- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai
- Movie release year
- 1989
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Feb 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaiyarae thaiyarae thaiyaa
Thaiyarae thaiyarae thaiyaa rae
Thaiyarae thaiyarae thaiyaa
Thaiyarae thaiyarae thaiyaa rae
Thaiyarae thaiyarae thaiyaa
Thaiyarae thaiyarae thaiyaa
Thaiyarae thaiyarae thaiyaa
Thaiyarae thaiyarae thaiyaa
Thaiyarae thaiyarae thaiyaa
Thaiyarae thaiyarae thaiyaa rae
Thaiyarae thaiyaarae
Boatu mala yaarae potta pulla yaarae hoi
Solluradhu verae seiyuradhu verae
Vaiyuradhu yaarae hoi
Aajaarae aajaarae hoi
Prize-u adichaarae vaathiyaarae
Aajaarae aajaarae hoi
Prize-u adichaarae vaathiyaarae
Thaiyarae thaiyaarae
Boatu mala yaarae potta pulla yaarae hoi
Solluradhu verae seiyuradhu verae
Vaiyuradhu yaarae hoi
Aathu mela odam
Ada adhukku mela baaram
Aathukkoru vegam vandhaa
Pora vazhi maarum
Veettu pakkam vaarom
Nalla vellarikkaa chaaram
Vellarikkaa pudikkalana vella paniyaaram
Ammaadi ponnukku ennadi veeram
Annaadam kaatchikku jivvunnu yerum
Raani mangammaa raajaa engammaa
Veettil un pecha keppaanammaa
Jaathi rendamma naattil undammaa
Vaeli ingaedhum illai ammaa
Katturadhu yaeru ootturadhu soru
Ingedhukku thagaraaru
Hey thaiyarae thaiyaarae
Boatu mala yaarae potta pulla yaarae hoi
Solluradhu verae seiyuradhu verae
Vaiyuradhu yaarae hoi
Aajaarae aajaarae hoi
Prize-u adichaarae vaathiyaarae ha ha haa
Aajaarae aajaarae hoi
Prize-u adichaarae vaathiyaarae…eh
Vaazhai adi vaazha
Naangha ezhai adi ezhai
Ezhaigalaa irundhaalum
Naanga kozhai illa kozha
Naalai ennum naala
Adhu nambugira vaela
Nallavanga kaiyiladhaan
Vaangiduvom maala
Vaathiyaaru pulla naan
Ullam thaan vella
Vambukku vandhuttaa thollaiyo tholla
Ooru en veedu ullam anbodu
Ulagam ellaamum en sondham undu
Paasam panbodu palarum ennodu
Pagirndhu thaan unnum bandham undu
Vella mudiyaadhu killa mudiyaadhu
Thalli ninnu paaru hoi
Hey thaiyarae thaiyaarae
Boatu mala yaarae potta pulla yaarae hoi
Solluradhu verae seiyuradhu verae
Vaiyuradhu yaarae hoi
Aajaarae aajaarae hoi
Prize-u adichaarae vaathiyaarae
Aajaarae aajaarae hoi
Prize-u adichaarae vaathiyaarae thai thai thai
Thaiyarae thaiyaarae
Boatu mala yaarae potta pulla yaarae hoi
Solluradhu verae seiyuradhu verae
Vaiyuradhu yaarae hoi
Thaiyare thaiyare thaiyya
Thaiyare thaiyare thaiyya re
Thaiyare thaiyare thaiyya
Thaiyare thaiyare thaiyya re
Thaiyare thaiyare thaiyya
Thaiyare thaiyare thaiyya
Thaiyare thaiyare thaiyya
Thaiyare thaiyare thaiyya
Thaiyare thaiyare thaiyya
Thaiyare thaiyare thaiyya re
Thaiyare thaiyare
Who is on the boat? Who is that boy on the boat? Hoy!
Saying one thing, doing another—
Who is he scolding now? Hoy!
Come on, come on! Hoy!
The teacher won the prize!
Come on, come on! Hoy!
The teacher won the prize!
Thaiyare thaiyare
Who is on the boat? Who is that boy on the boat? Hoy!
Saying one thing, doing another—
Who is he scolding now? Hoy!
A boat floating on the river,
carrying a heavy load on top!
If the river surges fast,
its course is bound to change!
We are coming toward your house,
bringing fresh, juicy cucumbers!
If you don't like cucumbers, have some white paniyaram (rice cakes)!
Oh girl, look at that fiery courage of yours!
For everyday working folk, tempers flare up in a flash!
Queen Mangamma, where is your king?
Would he ever listen to your words at home?
There are only two kinds of people in this world, girl!
There are no dividing fences around here, girl!
What we work is the plow, what we share is our food,
so why pick a fight here?
Hey, thaiyare thaiyare
Who is on the boat? Who is that boy on the boat? Hoy!
Saying one thing, doing another—
Who is he scolding now? Hoy!
Come on, come on! Hoy!
The teacher won the prize, ha ha ha!
Come on, come on! Hoy!
The teacher won the prize... eh!
Generation after generation, like banana trees,
we have been poor down to our roots!
Even though we are poor,
we are never, ever cowards!
Tomorrow is a brand new day,
and we have full faith in it!
Only from the hands of good people
will we ever accept a garland of honor!
I am the teacher's son,
and my heart is pure and true!
If anyone comes looking for trouble, it will be endless trouble for them!
This whole village is my home, filled with love,
and everyone in this world is my kin!
With affection and good character, people stand by me,
sharing the bond of eating meals together!
You cannot conquer me, you cannot crush me,
so stand back and watch! Hoy!
Hey, thaiyare thaiyare
Who is on the boat? Who is that boy on the boat? Hoy!
Saying one thing, doing another—
Who is he scolding now? Hoy!
Come on, come on! Hoy!
The teacher won the prize!
Come on, come on! Hoy!
The teacher won the prize, thai thai thai!
Thaiyare thaiyare
Who is on the boat? Who is that boy on the boat? Hoy!
Saying one thing, doing another—
Who is he scolding now? Hoy!
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This energetic folk track from Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai celebrates community, moral integrity, resilience, and unity in rural Tamil Nadu. Using traditional rhythmic refrains like 'Thaiyarae' and boat metaphors, the song praises the protagonist as a principled child of a revered school teacher ('Vaathiyaaru pulla'). The lyricist contrasts superficial hypocrisy ('Solluradhu verae seiyuradhu verae') with true virtue, emphasizing that despite economic hardship, the villagers are far from cowardly.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Aathu mela odam / Ada adhukku mela baaram”
Matching second consonant sounds across lines, such as 'Aathu' (river) and 'Ada' / 'Veettu' / 'Vellarikkaa' creating melodic harmony.
Monae (First letter alliteration)
“Vaazhai adi vaazha / Naangha ezhai adi ezhai”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Vaazhai' and 'Naangha' / 'Ezhaigalaa' / 'Kozhai'.
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)
“Aathu mela odam / Ada adhukku mela baaram / Aathukkoru vegam vandhaa / Pora vazhi maarum”
Comparing life's changing circumstances and burdens to a boat sailing on a fast-flowing river.
Did you know?
Trivia
Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai (1989) stars Sathyaraj and Shobana. The film features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with Gangai Amaran contributing as a lyricist for this upbeat folk celebration.
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