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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaazhavudu

From Dora · 2017

Lyricist
Vignesh Shivan
Singer
Mervin Solomon
Music director
Vivek-Mervin
Details
Dora2017

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oh..oh ..oh…oh..Oh..oh ..oh…oh..
Yeah babyYeah baby
Oh..oh.. oh.. oh..Oh..oh.. oh.. oh..
Female
Vazhka oruLife is a
Oota vandi daRun-down vehicle, man
Nambikaiya vachaaIf you keep faith
Thaanaa oodum daIt will run on its own, man
Female
Naalu peruFour people around
Naalu pesuvaanWill talk four different things
Kaadhil yethikkaadhaDon't take it into your ears
Thookki podu daaThrow it away, man
Female
Neeyum naanum ingaYou and I here
Onnu thaanadaa..aaaAre just the same, man
HeyHey
Vaazhavittu vazhnthaaIf we live and let live
Fun-nu thaanadaaIt is pure fun, man
Female
Aandavana nambumWe belong to the group
Koottam naangadaa..aaThat trusts in Almighty, man
HeyHey
Ellaathayum avanEverything, He
Paathupaanadaa…aaaWill take care of, man
Male
Vazhka oruLife is a
Oota vandi daRun-down vehicle, man
Nambikaiya vachaaIf you keep faith
Thaanaa oodum daIt will run on its own, man
Male
Naalu peruFour people around
Naalu pesuvaanWill talk four different things
Kaadhil yethikkaadhaDon't take it into your ears
Thookki podu daaThrow it away, man
Male
Neeyum naanum ingaYou and I here
Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..
Onnu thaanadaa..aaaAre just the same, man
Hey..heyHey..hey
Vaazhavittu vazhnthaaIf we live and let live
Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..
Fun-nu thaanadaaIt is pure fun, man
Male
Aandavana nambumWe belong to the group
Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..
Koottam naangadaa..aaThat trusts in Almighty, man
Hey..heyHey..hey
Ellaathayum avanEverything, He
Paathupaanadaa…aaaWill take care of, man
Male
{Vaazhavudu vaazhavuduLet live, let live
Vaazhavudu daaLet live, man
Kaala vaara yosikkaamaWithout thinking to trip someone up
AalavidudaaJust let us go, man
Male
Vaazhavudu vaazhavuduLet live, let live
Vaazhavudu daaLet live, man
Enga vandi ooda konjamFor our vehicle to run, give a little
Gappu kodu daa } (2)Gap/space, man } (2)
Male
Neeyum naanum ingaYou and I here
Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..
Onnu thaanadaa..aaaAre just the same, man
Hey..heyHey..hey
Vaazhavittu vazhnthaaIf we live and let live
Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..
Fun-nu thaanadaaIt is pure fun, man
Male
Aandavana nambumWe belong to the group
Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..
Koottam naangadaa..aaThat trusts in Almighty, man
Hey..heyHey..hey
Ellaathayum avanEverything, He
Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..
Paathupaanadaa…aaaWill take care of, man
Male
Vazhkai oruLife is a
Oota vandi daRun-down vehicle, man
Nambikkaiya otti ottiKeep steering it with faith
PaarudaaAnd see for yourself, man
Female
Luck-a thedaathaDon't keep chasing luck
Work-a niruththaadhaDon't stop your work
Adhigam pesaathaDon't talk too much
Azhuthu polambaathaDon't cry and whine
Female
Thappae ninaikkaathaDon't think evil thoughts
Thavarae seiyyaathaDon't commit any mistakes
Thorthae ponaalumEven if you lose and fail
Tension aagaathaDon't get tense
Male
{Speed breaker nooruA hundred speed breakers
Varum paaruWill appear, watch out
Jerkku aagaathaDon't get jerked/shaken
Male
Konja neram slowaFor a little while, slowly
Namma ponaaIf we proceed forward
Thappae illa} (2)There is nothing wrong at all } (2)
Male
{Vaazhavudu vaazhavuduLet live, let live
Vaazhavudu daaLet live, man
Kaala vaara yosikkaamaWithout thinking to trip someone up
AalavidudaaJust let us go, man
Male
Vaazhavudu vaazhavuduLet live, let live
Vaazhavudu daaLet live, man
Enga vandi ooda konjamFor our vehicle to run, give a little
Gappu kodu daa } (2)Gap/space, man } (2)
Male
Vazhka oruLife is a
Oota vandi daRun-down vehicle, man
Nambikaiya vachaaIf you keep faith
Thaanaa oodum daIt will run on its own, man
Male
Naalu peruFour people around
Naalu pesuvaanWill talk four different things
Kaadhil yethikkaadhaDon't take it into your ears
Thookki podu daaThrow it away, man
Male
Neeyum naanum ingaYou and I here
Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..Female :Oh..oh ..oh…oh..
Onnu thaanadaa..aaaAre just the same, man
Hey..heyHey..hey
Vaazhavittu vazhnthaaIf we live and let live
Fun-nu thaanadaaIt is pure fun, man
Male
Aandavana nambumWe belong to the group
Koottam naangadaa..aaThat trusts in Almighty, man
Hey..heyHey..hey
Ellaathayum avanEverything, He
Paathupaanadaa…aaaWill take care of, man
Male
Vaazhavudu vaazhavuduLet live, let live
Vaazhavudu daaLet live, man
Kaala vaara yosikkaamaWithout thinking to trip someone up
AalavidudaaJust let us go, man
Male
Vaazhavudu vaazhavuduLet live, let live
Vaazhavudu daaLet live, man
Enga vandi ooda konjamFor our vehicle to run, give a little
Gappu kodu daaGap/space, man
Male
Vaazhavudu vaazhavuduLet live, let live
Vaazhavudu daaLet live, man
Kaala vaara yosikkaamaWithout thinking to trip someone up
AalavidudaaJust let us go, man
Male
Vaazhavudu vaazhavuduLet live, let live
Vaazhavudu daaLet live, man
Neram varumThe time will come
Kaalam maarumThe times will change
Free-ya vududaa…Just take it easy and relax, man...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is an upbeat, motivational lifestyle track that uses vehicular metaphors to convey a philosophy of resilience and peace of mind. Life is compared to a 'run-down vehicle' (Oota Vandi) that can still move forward smoothly if powered by faith. The lyrics encourage the listener to ignore societal gossip ('Naalu peru naalu pesuvaan'), avoid toxic envy or backstabbing, and practice a policy of 'live and let live' (Vaazhavittu vaazhnthaa).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Vazhka oru Oota vandi da

Life is explicitly compared to a worn-out vehicle ('Oota vandi') that navigates through speed breakers.

Emoni / Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Luck-a thedaatha / Work-a niruththaadha

Consecutive lines end with matching rhyming structures in '-aatha' (Luck-a thedaatha, Work-a niruththaadha, Adhigam pesaatha).

Repetition / Anaphora

Vaazhavudu vaazhavudu Vaazhavudu daa

Repetition of 'Vaazhavudu' creates an insistent rhythmic plea for freedom and non-interference.

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Trivia

Dora (2017) is a Tamil horror-thriller film starring Nayanthara, centered around a haunted vintage Austin car. The song lyrics penned by Vignesh Shivan cleverly play on driving and car mechanics ('oota vandi', 'speed breaker', 'vandi ooda') to tie into the film's core theme involving an automobile.

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