- Lyricist
- Madhan Karky
- Singer
- Shriram Iyer
- Music director
- Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
- Movie name
- Manikarnika (The Queen of Jhansi)
- Movie release year
- 2019
- Lyrics added on
- 11 Mar 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This powerful song serves as a rousing call to arms and self-awakening. It questions whether the protagonist will yield to defeat, let their inner fire extinguish, and allow inaction to weave webs over their bravery, or whether they will rise up like an iron sword ('Chollaai') filled with valour and roar back at injustice. Using intense metaphors of fire, bows breaking, and veena music faltering, the lyrics urge the warrior inside to awaken from spiritual slumber and stand resilient against adversity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming / Second syllable agreement)
“Veenaiyin isaiyil naadham pirala / Veen ena ingae vaazhkai nigala”
Matching second consonants across lines, seen in 'Veenaiyin' / 'Veen' / 'Veerathin' / 'Veezhnthidum', which enhances rhythmic flow.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Kaelvi ondru vaelvi endraagi”
Comparing a burning question to a sacred ritual fire ('kaelvi ondru vaelvi endraagi') and the warrior to an iron blade/sword ('Chollaai').
Simile (Upamai)
“Undhan vil pol murivaayoo..”
Direct comparison of breaking down in spirit to a bow snapping under pressure ('Undhan vil pol murivaayoo').
Rhetorical Questioning
“Valimai izhandhu chorndhu povaayo..”
Repeated interrogative structures ending in '-ayoo' designed to provoke inner strength and challenge self-doubt.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track is from the Tamil dubbed version of the epic historical action drama 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi' (2019), starring Kangana Ranaut. Lyricist Madhan Karky adapted the high-energy Hindi composition into Tamil, employing classical Tamil imagery of war, swords ('chollaai'), and fire to preserve the heroic mood of Rani Lakshmibai's struggle.
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