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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaathi Raid

From Master · 2020

Lyricist
Arivu
Singers
Arivu, Anirudh Ravichander
Music director
Anirudh Ravichander
Details
Master2020

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aana aavannaA, B, C, D (Tamil alphabets)
Apna time naOur time has come, brother
Vanganna vanakkamnaCome on brother, welcome brother
Vaathi raidu naIt's the Master's raid, brother
Aana aavannaA, B, C, D (Tamil alphabets)
Apna time naOur time has come, brother
Vanganna vanakkamnaCome on brother, welcome brother
Male
Ulagatharam ullooru vaathiyaaruWorld-class, local teacher
Thooki pottu saathuvaaruHe will throw you down and beat you up
Thatti thatti thookuvaaruHe will pat you on the back and lift you up
Ketta pulla thirunthidaTo reform a bad child
Sattam thaanda edamIs no place to cross the law
Ulla vanthu thappu senjaIf you come inside and commit a crime
Vaathi RAIDU varumThe Master's RAID will happen
Male
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Male
Vanthu wanteda-avey maatidathaDon't get caught deliberately on purpose
Paathu poiduWatch out and go away
Nanba nallamari sollum podhaeFriend, when told nicely
Kettu poiduListen and move on
Male
Namma vaathi raiduOur Master raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Male
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Male
Mela yethi vittuBy provoking and annoying him
Paarthudaadha vera side-uDon't turn to look at another side
Indha vaathi kitta vechikaadhaDon't mess with this teacher
Oram poiduStep aside and go
Male
Namma vaathi raiduOur Master raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Male
Bangam bangam bathiladiShattering, powerful retaliation
Sandhum pondhum saravediCrackers exploding in every alley and lane
Annaa pannum athiradiMassive action packed moves by brother
Male
Vaathi yaaru?…Who is the teacher?...
THALAPATHYTHALAPATHY!
Male
Black-u thangam deHe is black gold
Kaatu singam deHe is a wild lion
Navuru deMove aside, man
Walk-ah paaru geththaaLook at his stylish, confident walk
Nee gate-ah mooduYou close the gate
Male
Tara raraaa. taraaraaaahTara raraaa... taraaraaaah
Tara raraaa. taraaraaaahTara raraaa... taraaraaaah
Male
They call me masterThey call me master
Maatrangal varum fasterChanges will come faster
Male
Karpi ondru serEducate and unite together
Vetri kondu seerAchieve victory and flourish
Thiruthura vaathiyaaruThe teacher who reforms everyone
Koor vizhiyila paarLook into his sharp eyes
Vagupparai nadungumThe classroom trembles
Irumbhu karam adangumIron hands will bow down
Arasa maram ozhukkamUnder the sacred banyan tree of discipline
Thavarum neramWhenever morality fails
Male
Vaathi raidu varumMaster raid will come
Male
Pakkuvoma sollum pothaeWhen spoken to with maturity
Kettukonga chellamListen quietly, my dear
Tholla panna vathiyaaruIf you cause trouble, the teacher's
Kambu vanthu konjum …ayooStick will come and pamper you... oh my!
Male
Vendaam pilippuNo need for fake show-off
Idhu warning sirippuThis is a warning smile
Vandhu thaanavae oththukittaIf you come and surrender on your own
Polaam chamaththu kuttyYou can leave as a good kid
Male
Ennamaa anga saththamWhat is that noise over there?
VachaI will hit you
Mooku mela raththamBlood on your nose
NanbaFriend
Enga odi olinchaalumWherever you run and hide
Vaathi kannu thookkumMaster's eyes will track you down
Male
Vaathiyaaru pecha kettaIf you listen to the teacher's words
Vazhkai mela yerumYour life will ascend to heights
Thevailladha vela paarthaIf you do unnecessary trouble
Mutti poda nerumYou will end up kneeling down
Male
Tara raraaa taraaraaaahTara raraaa taraaraaaah
Tara raraaa taraaraaaahTara raraaa taraaraaaah
Male
Nikkaadha nikkaadhaDon't stop, don't stop
Marupadi sikkaadha sikkaadhaDon't get trapped again, don't get trapped
Orumurai thottalae kettanaeIf you touch him once, you are done for
Bathiladi pakkava veppaanaeHe will deliver a perfect retaliatory strike
Male
Theruvil nadakkura kodumaiyaThe atrocity taking place in the streets
Kadakkura thalaimuraiThe generation that witnesses it
Padikkira thamizh-lil irukkuthuIn the Tamil we study
Podhumarai edhukunuWhy ask where the universal ethics are?
Vilagura pazhakamum enakillaeI don't have the habit of backing down
Eppothum ennodu irukkumAlways standing by my side
Pattaalam unnai uraikkumAn army will speak for you
Kattayam mannai thirattumIt will surely rally the land together
Baedhangal illadhirukkumWhere no discrimination exists
Naadengal kannaai irukkumWatching over as eyes for the entire nation
Male
{Idhu vara poruthhom{We have been patient until now
ChummaJust like that
Adi vizhum inimaeBlows will fall from now on
Gumma} (2)An absolute riot!} (2)
Male
Thattam thattam thaladaladiRhythmic beats and massive tremors
Nandum sindum udharumdiCrabs and small creatures tremble in fear
Ulla vandha powera-diThe sheer power that has entered inside
Male
Anna yaaru?…Who is brother?...
THALAPATHY..THALAPATHY..
Male
Black-u thangam deHe is black gold
Kaatu singam deHe is a wild lion
Navuru deMove aside, man
Idhu beast-u mode-uThis is beast mode
Male
Tara raraaa. taraaraaaahTara raraaa. taraaraaaah
Tara raraaa. taraaraaaahTara raraaa. taraaraaaah
Tara raraaa. taraaraaaahTara raraaa. taraaraaaah
Tara raraaa. taraaraaaahTara raraaa. taraaraaaah
Male
Rockstar for the MasterRockstar for the Master
Male
Vanthu wanteda-avae maatidathaDon't get caught deliberately on purpose
Paathu poiduWatch out and go away
Nanba nallamari sollum podhaeFriend, when told nicely
Kettu poiduListen and move on
Male
Namma vaathi raiduOur Master raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Male
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Male
Mela yethi vittuBy provoking and annoying him
Paarthuradha vera side-uDon't turn to look at another side
Indha vaathi kitta vechikaadhaDon't mess with this teacher
Oram poiduStep aside and go
Male
Namma vaathi raiduOur Master raid
Vaathi raiduMaster raid
Vaathi raidu -daMaster raid, man!
Male
{Aana aavanna{A, B, C, D (Tamil alphabets)
Apna time naOur time has come, brother
Vanganna vanakkamnaCome on brother, welcome brother
Vaathi raidu na} (2)It's the Master's raid, brother} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Vaathi Raid' is a high-energy mass anthem from the 2020 Tamil film 'Master', featuring Vijay and composed by Anirudh Ravichander with lyrics by Arivu. The song serves as a hero-elevation track portraying JD (played by Vijay), an unconventional college professor turned juvenile home reformist. The lyrics weave together Street Hip-Hop slang, Tamil proverbs, educational metaphors, and social justice commentary. It highlights the protagonist's strict yet compassionate approach to discipline, asserting that while he offers gentle guidance, any injustice or criminal activity will face swift, uncompromising retaliation ('Raid'). Beyond character elevation, lyricist Arivu inserts anti-caste, egalitarian themes ('Baedhangal illadhirukkum' - where no discrimination exists) and references to classical Tamil moral literature (Thirukkural/Podhumarai), presenting education and unity as instruments of social transformation wrapped in an explosive urban musical arrangement.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monal / Rhyme (Ethukai & Monai)

Bangam bangam bathiladi / Sandhum pondhum saravedi

Extensive use of Tamil poetic rhyming conventions such as Monai (first letter/sound repetition) and Ethukai (second letter harmony).

Metaphor

Black-u thangam de / Kaatu singam de

Comparing the protagonist to 'Black-u thangam' (black gold - representing dark-skinned pride and value) and 'Kaatu singam' (wild lion).

Irony / Sarcasm

Tholla panna vathiyaaru / Kambu vanthu konjum …ayoo

Oxymoronically describing a disciplinary punishment stick as 'pampering' or 'lovingly touching' troublesome students.

Alliteration & Onomatopoeia

Thattam thattam thaladaladi / Nandum sindum udharumdi

Repetition of plosive sounds like 'Th' and 'T' creating a rhythmic beat imitating explosion and footsteps.

Allusion

Padikkira thamizh-lil irukkuthu / Podhumarai edhukunu

Direct reference to 'Podhumarai' (the universal code of ethics, referring to Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar) as an innate moral compass in Tamil education.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Vaathi Raid' was written and co-sung by rapper Arivu (of The Casteless Collective and 'Enjoy Enjaami' fame). The song blends Hip-Hop gaana with EDM brass sections arranged by Anirudh Ravichander. The phrase 'Vaathi' is a popular colloquial Tamil abbreviation for 'Vaathiyaar' (teacher). Interestingly, the lyric 'Karpi Ondru Ser' (Educate, Agitate, Organize) directly references Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's famous slogan, reflecting Arivu's signature socio-political lyrical themes embedded within a mainstream commercial star vehicle.

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