- Lyricist
- Vivek
- Singer
- S. J. Surya
- Music director
- Santhosh Narayanan
- Movie name
- Iraivi
- Movie release year
- 2016
- Lyrics added on
- 21 Feb 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song portrays a manic, self-destructive descent into severe alcoholism and existential frustration. Skipping the initial drinks and jumping straight to heavy intoxication ('eighth round'), the protagonist seeks an escape from his life's failures. He views alcohol as an oppressive demon ('Vedhalam') riding on his head, echoing the folklore of King Vikramaditya and the corpse-demon, continuously tormenting his mind. Throughout the track, the bottle acts as both a source of comfort and a haunting ghost ('Pei') that mocks his downfall. Life is metaphorically described as a broken cart limping on ruined wheels after crashing into obstacles. Ultimately, the song serves as a grim reflection of how addiction feeds on grief, leaving the protagonist trapped in a vicious cycle of temporary numbness and tormenting reality.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Mythological Allusion
“Weight aana vedhalam / Thala mela onnu yethikitten”
Alcohol/addiction is metaphorically represented as a heavy Vedhalam (demon) sitting on the protagonist's head, alluding to the folklore where a demon burdens Vikramaditya.
Tamil Proverb / Idiom
“Vendha punnila vettu potu”
Uses the Tamil idiom 'vendha punnil vettu' (cutting open an already burnt wound), equivalent to 'rubbing salt in the wound' or adding insult to injury.
Metaphor
“Ooduchi en vandi ... Rendu wheel-u nondi”
Metaphorically compares the protagonist's ruined life and choices to a broken-down vehicle limping on damaged wheels.
Iyaipu (Rhyming)
“Waste-u waste-u / Taste-u taste-u / Ghost-u ghost-u”
Uses end-rhyming loan words ('Waste-u', 'Taste-u', 'Ghost-u') ending in the same suffix sound to create a rhythmic, chant-like hook.
Did you know?
Trivia
From the 2016 film 'Iraivi' directed by Karthik Subbaraj, this track features music composed and sung by Santhosh Narayanan with lyrics by Vivek. The song plays during pivotal scenes depicting the male characters' self-destructive coping mechanisms through alcohol, mirroring the film's core themes of toxic masculinity, societal burden, and emotional turmoil.
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