Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vetri Varuthu

From Amaidhi Padai · 1994

Lyricist
Ponnadiyan
Singers
Mano, S. N. Surendar
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Amaidhi Padai1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
{Vetri varudhu vetri varudhuVictory is coming, victory is coming
Pudhiya ulagam namadhu namadhuA new world is ours, ours
Nimirndhidu magizhndhidu mulangidu} (2)Stand tall, rejoice, roar out loud
Chorus
Kottu murasu kotti muzhakkuBeat the war drum and sound the call
Kodumai adimai madamai madiyaSo cruelty, slavery, and ignorance perish
Elunthidu nadanthidu mulangiduRise up, march forward, roar out loud
Kodumai adimai madamai madiyaSo cruelty, slavery, and ignorance perish
Elunthidu nadanthidu mulangiduRise up, march forward, roar out loud
Chorus
Thalaiyai nimirthu thamizhaHold your head high, O Tamilian
Hae thamizhaHey Tamilian
Thadaiyai norukku thamizhaSmash the obstacles, O Tamilian
Hae thamizhaHey Tamilian
Chorus
Thalaiyai nimirthu thamizhaHold your head high, O Tamilian
Thadaiyai norukku thamizhaSmash the obstacles, O Tamilian
Irundu kedakkum unathu vazhvilIn your life that lies in darkness
Velicham vendumLight is needed
Chorus
{Vetri varudhu vetri varudhuVictory is coming, victory is coming
Pudhiya ulagam namadhu namadhuA new world is ours, ours
Nimirndhidu magizhndhidu mulangidu} (2)Stand tall, rejoice, roar out loud
Chorus
………………………..
Male
Adhi manidhan polavaeAre we living a life like primitive humans today?
Indru vazhvu vazhvadhaLiving life today
Adithu pidithu adithu koduthuBy fighting, snatching, beating, and sacrificing
Surandi kodupathaTo keep being exploited and giving away?
Angum ingum yeippavarWill those who cheat here and everywhere
Aandu nammai saaipadhaRule us and overthrow us?
Endrum engum naamumWill we forever and everywhere
Avargal thaerai izhupathaKeep pulling their chariots?
Male
Koozhukaaga yengi thavikkumYearning and struggling for mere porridge
Namadhu koothathilIn our community
Paalukkaga azhuthu sethaCrying for milk and dying
Kuzhanthaigal eththanaiHow many children are there?
Pichaikaarar pola vaazhumLiving like beggars
Namadhu vargathilIn our class of people
Ottu pichai vaangi uyarnthaWho rose by begging for vote-charity
Manidhan eththanaiHow many men are there?
Male
Vetru manidhan namadhuAn outsider
Inaththai odhukinaanSidelined our ethnicity
Vetru manidhan namadhuAn outsider
Inaththai odhukinaanSidelined our ethnicity
Nam naatu manidhanA man of our own land
Ivanum uyirai edukkiraanHe too takes away our lives
Nam naatu manidhanA man of our own land
Ivanum uyirai edukkiraanHe too takes away our lives
Chorus
{Vetri varudhu vetri varudhuVictory is coming, victory is coming
Pudhiya ulagam namadhu namadhuA new world is ours, ours
Nimirndhidu magizhndhidu mulangidu} (2)Stand tall, rejoice, roar out loud
Male
Padikkum ilaingar kootamaeO group of studying youth
Unnakaedhu velaiyaeIs there no employment for you?
Paditha pattam veetu suvarilThe earned degree, on the wall of the house
Maati veikkavaaIs it just to hang up?
Yettu padippu pothumaeIs textbook education enough?
Naatu padippu padikavaaShould we learn practical real-world knowledge?
Aati veikkum kodiya vazhvaiThis cruel life that torments us
Adithu norukkavaShould we smash it to pieces?
Male
Pochu kavizhndhu pochu tamizharGone and overturned are
Namadhu kalaigalaeOur Tamil arts and traditions
Podhum kanavu kandu vazhndhaEnough of living dreaming
Ulagu nilaigalaeIn these world conditions
Namadhu vazhvai nadathi sellaTo lead our lives forward
ThalaivanillaiyaeThere is no leader
Kalangum manadhai thetra inguTo comfort the troubled heart here
OruvanillaiyaeThere is no one
Male
Enakkum unakkumFor me and for you
Thalaivan thondan naamadaWe ourselves are the leader and the follower
Enakkum unakkumFor me and for you
Thalaivan thondan naamadaWe ourselves are the leader and the follower
Edhuvum podhuvilEverything in common
Endra vazhiyai naadadaaSeek that path of equality
Edhuvum podhuvilEverything in common
Endra vazhiyai naadadaaSeek that path of equality
Chorus
Vetri varudhu vetri varudhuVictory is coming, victory is coming
Pudhiya ulagam namadhu namadhuA new world is ours, ours
Nimirndhidu magizhndhidu mulangiduStand tall, rejoice, roar out loud
Chorus
Kottu murasu kotti muzhakkuBeat the war drum and sound the call
Kodumai adimai madamai madiyaSo cruelty, slavery, and ignorance perish
Elunthidu nadanthidu mulangiduRise up, march forward, roar out loud
Chorus
Thalaiyai nimirthu thamizhaHold your head high, O Tamilian
Hae thamizhaHey Tamilian
Thadaiyai norukku thamizhaSmash the obstacles, O Tamilian
Hae thamizhaHey Tamilian
Chorus
Thalaiyai nimirthu thamizhaHold your head high, O Tamilian
Thadaiyai norukku thamizhaSmash the obstacles, O Tamilian
Irundu kedakkum unathu vazhvilIn your life that lies in darkness
Velicham vendumLight is needed
Chorus
{Vetri varudhu vetri varudhuVictory is coming, victory is coming
Pudhiya ulagam namadhu namadhuA new world is ours, ours
Nimirndhidu magizhndhidu mulangidu} (2)Stand tall, rejoice, roar out loud

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the political satire movie Amaidhi Padai (1994) serves as a fiery revolutionary anthem urging people to overcome social inequality, political exploitation, and oppression. It addresses the plight of the working class, unemployed educated youth, and impoverished families who suffer under deceitful politicians who rise to power through vote-begging.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Vetri varudhu vetri varudhu Pudhiya ulagam namadhu namadhu

Repetition of words like 'vetri varudhu' and 'namadhu namadhu' creates a rhythmic, uplifting rally call.

Rhyme / Assonance (Moni & Monai)

Nimirndhidu magizhndhidu mulangidu

Internal rhyming and rhythmic cadence using imperative verbs ending with 'idu'.

Metaphor

Paditha pattam veetu suvaril Maati veikkavaa

Compares educated youth hanging their degrees on walls to wasted potential due to lack of opportunity.

Did you know?

Trivia

Amaidhi Padai (1994), directed by Manivannan starring Sathyaraj, is widely regarded as one of the quintessential political satires in Tamil cinema history. The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

Keep listening

More from Amaidhi Padai