Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Saattai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nanbaa Vaa Nanbaa

From Saattai · 2012

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Saicharan
Music director
D. Imman
Movie name
Saattai
Movie release year
2012
Lyrics added on
2 Apr 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Varuvathu orumurai ulagilae
Ithai arigira manithan kadavulae
Thavarugal thirinthidum varaiyilae
Varum thadaigalum thagarnthidum mudivilae
Namai naamae unarnthaalae
Kidaiyaathu vethanai manathilae
Nathi polae nadanthaalae
Oru kodi suriyan tharaiyilae
Nanbaa… vaa nanbaa
Nanbaa… vaa nanbaa
………………………….
Siragugal virithidu parakalaam
Varum siramangal poruthidu sirikalaam
Alaikadal yena dhinam kuthikalaam
Kadal kadanthoru peyaraiyum edukalaam
Malai ootru anal kaatru
Yethuvaana pothilum rasikalaam
Sila vaanam pala boomi
Yena naamum maarvae ninaikalaam
Nanbaa… vaa nanbaa
Nanbaa… vaa nanbaa
Kaalam ondru maarum endru
Kaathirupatha naalathu
Kaalam thannai maara seiyum
Saattai nenjile ullathu
Thoosiyaalae kalangum vizhiyai
Thodaipathaa visithiram
Kaatrum kooda namathu peyarai
Uraipathae sarithiram
Nanbaa… vaa nanbaa
Nanbaa… vaa nanbaa
Chorus :Vaa nanba vaa vaa vaa
Anbai vida siranthathu
Illai ena mulangidu
Punnagai ennum udaiyae mugavari
Ulla varai vizhithiru
Ul manathil pasithiru
Ottrumayil ivvulagai alangari
Nanbaa… vaa nanbaa
Nanbaa… vaa nanbaa
Nanbaa …vaa nanbaa
Chorus :Nanba nanba
Nanba vaa vaa vaa
Male :Nanbaa …vaa nanbaa
Chorus :Nanba nanba
Vaa nanba vaa vaa vaa
We come into this world only once,
and the one who realizes this is truly divine.
Until our mistakes are set right,
all the obstacles in our way will shatter in the end.
If we truly understand ourselves,
there will be no pain in our hearts.
If we keep moving forward like a river,
ten million suns will shine upon the earth!
Friend... come, my friend!
Friend... come, my friend!
...
Spread your wings, let us fly!
Endure the struggles that come, and let us smile!
Let us leap every day like the rolling sea!
We can cross the oceans and make a name for ourselves!
A mountain spring or a scorching wind—
whatever comes our way, let us enjoy it!
A few skies, many lands—
let us dream of transforming into them all!
Friend... come, my friend!
Friend... come, my friend!
"Time will change one day"—
should we spend our days just waiting for that?
The whip that can make time change
lies right inside our hearts!
Wiping an eye that tears up from mere dust—
is that any great wonder?
Having even the wind speak our name—
that alone makes history!
Friend... come, my friend!
Friend... come, my friend!
Chorus: Come, my friend, come, come, come!
"There is nothing greater than love"—
proclaim it out loud to the world!
Let a smile be the clothing that is your true identity!
Stay wide awake as long as you live,
stay hungry deep within your heart,
and adorn this world with unity!
Friend... come, my friend!
Friend... come, my friend!
Friend... come, my friend!
Chorus: Friend, friend!
Friend, come, come, come!
Male: Friend... come, my friend!
Chorus: Friend, friend!
Come, my friend, come, come, come!
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Nanbaa Vaa Nanbaa from the film Saattai is an inspiring anthem centered on youth empowerment, self-awareness, and resilience. The song reminds us that life is a singular opportunity, urging individuals to learn from mistakes, overcome obstacles, and face life's struggles with a joyful heart. It warns against waiting passively for time to change things, urging listeners instead to ignite their internal whip (saattai) of willpower and drive positive change themselves.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Saattai nenjile ullathu

Saattai (whip) is used metaphorically as the internal willpower and motivation present inside the human heart.

Simile (Upamai)

Nathi polae nadanthaalae

Comparing human persistence and movement to the unstoppable nature of a flowing river using 'polae'.

Metaphor

Punnagai ennum udaiyae mugavari

Describing a smile as attire and address, symbolizing positivity as one's true identity.

Ethukai (Second letter rhyming)

Siragugal virithidu parakalaam

Rhyming of the second letter 'la' across successive lines ('Siragugal' / 'Varum siramangal').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features in the 2012 Tamil drama 'Saattai', directed by M. Anbazhagan and starring Samuthirakani. The soundtrack was composed by D. Imman with lyrics written by Yugabharathi. The film revolves around a passionate school teacher who transforms an underperforming government school, making this motivational song a central thematic pillar of the story.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Saattai

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.