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Dhoni album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vilayaattaa Padagotty Male

From Dhoni · 2012

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Dhoni
Movie release year
2012
Lyrics added on
7 Jul 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanthanatha thandhan naa
Thanthanatha thandhan naa naa
Thanthanatha thandhan naa
Thanthanatha thandhan naa naa
Vilayaatta padagotty
Vilaiyadum paruvampol
Naesamana odampol naam aanom
Vilayaatta padagotty
Vilaiyadum paruvampol
Naesamana odampol naam aanom
Karaikaana kadalmeedhae neeyum naanum
Thadumaarum odampol thaavi parthom
Ennaanaalum yaerpathuthan vazhkaiyamma
Vilayaatta padagotty
Vilaiyadum paruvampol
Naesamana odampol naam aanom
Thathi thathi neeril aadi
Suthi suthi suzhalumbothum
Akkaraiku pogathanae alladum
Ethanaiyo puyalum kandu
Kottum mazhaiyil porumaiyum kondu
Tholaidhoorum serathanae thalladum
Thannoda vazhiyellam
Thannai thavira thunai undo
Dhesaiyellam vazhiyagum
Oru vazhithan unakkagum
Yeppodhu karaiyai saerum odam…odam..
Vilayaatta padagotty
Vilaiyadum paruvampol
Naesamana odampol naam aanom
Kattumaram endraal enna
Vettupatta marangal thaanae
Kashtapadum neeyum naanum
Adhu polae
Pattapaadu alaigal polae
Vittu vittu modhipaarkum
Yetti nirka thirumba thirumba vilaiyadum
Kadal irangum kattumaram
Aazhatha ariyathu
Kadalsaerum nadhi ellam
Thirumbithan pogathu
Mudivilla mudivukkaethu mudivu… mudivu…
Vilayaatta padagotty
Vilaiyadum paruvampol
Naesamana odampol naam aanom
Karaikaana kadalmeedhae neeyum naanum
Thadumaarum odampol thaavi parthom
Ennaanaalum yaerpathuthan vazhkaiyamma
Vilayaatta padagotty
Vilaiyadum paruvampol
Naesamana odampol naam aanom
Thanthanatha thanthanna
Thanthanatha thanthanna na
Thanthanatha thanthanna
Thanthanatha thanthanna na
Like playfully rowing a boat,
in the carefree days of youth,
we became like beloved little boats.
Like playfully rowing a boat,
in the carefree days of youth,
we became like beloved little boats.
Upon a boundless sea, you and I,
tried to surge ahead like stumbling boats.
Accepting whatever comes is what life is, my dear.
Like playfully rowing a boat,
in the carefree days of youth,
we became like beloved little boats.
Bobbing and dancing across the water,
even while spinning in whirlpools,
it struggles only to reach the other shore.
Braving so many storms,
and patiently enduring the pouring rain,
it wobbles forward just to reach far away.
All along its journey,
is there any companion besides itself?
Every direction opens up as a path,
yet only one path is meant for you.
When will it reach the shore... oh boat?
Like playfully rowing a boat,
in the carefree days of youth,
we became like beloved little boats.
What is a raft after all?
Isn't it just trees that were chopped down?
You and I who go through hardships
are just like that.
All our troubles, like ocean waves,
will strike against us again and again,
returning to play each time we step back.
The raft that ventures into the sea
does not know the ocean's depth.
All the rivers that join the sea
can never turn back.
What ending can there be to an endless end... an end?
Like playfully rowing a boat,
in the carefree days of youth,
we became like beloved little boats.
Upon a boundless sea, you and I,
tried to surge ahead like stumbling boats.
Accepting whatever comes is what life is, my dear.
Like playfully rowing a boat,
in the carefree days of youth,
we became like beloved little boats.
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Vaanaam Vaelayil' / 'Vilayaatta Padagotty' from the film Dhoni (2012) uses extended maritime metaphors to explore the unpredictability, struggles, and resilience of human life. By comparing a person's life journey to a small boat or raft navigating a vast, shoreless ocean, Na. Muthu Kumar highlights how life tosses individuals through storms, whirlpools, and heavy rain. Despite these endless hardships, the central philosophy remains one of quiet acceptance, inner strength, and perseverance. The lyrics compare human suffering to chopped logs bound together to make a catamaran (Kattumaram); though cut down and battered by relentless waves, the wooden raft continues to float and cross the waters. Ultimately, the song serves as a reflective, philosophical meditation on self-reliance, noting that every individual must navigate their own singular path through life's uncertain sea.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uwamai (Simile)

“Vilaiyadum paruvampol Naesamana odampol naam aanom”

Compares the innocent and vulnerable phase of youth/life to a small boat ('Odam') navigating the open sea.

Thirukkoal / Extended Metaphor

“Kattumaram endraal enna, Vettupatta marangal thaanae”

Uses the image of a catamaran made of severed logs ('Vettupatta marangal') to symbolize resilient humans forged through life's painful trials.

Adukkuthodar / Anaphora & Rhyme

“Thathi thathi neeril aadi, Suthi suthi suzhalumbothum”

Repetition of rhythmic words like 'Thathi thathi' and 'Suthi suthi' creates a swaying, waltz-like rhythm mimicking the movement of waves.

Did you know?

Trivia

The soundtrack of Dhoni (2012) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Na. Muthu Kumar. The film, directed by Prakash Raj, centers around the educational pressure on children and a father-son relationship, making the song's underlying themes of struggle, identity, and perseverance deeply resonant with the movie's core narrative.

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