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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yaar Itta Sattam

From Ganam Courtar Avargale · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Devendran
Movie name
Ganam Courtar Avargale
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
18 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattam
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattam
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae
Raanuvam ezhugavae aanavam azhigavae
Kattarukkum velai thannai
Muppadaikkum oppadaikkiraen munaigavae
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattam
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae…
Kozhai vaazhum mattum vaazhvil thunba vellam
Veeram vanthuvittaal saavum achchu vellam
Singam urangum neram eliyum yaeri kadikkumaam
Yaen innum achcham vaazhvingu thuchcham
Aagaayam thottuvittu anagaeyum thottamittu
Vinnaala vendum veeranae….
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattam
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae…
Kadhal konja neram kanneer konja neram
Paasam paadhi thooram veeram aayul thorum
Poonai valarkkum meesai
Unakkum aasai edharkkadaa
Moolattum yuththam paayattum raththam
Anaikkaamal karppamillai
Sedhukkaamal sirppamillai
Velukkaamal vidivum illaiyae
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattam
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae…
Raanuvam ezhugavae aanavam azhigavae
Kattarukkum velai thannai
Muppadaikkum oppadaikkiraen munaigavae
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattam
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae…
Yaar itta sattam idhu yaar potta vattam
Nam thol thattinaal vetriyae…
Who laid down this law? Who drew this boundary?
If we square our shoulders, victory is ours!
Who laid down this law? Who drew this boundary?
If we square our shoulders, victory is ours!
Let the army rise, let arrogance be crushed!
The task of breaking all chains,
I hand over to the armed forces; march forward!
Who laid down this law? Who drew this boundary?
If we square our shoulders, victory is ours!
As long as a coward lives, life is a flood of sorrows.
Once courage arrives, even death is as sweet as jaggery.
When the lion is asleep, even a mouse will bite.
Why fear anymore? Life here is so trivial!
Reach up to the sky, plant a garden there,
And rule the heavens, oh brave warrior!
Who laid down this law? Who drew this boundary?
If we square our shoulders, victory is ours!
Love lasts a short time, tears last a short time,
Affection goes halfway, but courage lasts a lifetime!
Even a cat grows a mustache,
Why do you desire one too, man?
Let the battle ignite, let blood flow!
No child is conceived without an embrace,
No sculpture is made without chiseling,
And no dawn breaks without the dark fading away!
Who laid down this law? Who drew this boundary?
If we square our shoulders, victory is ours!
Let the army rise, let arrogance be crushed!
The task of breaking all chains,
I hand over to the armed forces; march forward!
Who laid down this law? Who drew this boundary?
If we square our shoulders, victory is ours!
Who laid down this law? Who drew this boundary?
If we square our shoulders, victory is ours!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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