Yaar Yaaro
From Onbadhu Roobai Nottu · 2007
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Bharathwaj
- Music director
- Bharathwaj
- Details
- Onbadhu Roobai Nottu2007
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam | The land sown by unknown people, |
| Naan vedhachadhu | is where I sowed too. |
| Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni | The water drunk by unknown people, |
| Naan kudichadhu | is what I drank too. |
| Male | |
| Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam | The land sown by unknown people, |
| Naan vedhachadhu | is where I sowed too. |
| Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni | The water drunk by unknown people, |
| Naan kudichadhu | is what I drank too. |
| Male | |
| Yaar yaaro vitta kaathu | The air breathed out by unknown people, |
| Naan izhuthathu | is what I inhaled. |
| Yaar yaaro pudhacha kaadu | The wild land where unknown people were buried, |
| Poga poradhu | is where I am destined to go too. |
| Male | |
| Idhil enna viththa | What grand feat is there in this, |
| Yedhum illa ngyaana thangamae | nothing at all, oh golden wisdom! |
| Idhil unn kutram | In this, what fault is yours, |
| Yedhum illa ngyaana thangamae | none at all, oh golden wisdom! |
| Male | |
| Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam | The land sown by unknown people, |
| Naan vedhachadhu | is where I sowed too. |
| Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni | The water drunk by unknown people, |
| Naan kudichadhu | is what I drank too. |
| Male | |
| Pethavanga saiyiraanga | The parents pass away |
| Namakku munnamae | before our time comes. |
| Pethathunga piriyuraanga | The children we raised separate from us, |
| Kannu munnamae | right before our eyes. |
| Soru pola theerndhu pochu | Exhausted completely like consumed food, |
| Sondha bandhamae | are all our kith and kin. |
| Enna sutta kaatil vittutiyae | You left me abandoned in a scorched wasteland, |
| Ngyana thangamae | oh golden wisdom! |
| Male | |
| Odambodu porantha kaalu | The legs born along with this body, |
| Odambodu pirantha kaiyi | the hands born along with this body, |
| Ovvonnaa piriyum bothu | when they separate one by one, |
| Ngyana thangamae | oh golden wisdom, |
| Idhil uravu mattum nelaikkuma | will human relationships alone endure? |
| Adi ngyana thangamae | Oh golden wisdom! |
| Male | |
| Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam | The land sown by unknown people, |
| Naan vedhachadhu | is where I sowed too. |
| Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni | The water drunk by unknown people, |
| Naan kudichadhu | is what I drank too. |
| Male | |
| Porula viththu manushan | The days when man sold goods |
| Vaangum kaalam ponathae | to buy necessities have passed. |
| Manushan viththu porula | The days of selling humans |
| Vaangum kaalam aachudhae | to buy material goods have arrived. |
| Male | |
| Kodumaiyilum kodumai enna | What is the cruelest cruelty of all, |
| Ngyana thangamae | oh golden wisdom? |
| Adhu mudhumayilae thanimai thaanae | Is it not solitude in old age, |
| Ngyana thangamae | oh golden wisdom! |
| Male | |
| Naam othunga koora illa | We have no thatched roof to take shelter, |
| Nandri katta naadhi illa | no ungrateful soul or support left. |
| Saava kooda koovi paarthen | I even cried out calling for Death, |
| Ngyana thangamae | oh golden wisdom! |
| Andha saavu inga sethu pochu | Even that Death has died here, |
| Ngyana thangamae | oh golden wisdom! |
| Male | |
| Yaar yaaro | Various unknown people, |
| Yaar yaaro…… | various unknown people... |
| Male | |
| Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam | The land sown by unknown people, |
| Naan vedhachadhu | is where I sowed too. |
| Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni | The water drunk by unknown people, |
| Naan kudichadhu | is what I drank too. |
| Male | |
| Yaar yaaro vitta kaathu | The air breathed out by unknown people, |
| Naan izhuthathu | is what I inhaled. |
| Yaar yaaro pudhacha kaadu | The wild land where unknown people were buried, |
| Poga poradhu | is where I am destined to go too. |
| Male | |
| Idhil enna viththa | What grand feat is there in this, |
| Yedhum illa ngyaana thangamae | nothing at all, oh golden wisdom! |
| Idhil unn kutram | In this, what fault is yours, |
| Yedhum illa ngyaana thangamae | none at all, oh golden wisdom! |
| Male | |
| Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam | The land sown by unknown people, |
| Naan vedhachadhu | is where I sowed too. |
| Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni | The water drunk by unknown people, |
| Naan kudichadhu | is what I drank too. |
யார் யாரோ வெதச்ச நெலம்
நான் வெதச்சது
யார் யாரோ குடிச்ச தண்ணி
நான் குடிச்சது
The land sown by unknown people,
is where I sowed too.
The water drunk by unknown people,
is what I drank too.
யார் யாரோ வெதச்ச நெலம்
நான் வெதச்சது
யார் யாரோ குடிச்ச தண்ணி
நான் குடிச்சது
The land sown by unknown people,
is where I sowed too.
The water drunk by unknown people,
is what I drank too.
யார் யாரோ விட்ட காத்து
நான் இழுத்தது
யார் யாரோ புதைச்ச காடு
போக போறது
The air breathed out by unknown people,
is what I inhaled.
The wild land where unknown people were buried,
is where I am destined to go too.
இதில் என்ன வித்தை
ஏதும் இல்ல ஞான தங்கமே
இதில் உன் குற்றம்
ஏதும் இல்ல ஞான தங்கமே
What grand feat is there in this,
nothing at all, oh golden wisdom!
In this, what fault is yours,
none at all, oh golden wisdom!
யார் யாரோ வெதச்ச நெலம்
நான் வெதச்சது
யார் யாரோ குடிச்ச தண்ணி
நான் குடிச்சது
The land sown by unknown people,
is where I sowed too.
The water drunk by unknown people,
is what I drank too.
பெத்தவங்க சாயிதாங்க
நமக்கு முன்னமே
பெத்ததுங்க பிரியுதுங்க
கண்ணு முன்னமே
சோறு போல தீர்ந்ந்து போச்சு
சொந்த பந்தமே
என்ன சுட்ட காட்டில் விட்டுட்டியே
ஞான தங்கமே
The parents pass away
before our time comes.
The children we raised separate from us,
right before our eyes.
Exhausted completely like consumed food,
are all our kith and kin.
You left me abandoned in a scorched wasteland,
oh golden wisdom!
உடம்போடு பொறந்த காலு
உடம்போடு பொறந்த கையி
ஒவ்வொன்னா பிரியும் போது
ஞான தங்கமே
இதில் உறவு மட்டும் நிலைக்குமா
அடி ஞான தங்கமே
The legs born along with this body,
the hands born along with this body,
when they separate one by one,
oh golden wisdom,
will human relationships alone endure?
Oh golden wisdom!
யார் யாரோ வெதச்ச நெலம்
நான் வெதச்சது
யார் யாரோ குடிச்ச தண்ணி
நான் குடிச்சது
The land sown by unknown people,
is where I sowed too.
The water drunk by unknown people,
is what I drank too.
பொருள வித்து மனுஷன்
வாங்கும் காலம் போனதே
மனுஷன் வித்து பொருள
வாங்கும் காலம் ஆச்சுதே
The days when man sold goods
to buy necessities have passed.
The days of selling humans
to buy material goods have arrived.
கொடுமையிலும் கொடுமை என்ன
ஞான தங்கமே
அது முதுமையிலே தனிமை தானே
ஞான தங்கமே
What is the cruelest cruelty of all,
oh golden wisdom?
Is it not solitude in old age,
oh golden wisdom!
நாம் ஒதுங்க கூற இல்ல
நன்றி காட்ட நாதி இல்ல
சாவ கூட கூவி பார்த்தேன்
ஞான தங்கமே
அந்த சாவு இங்க செத்து போச்சு
ஞான தங்கமே
We have no thatched roof to take shelter,
no ungrateful soul or support left.
I even cried out calling for Death,
oh golden wisdom!
Even that Death has died here,
oh golden wisdom!
யார் யாரோ
யார் யாரோ ......
Various unknown people,
various unknown people...
யார் யாரோ வெதச்ச நெலம்
நான் வெதச்சது
யார் யாரோ குடிச்ச தண்ணி
நான் குடிச்சது
The land sown by unknown people,
is where I sowed too.
The water drunk by unknown people,
is what I drank too.
யார் யாரோ விட்ட காத்து
நான் இழுத்தது
யார் யாரோ புதைச்ச காடு
போக போறது
The air breathed out by unknown people,
is what I inhaled.
The wild land where unknown people were buried,
is where I am destined to go too.
இதில் என்ன வித்தை
ஏதும் இல்ல ஞான தங்கமே
இதில் உன் குற்றம்
ஏதும் இல்ல ஞான தங்கமே
What grand feat is there in this,
nothing at all, oh golden wisdom!
In this, what fault is yours,
none at all, oh golden wisdom!
யார் யாரோ வெதச்ச நெலம்
நான் வெதச்சது
யார் யாரோ குடிச்ச தண்ணி
நான் குடிச்சது
The land sown by unknown people,
is where I sowed too.
The water drunk by unknown people,
is what I drank too.
Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam
The land sown by unknown people,
Naan vedhachadhu
is where I sowed too.
Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni
The water drunk by unknown people,
Naan kudichadhu
is what I drank too.
Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam
The land sown by unknown people,
Naan vedhachadhu
is where I sowed too.
Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni
The water drunk by unknown people,
Naan kudichadhu
is what I drank too.
Yaar yaaro vitta kaathu
The air breathed out by unknown people,
Naan izhuthathu
is what I inhaled.
Yaar yaaro pudhacha kaadu
The wild land where unknown people were buried,
Poga poradhu
is where I am destined to go too.
Idhil enna viththa
What grand feat is there in this,
Yedhum illa ngyaana thangamae
nothing at all, oh golden wisdom!
Idhil unn kutram
In this, what fault is yours,
Yedhum illa ngyaana thangamae
none at all, oh golden wisdom!
Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam
The land sown by unknown people,
Naan vedhachadhu
is where I sowed too.
Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni
The water drunk by unknown people,
Naan kudichadhu
is what I drank too.
Pethavanga saiyiraanga
The parents pass away
Namakku munnamae
before our time comes.
Pethathunga piriyuraanga
The children we raised separate from us,
Kannu munnamae
right before our eyes.
Soru pola theerndhu pochu
Exhausted completely like consumed food,
Sondha bandhamae
are all our kith and kin.
Enna sutta kaatil vittutiyae
You left me abandoned in a scorched wasteland,
Ngyana thangamae
oh golden wisdom!
Odambodu porantha kaalu
The legs born along with this body,
Odambodu pirantha kaiyi
the hands born along with this body,
Ovvonnaa piriyum bothu
when they separate one by one,
Ngyana thangamae
oh golden wisdom,
Idhil uravu mattum nelaikkuma
will human relationships alone endure?
Adi ngyana thangamae
Oh golden wisdom!
Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam
The land sown by unknown people,
Naan vedhachadhu
is where I sowed too.
Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni
The water drunk by unknown people,
Naan kudichadhu
is what I drank too.
Porula viththu manushan
The days when man sold goods
Vaangum kaalam ponathae
to buy necessities have passed.
Manushan viththu porula
The days of selling humans
Vaangum kaalam aachudhae
to buy material goods have arrived.
Kodumaiyilum kodumai enna
What is the cruelest cruelty of all,
Ngyana thangamae
oh golden wisdom?
Adhu mudhumayilae thanimai thaanae
Is it not solitude in old age,
Ngyana thangamae
oh golden wisdom!
Naam othunga koora illa
We have no thatched roof to take shelter,
Nandri katta naadhi illa
no ungrateful soul or support left.
Saava kooda koovi paarthen
I even cried out calling for Death,
Ngyana thangamae
oh golden wisdom!
Andha saavu inga sethu pochu
Even that Death has died here,
Ngyana thangamae
oh golden wisdom!
Yaar yaaro
Various unknown people,
Yaar yaaro……
various unknown people...
Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam
The land sown by unknown people,
Naan vedhachadhu
is where I sowed too.
Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni
The water drunk by unknown people,
Naan kudichadhu
is what I drank too.
Yaar yaaro vitta kaathu
The air breathed out by unknown people,
Naan izhuthathu
is what I inhaled.
Yaar yaaro pudhacha kaadu
The wild land where unknown people were buried,
Poga poradhu
is where I am destined to go too.
Idhil enna viththa
What grand feat is there in this,
Yedhum illa ngyaana thangamae
nothing at all, oh golden wisdom!
Idhil unn kutram
In this, what fault is yours,
Yedhum illa ngyaana thangamae
none at all, oh golden wisdom!
Yaar yaaro vedhacha nelam
The land sown by unknown people,
Naan vedhachadhu
is where I sowed too.
Yaar yaaro kudicha thanni
The water drunk by unknown people,
Naan kudichadhu
is what I drank too.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Yaar Yaaro Vedhacha Nelam' from 'Onbadhu Roobai Nottu' (2007) is a deeply philosophical and melancholic song exploring the impermanence of human life, modern societal decline, and the anguish of solitude in old age. Through rural imagery, lyricist Vairamuthu reflects on how human existence is merely a continuation of cycles left behind by countless unknown predecessors—we cultivate the same soil, drink the same water, and ultimately return to the same grave. The speaker addresses 'Ngyana Thangamae' (a metaphorical invocation of pure golden wisdom) to process the humbling reality that human pride and attachment are futile. The song reaches its emotional crescendo by portraying the tragic breakdown of familial relationships. As parents pass away and children drift apart, the protagonist finds himself abandoned in life's wasteland. Vairamuthu contrasts past eras—where people traded material items to sustain life—with the modern reality where human beings themselves are traded for material gain. In a poignant climax, the suffering protagonist calls out to Death to end his loneliness, only to discover that even Death seems to have died, leaving him in absolute, inescapable solitude.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Soru pola theerndhu pochu / Sondha bandhamae”
Compares the complete depletion of familial relationships to rice ('soru') being consumed until nothing remains.
Personification & Hyperbole
“Andha saavu inga sethu pochu”
Personifies 'Death' ('saavu') as an entity that has itself died, exaggerating the protagonist's profound misery where even death fails to relieve his suffering.
Muran (Antithesis)
“Porula viththu manushan / Vaangum kaalam ponathae / Manushan viththu porula / Vaangum kaalam aachudhae”
Contrasts the past era of selling goods to sustain human life with the present modern era of selling human integrity/relationships to buy material goods.
Refrain / Anaphora
“Ngyana thangamae”
Repeated invocation at the end of poetic couplets, creating a rhythmic philosophical dialogue addressing wisdom personified as 'golden wisdom'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Onbadhu Roobai Nottu' (2007) is a critically acclaimed Tamil drama film written and directed by Thangar Bachan, adapted from his novel of the same name. The movie stars Sathyaraj in a powerful performance as Madhava Padayachi, an elderly village patriarch who experiences severe hardship and abandonment by his children. Lyricist Vairamuthu won widespread praise for his folk-philosophical lyrics in the soundtrack, which reflect rural Tamil ethos and the stark social realities of aging in contemporary society.
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