- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singers
- A. M. Raja, Chorus
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Movie name
- Vijayapuri Veeran
- Movie release year
- 1960
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Feb 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic motivational track serves as a call to action for the youth, urging them to cultivate inner strength, honesty, and unity rather than relying on empty bravado or impulsive anger. The song advises against cowardice and wasting the vitality of youth, reminding listeners that fortune is cyclical and tides constantly turn. Using traditional Tamil proverbs, such as 'a cart riding a boat and a boat riding a cart' (symbolizing life's changing fortunes) and 'Yettu suraikkai' (meaning useless theoretical knowledge that cannot be cooked), lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass emphasizes practical courage and collective harmony as the true foundation for national pride and personal success.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Ullathilae uram venumada / Unmaiyilae thiram kaanumada / Ottrumaiyal vetri oongumada”
Lines end with the rhyming suffix '-ada' ('venumada', 'kaanumada', 'oongumada'), creating a rhythmic, direct conversational tone.
Moonaiz / Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vaazha theriyamalae kozhaithanamagavae / Vaalibathai vittuvida koodathu”
Alliteration of the initial letter 'Va' across consecutive words ('Vaazha', 'Vaalibathai').
Proverbial Metaphor (Pazhamozhi)
“Vandiyum oru naal odathil yerum / Odamum oru naal vandiyil yerum”
The line uses the traditional Tamil idiom 'Vandiyum odathil yerum, odamum vandiyil yerum' to illustrate how human circumstances and power dynamics flip over time.
Cultural Idiom / Metaphor
“Yettu suraikaai ellam moottai kattiyaganum”
'Yettu suraikkai' (a bottle gourd drawn on paper) refers to purely theoretical knowledge that lacks real-world utility.
Did you know?
Trivia
Vijayapuri Veeran (1960) was a swashbuckling Tamil adventure film starring C. L. Anandan, inspired by Alexandre Dumas's classic novel 'The Three Musketeers'. Written by veteran lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass with music composed by T. R. Pappa, this energetic song sung by A. M. Raja became an enduring motivational anthem known for its seamless integration of folk wisdom and proverbs.
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