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Isaimozhi
Mandela album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Yela Yelo

From Mandela · 2021

Lyricist
Arivu
Singer
Arivu
Music director
Bharath Sankar
Movie name
Mandela
Movie release year
2021
Lyrics added on
14 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yela yelo yelalaiyelo
Yela yelo yelalaiyelo
Perazhagan un pera solli
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Poguthammo oru vaadamalli
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Olathatti oru oonjala katti
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Thoosuthatti kudi pugunthathammo
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Melam kotti oru vethala potti
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Megathukkae thanthi adikkuthummo
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Savarakkathi minnukuthummo
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Evara patthi nenaikuthummo
Chorus :Thanthathina
Hmm mm mm…..
Laa lalala lallala lallala la
Laa lalala lallala lallala la
Laa lalala lallala lallala la
Laa lalala lallala lallala la
Vaasamalli oru vaartha solli
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Vagudeduthu mella vaaruthummo
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Kaathula thaan oru seidhi vandhu
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Naethayellam alli mudinjathammo
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Kaattumalli andha kadhaiya solli
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Paattu onnu inga padikuthummo
Chorus :Thanthathina
Kuthaala seemaikku muthaada povuthu
Thakkana boomikku thanneerum paayudhu
Kuthaazha poovukku kacheri kooduthu
Mathaala tholukku manjalum seruthu
Perazhagan un pera solli
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Poguthammo oru ponnaanganni
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Aalangatti oru paalam katti
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Aarudhalaa vadhu seruthammo
Chorus :Thanthathina
Male :Kaayamellam ippa aaruthammo
Chorus :Thanthathina
Chithira veyilu sillunnu kaayudhu
Nethili meenukku nithira povudhu
Kathiri valanju kammalum aavudhu
Koppara vaanamum pothunnu thoovudhu
Kooraiyilla kottaikulla
Sooriyanum sirikkuthummo
Savarakkathi minnukuthummo
Sooriyanum sirikkuthummo
Yela yelo yelalaiyelo
Yela yelo yelalaiyelo
Ela elo elalaiyelo
Ela elo elalaiyelo
Calling out your name, handsome man,
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: An unfading flower passes by!
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: Putting up woven thatch and hanging a swing,
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: Dusting it clean, it moved right in!
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: Beating the drums, a betel box
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: Sends a telegram straight to the clouds!
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: The shaving razor glints and gleams!
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: Wonder whom it is thinking about!
Chorus: Thanthathina
Hmmm mm mm...
La lalala lallala lallala la
La lalala lallala lallala la
La lalala lallala lallala la
La lalala lallala lallala la
Whispering a word, the fragrant jasmine
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: Neatly parts the hair and gently combs it!
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: A message carried upon the breeze
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: Gathered up and tied away all of yesterday's troubles!
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: Telling that story, the wild jasmine
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: Is singing a song right here!
Chorus: Thanthathina
It goes to shower kisses on the land of Kutralam,
And water flows into the parched earth.
A musical concert gathers for the cactus flower,
And turmeric is rubbed onto the drumskin!
Calling out your name, handsome man,
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: A golden Ponnanganni herb passes by!
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: Building a bridge out of hailstones,
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: It arrives, bringing soothing comfort!
Chorus: Thanthathina
Male: All the old wounds are healing now!
Chorus: Thanthathina
The blazing summer sun feels pleasantly cool,
The little anchovy fish is losing its sleep,
The scissors curve to become ear studs,
And the bowl of the sky suddenly showers down rain!
On the thatched roof, inside the castle,
Even the sun is smiling bright!
The shaving razor glints and gleams,
And the sun is smiling bright!
Ela elo elalaiyelo
Ela elo elalaiyelo
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the political satire film 'Mandela' serves as a vibrant, earthy ode to the protagonist, a humble local barber named Smile (played by Yogi Babu) who gains unexpected dignity and power. Through rich rural folk imagery, playful surrealism, and metaphorical storytelling, the track celebrates his newfound identity, respect, and sense of belonging in a society that previously ignored him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Savarakkathi minnukuthummo

The gleaming razor blade serves as a metaphor for the protagonist's identity, profession, and his rising power/distinction.

Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)

Kuthaala seemaikku muthaada povuthu / Thakkana boomikku thanneerum paayudhu

The matching end sounds ('povuthu' / 'paayudhu') create a lyrical rhythm typical of Tamil folk music.

Oxymoron / Surrealism

Chithira veyilu sillunnu kaayudhu

Describing the notoriously hot summer sun of Chithirai as shining coolly ('sillunnu') emphasizes the magical sense of comfort the protagonist now feels.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written and performed by multi-talented indie hip-hop artist and lyricist Arivu, the song fuses traditional Tamil Villu Paattu/folk style rhythms with modern acoustic folk arrangements by composer Bharath Sankar. The song accompanies a pivotal transformation arc for the lead character in 'Mandela'.

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