- Lyricist
- Arivumathi
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Siraichalai
- Movie release year
- 1996
- Lyrics added on
- 27 Apr 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This powerful patriotic anthem from 'Siraichalai' evokes a deep sense of nationalism, sacrifice, and the revolutionary spirit of freedom fighters. The song asserts that the motherland is even greater than one's biological mother, as she sustains a person throughout their life. It urges oppressed countrymen to stop enduring passive suffering, break their shackles, and rise like a volcano to claim their freedom, emphasizing that a hero's bravery and legacy can never be buried by death.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question
“Mann perithaa uyir perithaa”
Asks thought-provoking questions about whether life or land is greater to spur patriotic fervor.
Metaphor
“Erimalaiyae ezhunthidudaa”
Compares the uprising of oppressed people to an erupting volcano.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Irumi saavadhil sirappillai / Innum ennada vilaiyaatu”
Matching second consonants in adjacent lines ('ru' in 'Irumi' and 'Innum').
Anaphora / Repetition
“Vanthae maatharam”
Repetition of the sacred phrase 'Vanthae maatharam' to heighten emotional intensity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Siraichalai (1996) is the Tamil dubbed version of the iconic Malayalam epic historical film 'Kaalapani', directed by Priyadarshan. The film's musical score was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyricist Arivumathi penning the Tamil lyrics to evoke intense patriotic fervour reflecting the historical struggle in the Andaman Cellular Jail.
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