Poraduda
From Alai Osai · 1985
- Lyricist
- Ilaiya Bharathi
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Alai Osai1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Poraadadaa oru vaal yendhadaa | Fight, man! Wield a sword! |
| Vengaigalo ini thoongaadhadaa | The tigers will no longer sleep! |
| Vizhiyo kanalaai ini maaridumo | Will the eyes turn into fiery embers now? |
| Vazhiyo pudhiraai uruvaagidumo | Will the path turn into a puzzle? |
| Pon udhayam kandidavae | To behold the golden dawn, |
| Udhiram muzhudhum udhirum varaiyil | Until every drop of blood drips away, |
| Male | |
| Poraadadaa oru vaal yendhadaa | Fight, man! Wield a sword! |
| Vengaigalo ini thoongaadhadaa | The tigers will no longer sleep! |
| Chorus | |
| Thannaanae thannaanae | Thannaanae thannaanae (Folk rhythmic refrain) |
| Thannaanae thannaanae | Thannaanae thannaanae |
| Thaanae thannaanae thannaanae | Thaanae thannaanae thannaanae |
| Thannaanae thannaanae | Thannaanae thannaanae |
| Thannaanae thannaanae | Thannaanae thannaanae |
| Thaanae thannaanae thannaanae | Thaanae thannaanae thannaanae |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………………….. | |
| Male | |
| Yethanaiyo raththa varigalai | Oh those who inflicted so many bloody stripes |
| Engal mudhuginil thandhavarae | Upon our very backs! |
| Aththanaiyum vatti mudhaludan | All of that, with interest added to the principal, |
| Ungal karangalil thandhiduvom | We shall return into your hands! |
| Male | |
| Nandhan inamae perum ariyaasanamae | The race of Nandan shall sit upon the grand throne, |
| Andha dhinamae varumae | That day will surely come! |
| Nandhan inamae perum ariyaasanamae | The race of Nandan shall sit upon the grand throne, |
| Andha dhinamae varumae | That day will surely come! |
| Male | |
| Ettu thikkum vetri ezhumae | Victory shall rise in all eight directions, |
| Mannil oli vellam varum varai | Until a flood of light washes over this earth, |
| Nermai kulam veeru kondae | The righteous clan shall rise up with fervor, |
| Poridum poridum vellum varai | Fighting and battling until victory is won! |
| Alaigalum oindhu pogumo..ooo | Will even the ocean waves ever fall silent? |
| Male | |
| Innum ingu pallu parai yena | Still here, in the names of caste occupations, |
| Sollum madamaigal ulladhadaa | Foolish oppressions continue to exist! |
| Niththam siru saeri siragugal | Every day, the fragile wings of the ghetto |
| Velli viragena aagudhadaa | Are burnt down like dry firewood! |
| Male | |
| Sinna poriyae perum analaagumae | A tiny spark will transform into a mighty fire, |
| Singa inamae ezhumae | The clan of lions shall arise! |
| Sinna poriyae perum analaagumae | A tiny spark will transform into a mighty fire, |
| Singa inamae ezhumae | The clan of lions shall arise! |
| Male | |
| Anji nindra panja padaiyae | Oh downtrodden army that once stood in fear, |
| Konjamaaga nenjai nimirgaiyil | As you hold your chest high with pride, |
| Engal manam pongi azhugaiyil | When our hearts swell and overflow, |
| Kumguma gangaiyum pongidumae | Even a crimson Ganges of power will surge forth! |
| Malaigalum saaindhu pogumo | Will even the mighty mountains bow and fall? |
போராடடா ஒரு வாளேந்தடா
வேங்கைகளோ இனி தூங்காதடா
விழியோ கனலாய் இனி மாறிடுமோ
வழியோ புதிதாய் உருவாகிடுமோ
Fight, man! Wield a sword!
The tigers will no longer sleep!
Will the eyes turn into fiery embers now?
Will the path turn into a puzzle?
To behold the golden dawn,
Until every drop of blood drips away,
பொன் உதயம் கண்டிடவே
உதிரம் முழுதும் உதிரும் வரையில்.......
Fight, man! Wield a sword!
The tigers will no longer sleep!
போராடடா ஒரு வாளேந்தடா
வேங்கைகளோ இனி தூங்காதடா
Thannaanae thannaanae (Folk rhythmic refrain)
Thannaanae thannaanae
Thaanae thannaanae thannaanae
Thannaanae thannaanae
Thannaanae thannaanae
Thaanae thannaanae thannaanae
........................
எத்தனையோ ரத்த வரிகளை
எங்கள் முதுகினில் தந்தவரே
அத்தனையும் வட்டி முதலுடன்
உங்கள் கரங்களில் தந்திடுவோம்
Oh those who inflicted so many bloody stripes
Upon our very backs!
All of that, with interest added to the principal,
We shall return into your hands!
{நந்தன் இனமே
பெறும் அரியாசனமே
அந்த தினமே வருமே.....} (2)
எட்டுத்திக்கும் வெற்றி எழுமே
மண்ணில் ஒளி வெள்ளம் வரும்வரை
The race of Nandan shall sit upon the grand throne,
That day will surely come!
The race of Nandan shall sit upon the grand throne,
That day will surely come!
வேர்வை குலம் வீறு கொண்டே
போரிடும் போரிடும் வெல்லும் வரை
அலைகளும் ஓய்ந்து போகுமோ.....
Victory shall rise in all eight directions,
Until a flood of light washes over this earth,
The righteous clan shall rise up with fervor,
Fighting and battling until victory is won!
Will even the ocean waves ever fall silent?
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
போராடடா ஒரு வாளேந்தடா
வேங்கைகளோ இனி தூங்காதடா
விழியோ கனலாய் இனி மாறிடுமோ
வழியோ புதிதாய் உருவாகிடுமோ
Still here, in the names of caste occupations,
Foolish oppressions continue to exist!
Every day, the fragile wings of the ghetto
Are burnt down like dry firewood!
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
பொன் உதயம் கண்டிடவே
உதிரம் முழுதும் உதிரும் வரையில்.......
A tiny spark will transform into a mighty fire,
The clan of lions shall arise!
A tiny spark will transform into a mighty fire,
The clan of lions shall arise!
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
போராடடா ஒரு வாளேந்தடா
வேங்கைகளோ இனி தூங்காதடா....
Oh downtrodden army that once stood in fear,
As you hold your chest high with pride,
When our hearts swell and overflow,
Even a crimson Ganges of power will surge forth!
Will even the mighty mountains bow and fall?
இன்னும் இந்து பள்ளுப் பறையென
சொல்லும் மடமைகள் உள்ளதடா
நித்தம் இரு சேரி சிறகுகள்
வெள்ளி சிறகென ஆகுதடா
ஆஆ.... ஆஆ.....
சின்னப் பொறியே வெறும் அனலாகுமே
சிங்க இனமே எழுமே......
சின்னப் பொறியே வெறும் அனலாகுமே
சிங்க இனமே எழுமே......
அஞ்சி நின்ற பஞ்சப்படையே
கொஞ்சமாவது நெஞ்சம் நிமிர்கையில்
எங்கள் மனம் பொங்கி அழுகையில்
குங்கும கங்கையும் பொங்கிடுமே
மலைகளும் சாய்ந்து போகுமோ..........
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
போராடடா ஒரு வாளேந்தடா
வேங்கைகளோ இனி தூங்காதடா
விழியோ கனலாய் இனி மாறிடுமோ
வழியோ புதிதாய் உருவாகிடுமோ
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
பொன் உதயம் கண்டிடவே
உதிரம் முழுதும் உதிரும் வரையில்.......
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
போராடடா ஒரு வாளேந்தடா
வேங்கைகளோ இனி தூங்காதடா
Poraadadaa oru vaal yendhadaa
Fight, man! Wield a sword!
Vengaigalo ini thoongaadhadaa
The tigers will no longer sleep!
Vizhiyo kanalaai ini maaridumo
Will the eyes turn into fiery embers now?
Vazhiyo pudhiraai uruvaagidumo
Will the path turn into a puzzle?
Pon udhayam kandidavae
To behold the golden dawn,
Udhiram muzhudhum udhirum varaiyil
Until every drop of blood drips away,
Poraadadaa oru vaal yendhadaa
Fight, man! Wield a sword!
Vengaigalo ini thoongaadhadaa
The tigers will no longer sleep!
Thannaanae thannaanae
Thannaanae thannaanae (Folk rhythmic refrain)
Thannaanae thannaanae
Thannaanae thannaanae
Thaanae thannaanae thannaanae
Thaanae thannaanae thannaanae
Thannaanae thannaanae
Thannaanae thannaanae
Thannaanae thannaanae
Thannaanae thannaanae
Thaanae thannaanae thannaanae
Thaanae thannaanae thannaanae
…………………………………..
Yethanaiyo raththa varigalai
Oh those who inflicted so many bloody stripes
Engal mudhuginil thandhavarae
Upon our very backs!
Aththanaiyum vatti mudhaludan
All of that, with interest added to the principal,
Ungal karangalil thandhiduvom
We shall return into your hands!
Nandhan inamae perum ariyaasanamae
The race of Nandan shall sit upon the grand throne,
Andha dhinamae varumae
That day will surely come!
Nandhan inamae perum ariyaasanamae
The race of Nandan shall sit upon the grand throne,
Andha dhinamae varumae
That day will surely come!
Ettu thikkum vetri ezhumae
Victory shall rise in all eight directions,
Mannil oli vellam varum varai
Until a flood of light washes over this earth,
Nermai kulam veeru kondae
The righteous clan shall rise up with fervor,
Poridum poridum vellum varai
Fighting and battling until victory is won!
Alaigalum oindhu pogumo..ooo
Will even the ocean waves ever fall silent?
Innum ingu pallu parai yena
Still here, in the names of caste occupations,
Sollum madamaigal ulladhadaa
Foolish oppressions continue to exist!
Niththam siru saeri siragugal
Every day, the fragile wings of the ghetto
Velli viragena aagudhadaa
Are burnt down like dry firewood!
Sinna poriyae perum analaagumae
A tiny spark will transform into a mighty fire,
Singa inamae ezhumae
The clan of lions shall arise!
Sinna poriyae perum analaagumae
A tiny spark will transform into a mighty fire,
Singa inamae ezhumae
The clan of lions shall arise!
Anji nindra panja padaiyae
Oh downtrodden army that once stood in fear,
Konjamaaga nenjai nimirgaiyil
As you hold your chest high with pride,
Engal manam pongi azhugaiyil
When our hearts swell and overflow,
Kumguma gangaiyum pongidumae
Even a crimson Ganges of power will surge forth!
Malaigalum saaindhu pogumo
Will even the mighty mountains bow and fall?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Poraadadaa from Alai Osai (1985) is an intense revolutionary anthem calling for resistance, dignity, and socio-political emancipation for oppressed communities. Lyricist Ilaiya Bharathi uses fiery imagery—such as sleeping tigers awakening, sparks turning into forest fires, and payback for physical and societal trauma—to inspire unity and rebellion against caste-based discrimination.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagandham)
“Vengaigalo ini thoongaadhadaa”
Comparing the oppressed masses to sleeping tigers ('Vengaigal') that are awakening to reclaim their freedom.
Initial Alliteration (Monnai)
“Sinna poriyae perum analaagumae / Singa inamae ezhumae”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Si') creating a sharp, rhythmic tone in a revolutionary line.
Rhetorical Question
“Alaigalum oindhu pogumo..ooo”
Asking if the waves or mountains can ever be subdued, metaphorically reinforcing that the movement for justice is relentless.
Did you know?
Trivia
Alai Osai (1985) is a Tamil film focused on rural class struggle and social injustice, directed by Sirumugai Ravi. The lyrics reference 'Nandan'—a legendary figure in Tamil lore representing marginalized devotion and battle against institutionalized exclusion.
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