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Lyrics & meaning

Yaar Itta Sattam

From Ganam Courtar Avargale · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Devendran
Details
Ganam Courtar Avargale1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattamWho passed this law? Who drew this boundary circle?
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyaeVictory is ours if we pat our own shoulders!
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattamWho passed this law? Who drew this boundary circle?
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyaeVictory is ours if we pat our own shoulders!
Male
Raanuvam ezhugavae aanavam azhigavaeLet the army rise up! Let arrogance be destroyed!
Kattarukkum velai thannaiThis task of breaking free from restraint,
Muppadaikkum oppadaikkiraen munaigavaeI entrust to the three armed forces to advance forward!
Male
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattamWho passed this law? Who drew this boundary circle?
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae…Victory is ours if we pat our own shoulders...
Male
Kozhai vaazhum mattum vaazhvil thunba vellamAs long as a coward lives, life is a flood of sorrows.
Veeram vanthuvittaal saavum achchu vellamOnce bravery arrives, even death tastes sweet like jaggery!
Singam urangum neram eliyum yaeri kadikkumaamWhen the lion sleeps, even a rat climbs up and bites!
Yaen innum achcham vaazhvingu thuchchamWhy fear anymore? Life here is trivial!
Male
Aagaayam thottuvittu anagaeyum thottamittuTouch the sky and plant a garden up there too,
Vinnaala vendum veeranae….O warrior, you must rule over the heavens!...
Male
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattamWho passed this law? Who drew this boundary circle?
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae…Victory is ours if we pat our own shoulders...
Male
Kadhal konja neram kanneer konja neramLove lasts for a brief moment, tears last for a brief moment,
Paasam paadhi thooram veeram aayul thorumAffection goes only halfway, but heroism lasts a lifetime!
Poonai valarkkum meesaiEven a cat grows whiskers,
Unakkum aasai edharkkadaaWhy do you also desire them without real courage, man?
Male
Moolattum yuththam paayattum raththamLet war ignite! Let blood surge!
Anaikkaamal karppamillaiWithout an embrace, there is no pregnancy,
Sedhukkaamal sirppamillaiWithout sculpting, there is no statue,
Velukkaamal vidivum illaiyaeWithout the night fading, there is no dawn!
Male
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattamWho passed this law? Who drew this boundary circle?
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae…Victory is ours if we pat our own shoulders...
Raanuvam ezhugavae aanavam azhigavaeLet the army rise up! Let arrogance be destroyed!
Kattarukkum velai thannaiThis task of breaking free from restraint,
Muppadaikkum oppadaikkiraen munaigavaeI entrust to the three armed forces to advance forward!
Male
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattamWho passed this law? Who drew this boundary circle?
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae…Victory is ours if we pat our own shoulders...
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattamWho passed this law? Who drew this boundary circle?
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae…Victory is ours if we pat our own shoulders...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This rousing song from 'Ganam Courtar Avargale' serves as a fiery rally cry against arbitrary restrictions, cowardice, and oppressive authority. Lyricist Vairamuthu uses vivid imagery to question who has the right to set limits ('Who passed this law? Who drew this circle?') and asserts that true victory comes through self-reliance, courage, and decisive action.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (Rhyming ends)

Raanuvam ezhugavae aanavam azhigavae

The words 'ezhugavae' and 'azhigavae' share matching end suffixes, creating a rhythmic and lyrical harmony.

Metaphor / Wordplay

Veeram vanthuvittaal saavum achchu vellam

Compares death ('saavu') to sweet jaggery ('achchu vellam') when faced with courage ('veeram'), metaphorically removing the terror associated with dying.

Ethugai (Second-letter agreement)

Anaikkaamal karppamillai / Sedhukkaamal sirppamillai

The second letters 'na' (ன) in Anaikkaamal and 'dhu' (து) share similar consonant sound length structures along with parallel grammatical endings.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kadhal konja neram kanneer konja neram

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound across 'Kadhal' and 'kanneer' at the beginning of phrases.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ganam Courtar Avargale' (1988) is a Tamil legal drama film directed by Manobala, starring Sathyaraj and Ambika. The soundtrack features lyrics penned by Vairamuthu set to music composed by Devendran.

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