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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaa Thalaivaa

From Varisu · 2023

Lyricist
Vivek
Singers
Shankar Mahadevan, Karthik, Thaman S, Deepak Blue, Arvindh Srinivasan
Music director
Thaman S
Movie name
Varisu
Movie release year
2023
Lyrics added on
16 Nov 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………….
………………
Aaraari raaraaro
Yaaringu neeyaaro
Nee vaeli katta
Bhoomi pandhu seidhaaro
Keechondrum ketkkaadho
Poo vaasam thaakkaadho
Unai en veerathin
Sondhamaaga seidhaaro
Uyirae uyirae uyirae
Oru pudhu mugam
Kandu konjam sirithiduvom
Manamae manamae manamae
Nee achapattu
Kadanthadhai muyandriduvom
Yaaro kodutha kanavai
Dhinam kavvi kondu odum indha
Achhaditha naalai vittu vaa…
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaa
Endrum nee unakkae thalaivaa…
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaa
Dhinam vaazhthiruppom ninaivaa…
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaa
Veru yaar unakkaai varuvaa…
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaa
Alai oivadhillai thalaivaa…
Unnai mudhalena
Kondu virindhidum
Neetchiyai dhaan ulagam
Ulagathil ulla adhisayam ellaam
Un idamun adangum
Un payanathil ellaamae paadhai
Nee unakkullae sendraale bodhai
Un kooda varum rajangathai
Siru porul panam maraithida mudinthiduma
Uyirae uyirae uyirae
Oru koottu kuyil ull irundhaal
Aruvigal arindhidumaa…
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaa
Endrum nee unakkae thalaivaa…
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaa
Dhinam vaazhthiruppom ninaivaa…
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaa
Veru yaar unakkaai varuvaa…
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaa
Alai oivadhillai thalaivaa…
……………
...
...
Aaraari raaraaro...
Who are you to anyone here?
Did they make the Earth a sphere
Just for you to build a fence around it?
Will you not hear even a chirp?
Will the fragrance of flowers not touch you?
Did they make you a rightful heir
To my own valor?
Oh my life, my life, my life...
Let us look upon a new face
And smile a little.
Oh heart, my heart, my heart...
Let us try to overcome that past
Which made you fearful.
Holding on to a dream given by someone else,
Running with it every single day—
Come away from this pre-printed, routine life...
Come, my leader, leader, leader!
You are always your own leader...
Come, my leader, leader, leader!
We shall live on forever as a memory...
Come, my leader, leader, leader!
Who else will come for you?
Come, my leader, leader, leader!
The wave never rests, O leader...
Taking you as the starting point,
The world is an expanse
That stretches far and wide.
All the wonders existing in this world
Are contained within your presence.
In your journey, everything turns into a path;
Stepping inside yourself brings true ecstasy.
The empire that travels alongside you—
Can trivial material wealth ever conceal it?
Oh my life, my life, my life...
If a caged cuckoo stays tucked away inside,
Will the waterfalls ever know?
Come, my leader, leader, leader!
You are always your own leader...
Come, my leader, leader, leader!
We shall live on forever as a memory...
Come, my leader, leader, leader!
Who else will come for you?
Come, my leader, leader, leader!
The wave never rests, O leader...
...
Female
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Vaa Thalaivaa' from the movie Varisu is an uplifting, high-energy anthem centered around self-empowerment, resilience, and personal sovereignty. The song encourages the listener to break free from the monotonous routines imposed by society ('printed days') and to stop living according to others' expectations. It reminds us that true leadership starts from within—you are your own leader before leading anyone else. The lyrics combine emotional intimacy with grand philosophical metaphors. By contrasting inner potential with external superficialities like money and physical barriers, lyricist Vivek urges the protagonist to look inward to discover an unyielding spirit as boundless as an ocean wave.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Ettugai)

“Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaa”

The rhythmic repetition of 'Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaa' at the beginning of multiple chorus lines creates a powerful, chant-like call to action.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Achhaditha naalai vittu vaa…”

'Achhaditha naalai' (printed days) metaphorically compares predictable, mechanical daily life to mass-produced printed pages.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Alai oivadhillai thalaivaa…”

'Alai oivadhillai thalaivaa' compares a true leader's spirit to an ocean wave that never stops moving or striving.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Keechondrum ketkkaadho / Poo vaasam thaakkaadho”

The second consonant 'ee' rhymes across lines ('Keechandrum' and 'Poo vaasam' / 'ketkkaadho' and 'thaakkaadho'), providing musicality to the verses.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Vaa Thalaivaa' serves as a crucial hero-elevation track in Vijay's 2023 film Varisu. Composed by Thaman S, the song features a grand vocal ensemble including veteran singer Shankar Mahadevan alongside Karthik, Thaman S, Deepak Blue, and Arvindh Srinivasan. Lyricist Vivek crafted the lines to specifically align with Vijay's off-screen persona and leadership charisma.

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