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Lyrics & meaning

Rottula Vandi Oodudhu

From Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan · 2017

Lyricist
Silambarasan
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Movie name
Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan
Movie release year
2017
Lyrics added on
2 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Rottula vandi oodudhu
Rottula vandi oodudhu
Andha vandikulla ukandhu
Ooturadhu yaaru..
Vandi oodudhu
Rottula vandi oodudhu
Andha vandikulla ukandhu
Ooturadhu yaaru..
Leftla nee thirumbunaka
Leftu poogudhu
Haai.. rightula nee thirumbunaka
Rightu poogudhu
Un lifela nee leftu poona
Rightu poogudhu
Un life nee rightu poona
Leftu pogudhu
Idhula enna theriyudhu
Unaku enna puriyudhu
A.. enna theriyudhu
Unaku enna theliyudhu..
{Aandavan thaan ooturaan
Unnaiyum pootu aaturan
Aandavan thaan ooturaan
Unnaiyum pootu aaturan} (2)
: Aandavan thaan ooturaan
Unnaiyum pootu aaturan
Aandavan thaan ooturaan
Nammala pootu.. aaturan…hey…
Idhu purinja.. gnayani
Arinju therinju.. vaa nee
Adhu thaan unna valakum
Unaku gnayanam porakum
Idhu puriyama
Suthuravan ellam
Indha ulagathil
Porandhathil artham illa
Idhu puriyamalae
Nee vaazhurae
Idhu theriyamalae
Nee saagura..
Buddhavum..babavum
Manushan dhaanadaa..
Anbae ellamnu purinju
Kadavul aanandaa..
Idhu unmai
Sonna-siripa
Adha marupa
Nee maaramaatada..
Maara vidamaataanda..aa…
……………………….
Vaazhka oru schoolu
Adhu solluradhu kelu
Sollitharadha kekalanaa
Aaiyiduva foolu
Mela illa aalu
Avan yengannu kelu..
Unakkulladhan irukaanu
Therinja nee dhoolu
Yaarudaa naaninu
Kepaan budhisaalidaa
Naa yaaru theriyumaanu
Kepan komalidaa
Jaadhi madham
Inam..mozhi kalarunnu
Pirikuraan
Pirichi unna adimaiyaaki
Aalanumnu nenaikuraan
Purinju nee muzhichaa
Ellamae needhaandaa..
Iraivandaa….
A vehicle is running on the road.
A vehicle is running on the road.
Sitting inside that vehicle,
Who is driving it?
The vehicle runs.
A vehicle is running on the road.
Sitting inside that vehicle,
Who is driving it?
If you turn left,
It goes left.
Haai.. if you turn right,
It goes right.
In your life, if you go left,
It goes right.
In your life, if you go right,
It goes left.
What does this reveal?
What do you understand from this?
Ah.. what is apparent?
What becomes clear to you?
{It is God who is driving it,
And He is controlling and moving you as well.
It is God who is driving it,
And He is controlling and moving you as well.} (2)
: It is God who is driving it,
And He is controlling and moving you as well.
It is God who is driving it,
He is controlling and moving us... hey...
If you understand this, you are a wise sage.
Come having known and understood this.
That alone will nurture you.
Wisdom will be born within you.
Without understanding this,
Everyone who wanders around
In this world,
There is no meaning in being born.
Without even understanding this,
You go on living.
Without even knowing this,
You go on dying.
Buddha and Baba
Are just human beings, my friend.
Realizing that love is everything,
They became God, my friend.
This is the truth.
If told, you will laugh.
You will deny it.
You will not change, my friend.
He will not let you change... ah...
……………………….
Life is a school,
Listen to what it tells you.
If you do not listen to what it teaches,
You will become a fool.
The ruler is not up above,
Ask where He really is.
That He resides inside you—
If you realize that, you are awesome!
"Who am I?"
A wise person will ask.
"Do you know who I am?"
A clown will ask.
Caste, religion,
Race, language, color—
He divides people by these.
Dividing you and making you a slave,
He intends to rule over you.
If you awaken with this understanding,
You are everything, my friend.
You are God, my friend!
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Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Rottula Vandi Oodudhu' (often referred to as 'Spiritual Gaana' or 'God Song') from 'Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan' is a philosophical track dressed in a local street-gaana style. It uses simple metaphors—such as driving a car or life being a school—to convey deep spiritual advice about human existence, fate, ego, and self-realization. The song emphasizes that an overarching divine force drives human lives, yet true divinity resides within each person once ego and societal divisions like caste or creed are shed.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Vaazhka oru schoolu”

Life is compared directly to a driving car ('Rottula vandi oodudhu') and to a school ('Vaazhka oru schoolu') to explain fate and self-improvement easily.

Emonai (Initial Rhyme)

“Buddhavum..babavum / Manushan dhaanadaa..”

Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds in successive lines such as 'Buddhavum' and 'Manushan' or 'Purinju' and 'Ellamae'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Vaazhka oru schoolu / Adhu solluradhu kelu / Sollitharadha kekalanaa / Aaiyiduva foolu”

Use of rhyming end sounds like 'schoolu', 'kelu', 'foolu', and 'dhoolu' to create a catchy, rhythmic structure.

Antithesis / Contrast

“Yaarudaa naaninu kepaan budhisaalidaa / Naa yaaru theriyumaanu kepan komalidaa”

Contrasting the philosophical question of a wise man ('Yaarudaa naani' - Who am I?) with the arrogant claim of a fool ('Naa yaaru theriyumaanu' - Do you know who I am?).

Did you know?

Trivia

This philosophical gaana track was written and sung by lead actor Silambarasan (TR) himself for the movie 'Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan' (2017), with music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja.

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