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Lyrics & meaning

Madrasu Vathiyaru

From Madras Vathiyar · 1984

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, P. Jayachandran, Manorama, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Madras Vathiyar1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Madrasu vaaththiyaaruThe teacher from Madras
Vettri maalaiyodaa vanthittaaruHas arrived wearing a garland of victory
Madrasu vaaththiyaaruThe teacher from Madras
Vettri maalaiyodaa vanthittaaruHas arrived wearing a garland of victory
Female
Yaezhai makkal pettaiThe slum of the poor people
Enga vaaththiyaaru kottaiIs our teacher's fortress
Adi ettu ooru ketkkumpadi paadungadi paattaHey girls, sing a song loud enough for eight neighboring towns to hear
Chorus
Madrasu vaaththiyaaruThe teacher from Madras
Vettri maalaiyodaa vanthittaaruHas arrived wearing a garland of victory
Yaezhai makkal pettaiThe slum of the poor people
Enga vaaththiyaaru kottaiIs our teacher's fortress
Adi ettu ooru ketkkumpadi paadungadi paattaHey girls, sing a song loud enough for eight neighboring towns to hear
Chorus
Madrasu vaaththiyaaruThe teacher from Madras
Vettri maalaiyodaa vanthittaaruHas arrived wearing a garland of victory
Male
Ada neeyillaatti engalukkuOh, if you were not there for us
Eththanaiyo kastamThere would be so many hardships
Female :Un nizhai irunthaa adhuthaanaeFemale: If your protective shadow is there, that itself is
Saththunavu thittaamLike the nutritious meal scheme
Male
Unna yaeththukittom naangalellaamWe all accepted you
Annanaththan polaeJust like an elder brother
Unna yaeththukittom naangalellaamWe all accepted you
Annanaththan polaeJust like an elder brother
Female
Naam ottikittu vaazhnthiruppomWe will live closely united
Rettai ilai polaeLike the twin leaves
Chorus
Madrasu vaaththiyaaruThe teacher from Madras
Vettri maalaiyodaa vanthittaaruHas arrived wearing a garland of victory
Yaezhai makkal pettaiThe slum of the poor people
Enga vaaththiyaaru kottaiIs our teacher's fortress
Adi ettu ooru ketkkumpadi paadungadi paattaHey girls, sing a song loud enough for eight neighboring towns to hear
Chorus
Madrasu vaaththiyaaruThe teacher from Madras
Vettri maalaiyodaa vanthittaaruHas arrived wearing a garland of victory
Female
Unna vaayillaatha poochchiyinnuCalling you an innocent insect who cannot speak
Sonnathellaam thappuAll of that was wrong
Male :Nee varinji katti ninnaakka vegaathu pappuMale: If you tie your waist tight and stand up, their tricks will fail
Female
Unna vaayillaatha poochchiyinnuCalling you an innocent insect who cannot speak
Sonnathellaam thappuAll of that was wrong
Male :Nee varinji katti ninnaakka vegaathu pappuMale: If you tie your waist tight and stand up, their tricks will fail
Male
Enga manasukullae nerainjirukkaeYou reside in our hearts
Madhuraiveeran polaeLike Madurai Veeran
Enga manasukullae nerainjirukkaeYou reside in our hearts
Madhuraiveeran polaeLike Madurai Veeran
Female
Intha makkalellaam eppavumaeBecause all these people always
Un pakkam nippathaalaeStand on your side
Chorus
Haei madrasu vaaththiyaaruHey, the teacher from Madras
Vettri maalaiyodaa vanthittaaruHas arrived wearing a garland of victory
Female
Sontha veedu vaasal yaedhumillaa naadodi mannanA vagabond king without a house or doorstep of his own
Thaaikulaththin maanam kaakkum kaliyuga kannanA modern-day Krishna who protects the honor of womanhood
Sontha veedu vaasal yaedhumillaa naadodi mannanA vagabond king without a house or doorstep of his own
Thaaikulaththin maanam kaakkum kaliyuga kannanA modern-day Krishna who protects the honor of womanhood
Female
Naangal pekkaama peththeduththaThe child of our household whom we raised
Enga veettupillaiWithout even giving birth to him
Naangal pekkaama peththeduththaThe child of our household whom we raised
Enga veettupillaiWithout even giving birth to him
Nee aayiraththil oruththanappaaOh dear man, you are one in a thousand
Eedu inaiyillaiThere is no match or equal to you
Chorus
Madrasu vaaththiyaaruThe teacher from Madras
Vettri maalaiyodaa vanthittaaruHas arrived wearing a garland of victory
Yaezhai makkal pettaiThe slum of the poor people
Enga vaaththiyaaru kottaiIs our teacher's fortress
Adi ettu ooru ketkkumpadi paadungadi paattaHey girls, sing a song loud enough for eight neighboring towns to hear
Chorus
Madrasu vaaththiyaaruThe teacher from Madras
Vettri maalaiyodaa vanthittaaruHas arrived wearing a garland of victory

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This festive celebration song from Madras Vathiyar honors a righteous teacher and community leader who fights for the poor and protects the vulnerable. The lyrics express the immense gratitude, love, and loyalty of the local slum dwellers towards him, hailing him as a hero who stands up against injustice. The song heavily incorporates political and cinematic symbolism associated with M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), referencing iconic film titles like 'Nadodi Mannan', 'Aayirathil Oruvan', and 'Madurai Veeran', as well as social welfare initiatives like the nutritious meal scheme ('Saththunavu Thittaam') and the political symbol of twin leaves ('Rettai Ilai').

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Naam ottikittu vaazhnthiruppom Rettai ilai polae

Compares the unity of the community with the hero to two leaves growing together on a single stem.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Yaezhai makkal pettai Enga vaaththiyaaru kottai

Refers to the poor people's neighborhood as the teacher's impregnable fortress of support.

Cultural Allusion

Sontha veedu vaasal yaedhumillaa naadodi mannan

Alludes to iconic MGR film titles ('Nadodi Mannan', 'Aayirathil Oruvan') and political iconography to elevate the protagonist's heroic image.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics by Muthulingam intentionally weave in numerous direct references to MGR's popular public image, political achievements (such as the Saththunavu Thittaam or Nutritious Meal Scheme), party symbol (Rettai Ilai), and classic movie titles ('Nadodi Mannan', 'Aayirathil Oruvan', 'Madurai Veeran').

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