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Lyrics & meaning

Yaar Petra Magano

From Kaththi · 2014

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, Anirudh Ravichander
Music director
Anirudh Ravichander
Details
Kaththi2014

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yaar pettra maganoWhose son are you?
Nee yaar pettra maganoWhose son born are you?
Indha oor kumbidumThe one worshipped by this village,
Kulasaami ivanHe is the family deity.
Male
Oor seidha thavamoIs it the penance done by the village?
Indha oor seidha thavamoIs it the penance done by this village?
Mannai kaappaatridumSaving this fertile land,
Ivan aadhi sivanHe is the primal Shiva.
Male
Adiverr thandha vervaikkuFor the sweat offered by the deep root,
EedillayaeThere is no equal.
Indha oor pookkum neraththilWhen this village blossoms,
Nee illayaeYou are not here.
Male
Yaaro yaaro nee yaaroWho are you, who are you, who are you?
Inbam thandha kaneeroYou are the tear that gave joy!
Yaaro yaaro nee yaaroWho are you, who are you, who are you?
Inbam thandha kaneeroYou are the tear that gave joy!
Male
Yaar pettra maganoWhose son are you?
Nee yaar pettra maganoWhose son born are you?
Indha oor kumbidumThe one worshipped by this village,
Kulasaami ivanHe is the family deity.
Male
Kai veesum poongaathaeO gentle breeze waving its hands,
Nee engu ponaayoWhere did you go?
Yaar endru sollaamalWithout telling anyone who you are,
Nizhal pola nadandhayoDid you walk away like a shadow?
Male
Murai thaan oru muraithaanJust once, just one single time,
Unai paarthaal adhu varamaeSeeing you is a divine boon.
Ninaiththaaal unnai ninaiththalWhen thinking, when thinking of you,
Kannil kanneer mazhai varumaeA rain of tears streams from the eyes.
Male
Yaaro yaaro nee yaaroWho are you, who are you, who are you?
Inbam thandha kaneeroYou are the tear that gave joy!
Yaaro yaaro nee yaaroWho are you, who are you, who are you?
Inbam thandha kaneeroYou are the tear that gave joy!
Male
Yaar pettra maganoWhose son are you?
Nee yaar pettra maganoWhose son born are you?
Indha oor kumbidumThe one worshipped by this village,
Kulasaami ivanHe is the family deity.
Male
Adiverr thandha vervaikkuFor the sweat offered by the deep root,
EedillayaeThere is no equal.
Indha oor pookkum neraththilWhen this village blossoms,
Nee illayaeYou are not here.
Male
Yaaro yaaro nee yaaroWho are you, who are you, who are you?
Chorus :Nee yaaroChorus: Who are you?
Male :Inbam thandha kaneeroMale: You are the tear that gave joy!
Chorus :KaneerooChorus: Tear of joy...
Male
Yaaro yaaro nee yaaroWho are you, who are you, who are you?
Inbam thandha kaneeroYou are the tear that gave joy!
Chorus :Kaneerooo..Chorus: Tear of joy...
Male
Yaar pettra maganoWhose son are you?
Nee yaar pettra maganoWhose son born are you?
Indha oor kumbidumThe one worshipped by this village,
Kulasaami ivanHe is the family deity.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Yaar Pettra Magano is an emotional narrative song from Kaththi (2014) expressing the profound gratitude, sorrow, and reverence of villagers toward an unsung savior. The protagonist selflessly sacrifices his comfort to save their agrarian lands from corporate greed, but vanishes silently before taking any credit. The song likens his invisible contribution to a deep taproot that nourishes a blooming flower while remaining unseen underneath. The lyrics combine deep emotional loss with divine elevation, elevating the hero to the status of a guardian deity (Kulasaami) and Lord Shiva. Despite the joy of their saved village, the people grieve his absence, shed tears of mixed joy and longing, and wonder who this mysterious savior truly was.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Kulasaami ivan

Compares the protagonist to a guardian god ('Kulasaami') and the primal deity ('Aadhi Sivan') who protected their soil.

Metaphor

Adiverr thandha vervaikku

Compares the hero's unseen hard work and sacrifice to 'adiverr' (taproot) that fuels the growth of a plant from deep below.

Simile

Nizhal pola nadandhayo

Uses 'pola' (like) to compare his quiet departure without revealing his identity to a silent shadow.

Oxymoron / Paradox

Inbam thandha kaneero

Combines contrasting concepts of joy ('inbam') and crying/tears ('kaneer') to describe tears of grateful happiness.

Anaphora / Repetition

Yaaro yaaro nee yaaro

Repeats 'Yaaro yaaro' to emphasize the mystery, yearning, and disbelief surrounding the unknown hero's identity.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sung by the legendary playback singer K. J. Yesudas, this song forms the emotional heart of AR Murugadoss's 'Kaththi' starring Vijay. Composed by Anirudh Ravichander with lyrics by Yugabharathi, the track dramatically underscores the climax where the protagonist surrenders to the police after successfully drawing national attention to the plight of rural farmers.

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