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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaada Thambi

From Etharkkum Thunindhavan · 2021

Lyricist
Vignesh Shivan
Singers
G. V. Prakash, Anirudh Ravichander
Music director
D. Imman
Details
Etharkkum Thunindhavan2021

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ae…..ae…..ae…..ae…..ae….ae….Ae... ae... ae... ae... ae... ae...
Chorus
Oho ho…..oho oho oo……Oho ho... oho oho oo...
Oho ho…..oho oho oo……Oho ho... oho oho oo...
Male
Yera yera mela yeraClimb, climb, climb up high,
Illamai ellaamey theeraUntil all youthfulness is spent completely.
Chorus :Vaada thambi mela vaada thambiChorus: Come on brother, climb up brother!
Male
Maara maara ellaam maaraTo change, to change, for everything to change,
Anbalae naamellam seraTo unite us all through love.
Chorus :Vaada thambi yeri vaada thambiChorus: Come on brother, step up and come on brother!
Male
Vedikkaatha perumpaarai yeppothumA massive rock that never breaks apart,
Vazhiyaa maarathadaa….aa…Will never transform into a path!
Male
Eriyaatha viraagaalae yeppothumFirewood that does not burn,
Pasiya pokkathadaa….aa….Will never quench anyone's hunger!
Male
Namakkoru paathaiA path for ourselves,
Male :Avasiyam thevaiMale: Is an absolute necessity.
Male :Iruppatha koduththaaMale: If we give away what we have,
Male :Athu oru bodhaiMale: That is an intoxicating joy in itself!
Chorus
Vaada thambi mela vaada thambiCome on brother, climb up brother!
Vaada thambi yeri vaada thambiCome on brother, step up and come on brother!
Male
Yera yera mela yeraClimb, climb, climb up high,
Illamai ellaamey theeraUntil all youthfulness is spent completely.
Chorus
Poruththu poruththu ne porumaikkuEnduring endlessly, do not become,
Irai aagi pogaatha venaaPrey to patience unnecessarily!
Poruththi pottathum poriyaagi veriyaagaThe moment it ignites, into a spark and fury,
Venumada thaanaIt must burst forth automatically!
Male
Adichi udaikka adakki azhikkaTo smash through, to subdue and destroy,
Kedukka ninachaa nee seevanumIf anyone intends harm, you must rise up fierce!
Male
Eduththu kodukka ethaiyum mudikkaTo give generously, to accomplish anything,
Pudhusaa padaikka nee vaazhanumTo create something new, you must live!
Male
Eetti pola payiravankittaBefore Bhairava who stands like a spear,
Pottilaam ini venumaaIs a ritual forehead mark even required anymore?
Male :Theeti vecha kootam onnu koodaMale: When a sharpened community stands together,
Etharkkum thuninjavan thaanammaHe is truly one who dares to face anything!
Male
Namakkoru paathaiA path for ourselves,
Male :Hei avasiyam thevaiMale: Hey, is an absolute necessity.
Male :Iruppatha koduththaaMale: If we give away what we have,
Male :Hei athu oru bodhaiMale: Hey, that is an intoxicating joy in itself!
Chorus
Vaada thambi mela vaada thambiCome on brother, climb up brother!
Vaada thambi yeri vaada thambiCome on brother, step up and come on brother!
Male
Yera yera mela yeraClimb, climb, climb up high,
Illamai ellaamey theeraUntil all youthfulness is spent completely.
Male
Namakkoru paathaiA path for ourselves,
Avasiyam thevaiIs an absolute necessity.
Iruppatha koduththaaIf we give away what we have,
Athu oru bodhaiThat is an intoxicating joy in itself!
Chorus
Vaada thambi mela vaada thambiCome on brother, climb up brother!
Vaada thambi yeri vaada thambi….Come on brother, step up and come on brother...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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