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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oruviral Puratchi

From Sarkar · 2018

Lyricist
Vivek
Singers
A. R. Rahman, Srinidhi Venkatesh
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Sarkar
Movie release year
2018
Lyrics added on
8 Aug 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Nethu vara…aa…
Chorus :Yemaali yemaali yemaali…..}(2)
{Indru mudhal
Chorus :Poraali poraali poraali…
Poraali poraali poraali} (2)
Poraali poraali… (4)
{Oru viral puratchiyae
Irukkudhaa unarchiyae} (2)
Yezhmaiyai
Chorus :Olikkavae
Male :Seiyada
Chorus :Muyarchiyae
Yezhaiyai
Chorus :Olipathae
Male :Ungalin
Chorus :Valarchiyaa…
Thiruppi adikka irukku neruppu
Viralin nuniyil vilattum karuppu
Oru viral puratchiyae
Irukkudhaa unarchiyae…
Naam ondraai kelvigal kettalae
Adakkum kai angu nadungaathoo
Yezhiya manithan ezhuthum vithiyilae
Puthiya ulagam thodangaathoo
Oooooo ooooo hooo ooo oooo
Karai vettigal angangu silai
Engal vervaiyum raththamum vilai
Verum vedhanaiyae ingae nilai
Neethiyai kolgiraan
Mounamaai pogirom
Oomaigal desathil
Kaadhaiyum moodinom
Makkalin aatchiyaam
Endru naam vaalgirom
Porgalai thaandi thaan
Sottraiyae kaangirom
Dhorgangal thaakiyae
Veedhiyil saagirom
Aluthidum kangalil
Theeyana vaazhgirom
Oru viral puratchiyae
Irukkudhaa unarchiyae
Yezhmaiyai
Male :Olikkavae
Chorus :Seiyada
Male :Muyarchiyae
Chorus :Ezhaiyai
Male :Olipathae
Chorus :Ungalin
Male :Valarchiyaa……
Ooooo hooo ooooo hooo ooo
Ooooo hooo ooooo hooo ooo
Maanam vittru yedhai vaanginaai
Ethirkalathai soorai aadinaai
Maanam vittru yedhai vaanginaai
Ethirkalathai soorai aadinaai
{Until yesterday... ah...
Chorus: A fool, a fool, a fool...} (2)
{From today onwards,
Chorus: A fighter, a fighter, a fighter...
A fighter, a fighter, a fighter} (2)
A fighter, a fighter... (4)
{A single-finger revolution!
Is there any feeling left in you?} (2)
To wipe out
Chorus: poverty,
Male: make an
Chorus: honest effort!
Wiping out
Chorus: the poor,
Male: is that your idea of
Chorus: progress?
The fire to strike back is right here,
let the ink on our fingertip banish the darkness!
A single-finger revolution!
Is there any feeling left in you?
If we stand united and question them,
won't the hand of oppression tremble?
In the destiny written by the common man,
won't a new world begin?
Oh... Hoo... Oh...
Men in bordered dhotis (politicians) turn into statues everywhere,
while our sweat and blood pay the price.
Sheer agony is our only reality here.
Justice is being murdered,
yet we walk away in silence.
In a land of the mute,
we have shut our ears too.
"A government by the people,"
we tell ourselves and live on.
Only after fighting daily battles
do we even find a meal.
Battered by cruel betrayals,
we die on the streets.
Yet through our weeping eyes,
we burn and live on like fire!
A single-finger revolution!
Is there any feeling left in you?
To wipe out
Male: poverty,
Chorus: make an
Male: honest effort!
Chorus: But wiping out the poor,
Male: is that
Chorus: your idea of
Male: progress?
Oh... Hoo... Oh... Hoo...
Oh... Hoo... Oh... Hoo...
Selling your self-respect, what did you buy?
You looted and ruined our future!
Selling your self-respect, what did you buy?
You looted and ruined our future!
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Oru Viral Puratchi' (A Single-Finger Revolution) is an energetic political anthem from the movie Sarkar (2018). The song serves as a clarion call to citizens, urging them to break their silence and transform from passive victims ('Yemaali') into active fighters ('Poraali'). It strongly condemns political corruption, highlighting how politicians in silk dhotis thrive by suppressing the poor rather than eradicating poverty itself. The core motif of the song centers around the ink-marked index finger used in voting, framing democratic franchise as a silent yet explosive weapon capable of shaking corrupt regimes. It challenges voters against accepting cash for votes, warning them that compromising their self-respect destroys the future of coming generations and calling for a united democratic uprising.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muran (Antithesis)

“Nethu vara... Yemaali / Indru mudhal... Poraali”

Contrasts the state of being a 'Yemaali' (duped victim) yesterday with becoming a 'Poraali' (revolting fighter) today.

Metaphor

“Oru viral puratchiyae”

Compares the act of casting a vote with an inked index finger to an entire social and political revolution.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Olikkavae / Muyarchiyae / Olipathae / Valarchiyaa”

The rhythmic rhyming ending sound '-ae / -aa' across consecutive lines creates an engaging, chant-like call to action.

Metaphor / Imagery

“Viralin nuniyil vilattum karuppu”

The indelible black electoral ink at the tip of the finger is metaphorically presented as a force driving away political dark forces.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed and sung by A. R. Rahman with lyricist Vivek, 'Oru Viral Puratchi' created a massive social impact prior to the release of *Sarkar*. The song was widely praised for bringing election awareness, specifically popularizing Section 49P of the Conduct of Elections Rules in India, which allows a voter to cast a ballot if someone else has illegally voted in their name.

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