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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Ayirathil Naan Oruvan

From Iruvar · 1997

Lyricist: Vairamuthu
Singer: Mano
Music director: A. R. Rahman
Movie name: Iruvar
Movie release year: 1997
Lyrics added on: 6 Aug 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Aaayiraththil naan oruvan

Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan

Naan ninaiththaal

Ninaiththadhu nadakkum nadandhapin

Ezhaiyin poomugam sirikkum

Naan azhaiththaal

Malaigalum nadhiyum kadalgalum

Oorukkul oorvalam nadaththum

Indha ulagam kadhavadaithaal

Etti udhaippen adhu thirakkum

Kunindha ullam thunindhu vittaal

Ezhaikkum mella mella

Sorggam pirakkum

Aaayiraththil naan oruvan

Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan

………………………………….

Arasanaagattumae

Arasiyaagattumae

Kutrangal yaar seidhaalum

Thatti kettu thaduppen

Dharmaththin pakkam iruppen

Netriyin vervai thuli

Nilaththil veezhvadharkul

Uzhaiththa makkalukku

Koolivaangi koduppen

Unmaikku kaaval iruppen

Indha ulagam kadhavadaithaal

Etti udhaippen adhu thirakkum

Kunindha ullam thunindhu vittaal

Ezhaikkum mella mella

Sorggam pirakkum

Aaayiraththil naan oruvan

Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan

Lala la aalaa la la la la…..

………………………………………

Puratchi malarattumae

Punnagai thavazhattumae

Ovvoru veettukkullum

Ovvoru sooriyan

Sondhaththil jolikkattumae

Vaazhkkai vidiyattumae

Varumai ozhiyattumae

Uzhaikkum makkalukku

Ulagangal sondham

Unmaigal theliyattumae

Ini ezhunjaayiru ezhuga

Indha irul koottangal ozhiga

Pazhaiya pagai padaiyeduthaal

Kathi puthi rendum kondu venruviduga

Aaayiraththil naan oruvan

Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan

Naan ninaiththaal

Ninaiththadhu nadakkum nadandhapin

Ezhaiyin poomugam sirikkum

Naan azhaiththaal

Malaigalum nadhiyum kadalgalum

Oorukkul oorvalam nadaththum

Indha ulagam kadhavadaithaal

Etti udhaippen adhu thirakkum

Kunindha ullam thunindhu vittaal

Ezhaikkum mella mella

Sorggam pirakkum

I am one in a thousand.

If you command, I am the army leader.

If I think of it,

what I envisioned will happen, and once it does,

the poor person's flower-like face will smile.

If I call out,

the mountains, rivers, and oceans

will march in procession into the town.

If this world shuts its doors,

I will kick them open wide.

If a bowed heart gathers courage,

even for the poor, slowly but surely,

heaven will be born.

I am one in a thousand.

If you command, I am the army leader.

………………………………….

Let it be a king,

or let it be a queen,

whoever commits a crime,

I will question them and put a stop to it;

I will stand on the side of righteousness.

Before a drop of sweat on the forehead

falls to the ground,

to the working people,

I will secure their wages and hand them over.

I will stand guard for the truth.

If this world shuts its doors,

I will kick them open wide.

If a bowed heart gathers courage,

even for the poor, slowly but surely,

heaven will be born.

I am one in a thousand.

If you command, I am the army leader.

Lala la aalaa la la la la…..

…………………………………………

Let revolution blossom,

let smiles spread gently.

Inside every single home,

may a sun of its own

shine brightly in its own right.

Let life dawn anew,

let poverty be eradicated.

To the laboring people,

the worlds belong.

Let the truths become clear.

Now let the rising sun arise,

let these crowds of darkness vanish!

If an old enmity comes marching as an army,

conquer it using both sword and intellect!

I am one in a thousand.

If you command, I am the army leader.

If I think of it,

what I envisioned will happen, and once it does,

the poor person's flower-like face will smile.

If I call out,

the mountains, rivers, and oceans

will march in procession into the town.

If this world shuts its doors,

I will kick them open wide.

If a bowed heart gathers courage,

even for the poor, slowly but surely,

heaven will be born.

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Chorus

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic promotional/political song from Mani Ratnam's classic film 'Iruvar' pays homage to the iconic hero-centric narrative style of Tamil cinema from the 1960s, specifically reflecting the persona of M.G. Ramachandran (MGR). The song acts as a manifesto of a champion of the masses who claims to be one among the common people yet ready to lead them toward justice. It promises the eradication of poverty, fair wages for labor, standing up to royalty or powerful rulers who abuse power, and bringing forth a bright future driven by intellect and courage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Ezhaiyin poomugam sirikkum”

Describing the poor person's face as a 'flower face' ('poomugam') and referring to individual prosperity as 'every household having its own sun' ('ovvoru veettukkullum ovvoru sooriyan').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

“Malaigalum nadhiyum kadalgalum / Oorukkul oorvalam nadaththum”

Exaggerating the protagonist's influence, suggesting mountains, rivers, and oceans will join a procession upon his call.

Emona / Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Puratchi malarattumae / Punnagai thavazhattumae”

Matching first letters across words or lines, such as 'Puratchi' and 'Punnagai'.

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

“Arasanaagattumae / Arasiyaagattumae”

Repetition of ending suffixes '-attumae' across consecutive lines to create a rhythmic chant.

Did you know?

Trivia

In 'Iruvar', this song represents the fictional film career of Anandan (played by Mohanlal, modeled on MGR). Lyricist Vairamuthu and composer A.R. Rahman deliberately crafted this song to mimic the 1960s MGR political-anthem style, referencing MGR's real-life classic song 'Aayirathil Oruvan'. Singer Mano provided the vocals, mirroring the legendary T.M. Soundararajan's heroic tone.

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