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Isaimozhi
Annadurai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Odathey

From Annadurai · 2017

Lyricist
Arun Bharathi
Singers
Ananthu, Andrew
Music director
Vijay Antony
Movie name
Annadurai
Movie release year
2017
Lyrics added on
4 Nov 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………………….
Odathae.. odathae..
Nyaayangal thedathae..
Ingae nallavanaai vaazhnthaal pothathae..
Bhoomi kettavanai kelvi ketkaathae
Thoolaagum soodhu
Thimiraaga modhu
Nee thirunthida ninaithaal
Ulagam thirunthaathu
Unai thurathiya koottam
Therithida vilaiyaadu
Odathae.. odathae..
Nyaayangal thedathae..
Hoi hoi hoi hoi
………………………………
Needhiyum nermaiyum
Vaazhvil thevai endru
Saathiram sonnathu unmai illayo..
Poliyum poigalum
Potti podum podhu
Bhoomiyil nyaayamae vaazhvathillayo
Iruttil naam nadakkum pothu
Nizhalum illai
Nee vaazha unmai thavira
Thunaiyum illai
Thunbam inbam vaazhvil paadhi
Thuvalaamal mutti modhi
Thirunthida ninaithaal
Ulagam thirunthaathu
Odathae.. odathae..
Nyaayangal thedathae..
………………………………
Nanmaigal theemaigal
Rendum unmai illai
Thevaigal mattumae nyaayamaanathae
Inbamum thunbamum
Thooram ondrum illai
Vaazhkkaiyil rendumae paadamaanathae..
Thiruppangal illaavittal
Paadhai illai
Thirumbaamal neeyum sendraal
Payanam illai
Kondraalum paavam enbaar
Thindraal adhu pogum enbaar
Thirunthida ninaithaal
Ulagam thirunthaathu
Odathae.. odathae..
Nyaayangal thedathae..
Ingae nallavanaai vaazhnthaal pothathae..
Bhoomi kettavanai kelvi ketkaathae
Thoolaagum soodhu
Thimiraaga modhu
Nee thirunthida ninaithaal
Ulagam thirunthaathu
Unai thurathiya koottam
Therithida vilaiyaadu
...
Don't run away... don't run away...
Don't search for justice...
Just being a good person is not enough here...
This world doesn't question the wicked.
Cunning deceit will turn to dust,
Clash against it with fierce pride!
Even if you try to reform,
The world will not change.
The crowd that chased you down—
Play hard and make them scatter!
Don't run away... don't run away...
Don't search for justice...
Hoy hoy hoy hoy!
...
That justice and honesty
Are essential in life,
Is what the scriptures taught not true?
When pretenses and lies
Compete with each other,
Does justice no longer survive on this earth?
When we walk in the dark,
Even our shadow leaves us.
For you to live, except for the truth,
There is no other companion.
Pain and joy are two halves of life;
Clash and fight on without losing heart!
Even if you try to reform,
The world will not change.
Don't run away... don't run away...
Don't search for justice...
...
Good and evil—
Neither is the absolute truth;
Only necessity is ever justified.
Joy and sorrow
Are not far apart;
In life, both are lessons to learn.
Without twists and turns,
There is no path.
If you walk without ever turning,
There is no journey.
They say it is a sin to kill,
Yet say eating it makes the sin vanish!
Even if you try to reform,
The world will not change.
Don't run away... don't run away...
Don't search for justice...
Just being a good person is not enough here...
This world doesn't question the wicked.
Cunning deceit will turn to dust,
Clash against it with fierce pride!
Even if you try to reform,
The world will not change.
The crowd that chased you down—
Play hard and make them scatter!
Chorus
Male
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Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
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Male
Male
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Odathae' from the movie 'Annadurai' is a philosophical and action-oriented track centered around the harsh realities of life. It rejects naive idealism, emphasizing that simply being a good person is not enough in a world that often ignores evil and rewards deceit. The lyrics call on the listener not to run away from problems or expect justice to be handed to them on a silver platter, but to stand tall and face life's challenges head-on. Exploring themes of morality, survival, and dualism, the song points out that joy and sorrow, virtue and vice are closely linked and often defined merely by circumstances and human needs. It inspires resilience, urging the protagonist to fight back against oppression and understand that true growth comes from standing one's ground rather than waiting for society to reform itself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Needhiyum nermaiyum

Repetition of the initial 'Ne' sound in 'Needhiyum' and 'nermaiyum'.

Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)

Thunbam inbam vaazhvil paadhi

Juxtaposition of opposing concepts 'Thunbam' (sorrow) and 'Inbam' (happiness) within the same line.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Thoolaagum soodhu / Thimiraaga modhu

Rhyming end sounds in 'soodhu' and 'modhu'.

Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)

Nanmaigal theemaigal

Direct contrast between 'Nanmaigal' (virtues/good deeds) and 'Theemaigal' (vices/evil deeds).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Annadurai' (2017) is an action-drama film starring Vijay Antony in a dual role. Vijay Antony himself composed the music and edited the film. The lyrics for this track were penned by Arun Bharathi.

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