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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sala Sala

From Nalanum Nandhiniyum · 2014

Lyricist
Viveka
Singers
Shankar Mahadevan, Sachin Warrier
Music director
Ashwath Naganathan
Details
Nalanum Nandhiniyum2014

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Neram nerungaamalWithout the right time approaching,
Neechal vaarathuSwimming skills will not come to you.
Neentha therinthaalaeOnce you know how to swim,
Nee moozhga koodathuYou should never drown.
Kayam neraathu vetri ingaethuWhere is victory without getting hurt?
Mutkal illaamal gadigaram odaathuWithout needles/hands, a clock cannot run.
Male
Sala sala salavendru nathipola oduRun like a river with a gushing sound,
Gala gala galavendru tholviyai kondaduCelebrate failure with cheerful laughter,
Gidu gidu giduvendru nee munneruMove forward with rapid speed,
Gada gada gadavendru vaanilae nee yeruClimb up into the sky swiftly.
Male
Pala thadai irunthaalumEven if there are many obstacles,
Vazhi theduFind a way forward.
Nam vazhiyinil thadaigalObstacles along our path
Saripaathi vizhukaaduAre just fifty percent of the journey.
Oru singampola nadaipoduWalk with pride like a lion,
Dhinam vetri ennumSing every single day
Raagathai neepaaduThe melody named victory.
Male
nenjil vanthaayaeYou entered my heart,
Ennai thanthenaeAnd I surrendered myself to you.
Vaazhvil eppothumAlways in this life,
Ellaamae neethanaeYou are everything to me.
Unthan thunaiyoduWith your companionship,
Yaavum velvenaeI will conquer everything.
Neeyum illaamalWithout you,
Naan illai ponmaanaeI do not exist, my golden deer.
Male
Aadaamal nilladaStand firm without faltering, man,
Veezhaamal velladaWin without falling, man!
Puyalaai adangaamalUnstoppable like a storm,
Dhinam oda nee vadaCome forward to run every day.
Male
Nee veeram kolladaGather your bravery, man,
Kaayangal thalladaPush away all the wounds.
Theeyil potaalum ponnagaEven if cast into fire, stand tall like gold
Nee nindru vellada velladaAnd conquer, man, conquer!
Male
Vazha vazhapaagaIs there any road that is
Oru saalai undaaCompletely smooth without bumps?
Suru surupaagaWith full enthusiasm,
Ottamaai nee oduKeep running your race.
Gada gadamudavendruWhen you hear a rhythm
Oru thaalam kettaalThat rumbles with energy,
Suda sudavendruSing a passionate song
Sangeetham neepaaduWith fiery zeal.
Male
Vaazhvil eppothumIn life, always
Thendral veesaathuThe gentle breeze will not keep blowing.
Puyalai kandaalumEven if you encounter a storm,
Nee saayakoodathuYou must not bow or fall.
Male
Mannai nambaamalWithout trusting the soil,
Vairam thondrathuA diamond never emerges.
Unnai nee nambuBelieve in yourself,
Oruthunbam vaarathuAnd no sorrow will ever reach you.
Male
Hoo ooo unnai muzhvathum vendruHoo ooo, conquer yourself completely,
Nee vaazhnthu kaatuLive your life and show the world.
Un bayangalai ellaamSet fire to all your fears
Mothamaai thee mootuAll at once.
Male
Nee azhubavan endraalIf you are someone who weeps,
Athu adukaathuThat does not suit you.
Intha azhagiya vaazhkaiThis beautiful life
Marupadi kidaikaathuWill not be gained again.
Male
Oru saathanai seiyaTo achieve something remarkable,
PoraaduFight hard.
Thalai kuninthu paarkaTo bow your head down,
Nee illa baliaaduYou are not a sacrificial lamb.
Nee piranthathu yenoWhy were you born?
Vidai thaeduSeek the answer.
Thuli vervai indriWithout a single drop of sweat,
Kidaikaathu saapaaduFood cannot be earned.
Male
Melum menmelumMore and more,
Vetri vanthaalumEven if success arrives,
Endrum eppothumForever and always,
Saripaathi unakkunduHalf of it belongs to you.
Female
Inbam vanthaalumWhether joy comes
Thunbam vanthaalumOr sorrow comes,
Enthan vaazhvoduIn my life,
Eppothum neeunduYou are always present.
Male
Avamaanam illaiyelIf there is no humiliation,
Vegumaanam yethadaWhere is the reward, my friend?
Unnai mithithaalumEven if people trample on you,
Munneri neevaadaMarch forward and come on.
Somberi enbavanA person who is lazy,
Vaazhthaalum kalladaIs like a stone even while living.
Nodiyum thoongaamalWithout sleeping for a second,
Vendamal nee sendruKeep pushing without stopping,
Vellada vellada…aa…….Win, man, win!
Male
…………………………....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Nalanum Nandhiniyum' serves as a high-energy motivational anthem that inspires the listener to persevere through life's hardships. Through rich metaphors—such as clock hands facing sharp points, gold being refined in fire, and diamonds emerging from soil—lyricist Viveka highlights that pain, struggle, and failure are necessary stepping stones toward true achievement.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Sala sala salavendru nathipola odu

Comparing the act of moving forward energetically to the flow of a river using the word 'nathipola'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Theeyil potaalum ponnaga

Comparing trial by fire to the refining process of gold, symbolizing resilience under pressure.

Onomatopoeia (Etai Kilaivi)

Sala sala salavendru nathipola odu

Use of sound-imitative Tamil rhythmic words ('Sala sala', 'Gala gala', 'Gidu gidu', 'Gada gada') to create rhythm and enthusiasm.

Rhyme / Assonance (Monnai & Ethirai)

Aadaamal nillada / Veezhaamal vellada

Rhyming of initial vowels and second consonants across adjacent lines for lyrical musicality ('Aadaamal' / 'Veezhaamal').

Did you know?

Trivia

Nalanum Nandhiniyum (2014) is a Tamil romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Venkatesan, starring Michael Thangadurai and Nandita Swetha in the lead roles.

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