Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatrodu Puyalai

From Rishi · 2001

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singer
Shankar Mahadevan
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Rishi2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaatrodu puyalaai vanthaaiYou came as a storm with the wind
Pagalodu puliyaai vanthaaiYou came as a tiger with the day
Iravodu idiyaai vanthaaiYou came as thunder with the night
Theeyodu oliyaai vanthaaiYou came as light with the fire
Male
Poovodu mullai vanthaaiYou came as a thorn with the flower
Mannodu vithaiyai vanthaaiYou came as a seed with the soil
Porodu padaiyai vanthaaiYou came as an army with the war
Kaiyodu vaalai vanthaaiYou came as a sword in the hand
Male
Sila neram mazhaiyaay vanthaaiSometimes you came as rain
Sila neram kudaiyaai vanthaaiSometimes you came as an umbrella
Oru neram mezhugaai vanthaaiAt times you came as soft wax
Oru neram irumbaai vanthaaiAt times you came as hard iron
Male
Kaatrodu puyalaai vanthaaiYou came as a storm with the wind
Pagalodu puliyai vanthaaiYou came as a tiger with the day
Iravodu idiyaai vanthaaiYou came as thunder with the night
Theeyodu oliyaai vanthaaiYou came as light with the fire
Male
Rishi rishi rishi rishi rishiRishi rishi rishi rishi rishi
Rishi rishi rishi rishi rishiRishi rishi rishi rishi rishi
Male
Kaatrodu puyalaai vanthaaiYou came as a storm with the wind
Pagalodu puliyaai vanthaaiYou came as a tiger with the day
Iravodu idiyaai vanthaaiYou came as thunder with the night
Theeyodu oliyaai vanthaaiYou came as light with the fire
Male
Poovodu mullai vanthaaiYou came as a thorn with the flower
Mannodu vithaiyai vanthaaiYou came as a seed with the soil
Porodu padaiyai vanthaaiYou came as an army with the war
Kaiyodu vaalai vanthaaiYou came as a sword in the hand
Male
A … imayamalaiyai tholil thookiAh, carrying the Himalayan mountains on his shoulder
Irandu mylgal selbavanHe is the one who walks two miles
Viralgal theendi SeenachuvaraiTouching the Great Wall of China with his fingers
Virisal vizhathaan SeibavanHe is the one who causes cracks to appear on it
Thuppaki kaiyil allaCarrying a gun not in his hands
Kannil kondu vaazhbhavanHe is the one who holds it in his eyes
Male
Rishi rishi rishi rishi rishiRishi rishi rishi rishi rishi
Rishi rishi rishi rishi rishiRishi rishi rishi rishi rishi
Male
A… singakkootam oorvalam thaanAh, like a pride of lions marching on a procession
Povathai pol nadappavanHe is the one who walks with such grandeur
Theyvai endraal nilavai thookiIf needed, he would lift the moon
Thalayil vaithu thoonguvanAnd sleep keeping it beneath his head
Avan thaaan irukkum idathilIn the very place where he resides
Udhikka nenaikkum SooriyanEven the Sun desires to rise
Male
Rishi rishi rishi rishi rishiRishi rishi rishi rishi rishi
Rishi rishi rishi rishi rishiRishi rishi rishi rishi rishi
Male
Kaatrodu puyalaai vanthaaiYou came as a storm with the wind
Pagalodu puliyaai vanthaaiYou came as a tiger with the day
Iravodu idiyaai vanthaaiYou came as thunder with the night
Theeyodu oliyaai vanthaaiYou came as light with the fire
Male
Poovodu mullai vanthaaiYou came as a thorn with the flower
Mannodu vithaiyai vanthaaiYou came as a seed with the soil
Porodu padaiyai vanthaaiYou came as an army with the war
Kaiyodu vaalai vanthaaiYou came as a sword in the hand
Male
Sila neram mazhaiyaay vanthaaiSometimes you came as rain
Sila neram kudaiyaai vanthaaiSometimes you came as an umbrella
Oru neram mezhugaai vanthaaiAt times you came as soft wax
Oru neram irumbaai vanthaaiAt times you came as hard iron
Male
Kaatrodu puyalaai vanthaaiYou came as a storm with the wind
Pagalodu puliyai vanthaaiYou came as a tiger with the day
Iravodu idiyaai vanthaaiYou came as thunder with the night
Theeyodu oliyaai vanthaaiYou came as light with the fire

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a high-octane hero-introduction and character-defining track for the title character Rishi from the 2001 film Rishi. Sung by Shankar Mahadevan with energetic composition by Yuvan Shankar Raja, the lyrics celebrate the multi-faceted, formidable, and adaptable nature of the protagonist. He is depicted as both a ferocious force of nature—like a storm, tiger, or thunder—and a protective companion like rain or an umbrella.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor & Imagery

Kaatrodu puyalaai vanthaai

The lyrics rely heavily on metaphors comparing the hero to elements of nature (storm, fire, rain) and formidable human weapons (sword, army).

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Viralgal theendi Seenachuvarai Virisal vizhathaan Seibavan

Extravagant exaggeration is used to exalt the protagonist's strength, such as carrying the Himalayas or causing cracks in the Great Wall of China with a mere touch.

Juxtaposition / Antithesis

Oru neram mezhugaai vanthaai / Oru neram irumbaai vanthaai

Contrasting qualities like soft wax (mezhugu) versus hard iron (irumbu), or rain versus umbrella are placed together to show his adaptable dual nature.

Anaphora / Rhyme Pattern (Emonai & Etukai)

Sila neram mazhaiyaay vanthaai / Sila neram kudaiyaai vanthaai

Repetitive phrase structure ending with 'vanthaai' creates a rhythmic, chant-like musical flow throughout the verses.

Did you know?

Trivia

Rishi (2001) stars Sarathkumar in a dual role. The album was one of the early action soundtrack collaborations between composer Yuvan Shankar Raja and director Sundar C.

Keep listening

More from Rishi