Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vazhkkaiye Porkkalam

From Vedan · 1993

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Deva
Details
Vedan1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaazhkkaiyae porkkalamLife is a battlefield
Vaazhnthuthaan paarkanumOne must live to see it through
Porkalam maaralamThe battlefield may change
Porkalthaan maarumaaBut will the cause for war change?
Male
Vaazhkkaiyae porkkalamLife is a battlefield
Vaazhnthuthaan paarkanumOne must live to see it through
Porkalam maaralamThe battlefield may change
Porkalthaan maarumaaBut will the cause for war change?
Male
Vaazhkkaiyae porkkalamLife is a battlefield
Vaazhnthuthaan paarkanumOne must live to see it through
Male
Neela iravinil aadungalDance in the blue night
Nilavu vizhumvarai paadungalSing until the moon sets
Koppai namakkunduWe have the cup
Kondu vantha sarakkunduWe have the liquor brought along
Ooththi shuruthi yaeththiPour it, tune up the tempo
Konjam soodam kaattungalShow a little enthusiasm
Male
Aalai adikkadi mattrungalChange partners frequently
Aluththa idhigali maattrungalChange the tedious routines
Pazhaiya uravukku janaganamana solliSaying goodbye to old relationships
Aattam kaliyaattamDance, a wild revelry
Pudhiya sattam podungalLay down new laws
Male
Vaazhkkaiyae porkkalamLife is a battlefield
Vaazhnthuthaan paarkanumOne must live to see it through
Porkalam maaralamThe battlefield may change
Porkalthaan maarumaaBut will the cause for war change?
Male
Vaazhkkaiyae porkkalamLife is a battlefield
Vaazhnthuthaan paarkanumOne must live to see it through
Male
Maanai puliyo kolluthuThe tiger kills the deer
Meenai meenae thinnuthuFish eats fish
Ilaiththa koottaththil valuthathu vellumAmong the weak group, the strong wins
Idhu naangal sollum vaadhamThis is the argument we preach
Adhu vedhamaanathuAnd it has become the sacred scripture
Male
Dharmam needhi enbathuRighteousness and justice are
Tharnthu ponavan solvathuSpoken only by the defeated
Thaenai eduppom thee vaiththu eduppomWe will harvest honey by setting fire
naangal sollumpadhaiThe philosophy we speak
Pudhiya geedhao aanathu….ae….Has become the new holy gospel... ae...
Male
Vaazhkkaiyae porkkalamLife is a battlefield
Vaazhnthuthaan paarkanumOne must live to see it through
Porkalam maaralamThe battlefield may change
Porkalthaan maarumaaBut will the cause for war change?
Male
Vaazhkkaiyae porkkalamLife is a battlefield
Vaazhnthuthaan paarkanum….One must live to see it through...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song presents a cynical and ruthless worldview where life is viewed as an unrelenting battlefield driven by the law of the jungle. It glorifies survival of the fittest, asserting that morals, ethics, and justice are merely excuses made by the weak and defeated, while power and dominance dictate reality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamanai)

Vaazhkkaiyae porkkalam

Life is directly compared to a battlefield (Porkkalam) where survival demands constant fighting.

Emona / Monai (Alliteration)

Porkalam maaralam / Porkalthaan maarumaa

Repetition of the initial letter 'P' in adjacent words creates a rhythmic, martial beat.

Rhyme / Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Maanai puliyo kolluthu / Meenai meenae thinnuthu

The second consonant sound 'n' is repeated across lines to bind the rhythmic verse.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Vedan' (1993) stars R. Sarathkumar and Kushboo, with music composed by Deva and lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.

Keep listening

More from Vedan