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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaa Velaikkara

From Velaikkaran · 2017

Lyricist
Vivek
Singers
Shakthisree Gopalan, Bjorn Surrao
Music director
Anirudh Ravichander
Details
Velaikkaran2017

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Un kai naalai uyaraadho..Won't your hands rise up tomorrow?
Uyaraadho.. uyaraadho..Won't they rise up? Won't they rise up?
Vervai un per yezhudhaadho..Won't sweat write your name?
Yezhudhaadho.. yezhudhaadho..Won't it write? Won't it write?
Male
Ennai thookkida un thozhilaeUpon your shoulders that lift me up,
Vaa velaikkara..Come, oh worker!
Theivamae nee seithidum pallaakkilaeIn the palanquin crafted by you, oh God,
Vaa velaikkara..Come, oh worker!
Chorus
May madhamaeThe month of May...
Un maadhama yaar sonnadhuWho said only May belongs to you?
Vaa velaikkara..Come, oh worker!
Ennaalumae un vervaiyai kondaadidumEvery day celebrates your hard-earned sweat,
Vaa velaikkara..Come, oh worker!
Chorus
Unadhu kai viral..The fingers of your hand...
Uzhigal aagudhaeBecome entire eras of labor.
Ulagai seigiraai velaikkaraYou shape the world, oh worker!
Valigal thaangi nee..Enduring all pain...
Vazhigal seigiraaiYou pave new pathways.
Thalaivan neeyada velaikkara..You are the true leader, oh worker!
Velaikaara….velaikkara.. velaikkara..Oh worker... Oh worker... Oh worker...
Female
Kan thoongi viduma..Do his eyes ever sleep?
Kandathillai thuliyum oiivuNever seen even a drop of rest.
Ododi uzhaiththum nagaraamal nirkkumDespite running and working endlessly, standing motionless
Avanin vaazhvu..Is his life...
Female
Thannaasaiyil man veesiyaeCasting dirt on his own desires,
Nam aasaiyai kodiyetrinaan..He hoisted the flag of our dreams.
Edhirkaalamae namadhaagavaeSo that tomorrow becomes ours,
Pudhu boomiyil kudiyetrinaan..He settled us in a new world.
Chorus
Unadhu kai viral..The fingers of your hand...
Uzhigal aagudhaeBecome entire eras of labor.
Ulagai seigiraai velaikkaraYou shape the world, oh worker!
Valigal thaangi nee..Enduring all pain...
Vazhigal seigiraaiYou pave new pathways.
Thalaivan neeyada velaikkara..You are the true leader, oh worker!
Velaikaara….velaikkara.. velaikkara..Oh worker... Oh worker... Oh worker...
Chorus
Unadhu kai viral..The fingers of your hand...
Uzhigal aagudhaeBecome entire eras of labor.
Ulagai seigiraai velaikkaraYou shape the world, oh worker!
Valigal thaangi nee..Enduring all pain...
Vazhigal seigiraaiYou pave new pathways.
Thalaivan neeyada velaikkara..You are the true leader, oh worker!
Velaikaara….velaikkara.. velaikkara..Oh worker... Oh worker... Oh worker...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This anthem from the movie Velaikkaran pays a powerful tribute to the working class. It praises the unseen, tireless toil of workers who build society, elevate human lives, and sacrifice their own dreams so that others may thrive. The lyrics elevate the laborer to the status of a divine creator and true leader of the world. The song challenges the notion that Labor Day in May is the only day to honor workers, arguing that every day should celebrate their sweat and dedication. Through vivid imagery of endless labor and sacrifice, the lyricist calls for unity, dignity, and recognition for the working force.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Valigal thaangi nee.. / Vazhigal seigiraai

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, creating a rhythmic harmony in Tamil poetry (Valigal / Vazhigal).

Metaphor

Theivamae nee seithidum pallaakkilae

Elevating the laborer to divinity ('Theivamae') to highlight the sacred nature of creative manual labor.

Rhetorical Question

Un maadhama yaar sonnadhu

Asking 'Who said May is your only month?' to emphasize that workers deserve respect every day, not just May Day.

Hyperbole

Unadhu kai viral.. Uzhigal aagudhae

Exaggerating fingers transforming into entire epochs ('Uzhigal') to illustrate the vast historical impact of human labor.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the music composer was left unspecified in the prompt, the soundtrack for Velaikkaran (2017) was composed by Anirudh Ravichander. The song serves as a central thematic anthem in Mohan Raja's film starring Sivakarthikeyan, which deals with corporate exploitation and worker empowerment.

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