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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kolaivalinaai

From Sivappathigaram · 2006

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singers
Rahul Nambiar, Kathir
Music director
Vidyasagar
Movie name
Sivappathigaram
Movie release year
2006
Lyrics added on
2 May 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Valiyor silar
Eliyor thammai
Vathaiyae puriyuvathaa
Maharaasargal
Ulagaaluthal
Nilyaam enum ninaivaa
Uthavaathini
Oru thaamatham
Udanae vizhi thamizha
Uthavaathini
Oru thaamatham
Udanae vizhi thamizha
Uthavaathini
Oru thaamatham
Udanae vizhi thamizha
Kolaivaalinai edada
Migu kodiyor seyal aravae
Kugai vaazh oru puliyae
Uyar gunameviya thamizha
Kolaivaalinai edada
Migu kodiyor seyal aravae
Kugai vaazh oru puliyae
Uyar gunameviya thamizha
Thalaiaagiya aaramae puri
Sari neethiyum thaguma
Samamae porul sanaayagam
Enavae murasaraivaai
Murasaraivaai
Chorus :Murasaraivaai
Male :Murasaraivaai
Chorus :Murasaraivaai
Should the powerful few
keep on tormenting
the poor and weak?
Do the mighty kings
who rule the world
think their power will last forever?
Any more delay
is useless now,
wake up right now, O Tamil!
Any more delay
is useless now,
wake up right now, O Tamil!
Any more delay
is useless now,
wake up right now, O Tamil!
Take up your deadly sword!
Wipe out the deeds of the cruel!
O tiger resting in the cave,
O noble-hearted Tamil!
Take up your deadly sword!
Wipe out the deeds of the cruel!
O tiger resting in the cave,
O noble-hearted Tamil!
Stand for supreme righteousness,
ensure that justice reigns!
"Equality is the soul of democracy!"
Beat the drums to proclaim it!
Beat the drums!
Chorus: Beat the drums!
Male: Beat the drums!
Chorus: Beat the drums!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a fiery revolutionary anthem urging the oppressed people to rise against tyranny, injustice, and political corruption. It questions the arrogance of powerful rulers who oppress the weak under the false assumption that their power is permanent. The song calls upon Tamils to wake up without delay, embrace their innate courage like a tiger emerging from a cave, and take decisive action to restore justice and democracy based on true equality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

Kugai vaazh oru puliyae

Comparing the dormant energy of the Tamilian to a tiger living inside a cave waiting to unleash its power.

Ethukai (Second-letter Assonance)

Valiyor silar / Eliyor thammai

The second consonant sound 'li' matches across lines, creating a rhythmic rhyming contrast between the powerful (Valiyor) and the weak (Eliyor).

Imperative Tone (Ezhuchichol)

Kolaivaalinai edada

Direct commands like 'Edada' (Pick up) and 'Murasaraivaai' (Beat the drums) build an intense revolutionary spirit.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song features iconic revolutionary lines originally penned by Puratchi Kavingnar Bharathidasan ('Kolaivaalinai Edada Migu Kodiyor Seyal Aravae'). Music Director Vidyasagar adapted these immortal verses into a modern, energetic film anthem for the film Sivappathigaram (2006), starring Vishal.

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