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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaada Vaa

From Appu · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Shankar Mahadevan, Unnikrishnan
Music director
Deva
Details
Appu2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Hai haiiiHai haiii
Chorus
Ambathu ruba thaanIt is just fifty rupees
Ambathu ruba thaanIt is just fifty rupees
Nanba en thaevai ellamMy friend, all my need is
Naalukku oruFor a day, just
Ambathu ruba thaanFifty rupees only
Male
Vaada vaaCome on, friend, come on
Nee vaada vaaYou come on, come on
Aasai illai avasthai illaiyaeNo desires, so there is no distress
Nee vaada vaaYou come on, come on
Aasthi illai acham illaiyaeNo property, so there is no fear
Nee vaada vaaYou come on, come on
Un oru naalaiYour single day
Un muzhuvaazhvaaiAs your whole life
Kondaadu vaa…aa….Come, celebrate it...
Male
Oh paadhathukku serupirundhaalOh, if you have shoes on your feet
Paadhai ellam meththaidhaanEvery path feels like a soft mattress
Chorus :Haai haaiiiChorus : Haai haaiii
Male :Podhum endra manam irundhaalMale : If you have a contented mind
Bhoomi ellaam thottam dhaanThe whole world is like a garden
Chorus :Haai haaiiiChorus : Haai haaiii
Chorus
Ambathu ruba thaanIt is just fifty rupees
Ambathu ruba thaanIt is just fifty rupees
Nanba en thaevai ellamMy friend, all my need is
Naalukku oruFor a day, just
Ambathu ruba thaanFifty rupees only
Chorus :Haai haaiiiChorus : Haai haaiii
Chorus
Chunchana chunchanajhamChunchana chunchanajham
Chunchana chunchanajhamChunchana chunchanajham
Taratha taratha tharaTaratha taratha thara
Taarariri raaraa raaraa raaTaarariri raaraa raaraa raa
Male
……………………....
Chorus
Haai haaiiiHaai haaiii
Male
Vayiru ennum pallathukullaeInside the deep pit called the stomach
Vaazhaiya tholaichomWe lost our life's contentment
Vaazhaiya tholaichoamWe lost our life's contentment
Vaiyitha vittu idhayam ennumLeaving behind the stomach, to the house called heart
Veetukku varuvomLet us come
Veetukku varuvomLet us come
Male
Theipirayaal thaanOnly because of the waning moon
Pournamikku perumaiDoes the full moon get its glory
Thunbathukkul irrukkuInside suffering lies
Vaazhkaiyin inimaiThe sweet essence of life
Male
Oh budhi ulla aalukku ooOh, for a smart person
Thottadhellam dhool appaEverything they touch turns to magic, my friend
Paravaikku vaanathil ohFor a bird flying in the sky, oh
Medu pallam yedhappaWhere are the highs and lows?
Male
Oh oh…Oh oh...
Lakshiyam yethum illaThere are no grand ambitions
Annanaikku vaazha paarappaJust try to live for the day, my friend
Male
Nee vaada vaaYou come on, come on
Nee vaada vaaYou come on, come on
Un oru naalaiYour single day
Un muzhuvaazhvaaiAs your whole life
Kondaadu vaa…aa….Come, celebrate it...
Nee vaa da vaaYou come on, come on
Chorus
Ambathu ruba thaanIt is just fifty rupees
Ambathu ruba thaanIt is just fifty rupees
Nanba en thaevai ellamMy friend, all my need is
Naalukku oruFor a day, just
Ambathu ruba thaanFifty rupees only
Chorus :Haai haaiiiChorus : Haai haaiii
Chorus
……………………….....
Male
Kuzhandhaigalaai irrukaiyilaeWhen we were little children
Kollai aasai illaiyaeThere was no greed or excessive desire
Kollai aasai illaiyaeThere was no greed or excessive desire
Kuzhandhai manam tholaindhathanaalBecause the innocent mind of a child was lost
Vandhathu indha thollaiyaeThis trouble has arrived
Vandhathu indha thollaiyaeThis trouble has arrived
Male
Naragathil inbam kaanumFinding happiness even in hell
Kuzhandhaiyin vayasuThat is the age of childhood
Sorgathilum thunbam kaanumFinding sorrow even in heaven
Manidhanin manathuThat is the mind of a mature human
Male
Yeh eh bhoomi ellaamYeah, if the whole earth
Kadal endraal neeIs an ocean, then you
Meenaga thaan vaazhanumMust live like a fish
Vaazhkai unnai soodu vaithaal neeIf life burns/sears you with hardship, you
Pulankuzhal aaganumShould become a sweet flute
Chorus
Ambathu ruba thaanIt is just fifty rupees
Ambathu ruba thaanIt is just fifty rupees
Nanba en thaevai ellamMy friend, all my need is
Naalukku oruFor a day, just
Ambathu ruba thaanFifty rupees only
Chorus
Nee vaada vaaYou come on, come on
Nee vaada vaaYou come on, come on
Aasai illai avasthai illaiyaeNo desires, so there is no distress
Nee vaada vaaYou come on, come on
Aasthi illai acham illaiyaeNo property, so there is no fear
Nee vaada vaaYou come on, come on
Un oru naalaiYour single day
Un muzhuvaazhvaaiAs your whole life
Kondaadu vaa…aa….Come, celebrate it...
Male
Thaa tara raa raaThaa tara raa raa
Chorus
Ambathu ruba thaanIt is just fifty rupees
Ambathu ruba thaanIt is just fifty rupees
Nanba en thaevai ellamMy friend, all my need is
Naalukku oruFor a day, just
Ambathu ruba thaanFifty rupees only
Chorus :Haai haaiiiChorus : Haai haaiii

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the movie Appu (2000) is a lighthearted yet deeply philosophical track extolling the virtues of minimalist living and contentedness. The protagonist expresses that fifty rupees a day is more than enough to fulfill daily basic needs. Free from the burden of wealth, property, and burning ambitions, one can live without fear or distress. The lyrics advocate living in the present moment, treating each day as a full lifetime to be celebrated. Through vivid metaphors, lyricist Vairamuthu highlights how human misery stems from losing childlike innocence and accumulating excessive desires. The song encourages resilience—just as bamboo becomes a sweet flute when hollowed out and burned, a human can transform life's suffering into art and joy through contentment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamanai)

Vayiru ennum pallathukullae

Compares the human stomach to a pit ('Vayiru ennum pallam') and the heart to a home ('idhayam ennum veedu').

Contrast / Juxtaposition

Naragathil inbam kaanum Kuzhandhaiyin vayasu / Sorgathilum thunbam kaanum Manidhanin manathu

Contrasts the child's perspective (finding bliss in hell) with an adult's restless mind (finding trouble even in paradise).

Metaphor & Imagery

Vaazhkai unnai soodu vaithaal nee Pulankuzhal aaganum

Compares enduring pain and burn marks of life to turning into a hollowed bamboo flute ('Pulankuzhal') that creates music.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Emoni & Ethirhai)

Aasai illai avasthai illaiyae / Aasthi illai acham illaiyae

Use of matching sound structures like 'Aasai' (Desire) and 'Aasthi' (Property) paired with 'Avasthai' (Distress) and 'Acham' (Fear).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Appu' (2000) was directed by Vasanth and starred Prashanth and Devayani. The song's soundtrack was composed by Deva, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song presents an upbeat philosophy of 'simple living, high thinking', echoing classical Tamil literary concepts of 'Pothum Endra Maname Pon Seyyum Marunthu' (A contented mind is a golden medicine).

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