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Lyrics & meaning

Vaa Vaa Centralu

From E · 2006

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Puliyanthoppu Pazhani
Music director
Srikanth Deva
Movie name
E
Movie release year
2006
Lyrics added on
13 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Vaa vaa vaa vaa
Centralu jailayum kanden} (2)
Aalu kaati nanban oruvanaala
Dei Aalu kaati nanban oruvanaala
{Naan jailayum kanden
Mana varuthamum patten} (2)
Vaa vaa vaa vaa
Centralu jailayum kanden
{Anna mudhal
Kalaignar vandhathalae
Namba ayya kooda
Vanthu ponathaalae} (2)
{Naan aarudhal konden
Mana varuthamum patten} (2)
Hei vaa vaa
Hei vaa vaa
Hei
Vaa vaa vaa vaa
Centralu jailayum kanden
Jailu warden peru
Velungo
Avar vidha vidhama
Kaaturaaru stylungo
Hei pazhakanji jabbae
Jailu warden peru
Velungo
Avar vidha vidhama
Kaaturaaru stylungo
{Ennai seekaa tharango
Kulikka solli varango} (2)
{Kulikadha minorukku
Latti charge tharango} (2)
Hei vaa vaa
Hei vaa vaa
{Vaa vaa vaa vaa
Centralu jailayum kanden} (2)
Aalu kaati nanban oruvanaala
Dei Aalu kaati nanban oruvanaala
{Naan jailayum kanden
Mana varuthamum patten} (2)
Vaa vaa vaa vaa
Centralu jailayum kanden
Naan jailayum kanden
Naan jailayum kandenn….
Come, come, come, come,
I have seen the Central Jail!
Because of a friend who ratted me out,
Hey, because of a friend who ratted me out,
I saw the inside of a jail,
and I suffered great sorrow.
Come, come, come, come,
I have seen the Central Jail!
Since great leaders from Anna
to Kalaignar were jailed here,
and even our Ayya
came and spent time here,
I took some comfort,
yet I felt sorrow too.
Hey, come, come!
Hey, come, come!
Hey!
Come, come, come, come,
I have seen the Central Jail!
The jail warden's name
is Velu, you know!
In all kinds of ways,
he shows off his style!
Hey, Pazhakanji Jappe!
The jail warden's name
is Velu, you know!
In all kinds of ways,
he shows off his style!
In the sick ward enclosure,
they order me to go bathe, you see!
And for a stylish guy who doesn't bathe,
they give a lathi charge (baton beatdown)!
Hey, come, come!
Hey, come, come!
Come, come, come, come,
I have seen the Central Jail!
Because of a friend who ratted me out,
Hey, because of a friend who ratted me out,
I saw the inside of a jail,
and I suffered great sorrow.
Come, come, come, come,
I have seen the Central Jail!
I saw the inside of a jail,
I saw the inside of a jail...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song depicts the life and reflections of an inmate inside Chennai Central Jail. Betrayed by a close friend who turned informer, the protagonist finds himself incarcerated and heavy-hearted. However, he draws solace from the historical fact that prominent political leaders like C. N. Annadurai (Anna) and M. Karunanidhi (Kalaignar) were also imprisoned in the same jail. The song blends humor with prison reality, lightheartedly describing the stylish prison warden Velu, the daily routine of receiving bathing supplies, and the hilarious consequence of getting a 'lathi charge' for refusing to take a bath. Through its catchy rhythmic beat, the song captures both the sorrow of betrayal and the ironic humor of surviving prison life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Repetition)

“Vaa vaa vaa vaa”

Repetition of the word 'Vaa' sequentially to build rhythm and urgency.

Iyaibu (Rhyming Suffixes)

“Avar vidha vidhama / Kaaturaaru stylungo”

Use of stylized Chennai dialect rhyming endings like '-ngo' (Velungo, stylungo, tharango, varango) typical of folk Gaana songs.

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Naan jailayum kanden / Mana varuthamum patten”

Matching of the second consonant sound 'na' across lines ('Naan' / 'Mana').

Did you know?

Trivia

This is a popular traditional Chennai prison folk song (Gaana). It references real historical political detentions in Chennai Central Jail, including Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers C. N. Annadurai (Anna) and M. Karunanidhi (Kalaignar), who were jailed during various political demonstrations.

Keep listening

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Aariraaro Paadum Ullam1993
Ulle VeliyeGriefPoverty
Nenji Kizhinji Pochu2017
SagaaFriendshipPoverty
Odivaavena Ulagathai1971
Naangu SuvargalIdentityFriendship

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