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Baba album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sakthi Kodu

From Baba · 2002

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Karthik
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Baba
Movie release year
2002
Lyrics added on
26 Jun 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nam nadai kandu ahangaaram
Thoolaagha vendum
Nam padai kandu thisaiyellam
Bayanthoda vendum
{Sakthi kodu
Chorus :Sakthi kodu
Sakthi kodu
Sakthi kodu} (2)
Iraivaaaa……iraivaaa..
{Thaaiyum neeyae
Thanthaiyum neeyae
Uyirum neeyae
Unmaiyum neeyae} (2)
Thoonilum iruppaan
Thurumbilum iruppaan
Kodumai azhithu vida
Kolghai jeyithu vida
Sakthi kodu
Sakthi kodu
Nam nadai kandu ahangaaram
Thoolaagha vendum
Nam padai kandu thisaiyellam
Bayanthoda vendum
Sakthi kodu
………………………………….
Vellathil veezhnthavarai
Karaiyetra sakthi kodu
Pallathil kidappavarai
Medu yetra sakthi kodu
Theemaikum kodumaikum
Thee veika sakthi kodu
Varumaiku piranthavarai
Vaazhvikka sakthi kodu
Erimalaigal en kaalil
Thoolaga sakthi kodu
Oru vaarthai sonnaalae
Oor maara sakthi kodu
Thaaiyum neeyae
Thanthaiyum neeyae
Uyirum neeyae
Unmaiyum neeyae
Iraivaaaa……iraivaaaa..
………………………………
Mudivedutha pinnaal
Naan thadam maara maaten
Mun veitha kaalai
Naan pin veika maaten
Enai nambi vandhavarai
Yemaatra maaten
Verum yeniyaai naanirunthu
Yemaara maaten
Uppitta thamizh mannai
Naan marakka maaten
Uppitta thamizh mannai
Naan marakka maaten
Naan uyir vaazhnthaal ingaethaan
Oodivida maaten
Katchigalai padhavigalai
Naan virumba maaten
Kaalathin kattalayai
Naan marukka maaten
Iraivaaaaa….iraivaaa..
{Thaaiyum neeyae
Thanthaiyum neeyae
Uyirum neeyae
Unmaiyum neeyae} (2)
Thoonilum iruppaan
Thurumbilum iruppaan
Kodumai azhithu vida
Kolghai jeyithu vida
Sakthi kodu
Sakthi kodu
Seeing our stride, arrogance
must crumble into dust.
Seeing our force, across all directions
they must flee in fear.
Give me strength,
Chorus: Give me strength,
give me strength,
give me strength!
Oh God... Oh God...
You are my mother,
you are my father,
you are my life,
you are the truth.
He is in a pillar,
He is in a tiny speck of dust.
To destroy cruelty,
to let our principles triumph,
give me strength,
give me strength!
Seeing our stride, arrogance
must crumble into dust.
Seeing our force, across all directions
they must flee in fear.
Give me strength!
...
Those who have fallen into floods,
give me strength to bring them safely ashore.
Those trapped down in deep pits,
give me strength to lift them high.
To evil and cruelty,
give me strength to set them on fire.
Those born into poverty,
give me strength to give them a better life.
For volcanoes beneath my feet
to shatter into dust, give me strength!
With just a single word I speak,
give me strength to transform this land.
You are my mother,
you are my father,
you are my life,
you are the truth.
Oh God... Oh God...
...
Once I make a decision,
I will never stray from my path.
The step I have placed forward,
I will never pull back.
Those who came trusting me,
I will never let down.
Just remaining a stepping stone for others,
I will not let myself be cheated.
This Tamil land that has fed and nurtured me,
I will never forget.
This Tamil land that has fed and nurtured me,
I will never forget.
If I live, it will only be right here;
I will never run away.
Political parties and powerful positions,
I will never desire.
Yet the command of time and destiny,
I will never refuse.
Oh God... Oh God...
You are my mother,
you are my father,
you are my life,
you are the truth.
He is in a pillar,
He is in a tiny speck of dust.
To destroy cruelty,
to let our principles triumph,
give me strength,
give me strength!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Sakthi Kodu' is an energetic anthem from the 2002 film 'Baba', combining intense spiritual devotion with personal and social resolve. The speaker prays to the Supreme Divine—addressed as mother, father, life, and ultimate truth—seeking divine power ('Sakthi') to overcome arrogance, help the impoverished, fight evil, and uplift society. In the second half, the song transitions into a bold pledge of integrity and duty. The protagonist vows never to back down from a commitment, never to deceive those who trust him, and to serve his motherland without hungering for political posts or power, surrendering ultimately to the call of destiny.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaiybu (End Rhyme)

Thaaiyum neeyae / Thanthaiyum neeyae / Uyirum neeyae / Unmaiyum neeyae

Repetition of ending rhyming suffixes '-um neeyae' creates a rhythmic devotional chant.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Thoonilum iruppaan / Thurumbilum iruppaan

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Th' creates internal poetic cadence.

Mythological Allusion

Thoonilum iruppaan / Thurumbilum iruppaan

References the Narasimha myth from Hindu tradition, where the Divine exists everywhere, from a pillar ('Thoon') to a speck of dust ('Thurumbu').

Hyperbole & Metaphor

Erimalaigal en kaalil / Thoolaga sakthi kodu

Crushing volcanoes into dust underfoot serves as a dramatic poetic metaphor for surmounting monumental obstacles through divine strength.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sakthi Kodu' was composed by A.R. Rahman and sung by Karthik and A.R. Rahman for Rajinikanth's self-written film 'Baba' (2002). The lyrics by Vairamuthu directly mirrored Rajinikanth's real-life political stance at the time, particularly lines declaring indifference toward political parties and official positions.

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