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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vazhkai Oru Ottagam

From Aandavan Kattalai · 2016

Lyricist
Vivek
Singer
Benny Dayal
Music directors
Not listed
Movie name
Aandavan Kattalai
Movie release year
2016
Lyrics added on
30 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vazhkai oru ottagam
Nondi ottagam
Vela tharum chakkaram
Rendu chakkaram
Paayum paiyan buthiyil
Nermai pasa ottanum
Vela tharum sattiyil
Vervai mazha sottanum
Kaal vayathula nimadhi kottanum..
Vazhkai oru ottagam
Nondi ottagam
Vela tharum chakkaram
Rendu chakkaram
Oor pochunga thoorama
Veedum illa sondhama
Inga ellam paththu naal vaarama
Brammanda thinnayaa..
Chorus :Thinnayaa..
Male :Bayam kaattum chennai-ya..
Chorus :Chennai-ya..
Male :Irunthalum uzhaipom unmaiya
Kadikaramae
Naanga varum neramae
Pathu sariyagavae marumae…
Yethuvum illa baaramae
Mudhugil oru oramae
Kazhutha kuda jollyah yerumae..
Vaa nee indha velaiya
Konjam senju paaru
Venum aadu manthaiya
Inga oththaiku nooru
Vazhkai oru ottagam
Nondi ottagam
Vela tharum chakkaram
Rendu chakkaram
Vazhkai oru ottagam
Nondi ottagam
Vela tharum chakkaram
Rendu chakkaram
Paayum paiyan buthiyil
Nermai pasa ottanum
Vela tharum sattiyil
Vervai mazha sottanum
Kaal vayathula nimadhi kottanum..
Vazhkai oru ottagam
Nondi ottagam
Vela tharum chakkaram
Rendu chakkaram
Life is like a camel,
a limping camel.
Work gives us wheels,
just two wheels.
In the mind of a restless youth,
honesty and love must take root.
Into the bowl earned by hard work,
a rain of sweat must drip down.
In the first quarter of life, peace of mind should pour in.
Life is like a camel,
a limping camel.
Work gives us wheels,
just two wheels.
Our hometown has become so far away,
and we don't own a home of our own.
Here, every week feels ten days long.
Is this a massive open porch,
Chorus: A porch?
Male: or a frightening Chennai?
Chorus: Chennai?
Male: Even so, we will work honestly.
Oh, ticking clock,
the exact moment we arrive,
it turns right to ten o'clock!
Nothing feels like a heavy load,
balanced on one side of our back,
even a donkey would ride along happily!
Come on, you try doing
this job for a while.
Do you need a flock of sheep?
Here, there are a hundred people for every single one!
Life is like a camel,
a limping camel.
Work gives us wheels,
just two wheels.
Life is like a camel,
a limping camel.
Work gives us wheels,
just two wheels.
In the mind of a restless youth,
honesty and love must take root.
Into the bowl earned by hard work,
a rain of sweat must drip down.
In the first quarter of life, peace of mind should pour in.
Life is like a camel,
a limping camel.
Work gives us wheels,
just two wheels.
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Vazhkai Oru Ottagam' from the movie 'Aandavan Kattalai' humorously yet poignantly captures the struggles of young migrants who move to big cities like Chennai looking for employment and livelihood. Life is compared to a limping camel—slow, awkward, and demanding endurance—while the two-wheeler bicycle or delivery vehicle serves as their primary wheel of fortune and survival.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Vazhkai oru ottagam / Nondi ottagam”

Comparing life to a limping camel, representing the unsteady and slow nature of hard labor and urban survival.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Vela tharum chakkaram / Rendu chakkaram”

Describing the two wheels of a delivery cycle/moped as the source of employment.

Alliteration (Monai)

“Vela tharum sattiyil / Vervai mazha sottanum”

Repetition of the 'Va/Ve' initial consonant sound across lines.

Rhyme (Esubu / Iyaibu)

“Oor pochunga thoorama / Veedum illa sondhama / Inga ellam paththu naal vaarama”

Matching end rhymes in spoken rhythm ('thoorama', 'sondhama', 'vaarama').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Aandavan Kattalai' (2016) starred Vijay Sethupathi and Ritika Singh, directed by Manikandan. The song highlights the everyday hustle of door-to-door delivery workers in Chennai with witty lyrics written by Vivek.

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