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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pirar Vaada

From Mahanadhi · 1994

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Kamal Haasan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Mahanadhi1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pirar vaada pala seyalgal seidhuDoing many deeds that make others suffer,
Narai koodi kizha paruvameidhiGrowing grey-haired and reaching old age,
Kodum kootrukku irai yena pinBecoming food for the cruel god of death,
Maayum pala vedikkai manidharai polaeLike many curious men who perish,
Naan veezhven endru ninaithaayoDid you think that I too would fall?
Ini ennai pudhiya uyiraakkiNow, make me into a new life,
Madhi thannai miga thelivu seidhuMake my intellect extremely clear,
Endrum sandhosham kondirukka cheivaaiEnsure that I remain happy forever,
Endrum sandhosham kondirukka cheivaaiEnsure that I remain happy forever,
(Dialogue)(Dialogue)
Male
Thanmaanam ulla nenjamA heart that possesses self-respect
Ennaalum thaazhaadhuWill never bow down on any day.
Sevvaanam minnal vettiThe red sky struck by lightning
Mann meedhu veezhaazhuDoes not fall upon the earth.
Male
Kaaveri thaai madiyilI am a child who lived
Vaazhndha pillaiyadiIn the lap of Mother Kaveri.
Kaatraadi pol arundhuLike a kite whose string is cut,
VeezhvadhillaiyadiI will not fall down.
Anbaana uravu kanduFinding loving relationships,
Koodu katti aaduvenI will build a nest and dance.
Annaalil naanirundhaI will search for the life
Vaazhakkaiyai thaan theduvaenThat I had back in those days.
Andru sonnaan bhaarathiBharathi said it back then,
Solliya vaarthaigal thotradhillaiyadiAnd the words he spoke have never failed.
Endhan ennam endraikkumMy thoughts and mind have never
Tholvi enbadhai yaetradhillaiyadiAccepted defeat at any time.
Chorus
Hae thaiyai theeyam thakkuHae thaiyai theeyam thakku
Theeyam thakkuTheeyam thakku
Hae thaiyai theeyam thakku theeyam thakkuHae thaiyai theeyam thakku theeyam thakku
Hae thaiyai theeyam thakku theeyam thakkuHae thaiyai theeyam thakku theeyam thakku
Ho thaiyai theeyam thakku theeyam thakkuHo thaiyai theeyam thakku theeyam thakku

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses resilience, self-respect, and unyielding determination in the face of intense personal tragedy and hardship. Opening with Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar's iconic verse ('Vedikkai Manidharai Polae Naan Veezhven Endru Ninaithaayo'), the protagonist declares that he will not perish or break like ordinary men who succumb to fate. Instead, he vows to rejuvenate his spirit and retain clarity of mind. The song reinforces his roots as a proud child of Mother Kaveri, asserting that a self-respecting soul will never bow down or crash like a severed kite. He strives to rebuild his broken family life and reclaim past happiness, inspired by the eternal truth of Bharathiyar's motivating words.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Literary Allusion (இலக்கியக் குறிப்பு)

Naan veezhven endru ninaithaayo

The opening lines directly quote Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar's famous poem 'Nalladhore Veenai Seidhe', using it to evoke invincible willpower.

Simile (உவமை)

Kaatraadi pol arundhu Veezhvadhillaiyadi

Compares the protagonist's resilience to a kite whose string has broken, emphasizing that even cut free, he will not simply crash and fall.

Ethirai / Rhyme (எதுகை)

Thanmaanam ulla nenjam / Ennaalum thaazhaadhu

Use of second-letter rhyming across line pairs such as 'Thanmaanam' and 'Ennaalum', or 'Anbaana' and 'Annaalil'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The opening lines of this track feature the famous immortal poetry of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar. Music for the 1994 film 'Mahanadhi' was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics for the remaining portion written by Vaali and sung by Kamal Haasan along with Ilaiyaraaja.

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