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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vellavi Manasu

From Thilagar · 2023

Lyricist
Sarathy
Singers
Shankar Mahadevan, Padayappa Sriram
Music director
Kannan
Details
Thilagar2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oorae pesugindraThe whole town talks about it
Poosa guru poosaOh Poosa guru, Poosa!
Devamaarae nesipathuEven the gods love and cherish
Posa namba posaOur own Poosa!
Moovarukku moovaraeThe elite among the three,
Devarukku devaraeThe deity among gods,
Mukkulathin kavalareThe protector of the Mukkulam (three clans),
Male
Vellavi manasu kaaranaeThe one with a pure, bleached-white heart,
Vel kambu inathaanaeThe community of the spear-holders,
Vellooru sanathu kaaranaeThe folks of the Velloor village,
Vellandhi gunathaanaeThe ones with innocent nature!
Male
Nee vaeti pottu varumWhen you wear your veshti and walk,
Pottu vachcha aagaayamYou look like the sky adorned with a bindi.
Thottu thandha vazhamaramThe plantain tree touched and given by you
Engalukku thaayaagumBecomes a mother to us.
Male
Ne kovathula ukkaramYou are fierce in anger,
Aabaththula sakkaramAnd a protective wheel in times of danger.
Veedhiyila sandhaiyilaIn the streets and in the market,
Unnaiyum thaan kandaaWhenever we catch a glimpse of you,
Padappu katti nikkuromWe stand tall like a stacked hay bale!
Male
Vellavi manasu kaaranaeThe one with a pure, bleached-white heart,
Vel kambu inathaanaeThe community of the spear-holders,
Vellooru sanathu kaaranaeThe folks of the Velloor village,
Vellandhi gunathaanaeThe ones with innocent nature!
Male
Ethanaiyo perumaigalaWe belong to a lineage that holds
Vachirukkum vamsamadaaSo many proud traditions, my friend!
Sathiyama kulangalilaeTruly among all clans,
Enga kulam amsamadaaOur clan is spectacular, my friend!
Male
Aathapola engalukkumLike a wild river, even for us,
Illai ingai kadivaalamThere are no reins or restraints here.
Aathiramum araivappumRage and fiery boldness
Engaloda adaiyaalamAre our true identity!
Male
Patta saaraayamCountry-distilled arrack
Inikkum engaambalaikaeTastes sweet to our men,
Retta eera kolaAnd courage with a double liver
Irukkum enga pombalaikkuBelongs to our women!
Male
Mukkulamae sonnaalaeIf you just utter the name 'Mukkulam',
Ekkulamum varaverkkumEvery community will welcome you.
Enga akkulilae ennaalumUnder our armpits, at all times,
Veecharuvaa irukkumA sharp curved sickle resides!
Male
Vellavi manasu kaaraneThe one with a pure, bleached-white heart,
Vel kambu inathaanaeThe community of the spear-holders,
Vellooru sanathu kaaranaeThe folks of the Velloor village,
Vellandhi gunathaanaeThe ones with innocent nature!
Female
Aaadhiila vanthavugaThose who came in ancient times,
Padaieduthu vanthavugaThose who came waging wars,
Needhi kettu vanthavugaThose who came seeking justice,
Vari nidhi kettu vanthavugaThose who came demanding taxes and wealth,
Female
Thangam vikka vanthavugaThose who came to sell gold,
Thavana thara vanthavugaThose who came to offer installments,
Pura sanathukumEven for outsiders from far away,
Poonthootam aana mannuThis soil became a flower garden!
Yaara irundhaalumNo matter who they were,
Kathottam thandha mannuThis soil gave them room to breathe!
Female
Aadhi tamil innamThis is the land where the ancient Tamil race
Ada arambitha boomiidhuFirst began its journey!
Meedhi tamilar kudiAnd the rest of the Tamil clan
Ada mendirukkum seemaiidhuFlourished across this territory!
Addra melathaBeat the traditional drums!
Male
Kopparaiyil ponnalandhuMeasuring gold in a large boiler,
Maappilaikku koduppondaaWe give it to the bridegroom, my friend!
Nuthiettu aadu aruthuSlaughtering one hundred and eight goats,
Pandhiyila kudippondaaWe feast together at the dining row!
Male
Veeramulla thalaimuraiyaaAs a courageous generation,
Vazhndhirukkom vazhi vazhiyaWe have lived through generations!
Maanam kaakka oru thaliyaaTo protect our honor, heads
Thandhirukkom kola kolayaaWe have offered in bunches!
Male
Engala pol meesa vachaaIf you grow a mustache like ours,
Ungalukkum thudipperumYou too will feel that fiery pulse!
Enga sandhadhinga ellorkkumTo everyone in our lineage,
Pasumponnae pudikkumPasumpon (Muthuramalinga Thevar) is dearly beloved!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a high-energy cultural hymn praising the valor, heritage, hospitality, and pride of the Mukkulathor community in Southern Tamil Nadu. It highlights the deeply ingrained values of the land—where people are fierce in defending honor and justice, yet pure-hearted, welcoming, and generous to outsiders who come seeking refuge or trade.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)

Vellavi manasu kaaranae

'Vellavi manasu' compares a pure, innocent heart to cloth freshly boiled and bleached white in a laundry vat.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ethanaiyo perumaigala ... Sathiyama kulangalilae

The second letters of 'Ethanaiyo' (tha) and 'Sathiyama' (tha) rhyme, establishing rhythm across lines.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Kopparaiyil ponnalandhu ... Nuthiettu aadu aruthu

Exaggeration of wealth and grand feast hospitality by measuring gold in large cauldrons and slaughtering 108 goats for a wedding feast.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from the movie 'Thilagar' celebrates the agrarian and martial traditions of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu (Madurai/Tirunelveli/Theni belt), featuring traditional percussion (Pambai and Urumi) mixed with modern folk beats composed by Kannan.

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