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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
Details
Varisu2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
…………….
Chorus
………………
Male
Aaraari raaraaroLullaby sounds (Aaraari raaraaro)
Yaaringu neeyaaroWho are you to anyone here?
Nee vaeli kattaFor you to build a fence around,
Bhoomi pandhu seidhaaroDid they create the globe of Earth?
Male
Keechondrum ketkkaadhoCan't you hear a gentle chirp?
Poo vaasam thaakkaadhoDoesn't the fragrance of flowers touch you?
Unai en veerathinDid they make you,
Sondhamaaga seidhaaroThe rightful heir to my valor?
Male
Uyirae uyirae uyiraeOh life, oh life, oh life
Oru pudhu mugamA new face,
Kandu konjam sirithiduvomLet us see and smile a little
Manamae manamae manamaeOh mind, oh mind, oh mind
Nee achapattuOvercoming the fear,
Kadanthadhai muyandriduvomLet us attempt to move past the past
Male
Yaaro kodutha kanavaiA dream given by someone else,
Dhinam kavvi kondu odum indhaCarrying it daily in our mouth as we run,
Achhaditha naalai vittu vaa…Come away from these monotonous printed days...
Male
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaaCome leader, leader, leader
Endrum nee unakkae thalaivaa…Forever you are your own leader...
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaaCome leader, leader, leader
Dhinam vaazhthiruppom ninaivaa…We shall live on daily in memory...
Male
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaaCome leader, leader, leader
Veru yaar unakkaai varuvaa…Who else will come for you...
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaaCome leader, leader, leader
Alai oivadhillai thalaivaa…The ocean wave never rests, leader...
Male
Unnai mudhalenaTaking you as the origin,
Kondu virindhidumThat which expands outward,
Neetchiyai dhaan ulagamThe world is indeed that extension
Ulagathil ulla adhisayam ellaamAll the wonders existing in the world
Un idamun adangumWill fit inside your domain
Male
Un payanathil ellaamae paadhaiIn your journey, everything becomes a path
Nee unakkullae sendraale bodhaiIf you go within yourself, it is pure bliss
Un kooda varum rajangathaiThe kingdom that walks along with you,
Siru porul panam maraithida mudinthidumaCan petty material wealth ever conceal it?
Male
Uyirae uyirae uyiraeOh life, oh life, oh life
Oru koottu kuyil ull irundhaalIf a caged cuckoo stays inside,
Aruvigal arindhidumaa…Will the waterfalls ever know it...
Male
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaaCome leader, leader, leader
Endrum nee unakkae thalaivaa…Forever you are your own leader...
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaaCome leader, leader, leader
Dhinam vaazhthiruppom ninaivaa…We shall live on daily in memory...
Male
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaaCome leader, leader, leader
Veru yaar unakkaai varuvaa…Who else will come for you...
Vaa thalaivaa thalaivaa thalaivaaCome leader, leader, leader
Alai oivadhillai thalaivaa…The ocean wave never rests, leader...
Chorus
……………

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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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