Vaiyambatti
From Idam Porul Yaeval · 2014
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Anthony Daasan, Priyadarshini
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Idam Porul Yaeval2014
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thandhaa nae naa | Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naa) |
| Thandhaa nae naa | Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naa) |
| Thandhaa nae naanaa | Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naanaa) |
| Thandhaa nae naa | Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naa) |
| Male | |
| Vaiyambatti vaala kutty | Young spirited girl from Vaiyambatti, |
| Thappaattam aadu veshangatti | Dress up and perform the Thappattam dance. |
| Paatu katti nee aaduna | If you compose a song and dance, |
| Megangal podum aalangatti | The clouds will rain down hailstones. |
| Chorus | |
| Mala mela olaippu | Hard labor up on the mountains, |
| Pallathil polappu | Living down in the valleys, |
| Mala jaathi munnerumaa | Will the mountain tribe ever progress? |
| Munnerumaa…aa…aa…aa….aa… | Will they progress? Ah... |
| Chorus | |
| Panakkaara karandi | The rich spoon-like corporate interest, |
| Mazhai ellaam sorandi | Scrapes away all the rainfall, |
| Vanam kaadu pazhuthaachamma | The forests and woods have decayed, dear mother, |
| Palakaalama…aa…aa…aa… | For a long time now... ah... |
| Female | |
| Malaikku poyi motta podu | Go to the mountain to tonsure your head in devotion, |
| Malaikkae motta poda venaa | Or rather, do not strip the mountain itself bare! |
| Malaiyum maramum namma saami | The mountains and trees are our deities. |
| Chorus :Kondaadunga koothaadunga | Chorus: Celebrate and dance joyfully! |
| Female | |
| Thaai maaman kaathu | The breeze of the maternal uncle, |
| Thaaipal ooththu | The spring of mother's milk, |
| Usuru polaikka ithu pothum | This is enough for our lives to thrive. |
| Mummaari kooda mosam senjaalum | Even if the three seasonal rains betray us, |
| Kaiyae ethirkaalam | Our own hands are our future. |
| Male | |
| Dhaegathil valuvundu maanae | There is strength in our body, my dear, |
| Inga thinaiodu saapadu thaenae | Here, our meal of foxtail millet comes with honey. |
| Chorus :Megathin porvaikku keezhae | Chorus: Underneath the blanket of clouds, |
| Naanga kaadhal seivom kalavum seivom | We shall love and steal moments of intimacy. |
| Male | |
| Pullodu thoongum | Sleeping with the grass, |
| Pani thuli serthu | Gathering drops of dew, |
| Sooriya oliyil korpomae | We will string them together in sunlight. |
| Santhosam undu saathigal illa | There is happiness here without any castes, |
| Samathuvam kaanbomae | We shall behold true equality! |
| Male | |
| En naatu thaagam | The thirst of my motherland |
| Theerkkum dheivam | Is quenched by the divine force, |
| Merku thodarchi malai thaanae | Which is the Western Ghats mountain range! |
| Manusanum kadavulum | Before humans and gods |
| Thondrum munnaalae | Ever came into existence, |
| Vaazhntha malai thaanae | This mountain existed and lived! |
| Female | |
| Paravaiga echam thaan kaadu | The forest is born from bird droppings, |
| Enga panbattil kaadae thaan veedu | In our culture, the forest itself is home. |
| Chorus :Maramondru mala mela saanchaa | Chorus: If a single tree falls on the mountain, |
| Naanga thookkam kettu dhukkam keppom | We lose our sleep and mourn its death. |
| Female | |
| Than veetu melae | Upon your own home, |
| Thee veikkum manusha | O human setting fire, |
| Nammoda kaatta alikkaathae | Do not destroy our forest! |
| Peraasa pudicha pei manakaara | O greedy demonic-minded human, |
| Thaai mulai arukaathae…oo..oo.. | Do not sever the mother's breast! |
| Male | |
| Vaiyambatti vaala kutty | Young spirited girl from Vaiyambatti, |
| Thappaattam aadu veshangatti | Dress up and perform the Thappattam dance. |
| Paatu katti nee aaduna | If you compose a song and dance, |
| Megangal podum aalangatti | The clouds will rain down hailstones. |
| Chorus | |
| Mala mela olaippu | Hard labor up on the mountains, |
| Pallathil polappu | Living down in the valleys, |
| Mala jaathi munnerumaa | Will the mountain tribe ever progress? |
| Munnerumaa…aa…aa…aa….aa… | Will they progress? Ah... |
| Chorus | |
| Panakkaara karandi | The rich spoon-like corporate interest, |
| Mazhai ellaam sorandi | Scrapes away all the rainfall, |
| Vanam kaadu pazhuthaachamma | The forests and woods have decayed, dear mother, |
| Palakaalama…aa…aa…aa… | For a long time now... ah... |
தந்தானேனா தந்தானேனா
தந்தானேனானா தந்தானேனா
Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naa)
Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naa)
Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naanaa)
Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naa)
வையம்பட்டி... வாழக்குட்டி...
தப்பாட்டம் ஆடு வேசம் கட்டி
பாட்டு கட்டி நீ ஆடுனா
மேகங்கள் போடும் ஆலங்கட்டி
Young spirited girl from Vaiyambatti,
Dress up and perform the Thappattam dance.
If you compose a song and dance,
The clouds will rain down hailstones.
மல மேல ஒழப்பு
பள்ளத்தில் பொழப்பு
மல ஜாதி முன்னேறுமா
முன்னேறுமா.....ஆஆஆ....
Hard labor up on the mountains,
Living down in the valleys,
Will the mountain tribe ever progress?
Will they progress? Ah...
பணக்கார கரண்டி
மழை எல்லாம் சொரண்டி
வனக்காடு பழுதாச்சு அம்மா
பலகாலமா......ஆஆஆ.....
The rich spoon-like corporate interest,
Scrapes away all the rainfall,
The forests and woods have decayed, dear mother,
For a long time now... ah...
மலைக்கு போய் மொட்ட போடு
மலைக்கே மொட்ட போட வேணா
மலையும் மரமும் நம்ம சாமி
கொண்டாடுங்க.....கூத்தாடுங்க.......
Go to the mountain to tonsure your head in devotion,
Or rather, do not strip the mountain itself bare!
The mountains and trees are our deities.
Chorus: Celebrate and dance joyfully!
தாய் மாமன் காத்து
தாய்பால் ஊத்து
உசுரு பொழைக்க இது போதும்
மும்மாரி கூட மோசம் செஞ்சாலும்
கையே...... எதிர்க்காலம்
The breeze of the maternal uncle,
The spring of mother's milk,
This is enough for our lives to thrive.
Even if the three seasonal rains betray us,
Our own hands are our future.
தேகத்தில் வலுவுண்டு மானே
இங்க தினையோடு சாப்பாடு தேனே
குழு :
மேகத்தின் போர்வைக்கு கீழே
நாங்க காதல் செய்வோம்
களவும் செய்வோம்
There is strength in our body, my dear,
Here, our meal of foxtail millet comes with honey.
Chorus: Underneath the blanket of clouds,
We shall love and steal moments of intimacy.
புல்லோடு தூங்கும்
பனி துளி சேர்த்து
சூரிய ஒளியை கோர்போமே
சந்தோசம் உண்டு சாதிகள் இல்ல
சமத்துவம் காண்போமே.......
Sleeping with the grass,
Gathering drops of dew,
We will string them together in sunlight.
There is happiness here without any castes,
We shall behold true equality!
தென் நாட்டு தாகம்
தீர்க்கும் தெய்வம்
மேற்க்கு தொடர்ச்சி மலைதானே...
மனுசனும் கடவுளும் தோன்றும் முன்னாலே
வாழ்ந்த மலைதானே
The thirst of my motherland
Is quenched by the divine force,
Which is the Western Ghats mountain range!
Before humans and gods
Ever came into existence,
This mountain existed and lived!
பறவைக எச்சம்தான் காடு
எங்க பண்பாட்டில் காடேதான் வீடு
குழு :
மரமொன்று மல மேல சாஞ்சா
நாங்க தூக்கம் கெட்டு
துக்கம் கேட்போம்
The forest is born from bird droppings,
In our culture, the forest itself is home.
Chorus: If a single tree falls on the mountain,
We lose our sleep and mourn its death.
தன் வீட்டு மேல
தீ வைக்கும் மனுசா
நம்மோட காட்ட அழிக்காதே
பேராச புடிச்ச பேய் மனக்காரா
தாய் முலை அறுக்காதே
Upon your own home,
O human setting fire,
Do not destroy our forest!
O greedy demonic-minded human,
Do not sever the mother's breast!
வையம்பட்டி... வாழ குட்டி...
தப்பாட்டம் ஆடு வேசம் கட்டி
பாட்டு கட்டி நீ ஆடுனா
மேகங்கள் போடும் ஆலங்கட்டி
Young spirited girl from Vaiyambatti,
Dress up and perform the Thappattam dance.
If you compose a song and dance,
The clouds will rain down hailstones.
மல மேல ஒழப்பு
பள்ளத்தில் பொழப்பு
மல ஜாதி முன்னேறுமா
முன்னேறுமா.....ஆஆஆ....
Hard labor up on the mountains,
Living down in the valleys,
Will the mountain tribe ever progress?
Will they progress? Ah...
பணக்கார கரண்டி
மழை எல்லாம் சொரண்டி
வனக்காடு பழுதாச்சு அம்மா
பலகாலமா......ஆஆஆ.....
The rich spoon-like corporate interest,
Scrapes away all the rainfall,
The forests and woods have decayed, dear mother,
For a long time now... ah...
Thandhaa nae naa
Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naa)
Thandhaa nae naa
Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naa)
Thandhaa nae naanaa
Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naanaa)
Thandhaa nae naa
Rhythmic folk chant (Thandhaa nae naa)
Vaiyambatti vaala kutty
Young spirited girl from Vaiyambatti,
Thappaattam aadu veshangatti
Dress up and perform the Thappattam dance.
Paatu katti nee aaduna
If you compose a song and dance,
Megangal podum aalangatti
The clouds will rain down hailstones.
Mala mela olaippu
Hard labor up on the mountains,
Pallathil polappu
Living down in the valleys,
Mala jaathi munnerumaa
Will the mountain tribe ever progress?
Munnerumaa…aa…aa…aa….aa…
Will they progress? Ah...
Panakkaara karandi
The rich spoon-like corporate interest,
Mazhai ellaam sorandi
Scrapes away all the rainfall,
Vanam kaadu pazhuthaachamma
The forests and woods have decayed, dear mother,
Palakaalama…aa…aa…aa…
For a long time now... ah...
Malaikku poyi motta podu
Go to the mountain to tonsure your head in devotion,
Malaikkae motta poda venaa
Or rather, do not strip the mountain itself bare!
Malaiyum maramum namma saami
The mountains and trees are our deities.
Chorus :Kondaadunga koothaadunga
Chorus: Celebrate and dance joyfully!
Thaai maaman kaathu
The breeze of the maternal uncle,
Thaaipal ooththu
The spring of mother's milk,
Usuru polaikka ithu pothum
This is enough for our lives to thrive.
Mummaari kooda mosam senjaalum
Even if the three seasonal rains betray us,
Kaiyae ethirkaalam
Our own hands are our future.
Dhaegathil valuvundu maanae
There is strength in our body, my dear,
Inga thinaiodu saapadu thaenae
Here, our meal of foxtail millet comes with honey.
Chorus :Megathin porvaikku keezhae
Chorus: Underneath the blanket of clouds,
Naanga kaadhal seivom kalavum seivom
We shall love and steal moments of intimacy.
Pullodu thoongum
Sleeping with the grass,
Pani thuli serthu
Gathering drops of dew,
Sooriya oliyil korpomae
We will string them together in sunlight.
Santhosam undu saathigal illa
There is happiness here without any castes,
Samathuvam kaanbomae
We shall behold true equality!
En naatu thaagam
The thirst of my motherland
Theerkkum dheivam
Is quenched by the divine force,
Merku thodarchi malai thaanae
Which is the Western Ghats mountain range!
Manusanum kadavulum
Before humans and gods
Thondrum munnaalae
Ever came into existence,
Vaazhntha malai thaanae
This mountain existed and lived!
Paravaiga echam thaan kaadu
The forest is born from bird droppings,
Enga panbattil kaadae thaan veedu
In our culture, the forest itself is home.
Chorus :Maramondru mala mela saanchaa
Chorus: If a single tree falls on the mountain,
Naanga thookkam kettu dhukkam keppom
We lose our sleep and mourn its death.
Than veetu melae
Upon your own home,
Thee veikkum manusha
O human setting fire,
Nammoda kaatta alikkaathae
Do not destroy our forest!
Peraasa pudicha pei manakaara
O greedy demonic-minded human,
Thaai mulai arukaathae…oo..oo..
Do not sever the mother's breast!
Vaiyambatti vaala kutty
Young spirited girl from Vaiyambatti,
Thappaattam aadu veshangatti
Dress up and perform the Thappattam dance.
Paatu katti nee aaduna
If you compose a song and dance,
Megangal podum aalangatti
The clouds will rain down hailstones.
Mala mela olaippu
Hard labor up on the mountains,
Pallathil polappu
Living down in the valleys,
Mala jaathi munnerumaa
Will the mountain tribe ever progress?
Munnerumaa…aa…aa…aa….aa…
Will they progress? Ah...
Panakkaara karandi
The rich spoon-like corporate interest,
Mazhai ellaam sorandi
Scrapes away all the rainfall,
Vanam kaadu pazhuthaachamma
The forests and woods have decayed, dear mother,
Palakaalama…aa…aa…aa…
For a long time now... ah...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from the film 'Idam Porul Yaeval' (music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, lyrics by Vairamuthu) is a passionate eco-folk anthem celebrating mountain life, nature, and the Western Ghats. It depicts the intimate bond between tribal communities and their forest habitat, highlighting their self-sufficiency, caste-free egalitarian society, and profound spiritual reverence for the natural world. At the same time, the lyrics serve as a poignant protest against commercial exploitation, deforestation, and the marginalization of native tribes. By comparing deforestation to setting fire to one's own roof or severing a mother's breast, Vairamuthu issues a stark warning against corporate greed and calls for ecological conservation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Wordplay / Irony
“Malaikku poyi motta podu / Malaikkae motta poda venaa”
Plays on the cultural practice of 'motta podu' (tonsuring one's head in devotion) versus 'malaikkae motta poda venaa' (stripping/deforesting the mountain bare).
Metaphor
“Megathin porvaikku keezhae”
Describes cloud cover as a cozy blanket ('porvai') under which the mountain folk live and love.
Metaphor / Visceral Imagery
“Thaai mulai arukaathae”
Equates the mountain's natural resources and eco-system to a mother's breast giving life, warning that deforestation is akin to severing it.
Emoni (Rhyme)
“Mala mela olaippu / Pallathil polappu”
Uses matching internal rhyming syllables ('Olaippu' / 'Polappu') to create rhythmic cadence in folk structure.
Did you know?
Trivia
Idam Porul Yaeval is an unreleased Tamil drama film directed by Seenu Ramasamy and produced by Thirrupathi Brothers. The soundtrack features a acclaimed collaboration between composer Yuvan Shankar Raja and lyricist Vairamuthu.
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