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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ulaga Nayagan

From Dasavathaaram · 2008

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Vinit Singh
Music director
Himesh Reshammiya
Details
Dasavathaaram2008

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Come dance with meCome dance with me
Before you goBefore you go
Come dance with meCome dance with me
Before you goBefore you go
Male
UlaghamengilumAcross the whole world
Unnai minjida yaaru… (yaaru)Who is there to surpass you... (who)
Unnai pettrathilIn giving birth to you
Perumai kolluthu naadu… (naadu)The nation takes great pride... (nation)
Male
UlaghamengilumAcross the whole world
Unnai minjida yaaru…Who is there to surpass you...
Unnai pettrathilIn giving birth to you
Perumai kolluthu naadu…The nation takes great pride...
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Kandangal kandu viyakkumContinents will look at you in awe
Ini I-naavum unnai azhaikkumNow even the UN will invite you
Male
UlaghamengilumAcross the whole world
Unnai minjida yaaru…Who is there to surpass you...
Unnai pettrathilIn giving birth to you
Perumai kolluthu naadu…The nation takes great pride...
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Kandangal kandu viyakkumContinents will look at you in awe
Ini I-naavum unnai azhaikkumNow even the UN will invite you
Male
{Nee perum kalaignanYou are a great artist
Niranthara IlaignanAn ever-youthful artist
Rasanai migunthaWith rich aesthetic sense
Ragasiya kavignan} (2)A secret poet
Male
Orr uyir konduHaving a single life
Ulagaththil indruIn this world today
Aayiram piravi kondaiYou took a thousand births
Un vaazhvilIn your lifetime
Aayiram piraigal kandaaiYou have seen a thousand full moons
Male
Sothanai unnaiEven if trials and tribulations
Soozhnthu nindraalumSurround you closely
Sothanai muyarchchiYour relentless efforts
SorvuyarvillaiKnow no fatigue
Male
Ainthu mudhal neeThough you have been acting since age five
Aadi vanthaalumAnd performing through time
Oxygen kuraiyavillaiYour energy (oxygen) has not diminished
Sonnaal kelListen to what I say
Oscar thooram illaiAn Oscar is not far away
Male
UlaghamengilumAcross the whole world
Unnai minjida yaaru…Who is there to surpass you...
Unnai pettrathilIn giving birth to you
Perumai kolluthu naadu…The nation takes great pride...
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Kandangal kandu viyakkumContinents will look at you in awe
Ini I-naavum ..will call u manNow even the UN will call you, man
Female
Come dance with meCome dance with me
Come dance with meCome dance with me
Before you goBefore you go
Male
Udal konda manithanA human with a physical body
Orr avathaaramIs just one incarnation
Ullaththin kanakkilBy the count of the inner mind
NooravathaaramYou are a hundred incarnations
Male
Mugangalai uriththuPeeling off faces and masks
Managalai padiththuReading human minds
Perumkonda arivu kondaaiYou acquired immense wisdom
VignyaaniOh scientist!
Fraudaiyum purinthu kondaaiYou even understood deceitful frauds
Male
Vidhaigalu kullaeInside tiny seeds
Virichangal thoongumGiant trees lie asleep
Un oruvanukkullaeWithin you alone
Ulangangal thoongumEntire worlds lie asleep
Male
Nerupinil kidanthuLying amidst fire
Nedanthavar siranthuAnd walking far, excelling
Nee enum nilai adainthaai ippothuYou reached the stature of 'You' now
Nirupanam aagivittaaiYou have proven yourself
Male
UlaghamengilumAcross the whole world
Unnai minjida yaaru…Who is there to surpass you...
Unnai pettrathilIn giving birth to you
Perumai kolluthu naadu…The nation takes great pride...
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Kandangal kandu viyakkumContinents will look at you in awe
Ini I-naavum unnai azhaikkumNow even the UN will invite you
Male
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Ulaga naayaganaeOh Universal Hero!
Chorus
……………………….......................
Female
Come dance with meCome dance with me
Before you go….Before you go....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ulaga Naayagane' is a grand, celebratory anthem praising the legendary Indian actor Kamal Haasan (often hailed as 'Ulaga Nayagan' or Universal Hero). Written by Vairamuthu for the magnum opus 'Dasavathaaram' (2008), the song honors the actor's astonishing versatility, artistic depth, and lifelong commitment to Indian cinema. The lyrics highlight how the artist has lived a thousand lives through his varied roles, maintained youthful energy despite industry struggles since starting his career at age five, and elevated Indian cinema to international acclaim. Through powerful metaphors, the song portrays him as a force of nature containing whole worlds of talent within himself, deserving global recognition from the United Nations to the Oscars.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai / Alliteration

Nee perum kalaignan / Niranthara Ilaignan

Repetition of the initial sound ('N') across lines creates a rhythmic, melodic flow.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Vidhaigalu kullae Virichangal thoongum / Un oruvanukkullae Ulangangal thoongum

Compares the actor's vast potential to giant trees dormant within tiny seeds and entire universes sleeping inside a single man.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Ini I-naavum unnai azhaikkum / Oscar thooram illai

Exaggerates the protagonist's global stature by stating that even the UN will invite him and an Oscar is within near reach.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song was composed by Bollywood music composer Himesh Reshammiya in his Tamil debut for Kamal Haasan's landmark film 'Dasavathaaram', where Kamal played ten distinct roles. Lyricist Vairamuthu incorporated real-life references to Kamal Haasan's journey, including his debut as a child artist at age five ('Ainthu mudhal nee aadi vanthaalum').

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