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Isaimozhi
Arunachalam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Athanda Ithanda

From Arunachalam · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Arunachalam
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
14 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Athaanda ithaanda arunachalam naanthaanda – hey
Athaanda ithaanda arunachalam naanthaanda
Annai thamizh naatula naan anaivarukum sonthamda
Athaanda ithaanda arunachalam naanthaanda
Annai thamizh naatula naan anaivarukum sonthamda
Aandavan nadathiduvaanda hoi hoi hoi
Arunachalam nadathiduvaanda hoi hoi hoi
Naan uppu potta aala marapathillada
Aana thapu senja aala viduvathillada … aaaaaaaa
Athaanda ithaanda arunachalam naanthaanda
Annai thamizh naatula naan anaivarukum sonthamda
En kanirandaiyum kaapaathum kanimaiyum neethaan
En thozhgalilae muzhubalamaai ullavanum neethaan
En nenjil vaazhnthuvarum thairiyamum neethaan
En sollil kudi irukum sathiyamum neethaan
Aah inuyiraai vanthavanae en uyirum neethaan
En iruthayathil thudi thudipaai irupavanum neethaan
Ennampol vetri pera uzhaipavanum neethaan
En iruthivarai kooda varum kootaniyum neethaan
Ilamaiyil uzhaipavan muthumaiyil sirikiraan
Ilamaiyil paduthavan muthumaiyil thavikiraan
Unathu rathamum enathu rathamum
Uravu rathamada
Neeum naanum naanum neeum
Nirathaal gunathaal onnada – haha
Athaanda ithaanda arunachalam naanthaanda
Annai thamizh naatula naan anaivarukum sonthamda
Thaai endra oru theivam veetoda iruku
Nee thani thaniya kovil kolam alaivathu ethuku
Ammavin paathathil karpooram koluthu
Aanantha kanneeril abisegam nadathu
Kaatu vilangellam kozhuthaathan mathipu
Kaavi thuravi ellam melinjaathaan mathipu
Panam konjam irunthaalum koduthathaan mathipu
Nee maganendraal un thaaiyai mathichathaan mathipu
Thanakenna vaazhbavan irukaiyil irakiraan
Pirarkenna vaazhnthavan iranthumae irukiraan
Unnai vidavum enaku veru uravu illaiyada
Ennai endrum vaazha vaikum
Theivam theivam neeyada – haan
{ Athaanda ithaanda arunachalam naanthaanda
Annai thamizh naatula naan anaivarukum sonthamda } (2)
Aandavan nadathiduvaanda hoi hoi hoi
Arunachalam nadathiduvaanda
Naan uppu potta aala marapathillada
Aana thapu senja aala viduvathillada
{ Athaanda ithaanda arunachalam naanthaanda
Annai thamizh naatula naan anaivarukum sonthamda } (2)
That is it, this is it, I am Arunachalam! - Hey!
That is it, this is it, I am Arunachalam!
In mother Tamil land, I belong to everyone!
That is it, this is it, I am Arunachalam!
In mother Tamil land, I belong to everyone!
God will lead the way, hoy hoy hoy!
Arunachalam will see it through, hoy hoy hoy!
I never forget the one who fed me,
but I never spare the one who does wrong! Ahhhhh...
That is it, this is it, I am Arunachalam!
In mother Tamil land, I belong to everyone!
You are the gentle care protecting both my eyes,
you are the full strength resting in my shoulders,
you are the courage living inside my heart,
you are the truth dwelling in my words,
ah, you who came as my dear soul, you are my very life,
you are the heartbeat throbbing in my chest,
you are the one who works hard to achieve success,
you are the companion who walks with me until the very end,
the one who works in youth smiles in old age,
the one who lies idle in youth struggles in old age,
your blood and my blood
are bound by kinship,
you and I, and I and you,
are one in colour and in character! - Haha!
That is it, this is it, I am Arunachalam!
In mother Tamil land, I belong to everyone!
A goddess called Mother resides right at home,
why wander separately around temples and sacred ponds?
Light the camphor at your mother's feet,
perform the holy bath with tears of pure joy!
Wild beasts are valued only when they are well-fed,
saffron-clad ascetics are valued only when they are lean,
even with little money, you have worth only when you share it,
if you are a son, you have worth only when you honour your mother!
The one who lives only for himself is dead while still alive,
the one who lived for others lives on even in death,
I have no greater relation than you,
the one who keeps me going forever,
you are the god, the true god! - Haan!
That is it, this is it, I am Arunachalam!
In mother Tamil land, I belong to everyone!
God will lead the way, hoy hoy hoy!
Arunachalam will see it through!
I never forget the one who fed me,
but I never spare the one who does wrong!
That is it, this is it, I am Arunachalam!
In mother Tamil land, I belong to everyone!
Male
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Male
Male
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Male
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Athaanda Ithaanda is the iconic intro song for Superstar Rajinikanth from the 1997 film Arunachalam, composed by Deva and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The hero presents himself as a common man who belongs to all people of the Tamil land, guided by righteousness and divine destiny. The song highlights his core values: unwavering loyalty to those who have helped him and unyielding justice against wrongdoers. Beyond personal intro themes, the song delivers timeless ethical teachings. It contrasts the rewards of youthful hard work against laziness, highlights selfless living over selfishness, and elevates mother worship above empty religious rituals, establishing the hero as both a savior and a moral beacon.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Assonance)

“Ilamaiyil uzhaipavan muthumaiyil sirikiraan”

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Ilamaiyil uzhaipavan' and 'Ilamaiyil paduthavan'.

Antithesis (Moral Contrast)

“Ilamaiyil uzhaipavan muthumaiyil sirikiraan / Ilamaiyil paduthavan muthumaiyil thavikiraan”

Contrasting the positive result of working in youth vs the negative result of being lazy in youth.

Metaphor

“Thaai endra oru theivam veetoda iruku”

Comparing a mother living at home to a divine deity, emphasizing that devotion to parents surpasses visiting shrines.

Paradox

“Thanakenna vaazhbavan irukaiyil irakiraan / Pirarkenna vaazhnthavan iranthumae irukiraan”

Expressing that a selfish person is metaphorically dead while living, whereas a generous person remains alive in memory even after death.

Did you know?

Trivia

This opening track from Arunachalam (1997) was composed by Deva and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. It follows the legendary tradition of Rajinikanth hero-introduction songs that combine high-energy mass rhythms with philosophical teachings, penned by Vairamuthu.

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