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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanthirichu Vanthirichu

From Ore Oru Gramathiley · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Gangai Amaran
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ore Oru Gramathiley1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haaa.haaan …haan …haaanVocal humming (Haaa... haan... haan...)
…………………………………………………
Male
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchuBrains have arrived, brains have arrived, wisdom has arrived!
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchiWoken up, woken up, good sense has arrived!
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchuBrains have arrived, brains have arrived, wisdom has arrived!
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchiWoken up, woken up, good sense has arrived!
Male
Mandhariya illa raasavaa amma namburiyaA minister or a king, mother, do you believe it?
Andha paandiyan thaan paandiyan thaanHe is that very Pandiyan, that Pandiyan!
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchuBrains have arrived, brains have arrived, wisdom has arrived!
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchiWoken up, woken up, good sense has arrived!
Male
Ennaalum amma unnaForever, mother, I will look after you
Kannaattam kaatti kaappenAnd protect you like my own eye.
Ammaanna summa illaMotherhood is no simple thing;
Kora sonnaa thatti ketpenIf anyone speaks ill of you, I will question them.
Usilamaniyae vambiluthaal vaanganum paaruIf someone like Usilaimani picks a fight, watch them get beaten!
Malaiyattam thaan saachiduven podura poduI will fell them down like a mountain, take that!
Usilamaniyae vambiluthaal vaanganum paaruIf someone like Usilaimani picks a fight, watch them get beaten!
Malaiyattam thaan saachiduven podura poduI will fell them down like a mountain, take that!
Male
Potta potti kaattaan kusthiIn competitive physical bouts and wrestling tricks,
Ellam pottu eduppen baskiI will perform deep squats to beat them all.
Yeri paarthen kudhira veeranI mounted and rode like a horseback warrior;
Egiri paainjaa madhura veeranIf he leaps and pounces, he is a brave warrior of Madurai!
Ithanai naal illaiyamma ippozhuthuAll these days it wasn't there, mother, but now...
Male
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchuBrains have arrived, brains have arrived, wisdom has arrived!
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchiWoken up, woken up, good sense has arrived!
Male
Appellaam azhukku sattaBack then, it was all a dirty shirt;
Ippa ellam silukku sattaNow, it's all a fine silk shirt!
Udhavaadha ulutha kattaLike a useless rotten log of wood,
Enna nee yethukittaYou accepted me as I was.
Male
Oru thaaiangae pethedukkaTo be born to one mother over there,
Vandhavan naanaeI came into this world.
Maruthaai ingae thathedukka maarivittenaeAs a foster mother here, I changed after you adopted me.
Oru thaaiangae pethedukkaTo be born to one mother over there,
Vandhavan naanaeI came into this world.
Maruthaai ingae thathedukka maarivittenaeAs a foster mother here, I changed after you adopted me.
Male
Appa yaaru vaathiyaaruWho is the father? He is the teacher!
Avarukku porantha vaathu naanuAnd I am the duckling born to him!
Avara pola aaven ammaI will become just like him, mother,
Americaa poyi padippen ammaI will go to America and study, mother!
Suthugira ulagam ellam suthi varaTo travel all around this spinning world...
Male
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchuBrains have arrived, brains have arrived, wisdom has arrived!
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchiWoken up, woken up, good sense has arrived!
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchuBrains have arrived, brains have arrived, wisdom has arrived!
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchiWoken up, woken up, good sense has arrived!
Male
Mandhariya illa raasavaa amma namburiyaA minister or a king, mother, do you believe it?
Andha paandiyan thaan paandiyan thaanHe is that very Pandiyan, that Pandiyan!
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchuBrains have arrived, brains have arrived, wisdom has arrived!
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchiWoken up, woken up, good sense has arrived!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song from the 1989 film 'Ore Oru Gramathiley' celebrates a character's mental awakening, newly found intelligence, and emotional growth. The lyrics playfully depict a transformation from an ignorant, 'dirty-shirt' state into a wise, ambitious, and dutiful individual who values his foster mother's affection and vows to protect her like his own eyes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchu

The deliberate duplication of verbs 'Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu' and 'Endhiruchu endhiruchu' emphasizes sudden, vivid realization and awakening.

Upamai (Simile)

Kannaattam kaatti kaappen

Comparing protection to how carefully one guards their own eyes ('Kannaattam'), expressing deep filial devotion.

Contrast / Anthesis (Ethirsol)

Appellaam azhukku satta / Ippa ellam silukku satta

Contrasting 'Azhukku satta' (dirty shirt / humble beginnings) with 'Silukku satta' (silk shirt / modern intellect and status) to highlight personal growth.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Ore Oru Gramathiley' (1989), produced by K. R. Gangadharan and written by Cho Ramaswamy with music by Ilaiyaraaja, was famous for its socio-political themes regarding reservation policies in India. The film faced a ban that was eventually overturned by a landmark Supreme Court ruling upholding freedom of expression.

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