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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Dhesa Kaatre

From Thennavan · 2003

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
Shankar Mahadevan, Ganga
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Thennavan2003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Hei hei ohoHei hei oho
Hei hei ohoHei hei oho
Chorus
Yei dhesak kaatre ho hoHey wind of the nation, ho ho
Yei dhesak kaatre ho hoHey wind of the nation, ho ho
Male
Yei dhesak kaatre dhesak kaatreHey wind of the nation, wind of the nation
Thennavanin koottaththai nee paarLook at the crowd gathered for Thennavan
Yei thaerthal kaalam thondrum pothuWhen election time arrives
Thenavanin sakthiyai nee paarBehold the power of Thennavan
Male
Inimel makkalai kaakkumFrom now on, protecting the people
Makkalin thalaivanThe leader of the people
Vanaththil irunthu varamaattaanWill not descend from the heavens
Thennavan ennum perinai thaangiBearing the name Thennavan
Itho nam munne vanthaan oho……Here he has come before us, oho...
Male
Yei dhesak kaatre dhesak kaatreHey wind of the nation, wind of the nation
Thennavanin koottaththai nee paarLook at the crowd gathered for Thennavan
Yei thaerthal kaalam thondrum pothuWhen election time arrives
Thenavanin sakthiyai nee paarBehold the power of Thennavan
Chorus
Ho….hoi…..ho…..Ho...hoi...ho...
Ho….hoi…..ho…..Ho...hoi...ho...
Male
Puyal katrai kaithu seithuIf you arrest a stormy wind
Koondil adaiththaalAnd lock it inside a cage
Antha kaatru enna poo parikkumaWill that wind pluck flowers quietly?
Oru vengai seerumpothuWhen a tiger rages in fury
Sattam thaduththaalAnd the law tries to stop it
Athu kaigal katti nindrirukkumaaWill it stand with its hands bound?
Chorus
Ada unnai pootti vaikkaOh, to lock you up
Siraigal illaiThere are no prisons
Un kannai jeyikkaTo conquer your vision
Oru neruppum illaiThere is no fire powerful enough
Male
Nam mannai kaakkaTo protect our land
Oru thalaimai illaiThere is no other leadership
Ada unnai vittaal ingeOh, except for you here
VeraarumillaiThere is no one else
Male
Yei dhesak kaatre dhesak kaatreHey wind of the nation, wind of the nation
Thennavanin koottaththai nee paarLook at the crowd gathered for Thennavan
Yei thaerthal kaalam thondrum pothuWhen election time arrives
Thenavanin sakthiyai nee paarBehold the power of Thennavan
Male
Inimel makkalai kaakkumFrom now on, protecting the people
Makkalin thalaivanThe leader of the people
Vanaththil irunthu varamaattaanWill not descend from the heavens
Thennavan ennum perinai thaangiBearing the name Thennavan
Itho nam munne vanthaan oho……Here he has come before us, oho...
Chorus
Nee sattam katru vanthaYou who have learned the law
ChanakkiyaneOh Chanakya!
Ini unnaiNow, to conquer you
Ingu velvatharkku yaarWho is there here?
Nee thittam theetta vanthaYou who came to devise plans
Tamil veernaeOh Tamil warrior!
Ini unnai kuttramNow, to accuse you
Solvatharkku yaarWho is there to point blame?
Male
Ne dhesa therizhukkumYou steer the nation's chariot
Oru saarathi neeAs an adept charioteer
Naasa payir arukkum puthu bharthiA modern Bharathi who cuts down corrupt crops
Un kaiyilthaan irukkuRight in your hands lies
Tamizhan vidhiThe destiny of the Tamils
Chorus
Nam vellum NaalthaanThe day we win
Viraivil solvaai NeethiYou will proclaim justice swiftly
Male
Yei dhesak kaatre dhesak kaatreHey wind of the nation, wind of the nation
Thennavanin koottaththai nee paarLook at the crowd gathered for Thennavan
Yei thaerthal kaalam thondrum pothuWhen election time arrives
Thenavanin sakthiyai nee paarBehold the power of Thennavan
Male
Inimel makkalai kaakkumFrom now on, protecting the people
Makkalin thalaivanThe leader of the people
Vanaththil irunthu varamaattaanWill not descend from the heavens
Thennavan ennum perinai thaangiBearing the name Thennavan
Itho nam munne vanthaan hei……Here he has come before us, hei...
Chorus
Hei hei heiiii…….Hei hei heiiii...
Hei hei heiiii…….Hei hei heiiii...
Hei hei heiiii…….Hei hei heiiii...
Hei hei heiiii…….Hei hei heiiii...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Dhesak Kaatre' from Thennavan is a high-energy political anthem celebrating leadership, courage, and social transformation. It portrays the protagonist, Thennavan, as a savior born from common people rather than an unreachable heavenly figure, highlighting his role as an unstoppable force capable of challenging corrupt systems.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Puyal katrai kaithu seithu / Ne dhesa therizhukkum / Oru saarathi nee

The protagonist is metaphorically compared to a stormy wind (Puyal kaatru), a raging tiger (Vengai), a political mastermind (Chanakya), and a charioteer (Saarathi).

Rhetorical Question

Antha kaatru enna poo parikkuma / Athu kaigal katti nindrirukkumaa

Questions are asked not to get an answer, but to emphasize that the leader cannot be restrained by laws or cages.

Emonai (Initial Alliteration / Rhyme)

Nee thittam theetta vantha / Tamil veernae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in lines like 'thittam' and 'Tamil'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features Vijayakanth in his iconic political action persona. Although the prompt lists music as unknown, the soundtrack for Thennavan (2003) was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, featuring lyrics penned by Pa. Vijay.

Keep listening

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