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Vaathi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naadodi Mannan

From Vaathi · 2022

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Anthony Daasan
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Movie name
Vaathi
Movie release year
2022
Lyrics added on
18 Dec 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naadodi mannan
Naanpora paadhayillae
Ponaalae sedhamillae
Thaalaeloo
Aathaava andha
Aagasam kooda vara
Vera yeadhum thevai illa
Thaalaeloo
Pallathila kaal irundhum
Pallakkula yen pousu
Panjam passi paakayillum
Alli tharum poo manasu
Paththuthala raavanaanan
Paanju varum poarmurassu
Metteduthu paadayilae
Naanum kavi pear-arasu
Thonnaiyila soru
Thottiyila neeru
Yenna nadandhaalum
Illa illa kanneeru
Nethiyila nooru
Natchathiram paaru
Vandha vali ponaa
Vambae illa munneru
Hey seema pooravum
Suththi varum kaataaru
Yenga ninnalum
Andha yedam en ooru
Saathi paarkatha
Sanamae en kootu
Modhi parthalae
Mudipen poli pottu
Konjam kidachaalum
Pangu vaikkum aalae
Kooda irunthaaalae
Ella naalum nannaale
Kuttu patta ezhai
Kotaiyilae yeraa
Eppoluthum naamae
Nippom nippom munnale
Paththu thala ravanan..aaaa
Naadodi mannan
Naanpora paadhayillae
Poanaale saedhamilae
Thaalaeloo
Aathaava andha
Aagasam kooda vara
Vera yeadhum thevai illa
Thaalaeloo..
Thaalaeloo..
Pallathila kaal irundhum
Pallakkula yen pousu
Panjam passi paakayillum
Alli tharum poo manasu
Paththuthala raavananaa
Paanju varum poarmurassu
Metteduthu paadayilae
Naanum kavi pear-arasu
Paththuthala raavananaa
Paanju varum poarmurassu
Metteduthu paadayilaeeeeeeee…
A wandering king,
on the path I walk,
if you come along, there is no harm.
Thaale-loo!
With that sky
walking beside me like a mother,
I need nothing else.
Thaale-loo!
Even if my feet are in a ditch,
my style is as grand as riding a palanquin.
Even when facing hunger and hard times,
this flower-like heart gives generously.
Like the ten-headed Ravana,
like a war drum charging ahead,
when I pick up a tune and sing,
I too am a king of poetry.
Rice in a leaf bowl,
water from a trough,
no matter what happens,
there are no tears, none at all!
Look at the hundred stars
shining bright on my forehead!
If you stick to your rightful path,
there is no trouble, just march ahead!
Hey, across this whole land,
I am a wild river flowing everywhere.
Wherever I stand,
that place becomes my home.
People who do not look at caste
are my true family.
If anyone dares to fight me,
I will flatten them and finish them off!
Even if we get only a little,
as long as someone who shares
stands right beside us,
every single day is a good day!
So that the beaten-down poor
can rise and enter the fortress,
we will always
stand right in the front!
Ten-headed Ravana... ahhh!
A wandering king,
on the path I walk,
if you come along, there is no harm.
Thaale-loo!
With that sky
walking beside me like a mother,
I need nothing else.
Thaale-loo...
Thaale-loo...
Even if my feet are in a ditch,
my style is as grand as riding a palanquin.
Even when facing hunger and hard times,
this flower-like heart gives generously.
Like the ten-headed Ravana,
like a war drum charging ahead,
when I pick up a tune and sing,
I too am a king of poetry.
Like the ten-headed Ravana,
like a war drum charging ahead,
when I pick up a tune and sing...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This folk-infused, energetic track celebrates self-respect, resilience, and the unyielding spirit of the working-class nomadic hero. Despite facing hardship, poverty, and humble origins (represented by eating from leaf cups and standing in pits), the speaker carries himself with royal dignity, generosity, and pride. He views the sky as a maternal guardian and treats all people as his family regardless of caste. The song serves as an anthem of empowerment, declaring that those who are oppressed will break through barriers, scale the forts of power, and lead from the front with courage, song, and unity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil prosody)

“Pallathila kaal irundhum / Pallakkula yen pousu”

Matching of the second consonant sound 'll' across consecutive lines creates rhythmic flow.

Moonaai (Initial letter alliteration)

“Thonnaiyila soru / Thottiyila neeru”

Repetition of the initial 'Th' sound in adjacent lines.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Alli tharum poo manasu / Naanum kavi pear-arasu”

Comparing a soft, generous heart directly to a tender flower ('poo manasu') and describing oneself as an emperor of poetry ('kavi pear-arasu').

Personification / Simile

“Aathaava andha / Aagasam kooda vara”

Personifying the expanse of the sky as a caring mother walking alongside the singer.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track 'Naadodi Mannan' features vocals by popular Tamil folk-rock singer Anthony Daasan. Set to tunes by G. V. Prakash Kumar with lyrics by Yugabharathi, the title references the iconic 1958 M. G. Ramachandran movie 'Nadodi Mannan', evoking themes of a wandering hero who fights for the rights of the common people.

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