Ayirathil Naan Oruvan
From Iruvar · 1997
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Mano
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Iruvar1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aaayiraththil naan oruvan | I am one among thousands, |
| Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan | If you command, I am the commander of the army. |
| Male | |
| Naan ninaiththaal | If I resolve, |
| Ninaiththadhu nadakkum nadandhapin | What I resolve will come to pass, and once it happens, |
| Ezhaiyin poomugam sirikkum | The flower-like face of the poor will smile. |
| Male | |
| Naan azhaiththaal | If I call out, |
| Malaigalum nadhiyum kadalgalum | The mountains, rivers, and oceans, |
| Oorukkul oorvalam nadaththum | Will march in procession into the town. |
| Male | |
| Indha ulagam kadhavadaithaal | If this world shuts its doors, |
| Etti udhaippen adhu thirakkum | I will kick it open, and open it shall. |
| Kunindha ullam thunindhu vittaal | If a bowed mind dares to be brave, |
| Ezhaikkum mella mella | Slowly and steadily, even for the poor, |
| Sorggam pirakkum | Heaven will be born. |
| Male | |
| Aaayiraththil naan oruvan | I am one among thousands, |
| Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan | If you command, I am the commander of the army. |
| Chorus | |
| …………………………………. | ... |
| Male | |
| Arasanaagattumae | Be it a king, |
| Arasiyaagattumae | Or be it a queen, |
| Kutrangal yaar seidhaalum | Whoever commits a crime, |
| Thatti kettu thaduppen | I will challenge, question, and halt them, |
| Dharmaththin pakkam iruppen | I will stand on the side of justice. |
| Male | |
| Netriyin vervai thuli | Before a drop of sweat from the forehead |
| Nilaththil veezhvadharkul | Hits the ground, |
| Uzhaiththa makkalukku | To the hardworking common folk, |
| Koolivaangi koduppen | I will ensure their rightful wages are delivered. |
| Unmaikku kaaval iruppen | I will stand as a guard for the truth. |
| Male | |
| Indha ulagam kadhavadaithaal | If this world shuts its doors, |
| Etti udhaippen adhu thirakkum | I will kick it open, and open it shall. |
| Kunindha ullam thunindhu vittaal | If a bowed mind dares to be brave, |
| Ezhaikkum mella mella | Slowly and steadily, even for the poor, |
| Sorggam pirakkum | Heaven will be born. |
| Male | |
| Aaayiraththil naan oruvan | I am one among thousands, |
| Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan | If you command, I am the commander of the army. |
| Male | |
| Lala la aalaa la la la la….. | Lala la aalaa la la la la... |
| ……………………………………… | ... |
| Male | |
| Puratchi malarattumae | Let revolution bloom, |
| Punnagai thavazhattumae | Let smiles blossom, |
| Ovvoru veettukkullum | Inside every household, |
| Ovvoru sooriyan | May a personal sun |
| Sondhaththil jolikkattumae | Shine with its own brilliance. |
| Male | |
| Vaazhkkai vidiyattumae | May a new dawn break in life, |
| Varumai ozhiyattumae | May poverty be eradicated, |
| Uzhaikkum makkalukku | To the working class, |
| Ulagangal sondham | The entire world belongs, |
| Unmaigal theliyattumae | Let truths shine with clarity. |
| Male | |
| Ini ezhunjaayiru ezhuga | Arise now, O rising sun, arise! |
| Indha irul koottangal ozhiga | Let these forces of darkness vanish! |
| Pazhaiya pagai padaiyeduthaal | If ancient hostility comes waging war, |
| Kathi puthi rendum kondu venruviduga | Vanquish it using both the sword and intellect! |
| Male | |
| Aaayiraththil naan oruvan | I am one among thousands, |
| Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan | If you command, I am the commander of the army. |
| Male | |
| Naan ninaiththaal | If I resolve, |
| Ninaiththadhu nadakkum nadandhapin | What I resolve will come to pass, and once it happens, |
| Ezhaiyin poomugam sirikkum | The flower-like face of the poor will smile. |
| Male | |
| Naan azhaiththaal | If I call out, |
| Malaigalum nadhiyum kadalgalum | The mountains, rivers, and oceans, |
| Oorukkul oorvalam nadaththum | Will march in procession into the town. |
| Male | |
| Indha ulagam kadhavadaithaal | If this world shuts its doors, |
| Etti udhaippen adhu thirakkum | I will kick it open, and open it shall. |
| Kunindha ullam thunindhu vittaal | If a bowed mind dares to be brave, |
| Ezhaikkum mella mella | Slowly and steadily, even for the poor, |
| Sorggam pirakkum | Heaven will be born. |
ஆயிரத்தில் நான்
ஒருவன் நீங்கள் ஆணையிட்டால்
படைத்தலைவன்
I am one among thousands,
If you command, I am the commander of the army.
நான் நினைத்தால்
நினைத்தது நடக்கும் நடந்த
பின் ஏழையின் பூ முகம்
சிரிக்கும்
If I resolve,
What I resolve will come to pass, and once it happens,
The flower-like face of the poor will smile.
நான் அழைத்தால்
மலைகளும் நதியும் கடல்களும்
ஊருக்குள் ஊர்வலம் நடத்தும்
If I call out,
The mountains, rivers, and oceans,
Will march in procession into the town.
இந்த உலகம்
கதவடைத்தால் எட்டி
உதைப்பேன் அது திறக்கும்
குனிந்த உள்ளம் துணிந்து
விட்டால் ஏழைக்கும் மெல்ல
மெல்ல சொர்க்கம் பிறக்கும்
If this world shuts its doors,
I will kick it open, and open it shall.
If a bowed mind dares to be brave,
Slowly and steadily, even for the poor,
Heaven will be born.
ஆயிரத்தில் நான்
ஒருவன் நீங்கள் ஆணையிட்டால்
படைத்தலைவன்
I am one among thousands,
If you command, I am the commander of the army.
.......................
...
அரசனாகட்டுமே
அரசியாகட்டுமே குற்றங்கள்
யார் செய்தாலும் தட்டிக் கேட்டு
தடுப்பேன் தர்மத்தின் பக்கம்
இருப்பேன்
Be it a king,
Or be it a queen,
Whoever commits a crime,
I will challenge, question, and halt them,
I will stand on the side of justice.
நெற்றியின்
வேர்வை துளி நிலத்தில்
வீழ்வதற்குள் உழைத்த
மக்களுக்கு கூலி வாங்கிக்
கொடுப்பேன் உண்மைக்கு
காவல் இருப்பேன்
Before a drop of sweat from the forehead
Hits the ground,
To the hardworking common folk,
I will ensure their rightful wages are delivered.
I will stand as a guard for the truth.
இந்த உலகம்
கதவடைத்தால் எட்டி
உதைப்பேன் அது திறக்கும்
குனிந்த உள்ளம் துணிந்து
விட்டால் ஏழைக்கும் மெல்ல
மெல்ல சொர்க்கம் பிறக்கும்
If this world shuts its doors,
I will kick it open, and open it shall.
If a bowed mind dares to be brave,
Slowly and steadily, even for the poor,
Heaven will be born.
ஆயிரத்தில் நான்
ஒருவன் நீங்கள் ஆணையிட்டால்
படைத்தலைவன்
I am one among thousands,
If you command, I am the commander of the army.
................................
Lala la aalaa la la la la...
...
புரட்சி மலரட்டுமே
புன்னகை தவழட்டுமே
ஒவ்வொரு வீட்டுக்குள்ளும்
ஒவ்வொரு சூரியன்
சொந்தத்தில் ஜொலிக்கட்டுமே
Let revolution bloom,
Let smiles blossom,
Inside every household,
May a personal sun
Shine with its own brilliance.
வாழ்க்கை விடியட்டுமே
வறுமை ஒழியட்டுமே
உழைக்கும் மக்களுக்கு
உலகங்கள் சொந்தம்
உண்மைகள் தெளியட்டுமே
May a new dawn break in life,
May poverty be eradicated,
To the working class,
The entire world belongs,
Let truths shine with clarity.
இனி எழுஞாயிறு
எழுக இந்த இருள் கூட்டங்கள்
ஒழிக பழைய பகை படையெடுத்தால்
கத்தி புத்தி ரெண்டும் கொண்டு
வென்றுவிடுக
Arise now, O rising sun, arise!
Let these forces of darkness vanish!
If ancient hostility comes waging war,
Vanquish it using both the sword and intellect!
ஆயிரத்தில் நான்
ஒருவன் நீங்கள் ஆணையிட்டால்
படைத்தலைவன்
I am one among thousands,
If you command, I am the commander of the army.
நான் நினைத்தால்
நினைத்தது நடக்கும் நடந்த
பின் ஏழையின் பூ முகம்
சிரிக்கும்
If I resolve,
What I resolve will come to pass, and once it happens,
The flower-like face of the poor will smile.
நான் அழைத்தால்
மலைகளும் நதியும் கடல்களும்
ஊருக்குள் ஊர்வலம் நடத்தும்
If I call out,
The mountains, rivers, and oceans,
Will march in procession into the town.
இந்த உலகம்
கதவடைத்தால் எட்டி
உதைப்பேன் அது திறக்கும்
குனிந்த உள்ளம் துணிந்து
விட்டால் ஏழைக்கும் மெல்ல
மெல்ல சொர்க்கம் பிறக்கும்
If this world shuts its doors,
I will kick it open, and open it shall.
If a bowed mind dares to be brave,
Slowly and steadily, even for the poor,
Heaven will be born.
Aaayiraththil naan oruvan
I am one among thousands,
Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan
If you command, I am the commander of the army.
Naan ninaiththaal
If I resolve,
Ninaiththadhu nadakkum nadandhapin
What I resolve will come to pass, and once it happens,
Ezhaiyin poomugam sirikkum
The flower-like face of the poor will smile.
Naan azhaiththaal
If I call out,
Malaigalum nadhiyum kadalgalum
The mountains, rivers, and oceans,
Oorukkul oorvalam nadaththum
Will march in procession into the town.
Indha ulagam kadhavadaithaal
If this world shuts its doors,
Etti udhaippen adhu thirakkum
I will kick it open, and open it shall.
Kunindha ullam thunindhu vittaal
If a bowed mind dares to be brave,
Ezhaikkum mella mella
Slowly and steadily, even for the poor,
Sorggam pirakkum
Heaven will be born.
Aaayiraththil naan oruvan
I am one among thousands,
Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan
If you command, I am the commander of the army.
………………………………….
...
Arasanaagattumae
Be it a king,
Arasiyaagattumae
Or be it a queen,
Kutrangal yaar seidhaalum
Whoever commits a crime,
Thatti kettu thaduppen
I will challenge, question, and halt them,
Dharmaththin pakkam iruppen
I will stand on the side of justice.
Netriyin vervai thuli
Before a drop of sweat from the forehead
Nilaththil veezhvadharkul
Hits the ground,
Uzhaiththa makkalukku
To the hardworking common folk,
Koolivaangi koduppen
I will ensure their rightful wages are delivered.
Unmaikku kaaval iruppen
I will stand as a guard for the truth.
Indha ulagam kadhavadaithaal
If this world shuts its doors,
Etti udhaippen adhu thirakkum
I will kick it open, and open it shall.
Kunindha ullam thunindhu vittaal
If a bowed mind dares to be brave,
Ezhaikkum mella mella
Slowly and steadily, even for the poor,
Sorggam pirakkum
Heaven will be born.
Aaayiraththil naan oruvan
I am one among thousands,
Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan
If you command, I am the commander of the army.
Lala la aalaa la la la la…..
Lala la aalaa la la la la...
………………………………………
...
Puratchi malarattumae
Let revolution bloom,
Punnagai thavazhattumae
Let smiles blossom,
Ovvoru veettukkullum
Inside every household,
Ovvoru sooriyan
May a personal sun
Sondhaththil jolikkattumae
Shine with its own brilliance.
Vaazhkkai vidiyattumae
May a new dawn break in life,
Varumai ozhiyattumae
May poverty be eradicated,
Uzhaikkum makkalukku
To the working class,
Ulagangal sondham
The entire world belongs,
Unmaigal theliyattumae
Let truths shine with clarity.
Ini ezhunjaayiru ezhuga
Arise now, O rising sun, arise!
Indha irul koottangal ozhiga
Let these forces of darkness vanish!
Pazhaiya pagai padaiyeduthaal
If ancient hostility comes waging war,
Kathi puthi rendum kondu venruviduga
Vanquish it using both the sword and intellect!
Aaayiraththil naan oruvan
I am one among thousands,
Neengal aanaiyittaal padai thalaivan
If you command, I am the commander of the army.
Naan ninaiththaal
If I resolve,
Ninaiththadhu nadakkum nadandhapin
What I resolve will come to pass, and once it happens,
Ezhaiyin poomugam sirikkum
The flower-like face of the poor will smile.
Naan azhaiththaal
If I call out,
Malaigalum nadhiyum kadalgalum
The mountains, rivers, and oceans,
Oorukkul oorvalam nadaththum
Will march in procession into the town.
Indha ulagam kadhavadaithaal
If this world shuts its doors,
Etti udhaippen adhu thirakkum
I will kick it open, and open it shall.
Kunindha ullam thunindhu vittaal
If a bowed mind dares to be brave,
Ezhaikkum mella mella
Slowly and steadily, even for the poor,
Sorggam pirakkum
Heaven will be born.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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