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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaazhkai Enbathu

From Kattradhu Thamizh · 2007

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Shankar Mahadevan
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Kattradhu Thamizh2007

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Vaazhkkai enbathu vettukaththiLife is a cleaver
Valikka valikka thottu paarthenFeeling the pain, I touched and checked it again and again
Kurukkuvettu thottraththilIn the appearance of a shortcut
Valiyai konjam vetti paarththen} (2)I tried slicing away a bit of the pain
Male
Idhu veru ulagam… ohoThis is a different world... oho
Idhu paththaamgiraham.. ohoThis is the tenth planet... oho
Iraivaa ingae neeyum vanthaal… mirugamOh God, if you come here... you will become a beast
Male
Idhu veru ulagam.. ohoThis is a different world.. oho
Idhu paththaamgiraham.. ohoThis is the tenth planet.. oho
Iraivaa ingae vanthaal…neeyum mirugamOh God, if you come here... you too will become a beast
Male
Katrathaal petrothoWas it obtained through education?
Perum vaal allavaaIs it not a great sword?
Kuththuthae koththuthaeStabbing and biting,
Pala baamballavaaAre they not many snakes?
Male
Engu poiyinum peigalaeGhosts wherever you go
Elumbu thindridum naaigalaeDogs that chew on bones
Ettu thikkilum poigalaeLies in all eight directions
Ingu alaikindrathaeWandering around here
Male
Kettathaal petrathoWas it obtained by being ruined?
Perum vali allavaaIs it not a great pain?
Kondrathaal kandathoWas it found by killing?
Pudhu vazhi allavaaIs it not a new path?
Male
Engu nokkilum ammanamBareness wherever you look
Yettru kollumaa em manamWill my heart accept this?
Aadi theerkkuthae sannathamPossession dances to its peak
Raththam kothikkindrathaeThe blood is boiling
Male
Ulaginai pol vaazha vendumaeI want to live like the rest of the world
Unmai mattum vaazha vendumaeOnly truth must prevail
Kanavugal kai kooda vendumaeDreams must come true
Kollum kobam kooda vendumaeEven lethal anger must be present
Male
Enakkena pudhu boomi vendumaeI need a new earth for myself
Thamizh thaan angae vendumaeOnly Tamil should be there
Thamizhanukkini rosam vendumaeA Tamilian needs self-respect now
Echchil idhayam maara vendumaeSycophantic hearts must change
Male
Adadaa ithu nadakkumaaAlas, will this ever happen?
En boomi enakku kidaikkumaa… ohWill I get my earth... oh
Adhu varai nenjam porukkumaaUntil then, will my heart endure?
En thonma thamizhinam pizhaikkumaa.. ohWill my ancient Tamil race survive.. oh
Male
Agam puram ena irandumm irukkuthaeBoth internal life and external warfare exist
Agilam aandathu engal thamizhinamOur Tamil race once ruled the universe
Aduththavar thammai seendi paarkaiyilWhen others try to provoke us
Elumbai norukkum engal thamizh kulam.. ohOur Tamil clan will crush their bones.. oh

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This intense song from 'Kattradhu Thamizh' expresses the existential anguish, disillusionment, and righteous fury of a well-educated Tamil scholar pushed to the margins of a capitalist, hyper-modern society. Feeling alienated in what seems like a cruel 'tenth planet,' the protagonist questions the value of his education and moral integrity in a world governed by deception and greed.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamanai)

Vaazhkkai enbathu vettukaththi

Comparing life to a sharp cleaver ('Vaazhkkai enbathu vettukaththi') and society to a alien planet ('paththaamgiraham').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Katrathaal petrotho / Kuththuthae koththuthae

Matching second consonants in words across adjacent lines, such as 'Katrathaal' and 'Kuththuthae', or 'Kettathaal' and 'Kondrathaal'.

Anaphora / Rhetorical Questioning

Ulaginai pol vaazha vendumae / Unmai mattum vaazha vendumae

Repetition of questioning endings like 'vendumae' and 'allavaa' to build emotional climax and societal critique.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja with lyrics by Na. Muthu Kumar and directed by Ram, 'Kattradhu Thamizh' received critical acclaim for its raw thematic portrayal of Tamil identity and economic disparity. The soundtrack remains one of the defining works of Yuvan and Muthu Kumar's collaboration.

Keep listening

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