- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Kamal Haasan, Benny Dayal
- Music director
- Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
- Movie name
- Vishwaroopam
- Movie release year
- 2012
- Lyrics added on
- 23 May 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This powerful track serves as a dark, intense anthem portraying the gritty reality of soldiers and operatives caught in global warfare. It emphasizes how combatants become instruments of war rather than choosing war themselves, living in constant proximity to death and destruction. The lyrics contrast the philosophical realities of conflict—such as the absence of equality in a capitalist-driven world ('Dollar ulagathil samadharmam kidaiyaadhu')—with the physical toll of living on the edge of mortality where guns become pillows and death is a constant tea-time companion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil poetry)
“Thuppaaki engal tholilae / Thurbakkiyam than vazhvilae”
Rhyming of the second consonant in consecutive lines, seen in 'Thuppaaki' and 'Thurbakkiyam', where 'p' sound repeats.
Personification
“Thaeneerum parugum maranamae”
Death is personified as a companion sitting by the soldiers' cup and drinking tea with them.
Metaphor
“Ottagaa mudhugin mel oru samaveli kidaiyaathu / Dollar ulagathil samatharmam kidaiyathu”
Comparing the uneven camel's back to the lack of equality in a dollar-driven capitalist world.
Paradox / Irony
“Engalin kaiyil aaayuthangal illai / Aayuthathin kaiyil engal udal ullathu”
Expressing that they do not hold weapons, but rather weapons hold control over their bodies.
Did you know?
Trivia
The track features Kamal Haasan singing alongside Benny Dayal with a blend of English rock/metal vocals and high-octane Tamil lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song was recorded at the famous Synchron Stage and Abbey Road Studios setup during the sound production phase of Vishwaroopam, establishing the dark, global espionage atmosphere of the film.
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