One Life
From Vaathi · 2022
- Lyricist
- Dhanush
- Singers
- Stephen Zechariah, Arivu
- Music director
- G. V. Prakash Kumar
- Details
- Vaathi2022
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Agara mudhala | Starting from the alphabets, come let us learn! |
| Arivom vaa vaa | Come, come, let us learn! |
| Sigaram thoda | To reach the mountain peak, |
| Vazhi thaan kalvi | Education is the only true path. |
| Male | |
| Pudhiya ulagam varaivom | Let us draw a brand new world, |
| Vaa vaa | Come, come! |
| Vidiyal tharum oliyae kalvi | Education is the light that brings a new dawn. |
| Arindomae thuliyai | What we have learned is just a drop, |
| Ariyadhadhu kadalai | What remains unlearned is an ocean. |
| Male | |
| Madhipengal siraiyae | Chasing exam marks is a prison, |
| Madhi nutpam thaan viduthalaiyae | True intelligence and wisdom is freedom! |
| Chorus | |
| Thalaigal nimirum nilaigal uyarum | Heads will be held high and your stature will elevate, |
| Nee padithaal | If you study well! |
| Male | |
| Padicha jeyippa illanna thavippa | If you study you will win, otherwise you will struggle, |
| Solren kelu iruppadhu one life | Listen to me, we only have one life! |
| Porandha porappa ulagam madhicha | If the world respects you for the life you were born with, |
| Adhu thaan sugandaa iruppadhu one life | That indeed is true bliss; we only have one life! |
| Male | |
| Vaanatha kaiyila pudikkanum nanba | You must hold the sky in your hands, my friend, |
| Vaaliba kaalatha madhiknum nanba | You must value your youth, my friend. |
| Aadanum nanba paadanum nanba | You must dance, my friend, and sing, my friend, |
| Vaangura pattathil parakkanum nanba | You must fly high with the degree you earn, my friend! |
| Male | |
| Padicha jeyippa illanna thavippa | If you study you will win, otherwise you will struggle, |
| Solren kelu iruppadhu one life | Listen to me, we only have one life! |
| Porandha porappa ulagam madhicha | If the world respects you for the life you were born with, |
| Adhu thaan sugandaa iruppadhu one life | That indeed is true bliss; we only have one life! |
| Male | |
| Panam kaasu pakkanum nanba | You must earn wealth and money, my friend, |
| Thalaimuraikkum saekkanum nanba | You must save enough for future generations, my friend. |
| Udhavinnu nallavan vandha | If a good person comes seeking help, |
| Kodukkanum one life | You must give generously; we only have one life! |
| Male | |
| Mariyaadhaiya vaazhanum nanba | You must live a life of respect, my friend, |
| Pugaloda saganum nanba | You must pass away with enduring fame, my friend. |
| Idhu sathiyam aaganumnna | If all of this is to become true, |
| Padikanum one life | You must educate yourself; we only have one life! |
| Male | |
| Nee sindhura vervaiyil kidacha | Bought with the honest sweat you shed, |
| Pudavaiya un thaaiku koduthu | Gift a saree to your mother, |
| Ava sindhura kanneer thuliya | And those tears of joy she sheds, |
| Rasikanum one life | You must cherish them; we only have one life! |
| Male | |
| Nee pona dhisiyila ellaam | In every direction you walked, |
| Unnoda pera kettu | Hearing your name praised, |
| Un appan thimira nadantha | Watching your father walk with pride and swagger, |
| Rasikanum one life | You must relish that sight; we only have one life! |
| Male | |
| Aadanum one life paadanum one life | You must dance in this life, sing in this life, |
| Vaangura pattathil parakkanum one life | You must fly high with the degree you earn in this life! |
| Male | |
| Padicha jeyippa illanna thavippa | If you study you will win, otherwise you will struggle, |
| Solren kelu iruppadhu one life | Listen to me, we only have one life! |
| Porandha porappa ulagam madhicha | If the world respects you for the life you were born with, |
| Adhu thaan sugandaa iruppadhu one life | That indeed is true bliss; we only have one life! |
அகர முதல
அறிவோம் வா! வா!
சிகரம் தொட
வழிதான் கல்வி
Starting from the alphabets, come let us learn!
Come, come, let us learn!
To reach the mountain peak,
Education is the only true path.
புதிய உலகம் வரைவோம்
வா! வா!
விடியல் தரும் ஒளியே கல்வி
அறிவோமே துளியை
அறியாதது கடலை
Let us draw a brand new world,
Come, come!
Education is the light that brings a new dawn.
What we have learned is just a drop,
What remains unlearned is an ocean.
மதிப்பெண்கள் சிறையே!
மதிநுட்பம் தான் விடுதலையே!
Chasing exam marks is a prison,
True intelligence and wisdom is freedom!
தலைகள் நிமிரும் நிலைகள் உயரும்
நீ படித்தால்…
Heads will be held high and your stature will elevate,
If you study well!
படிச்சா ஜெயிப்ப இல்லன்னா தவிப்ப
சொல்றேன் கேளு இருப்பது ஒன் லைப்
புறந்த புறப்ப உலகம் மதிச்சா
அது தான் சுகன்டா இருப்பது ஒன் லைப்
If you study you will win, otherwise you will struggle,
Listen to me, we only have one life!
If the world respects you for the life you were born with,
That indeed is true bliss; we only have one life!
வானத்த கையில புடுக்கனும் நண்பா
வாலிப காலத்த மதிக்கனும் நண்பா
ஆடனும் நண்பா பாடனும் நண்பா
வாங்குற பட்டத்தில் பறக்குனும் நண்பா
You must hold the sky in your hands, my friend,
You must value your youth, my friend.
You must dance, my friend, and sing, my friend,
You must fly high with the degree you earn, my friend!
படிச்சா ஜெயிப்ப இல்லன்னா தவிப்ப
சொல்றேன் கேளு இருப்பது ஒன் லைப்
புறந்த புறப்ப உலகம் மதிச்சா
அது தான் சுகன்டா இருப்பது ஒன் லைப்
If you study you will win, otherwise you will struggle,
Listen to me, we only have one life!
If the world respects you for the life you were born with,
That indeed is true bliss; we only have one life!
பணம் காசு பாக்கனும் நண்பா
தலைமுறைக்கு சேக்கனும் நண்பா
உதவின்னு நல்லவன் வந்தா
காெடுக்கனும் ஒன் லைப்
You must earn wealth and money, my friend,
You must save enough for future generations, my friend.
If a good person comes seeking help,
You must give generously; we only have one life!
மரியாதையா வாழனும் நண்பா
புகழோட சாகனும் நண்பா
இது சாத்தியம் ஆகனுமுன்னா
படிக்கனும் ஒன் லைப்
You must live a life of respect, my friend,
You must pass away with enduring fame, my friend.
If all of this is to become true,
You must educate yourself; we only have one life!
நீ சிந்துற வேர்வையில் கிடச்ச
புடவைய உன் தாயுக்கு கொடுத்து
அவ சிந்துற கண்ணீர் துளிய
ரசிக்கனும் ஒன் லைப்
Bought with the honest sweat you shed,
Gift a saree to your mother,
And those tears of joy she sheds,
You must cherish them; we only have one life!
நீ போன திசையில எல்லாம்
உன்னோட பேர கேட்டு
உன் அப்பன் திமிரா நடந்தா
ரசிக்கனும் ஒன் லைப்
In every direction you walked,
Hearing your name praised,
Watching your father walk with pride and swagger,
You must relish that sight; we only have one life!
ஆடனும் ஒன் லைப் பாடனும் ஒன் லைப்
வாங்க பட்டத்தில் பறக்குனும் நண்பா
You must dance in this life, sing in this life,
You must fly high with the degree you earn in this life!
படிச்சா ஜெயிப்ப இல்லன்னா தவிப்ப
சொல்றேன் கேளு இருப்பது ஒன் லைப்
புறந்த புறப்ப உலகம் மதிச்சா
அது தான் சுகன்டா இருப்பது ஒன் லைப்
If you study you will win, otherwise you will struggle,
Listen to me, we only have one life!
If the world respects you for the life you were born with,
That indeed is true bliss; we only have one life!
Agara mudhala
Starting from the alphabets, come let us learn!
Arivom vaa vaa
Come, come, let us learn!
Sigaram thoda
To reach the mountain peak,
Vazhi thaan kalvi
Education is the only true path.
Pudhiya ulagam varaivom
Let us draw a brand new world,
Vaa vaa
Come, come!
Vidiyal tharum oliyae kalvi
Education is the light that brings a new dawn.
Arindomae thuliyai
What we have learned is just a drop,
Ariyadhadhu kadalai
What remains unlearned is an ocean.
Madhipengal siraiyae
Chasing exam marks is a prison,
Madhi nutpam thaan viduthalaiyae
True intelligence and wisdom is freedom!
Thalaigal nimirum nilaigal uyarum
Heads will be held high and your stature will elevate,
Nee padithaal
If you study well!
Padicha jeyippa illanna thavippa
If you study you will win, otherwise you will struggle,
Solren kelu iruppadhu one life
Listen to me, we only have one life!
Porandha porappa ulagam madhicha
If the world respects you for the life you were born with,
Adhu thaan sugandaa iruppadhu one life
That indeed is true bliss; we only have one life!
Vaanatha kaiyila pudikkanum nanba
You must hold the sky in your hands, my friend,
Vaaliba kaalatha madhiknum nanba
You must value your youth, my friend.
Aadanum nanba paadanum nanba
You must dance, my friend, and sing, my friend,
Vaangura pattathil parakkanum nanba
You must fly high with the degree you earn, my friend!
Padicha jeyippa illanna thavippa
If you study you will win, otherwise you will struggle,
Solren kelu iruppadhu one life
Listen to me, we only have one life!
Porandha porappa ulagam madhicha
If the world respects you for the life you were born with,
Adhu thaan sugandaa iruppadhu one life
That indeed is true bliss; we only have one life!
Panam kaasu pakkanum nanba
You must earn wealth and money, my friend,
Thalaimuraikkum saekkanum nanba
You must save enough for future generations, my friend.
Udhavinnu nallavan vandha
If a good person comes seeking help,
Kodukkanum one life
You must give generously; we only have one life!
Mariyaadhaiya vaazhanum nanba
You must live a life of respect, my friend,
Pugaloda saganum nanba
You must pass away with enduring fame, my friend.
Idhu sathiyam aaganumnna
If all of this is to become true,
Padikanum one life
You must educate yourself; we only have one life!
Nee sindhura vervaiyil kidacha
Bought with the honest sweat you shed,
Pudavaiya un thaaiku koduthu
Gift a saree to your mother,
Ava sindhura kanneer thuliya
And those tears of joy she sheds,
Rasikanum one life
You must cherish them; we only have one life!
Nee pona dhisiyila ellaam
In every direction you walked,
Unnoda pera kettu
Hearing your name praised,
Un appan thimira nadantha
Watching your father walk with pride and swagger,
Rasikanum one life
You must relish that sight; we only have one life!
Aadanum one life paadanum one life
You must dance in this life, sing in this life,
Vaangura pattathil parakkanum one life
You must fly high with the degree you earn in this life!
Padicha jeyippa illanna thavippa
If you study you will win, otherwise you will struggle,
Solren kelu iruppadhu one life
Listen to me, we only have one life!
Porandha porappa ulagam madhicha
If the world respects you for the life you were born with,
Adhu thaan sugandaa iruppadhu one life
That indeed is true bliss; we only have one life!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song serves as an energetic and high-spirited educational anthem from the film 'Vaathi'. It emphasizes that education is the ultimate equalizer and tool for social mobility, encouraging youth to look beyond mere exam marks and embrace deep learning, wisdom, and practical intellect. The song urges students to make the most of their youth because we only live 'one life'. The emotional heart of the lyrics lies in fulfilling responsibility towards family and society. It captures the joy of giving back to one's parents—gifting a saree to a hardworking mother to see her tears of joy, and making a father walk with proud confidence because of his child's accomplishments. Furthermore, it advocates earning wealth not just for oneself, but to uplift future generations and help those in need, leaving behind an honorable legacy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Arindomae thuliyai / Ariyadhadhu kadalai”
Compares known knowledge to a mere 'drop' of water and unknown knowledge to an expansive 'ocean', inspired by classic Tamil proverbs like Avvaiyar's 'Kattradhu Kaimannalavu'.
Metaphor
“Madhipengal siraiyae / Madhi nutpam thaan viduthalaiyae”
Metaphorically frames school marks as a 'prison' and genuine wisdom/intellect as 'freedom'.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Agara mudhala / Arivom vaa vaa”
Both lines open with the initial Tamil vowel sound 'A' (அக்கார/அறிவோம்).
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Madhipengal siraiyae / Madhi nutpam thaan viduthalaiyae”
The second consonant sound 'dhi' (தி) is repeated in consecutive lines ('Madhi...').
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Aadanum nanba paadanum nanba”
Repetition of the ending suffix '-num nanba' creates a rhythmic cadence suitable for a youth anthem.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Vaathi' (released as 'Sir' in Telugu) revolves around a teacher played by Dhanush who fights against the privatization and commercialization of education in the 1990s. Dhanush himself penned the lyrics for this energetic track, collaborating with composer G. V. Prakash Kumar, with whom he has a long history of critically acclaimed soundtracks including 'Polladhavan', 'Aadukalam', and 'Asuran'. The track features vocals by prominent independent artist and rapper Arivu alongside singer Stephen Zechariah.
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