint Vallalar (Ramalinga Swamigal) from his canonical work 'Arutperunjodhi Agaval'. The lyrics extol the Divine as 'Arutperunjodhi' (Vast Light of Grace) and 'Thaniperum Karunai' (Supreme Unique Compassion). Vallalar passionately rejects divisive social constructs such as caste, clan, and rigid religious dogmas, declaring them false and calling for universal empathy and unity across all living beings. In Vetrimaaran's film 'Viduthalai Part 1', maestro Ilayaraja renders this anthem to underline the film's core themes of social justice, liberation, and human dignity. By pairing Vallalar's anti-caste philosophy with the struggle of oppressed people, the song elevates the film's narrative of emancipation beyond political conflict into a universal quest for human grace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Anaphora

Arutperun jodhi

The key phrase 'Arutperun jodhi' (Vast Light of Grace) is repeated across multiple stanzas, serving as a rhythmic and spiritual anchor throughout the composition.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Sathiyum madhamum / Samayamum poiyena

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'S' across consecutive words creates melodic harmony and acoustic flow.

Edhukai (Second Letter Assonance)

Emmadham em nirai / Ammadham endrarul

Classical Tamil prosodic device where the second letter matches across lines ('m' in Emmadham and Ammadham).

Did you know?

Trivia

The text comes from 'Arutperunjodhi Agaval' written by Vallalar (Ramalinga Adigal), an influential Tamil saint who founded Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Sangam to abolish caste discrimination and promote universal compassion. Maestro Ilayaraja composed and sang this version specifically for Vetrimaaran's acclaimed film 'Viduthalai Part 1' (2023).

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