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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Raththam

From Raththam · 2023

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Vijay Prakash
Music director
Kannan Narayanan
Details
Raththam2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Raththam raththamBlood, blood
Vazhindhida kaththum kaththumScreaming as it overflows
Uyirgalin saththam saththamThe sound of living souls
Thodanguthu yuththam yuththamA war begins, a war begins
Male
Niththam niththamEvery day, every day
Kadharidum siththam siththamThe distressed mind cries out
Sinandhida suttrum muttrumLooking around in anger
Erimalai pattrum pattrumCatching fire like an erupting volcano
Male
Maraivinil irundhoru villangamA trouble emerging from secrecy
Purindhidu vialangugal engengumBeasts committing mischief everywhere
Por mozhiye vellumOnly the language of war shall triumph
Male
Raththam raththamBlood, blood
Vazhindhida kaththum kaththumScreaming as it overflows
Uyirgalin saththam saththamThe sound of living souls
Thodanguthu yuththam yuththamA war begins, a war begins
Male
Vaal eduppadhillai thol thudippadhillaiSwords are not drawn, shoulders do not quiver in fear
Yezh ulagamum poyyil uruludheYet all the seven worlds roll in deceit
Kaal nadappdadhillai kai koduppadhillaiFeet refuse to walk, hands refuse to offer help
Oozh vilagida unmai nimirudheTruth stands tall to banish ill fate
Male
Oore neruppaattril neendhaWhen the whole town swims in a river of fire
Yaar dhaan isai ketpaaroWho indeed will listen to music?
Vaerai karaiyaangal theendaWhen termites attack the very roots
Poovai yavar paarppaaroWho will gaze upon the flower?
Male
Kodiyadhu kodiyadhu sollillaiCruel, so cruel, words cannot express
Karugiya malargalil thean illaiThere is no honey in burnt flowers
Yaar eduppaar mullaiWho will gather the thorn?
Male
Raththam raththamBlood, blood
Vazhindhida kaththum kaththumScreaming as it overflows
Uyirgalin saththam saththamThe sound of living souls
Thodanguthu yuththam yuththamA war begins, a war begins
Male
Yen madamai endruQuestioning why this foolishness exists
Oor manadhai vendruWinning over the heart of the people
Por puriyave vandhaan oruvaneA lone man came forth to wage war
Male
Vaan veliyai vendruConquering the vast sky
Aazh kadalum sendruVenturing into the deep ocean
Oar padaiyinai velvaan nagaraneA citizen who will conquer an entire army
Male
Saambal malai maele nindruStanding atop a mountain of ashes
Aadum narikkoottaththaiIf the dancing pack of foxes
Keezhe sarikkaamal ponaalIs not knocked down to the ground
Thorppom varungaalathaiWe shall lose our future
Male
Sariyedhu thavaredhu sol endraanHe asked to speak what is right and wrong
Sariththira pagaigalai kolgindraanHe slays historical enemies
Pen nadunga nindraanHe stood firm making evil tremble
Male
Raththam raththamBlood, blood
Vazhindhida kaththum kaththumScreaming as it overflows
Uyirgalin saththam saththamThe sound of living souls
Thodanguthu yuththam yuththamA war begins, a war begins
Male
Niththam niththamEvery day, every day
Kadharidum siththam siththamThe distressed mind cries out
Sinandhida suttrum muttrumLooking around in anger
Erimalai pattrum pattrumCatching fire like an erupting volcano
Male
Maraivinil irundhoru villangamA trouble emerging from secrecy
Purindhidu vialangugal engengumBeasts committing mischief everywhere
Por mozhiye vellumOnly the language of war shall triumph

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Raththam' serves as an intense, rallying battle cry depicting a society submerged in deceit, injustice, and hidden danger. It portrays the suffering of innocent lives and the moral decay where truth is buried under falsehood. Amidst this turmoil, a solitary hero steps forward to fight back against hidden enemies and corrupt forces acting like wild beasts or packs of foxes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Raththam raththam / Vazhindhida kaththum kaththum / Uyirgalin saththam saththam / Thodanguthu yuththam yuththam

The repetition of identical ending sounds across consecutive lines, such as 'raththam', 'kaththum', 'saththam', and 'yuththam', creating a rhythmic, chanting effect.

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for emphasis)

Niththam niththam / Kadharidum siththam siththam

Doubling of words like 'raththam raththam', 'kaththum kaththum', and 'niththam niththam' to intensify the urgency, grief, and fury expressed in the verse.

Metaphor (Urvagam)

Oore neruppaattril neendha / Yaar dhaan isai ketpaaro

Describing the town's suffering as swimming in a river of fire ('neruppaattril neendha') to poetically illustrate extreme destruction and chaos.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Raththam' (2023) is an Indian Tamil-language crime thriller film written and directed by C. S. Amudhan, starring Vijay Antony in the lead role. The film's music was composed by Kannan Narayanan, and lyricist Yugabharathi penned the high-octane tracks reflecting the film's theme of investigative journalism and combating hidden crime syndicates.

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