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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ethir Kaalame

From Sattathukku Oru Saval · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Sattathukku Oru Saval
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
3 Jan 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Edhirkaalamae enathu kaiyilae
Ooh oh oh ohhaah
Edhirkaalamae enathu kaiyilae
Vasantham vanthaadum puvi vaazhththu panpaadum
Vasantham vanthaadum puvi vaazhththu panpaadum
Varalaaru en perai ingu ezhuthi kondaadum
Edhirkaalamae enathu kaiyilae
Nenjil oru kanavu malara
Ennam adhil dhinamum valara
Manam enum kuyil
Vinnil parakka kandaenae
Nenjil oru kanavu malara
Ennam adhil dhinamum valara
Manam enum kuyil
Vinnil parakka kandaenae
Enathu rajaangam adhil iniya sangeetham
Enathu rajaangam adhil iniya sangeetham
Puvi mel malarum thirunaal udhayamaaguthae….
Edhirkaalamae enathu kaiyilae
Vasantham vanthaadum puvi vaazhththu panpaadum
Varalaaru en perai ingu ezhuthi kondaadum
Edhirkaalamae enathu kaiyilae….
………………..
Engum oru puratchi vedikka
Pongum Pudhu magizhchchi pirakka
Sarinigar samam enum niyathi undaaga
Engum oru puraitchi vedikka
Pongum pudhu magizhchchi pirakka
Sarinigar samam enum niyathi undaaga
Ooril ellorum podhuvaazhvil munneara
Vithaiyaai vizhunthaen
Nadhiyaai nadanthu selvaenae
Edhirkaalamae enathu kaiyilae
Vasantham vanthaadum puvi vaazhththu panpaadum
Varalaaru en perai ingu ezhuthi kondaadum
Edhirkaalamae enathu kaiyilae….
Veeram enum payirai valarththu
Nyaanam enum kadhirai aruththu
Pugazh mani kodithannai yaetri vaippenae
Veeram enum payirai valarththu
Nyaanam enum kadhirai aruththu
Pugazh mani kodithannai yaetri vaippenae
Jhansirani pol antha velu naachchi pol
Jhansirani pol antha velu naachchi pol
Thuninthae pagaiyai edhirththae ulagai velvaenae
Edhirkaalamae enathu kaiyilae
Vasantham vanthaadum puvi vaazhththu panpaadum
Varalaaru en perai ingu ezhuthi kondaadum
Edhirkaalamae enathu kaiyilae….
The future is in my hands!
Oh oh oh oh-aah
The future is in my hands!
Spring will arrive dancing, and the earth will sing songs of blessing,
Spring will arrive dancing, and the earth will sing songs of blessing,
History will write my name here and celebrate it!
The future is in my hands...
As a dream blossoms in my heart,
As hopeful thoughts grow in it each day,
The cuckoo of my heart,
I saw it soaring into the sky!
As a dream blossoms in my heart,
As hopeful thoughts grow in it each day,
The cuckoo of my heart,
I saw it soaring into the sky!
In my kingdom, sweet music plays,
In my kingdom, sweet music plays,
A grand, auspicious day is dawning across the earth...
The future is in my hands...
Spring will arrive dancing, and the earth will sing songs of blessing,
History will write my name here and celebrate it!
The future is in my hands...
...
When a revolution breaks out everywhere,
When overflowing new joy is born,
To establish the law of complete equality,
When a revolution breaks out everywhere,
When overflowing new joy is born,
To establish the law of complete equality,
So that everyone in the land moves forward in society,
I fell like a seed,
And I shall march ahead like a flowing river!
The future is in my hands...
Spring will arrive dancing, and the earth will sing songs of blessing,
History will write my name here and celebrate it!
The future is in my hands...
Growing the crop of courage,
Harvesting the grain of wisdom,
I will hoist the glorious banner of triumph!
Growing the crop of courage,
Harvesting the grain of wisdom,
I will hoist the glorious banner of triumph!
Like the Queen of Jhansi, like Velu Nachiyar (brave warrior queen),
Like the Queen of Jhansi, like Velu Nachiyar (brave warrior queen),
I will bravely confront every enemy and conquer the world...
The future is in my hands...
Spring will arrive dancing, and the earth will sing songs of blessing,
History will write my name here and celebrate it!
The future is in my hands...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Edhirkaalamae enathu kaiyilae' is an empowering, energetic anthem centered on female strength, self-determination, and societal reform. The protagonist boldly proclaims that her destiny lies within her own hands, picturing a future where spring arrives, society flourishes, and her achievements are etched into history. The song tracks her journey from inner dreams to high-minded social ideals of equality and collective upliftment. In the latter half, the tone turns fiercely heroic. Drawing courage from historical icons like Jhansi Rani and Rani Velu Nachiyar, she vows to cultivate bravery, harvest wisdom, and overcome all obstacles to achieve glory. Vaali's lyrics combine personal triumph with revolutionary zeal, brought to life through Vani Jairam's powerful vocals and Shankar-Ganesh's vibrant composition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvam (Metaphor)

“Manam enum kuyil”

Compares the human mind directly to a cuckoo bird flying freely.

Uruvam (Metaphor)

“Veeram enum payirai valarththu / Nyaanam enum kadhirai aruththu”

Metaphorically compares bravery to a crop that is nurtured and wisdom to grains harvested.

Upamai (Simile)

“Vithaiyaai vizhunthaen / Nadhiyaai nadanthu selvaenae”

Uses 'aai' (like/as) to compare falling down to a seed planted and moving forward to a flowing river.

Upamai (Simile)

“Jhansirani pol antha velu naachchi pol”

Uses 'pol' (like) to compare her courageous spirit directly to historical warrior queens Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi and Rani Velu Nachiyar.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Nenjil oru kanavu malara / Ennam adhil dhinamum valara”

Both lines end with the rhyming suffix 'malara' and 'valara'.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song notably references Rani Velu Nachiyar (1730–1796), the queen of the Sivaganga estate who was one of the earliest Indian monarchs to wage war against the British East India Company, placing her alongside Jhansi Rani as a symbol of female valor and anti-colonial resistance in Indian popular culture.

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