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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ulagam Unnai

From Salim · 2014

Lyricist
Annamalai
Singer
Prabhu Pandala
Music director
Vijay Antony
Details
Salim2014

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
{Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae laeRhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting)
Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae lae} (2)Rhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting) (x2)
Male
Ulagam unnai kai kazhuvinaalumEven if the world washes its hands off you
Nadutheruvil unnai niruthinaalumEven if it leaves you standing stranded in the middle of the street
Mudiyum varai mutti modhi paaruFight and struggle till your last breath
Oru pozhudhum manam udaindhidadhaeDo not lose heart even for a single moment
Male
Nallavan yaaru kettavan yaaruWho is good and who is bad?
Uththaman inghae ulagathil yaaruWho in this world is truly righteous?
Nee kooru…You tell me...
Male
Ponadhu pochi aanadhu aachiWhat is gone is gone, what is done is done
Ponadhu pochuthu aanadhu aachuthuWhat is gone is gone, what is done is done
Podu… podu… thookki poduThrow it away... throw it away... toss it aside
Chorus
{Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae laeRhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting)
Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae lae} (2)Rhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting) (x2)
Male
Ulagam unnai kai kazhuvinaalumEven if the world washes its hands off you
Nadutheruvil unnai niruthinaalumEven if it leaves you standing stranded in the middle of the street
Mudiyum varai mutti modhi paaruFight and struggle till your last breath
Oru pozhudhum manam udaindhidadhaeDo not lose heart even for a single moment
Chorus
Danghu nakku danghu nakku nakku nakkku…(Rhythmic percussion beats)
Danghu nakku danghu nakku nakku nakkku…(Rhythmic percussion beats)
Male
Thappaana aalukkuTo the wrong person
Panindhu vidaadhaeDo not bow down
Unnai nee orujaan vayitrukkuFor a mere stomachful of food
Tholaithu vidaadhaeDo not lose your self-respect
Pathodu nee ondraaiAs just one among ten ordinary people
Irundhu vidaadhaeDo not remain passive
Kan munnae aniyaayam nee kandaalIf you see injustice happening right before your eyes
Odhungi vidaadhaeDo not walk away from it
Male
Uyir thaanae pogumIt is only life that will eventually leave
Pogattum podaaLet it go, my friend
Ponaalum thappae illaiEven if life is lost, there is nothing wrong
Kadavul unpakkamGod is on your side
Unakkenna thukkamSo what sorrow should you have?
Ponadhu pochuthu aanadhu aachuthuWhat is gone is gone, what is done is done
Podu… podu… thookki poduThrow it away... throw it away... toss it aside
Chorus
{Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae laeRhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting)
Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae lae} (2)Rhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting) (x2)
Male
Ulagam unnai kai kazhuvinaalumEven if the world washes its hands off you
Nadutheruvil unnai niruthinaalumEven if it leaves you standing stranded in the middle of the street
Mudiyum varai mutti modhi paaruFight and struggle till your last breath
Oru pozhudhum manam udaindhidadhaeDo not lose heart even for a single moment
Male
Uyir vaazhaJust to survive
Nyaayathai vittu vidaadhaeDo not abandon justice
Ulagathil unakkaaga mattumIn this world, solely for yourself
Vaazhndhu seththu vidaadhaeDo not live and die selfishly
Kaayangal irundhaalumEven if you suffer painful wounds
Kalangi vidaadhaeDo not lose your resolve
Nee sindhum kanneeril orupodhumIn the tears that you shed, never ever
Karaindhu vidaadhaeDissolve away in despair
Male
Madhayaanai paadhamUnder the heavy foot of a mad elephant
Midhithaalum koodaEven if you are trampled
Saagaamal nee vaazhuvaaiSurvive and keep living without dying
Malaipola vizhundhuFall with the weight of a mountain
Nadhipol ezhuvaaiRise back up with the flow of a river
Ponadhu pochuthu aanadhu aachuthuWhat is gone is gone, what is done is done
Podu… podu… thookki poduThrow it away... throw it away... toss it aside
Chorus
{Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae laeRhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting)
Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae lae} (2)Rhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting) (x2)
Male
Ulagam unnai kai kazhuvinaalumEven if the world washes its hands off you
Nadutheruvil unnai niruthinaalumEven if it leaves you standing stranded in the middle of the street
Mudiyum varai mutti modhi paaruFight and struggle till your last breath
Oru pozhudhum manam udaindhidadhaeDo not lose heart even for a single moment
Male
Nallavan yaaru kettavan yaaruWho is good and who is bad?
Uththaman inghae ulagathil yaaruWho in this world is truly righteous?
Nee kooru…You tell me...
Male
Ponadhu pochi aanadhu aachiWhat is gone is gone, what is done is done
Ponadhu pochuthu aanadhu aachuthuWhat is gone is gone, what is done is done
Podu… podu… thookki poduThrow it away... throw it away... toss it aside
Chorus
{Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae laeRhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting)
Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae lae} (2)Rhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting) (x2)
Male
Ulagam unnai kai kazhuvinaalumEven if the world washes its hands off you
Nadutheruvil unnai niruthinaalumEven if it leaves you standing stranded in the middle of the street
Mudiyum varai mutti modhi paaruFight and struggle till your last breath
Oru pozhudhum manam udaindhidadhaeDo not lose heart even for a single moment
Chorus
Danghu nakku danghu nakku nakku nakkku…(Rhythmic percussion beats)
Danghu nakku danghu nakku nakku nakkku…(Rhythmic percussion beats)
Male
Vithi vanthu vizhundhaalumEven if fate strikes down hard upon you
Norunghi vidaadhaeDo not be shattered
Unnai kolla padai nooru vanthalumEven if an army of a hundred comes to kill you
Bayanthu vidaadhaeDo not be afraid
Vedikkai manidhar polLike passive spectators watching a show
Irunthu vidaadhaeDo not remain silent
Nee intha mannuku summai aghiBy becoming an unnecessary burden to this earth
Alinthu vidaadhaeDo not perish away
Male
Madhayaanai paadhamUnder the heavy foot of a mad elephant
Midhithaalum koodaEven if you are trampled
Saagaamal nee vaazhuvaaiSurvive and keep living without dying
Malaipola vizhundhuFall with the weight of a mountain
Nadhipol ezhuvaaiRise back up with the flow of a river
Ponadhu pochuthu aanadhu aachuthuWhat is gone is gone, what is done is done
Podu… podu… thookki poduThrow it away... throw it away... toss it aside
Chorus
{Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae laeRhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting)
Ullu ulliyae ullae ulluvu lae lae} (2)Rhythm refrain (Rhythmic vocal chanting) (x2)
Male
Ulagam unnai kai kazhuvinaalumEven if the world washes its hands off you
Nadutheruvil unnai niruthinaalumEven if it leaves you standing stranded in the middle of the street
Mudiyum varai mutti modhi paaruFight and struggle till your last breath
Oru pozhudhum manam udaindhidadhaeDo not lose heart even for a single moment

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This powerful, motivational track from the movie Salim serves as an anthem of resilience, self-respect, and moral duty. It urges the listener to remain steadfast and uncompromising in the face of betrayal, societal neglect, and immense hardship. Rather than abandoning moral principles for survival or remaining a passive spectator to injustice, the song encourages standing up against wrongdoings and pushing forward regardless of past setbacks.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Malaipola vizhundhu / Nadhipol ezhuvaai

Compares falling down with the weight of a mountain and rising back up with the relentless energy of a river.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Mudiyum varai mutti modhi paaru

Repetition of the 'M' sound across words in the same line for rhythmic drive.

Epiphora (Refrain Repetition)

Panindhu vidaadhae / Tholaithu vidaadhae / Irundhu vidaadhae / Odhungi vidaadhae

Repetition of the negative imperative suffix '-vidaadhae' across consecutive stanzas to emphasize caution against submission.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track is featured in the 2014 Tamil action thriller movie 'Salim', starring Vijay Antony, who also composed the film's soundtrack. The lyrics written by Annamalai heavily align with the protagonist's principled and unyielding nature when dealing with corrupt systems.

Keep listening

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