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Lyrics & meaning

Kanthar Koottam

From Padaiyon · 2021

Lyricist
Ratty Adhiththan
Singers
Adhiththan, MC Sai, Mathichiyam Bala
Music director
Steve Cliff
Details
Padaiyon2021

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Sinthanaiyila thee parakkuthuFire sparks in my thoughts
Thirumbiya idam koda pidikkuthuWherever I turn, it catches like a umbrella of flame
Pagai edhuthavan padai koduthavanHe who took up enmity, he who assembled an army
Pagalavan ini vazhi vizhagiduO Sun, move out of the way now
Chorus
Sinam konda singam anunguthuAn enraged lion approaches
Kaalam marakkatha veera thamizharinOf the brave Tamils whom time shall never forget
Padai eduthum nilam adhirudhuAs their army marches, the earth shakes
Ethir padai ettu adi thavaruthuThe enemy forces slip back eight steps
Chorus
Naan ninna malai nadanthaWhen I stood, the mountain moved
Padai kadanthal pori thattumWhen the army crosses, sparks fly
Naanga parantha idi vizhunthaWe soared, thunder struck
Sadhi saavin nuni yuthamA final battle at the edge of death and conspiracy
Chorus
Hey… santhiyila pidicha pillayarHey... the Pillayar made out of mud at the junction
Eduthu vakkirom mudhal adiWe take it up and place our first step
Sandaiyila thalai edukkira parambaraiA lineage that holds its head high in battle
Naanga thani vazhiWe walk our own unique path
Chorus
Saagatha varam yemakkuThe boon of immortality was given to us
Thanthavanae thunivirukkuBy the one who gave it, courage exists
Vel eduthu erinjavargalThose who hurled the spear
Vengai naangal maru pirappuWe are the re-embodiment of fierce tigers
Chorus
Chera chozha pandiya pandaraChera, Chola, Pandya, Pandara
Vanniyan veera akkarayanVanniyan, brave Akkarayan
Adhu vazhu vandha engal annanHe who came to live as our elder brother
Adutha raavananThe next Ravana
Chorus
Hey ethanai murai naan solluven unakkuHey, how many times shall I tell you?
Raththathil odhuthu raanuva thudippuMilitary pulse beats inside our blood
Sathiyam thayagam velgira varaikkumUntil truth and the motherland win
Nichayam engalin vengaigal irukkuOur tigers will surely be there
Chorus
Valari eri pol varthaigalWords coming like a thrown Valari weapon
Vagundu varuthu paarthu kolSplitting through, look at them come
Paruvam adaintha varthaigalWords that have reached maturity
Ini pala palakkuthu paadukkulNow glitter brightly inside this song
Male
Kadalae en kadalaeO Sea, my sea
Karigala enga maranjaKarigalan, where did you hide?
Vanamae en vanamaeO Forest, my forest
Avan thadam thedi thirinjaWandering in search of his footsteps
Male
Kadalae en kadalaeO Sea, my sea
Karigala enga maranjaKarigalan, where did you hide?
Vanamae en vanamaeO Forest, my forest
Avan thadam thedi thirinjaWandering in search of his footsteps
Male
Kulasaami oruthan irundhaanThere was a family deity
Nilam kaakka kuruthi kodudhaanWho sacrificed his blood to protect the land
Nadu neram nisiyil nadanthaalIf you walk in the pitch darkness of midnight
Vilakkaga vidhiyil iruppaanHe will stand as a guiding light in your destiny
Chorus
Aanai senai aravam purai andaElephants, armies, and grand noise fill the horizon
Thamizhar koottamThe gathering of Tamils
Kuraiyatha vegam kuruthi thaagamUnfading speed, a thirst for blood
Kadantha kaalam pesumThe past history will speak
Chorus
Ini neram kaalam paarthuNow watching for the right time and hour
Padai iranga poguthu pudhusuA brand new army is about to descend
Idhu paattan thantha bhoomiThis is the land gifted by our grandfathers
Nee parisalikkira namakkuWhat are you offering as a gift to us?
Chorus
Vanni kaattila rendu kaalila varupuliA striped tiger walking on two legs in the Vanni forest
Nadanthathu theriyumaDo you know that it walked?
Andha naatila vandhu piranthavan endhanBorn in that land, will my bloodthirst ever be quenched?
Kurudhi thaagam adangumaThough beaten down, we did not bow to the jackal race
Kutta kutta kuniyavillai kullanari inathukullaThose who were atop the tower are now on the trash-filled middle of the street
Koburathil irunthavanga kuppai nadu veedhiyilaAt every turn, the enemy submits to the leader's family
Chorus
Aana oona edhiri adanga thalaivan kudumpiPraising up to the skies, an unbending ruler, Vazhuthi
Vaanam varaikkum vaazhthum vananga oruvan vazhuthiAriyappan who crossed over, Pandya Neduncheliyan
Ariyappan kadanthu vanthavan pandiyan nedu cheliyanKarikala Cholan who built a dam across the Kaveri
Andha kavirikku oru anai edhuthavan karigalvala chozhanVanniyan who guided and protected there
Chorus
Angu kaakka vanniyan kaati thandhavanHe who came to avenge Dravidian honor
Thiravidan pazhi theerka vanthavanHe who raised the flag against Aryan domination, the Dravidian torchbearer
Ariyathukku kodi pudithavan dravidan adivaruthiHere, both you and I are Tamils
Ingu neeyum naanum thamizhanLet no one divide this land
Nadu vila vendam oruvanIt will endure until that era comes
Andha kaalam varaikkum irukkumThe stories of Karikaalan will permanently remain
Karikaalan kathaigal nilaikkumO Sea, my sea
Male
Kadalae en kadalaeKarigalan, where did you hide?
Karigala enga maranjaO Forest, my forest
Vanamae en vanamaeWandering in search of his footsteps
Avan thadam thedi thirinjaThere was a family deity
Male
Kulasaami oruthan irundhaanWho sacrificed his blood to protect the land
Nilam kaakka kuruthi kodudhaanIf you walk in the pitch darkness of midnight
Nadu neram nisiyil nadanthaalHe will stand as a guiding light in your destiny
Vilakkaga vidhiyil iruppaanNerves filled with pride throb as the tiger roars
Chorus
Manam konda nerembu thudikka puli urumbuthuThe drumbeats of Urumi sound
Urumi melamFor the earthworms that rule over what ancestors built
Paattan poottan aanda konda manpuzhuvukkuWhat do you want?
Enna venumThe legacy of a leader who sowed the tigers of Vanni forest
Vanni kaattu vengai vithaitha oru thalaivaninWe are the relatives and descendants who have stepped into the battlefield
ThalamuraiFor the Tamil race to gain life
Naangal kalamirangiya sondhangal santhathiTrembling upon hearing the explosive sound that shatters when touched
Thamizhinam en uyir peraEmotions swell as bombs roar, the army of the Tamil race multiplies
Chorus
Thootta thootta therikkira saththam ketta nadunguraSing the story of women who wielded weapons and protected the men
Vedi muzhungura unarveguruthu thamizh inamena padai peruguthuLook at the brave warriors who gave birth to this distinct land
Pengal ayudham yendhi angalai kaatha kathaiya paaduThose who were enslaved, educated, and earned degrees
Thanipatta mannai petredutha manda veerar paaruThose who, without jobs despite their education, died daily under responsibility
Chorus
Adimai padutha pattavar padithu pattam petravarSharpening the spear-like words on my tongue with fire
Paditha padippu velam indri dhinamum poruppil seththavarI have set my sights on the early morning news of death, my spirit
En naavil irukkum eetti varthaigalai neruppil theetiA troop of monkeys helped
Adhikaalai marana seithi kuri paarthu vitten da aviAnd betrayed Ram Setu
Chorus
Kurangu koottam uthavi seidhuTo the North that called us monkeys, O South Tamil, listen and turn around
Kaatti koduthathu rama sethuRewrite history itself
Vaanaram endru vadakku sonna therkkuClearly reclaim your identity
Thamizha thiruppa kezhuLeap forward and speak after changing the path
Chorus
Varalaru thaan matri ezhuthuThe flying tooth hidden under the crown
Adaiyalathai theliva thiruttuO Sea, my sea
Thadam matriya egiri solluKarigalan, where did you hide?
Mudi maracha parakkum palluO Forest, my forest
Male
Kadalae en kadalaeWandering in search of his footsteps
Karigala enga maranjaThere was a family deity
Vanamae en vanamaeWho sacrificed his blood to protect the land
Avan thadam thedi thirinjaIf you walk in the pitch darkness of midnight
Male
Kulasaami oruthan irundhaanHe will stand as a guiding light in your destiny
Nilam kaakka kuruthi kodudhaanPaanan, Paraiyan, Kadamban, Thudiyan - the ancient tribes
Nadu neram nisiyil nadanthaalWhen Aryan Brahmins entered, Tamil was split in half
Vilakkaga vidhiyil iruppaanOn Parambu mountain, Paari's horses pounced like a storm
Chorus
Hey paanan paraiyan kadamban thudiyan kudigal aadhiIn the ocean, the fishermen's boats were surrounded by enemies
Ariya parpanai vanthu pugunthan thamizh padhi padhiA lineage without Tamil is an unmentioned bridge
Parambu malaiyil paariyin kudhirgal puyalena painthenaIt comes as the benevolent gift of the great ancestors
Parathavar kadalile padagugal edhirigal pudai suzhnthenaEven after times changed and passed, we were born as dark clouds
Chorus
Thamizh illatha kulam sollatha palamThis is the Varna caste hierarchy
Muppattan kodai vithaga varumA story building with no steps to walk up
Kaalam maari kadantha piragum kariya megam piranthomGreat Ambedkar stated this back then, long live art forms
Chorus
Idhu varna sirama saadhiThose Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, and Neithal are Tamil lands
Nadai padigal illatha maadiLiving, growing, and originating in these were the stages of Tamils
Annal anbethar idhai andru uraithar kalai vadivangal vaazhiOh... inside the Brahmin gathering in the middle of the house
Andha kurunji mullai marutham noithal thamizhar nilangalIf we ring the bell
Idhil vazhnthu valarnthu piranthu vanthathu thamizhanoda nilaigalA ferocious tiger attacked the one who entered the forest, they will untie it
Chorus
Oh… parpananin koottathila nadu veedukullaAge and enmity tremble, Tamils operate in everything
Naangal mani adithalThe enemy in the lost war offered a piece of cloth to my grandfather
Kaattukulla vanthavarai kodum puli adithathu adhai avizhpaarHey... white dhoti politics here, Aryans reciting Vedas
Paruvam pagaiyum nadungum ethilum thamizhan iyangumPastureland casteists are diseases grown to divide us
Izhantha poril edhiri en paatanukku oru paruthiO Sea, my sea
Chorus
Hey.. vella vetti arasiyal ingu vedham sollum ariyarKarigalan, where did you hide?
Manthaiveli saathiyar nammai pirikka valarntha viyathigalO Forest, my forest
Male
Kadalae en kadalaeWandering in search of his footsteps
Karigala enga maranjaO Sea, my sea
Vanamae en vanamaeKarigalan, where did you hide?
Avan thadam thedi thirinjaO Forest, my forest
Male
Kadalae en kadalaeWandering in search of his footsteps
Karigala enga maranjaThere was a family deity
Vanamae en vanamaeWho sacrificed his blood to protect the land
Avan thadam thedi thirinjaIf you walk in the pitch darkness of midnight
Male
Kulasaami oruthan irundhaanHe will stand as a guiding light in your destiny
Nilam kaakka kuruthi kodudhaan
Nadu neram nisiyil nadanthaal
Vilakkaga vidhiyil iruppaan

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Padaiyon is a powerful Tamil hip-hop and folk fusion anthem centered around Tamil identity, ancestral valor, historical pride, and resistance against oppression. The lyrics draw heavy inspiration from Sangam Tamil history, evoking legendary Tamil kings like Karikala Cholan, Neduncheliyan, and Paari, alongside references to the Vanni forests and the struggle for self-determination. It directly addresses political issues, caste discrimination, and anti-caste thinkers like Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, asserting that Tamil culture is rooted in courage, egalitarian land traditions (Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal), and resilience against divide-and-rule tactics. The recurring chorus serves as an emotional elegy and invocation of 'Karigalan' and the guardian deity (Kulasaami), symbolizing a fallen leader and protector whose spirit continues to guide the people through times of dark struggle. Through sharp metaphoric imagery of roaring tigers, Urumi drums, and spear-like words, the song calls for historical reclamation, unity, and unwavering self-respect.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)

Valari eri pol varthaigal

Compares words to thrown Valari (traditional Tamil boomerang weapon) and spears sharpened in fire ('Valari eri pol varthaigal', 'eetti varthaigalai neruppil theeti').

Monnai / Alliteration (மோனை)

Kuraiyatha vegam kuruthi thaagam

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'K' in 'Kuraiyatha vegam kuruthi thaagam' and 'P' in 'Paanan paraiyan kadamban thudiyan'.

Edhukai / Rhyme (எதுகை)

Kadalae en kadalae / Karigala enga maranja

Second-letter rhyming across lines: 'Kadalae' / 'Karigala' / 'Vanamae' and 'Sinthanaiyila' / 'Thirumbiya'.

Anaphora / Repetition

Kadalae en kadalae

The repeated invocation of nature elements 'Kadalae en kadalae' and 'Vanamae en vanamae' reinforces grief and epic scale.

Historical Allusion (வரலாற்றுச் சான்று)

Andha kavirikku oru anai edhuthavan karigalvala chozhan

References historical and literary figures like Karikala Cholan, Pandya Neduncheliyan, Vel Paari, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to ground the contemporary narrative in heritage.

Did you know?

Trivia

Padaiyon by Ratty Adhiththan, Steve Cliff, MC Sai, and Mathichiyam Bala became an independent Tamil hip-hop hit, celebrated for blending traditional Tamil Urumi folk percussion with modern rap. The lyrics heavily invoke Eelam Tamil imagery, honoring Velupillai Prabhakaran under the metaphorical name 'Karigalan' (linking him to the historic Chola monarch Karikalan), and referencing the Vanni landscape, female combatants, and Tamil national resurgence.

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