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Etharkkum Thunindhavan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vaada Thambi

From Etharkkum Thunindhavan · 2021

Lyricist
Vignesh Shivan
Singers
G. V. Prakash, Anirudh Ravichander
Music director
D. Imman
Movie name
Etharkkum Thunindhavan
Movie release year
2021
Lyrics added on
22 Oct 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ae…..ae…..ae…..ae…..ae….ae….
Oho ho…..oho oho oo……
Oho ho…..oho oho oo……
Yera yera mela yera
Illamai ellaamey theera
Chorus :Vaada thambi mela vaada thambi
Maara maara ellaam maara
Anbalae naamellam sera
Chorus :Vaada thambi yeri vaada thambi
Vedikkaatha perumpaarai yeppothum
Vazhiyaa maarathadaa….aa…
Eriyaatha viraagaalae yeppothum
Pasiya pokkathadaa….aa….
Namakkoru paathai
Male :Avasiyam thevai
Male :Iruppatha koduththaa
Male :Athu oru bodhai
Vaada thambi mela vaada thambi
Vaada thambi yeri vaada thambi
Yera yera mela yera
Illamai ellaamey theera
Poruththu poruththu ne porumaikku
Irai aagi pogaatha venaa
Poruththi pottathum poriyaagi veriyaaga
Venumada thaana
Adichi udaikka adakki azhikka
Kedukka ninachaa nee seevanum
Eduththu kodukka ethaiyum mudikka
Pudhusaa padaikka nee vaazhanum
Eetti pola payiravankitta
Pottilaam ini venumaa
Male :Theeti vecha kootam onnu kooda
Etharkkum thuninjavan thaanamma
Namakkoru paathai
Male :Hei avasiyam thevai
Male :Iruppatha koduththaa
Male :Hei athu oru bodhai
Vaada thambi mela vaada thambi
Vaada thambi yeri vaada thambi
Yera yera mela yera
Illamai ellaamey theera
Namakkoru paathai
Avasiyam thevai
Iruppatha koduththaa
Athu oru bodhai
Vaada thambi mela vaada thambi
Vaada thambi yeri vaada thambi….
Hey... Hey... Hey... Hey... Hey... Hey...
Oho ho... Oho oho oo...
Oho ho... Oho oho oo...
Rise, rise, climb higher and higher,
With all the fire of your youth!
Chorus: Come on, brother, step up, come on, brother!
As things change, as everything changes,
As we all come together in love,
Chorus: Come on, brother, rise up and come on, brother!
A massive rock that never breaks
Will never clear a way, my friend!
Firewood that never burns
Will never satisfy anyone's hunger, my friend!
A path of our own
Male: Is absolutely essential!
Male: Giving what you have,
Male: Is a high of its own!
Come on, brother, step up, come on, brother!
Come on, brother, rise up and come on, brother!
Rise, rise, climb higher and higher,
With all the fire of your youth!
Don't just keep enduring until
You fall prey to your own patience—no!
Once the spark is lit, you must burst into fire
And fierce passion on your own, man!
If anyone tries to strike, crush, suppress, or destroy,
Or ruin you, you must strike back fiercely!
To share with others, to achieve great things,
And to create something new, you must live!
Against someone who strikes like a spear,
Can anyone even dare to compete?
Male: Even facing a mob of sharpened blades,
He is a man ready to face anything!
A path of our own
Male: Hey, is absolutely essential!
Male: Giving what you have,
Male: Hey, is a high of its own!
Come on, brother, step up, come on, brother!
Come on, brother, rise up and come on, brother!
Rise, rise, climb higher and higher,
With all the fire of your youth!
A path of our own
Is absolutely essential!
Giving what you have,
Is a high of its own!
Come on, brother, step up, come on, brother!
Come on, brother, rise up and come on, brother...!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Vaada Thambi from Etharkkum Thunindhavan is a high-energy motivational track calling upon youth to overcome passivity and forge their own righteous path. The song argues that excessive patience in the face of injustice is futile, drawing comparisons to unburnt firewood that cannot cook food or an unyielding boulder that cannot become a passable road.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Vedikkaatha perumpaarai yeppothum vazhiyaa maarathadaa”

Compares passive endurance without action to unburnt firewood that fails to satisfy hunger, and an unexploded rock that fails to clear a path.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Poruththu poruththu ne porumaikku / Poruththi pottathum poriyaagi veriyaaga”

The second letters in 'Poruththu' and 'Poruththi' rhyme to add rhythmic cadence to the stanza.

Refrain / Anaphora

“Vaada thambi mela vaada thambi”

The repeated phrase 'Vaada thambi' serves as an energetic rally call emphasizing brotherhood and collective empowerment.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features a rare vocal collaboration where two top contemporary Tamil music directors, Anirudh Ravichander and G.V. Prakash Kumar, came together as playback singers for composer D. Imman. The lyrics were penned by director-lyricist Vignesh Shivan.

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