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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vetri Nichayam

From Annamalai · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Deva
Details
Annamalai1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vetri nichchayamVictory is certain
Idhu vedha sathiyamThis is sacred truth
Kolgai velvadhaeThe victory of principles
Naan konda latchiyamIs the goal I have set
Male
Ennai madhithaalIf you respect me
En uyir thandu kaappenI will give my life to protect you
Ennai midhithaalIf you trample me
Irandil ondru paarppenI will fight till the end
Male
Adae nanba unmai solvenHey friend, I speak the truth
Savaal vendaam unnai velvenDon't challenge me, I will conquer you
Male
Vetri nichchayamVictory is certain
Idhu vedha sathiyamThis is sacred truth
Kolgai velvadhaeThe victory of principles
Naan konda latchiyamIs the goal I have set
Male
Imayamalai agaamalWithout standing tall like the Himalayas
Enadhu uyir pogaadhuMy life will not depart
Sooriyan thoongalaamThe sun may go to sleep
Enadhu vizhi thoongaadhuBut my eyes will not sleep
Male
Vervai mazhai sindhaamalWithout shedding a rain of sweat
Vetri malar poovaadhuThe flower of victory will not bloom
Yellaiyai thodum varaiUntil I reach the horizon
Enadhu kattai vegaadhuMy funeral pyre will not burn
Male
Ovvoru vidhaiyilumWithin every single seed
Vruksham olindhulladhaeA majestic tree is hidden
Ovvoru vidiyalumEvery new dawn
Enadhu per solludhaeChants my name
Male
Panamum pugazhumWealth and fame
Unadhu kannai maraikkiradhaeAre blinding your eyes
Adae nanba unmai solvenHey friend, I speak the truth
Savaal vendaam unnai velvenDon't challenge me, I will conquer you
Male
Vetri nichchayamVictory is certain
Idhu vedha sathiyamThis is sacred truth
Kolgai velvadhaeThe victory of principles
Naan konda latchiyamIs the goal I have set
Male
Indru kanda avamaanamThe humiliation endured today
Vendru tharum vegumaanamWill yield a glorious reward tomorrow
Vaanamae thaazhalaamEven if the sky comes bowing down
Thaazhvadhillai thanmaanamMy self-respect will never bow down
Male
Medu pallam illaamalWithout ups and downs
Vaazhvil yenna sandhoshamWhere is the joy in life?
Paaraigal neenginaalIf rocks are removed from its path
Odaikillai sangeedhamA stream makes no music
Male
Poimaiyum vanjamumFalsehood and deceit
Unadhu poorveegamaeAre your ancestral traits
Raththamum vervaiyumBlood and sweat
Enadhu rajaangamaeForm my empire
Male
Enadhu nadayilUnder my single step
Unadhu padaigal podipadumaeYour armies will be crushed to dust
Adae nanba unmai solvenHey friend, I speak the truth
Savaal vendaam unnai velvenDon't challenge me, I will conquer you
Male
Vetri nichchayamVictory is certain
Idhu vedha sathiyamThis is sacred truth
Kolgai velvadhaeThe victory of principles
Naan konda latchiyamIs the goal I have set
Male
Ennai madhithaalIf you respect me
En uyir thandu kaappenI will give my life to protect you
Ennai midhithaalIf you trample me
Irandil ondru paarppenI will fight till the end
Male
Adae nanba unmai solvenHey friend, I speak the truth
Savaal vendaam unnai vendrennDon't challenge me, I have conquered you

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vetri Nichchayam is a high-energy anthem of triumph, self-worth, and resilience from the movie Annamalai (1992). Sung at a pivotal narrative juncture where the protagonist is betrayed and humiliated by his wealthy best friend, the song acts as a formal declaration of challenge and self-reliance. It emphasizes that true success comes through honest toil, blood, and sweat, rather than arrogance and inherited fortune. Throughout the song, Vairamuthu uses vivid imagery comparing life's obstacles to natural forces, asserting that hardship gives life its sweet melody. The protagonist vows to rise like the Himalayas and build an empire from scratch through unyielding determination, turning present disgrace into future glory while maintaining his self-respect above all else.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamm)

Vervai mazhai sindhaamal / Vetri malar poovaadhu

Hard work is metaphorically equated to rain ('Vervai mazhai') and success is pictured as a blooming flower ('Vetri malar').

Contrast / Phonetic Parallelism (Iyaibu & Ethukai)

Ennai madhithaal / En uyir thandu kaappen / Ennai midhithaal / Irandil ondru paarppen

Contrasts 'madhithaal' (respecting) with 'midhithaal' (trampling), using minimal sound variance to highlight polar opposite reactions.

Allegory / Imagery

Ovvoru vidhaiyilum / Vruksham olindhulladhae

Uses the seed containing a fully grown tree as an allegory for hidden human potential and future greatness.

Internal Rhyme & Antithesis

Indru kanda avamaanam / Vendru tharum vegumaanam

Pairs 'avamaanam' (humiliation) and 'vegumaanam' (reward) to show how adversity transforms into success.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva with iconic vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, 'Vetri Nichchayam' set the benchmark for Rajinikanth's signature transformation songs. The song accompanies a famous montage where the protagonist transforms from a humble milkman into a wealthy hotel tycoon. Its punchy lyrics by Vairamuthu turned it into a widely referenced motivational anthem across Tamil Nadu.

Keep listening

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