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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yelavalele

From Kingston · 2025

Lyricist
Arivu
Singer
Rockzanehere
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Kingston2025

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Valaiyeduththu vaaraanaeHe is coming with the net in hand
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
En kadalukulla povuravuEntering into my sea
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Chaththuru vaaraanae yaelaeThe enemy is approaching, oh!
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Kattumaram neethaan yaelaeYou are the sturdy catamaran, oh!
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Yaelavalaagi yae laagiYaelavalaagi yae laagi (folk sea refrain)
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Valaiyeduththu vaaraanaeHe is coming with the net in hand
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
En kadalukulla povuravuEntering into my sea
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Chaththuru vaaraanae yaelaeThe enemy is approaching, oh!
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Kattumaram neethaan yaelaeYou are the sturdy catamaran, oh!
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Yaelavalaagi yae laagiYaelavalaagi yae laagi (folk sea refrain)
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Muththumani polaeLike a precious pearl
Yaelavalae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Rasapuththiran vanthaanaeThe royal prince has arrived
Yaelavalae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Alaiyadikkuthae avalaeThe waves are crashing violently, oh girl
Yaelavalae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Antha kadalukkullathaan avalaeRight inside that vast ocean, oh girl
Yaelavalae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Theenirukkuthae avalaeThere lies sweet sustenance/fire within, oh girl
Yaelavalae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Antha kadalukkullathaan avalaeRight inside that vast ocean, oh girl
Yaelavalae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Kattumaram neethaan yaelaeYou are the sturdy catamaran, oh!
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Yaelavalaagi yae laagiYaelavalaagi yae laagi (folk sea refrain)
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Yaelavalaagi yae laagiYaelavalaagi yae laagi (folk sea refrain)
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Yaelavalaagi yae laagiYaelavalaagi yae laagi (folk sea refrain)
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Eerakkaattilae yaelaeIn the cold damp sea breeze, oh!
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Emperumngkanji pogaathoWill our stomach's hunger/rice porridge suffice?
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Akkaraiyilae avalaeOn the opposite shore, oh girl
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
En akkaamaarellaam nogaWhile all my elder sisters ache in pain
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Kadalukku thaayammaaO Mother Sea
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
En kanneer kandaayaa avalaeDid you see my tears shedding, oh girl?
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female :Yaelaelammaa yae laagiFemale: Yaelaelammaa yae laagi
YaelaelaeYaelaelae
Male
……………..
Female
Valaiyeduththu vaaraanaeHe is coming with the net in hand
Yaelavalae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
En kadalukkulla povuravuEntering into my sea
Yaelavalae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Chaththuru vaaraanae yaelaeThe enemy is approaching, oh!
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Kattumaram neethaan yaelaeYou are the sturdy catamaran, oh!
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Yaelavalaagi yae laagiYaelavalaagi yae laagi (folk sea refrain)
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Neththili meenaaga yaelaeLike a tiny anchovy fish, oh!
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Rasapuththiran vaaraanae yaelaeThe royal prince is coming, oh!
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Kappala kandaanae yaelaeHe spotted the ship, oh!
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Engappanum ondaarae nyapagam yaelaeReminding me of my father who became one with the sea
Yaelavalaelae yaelaeYaelavalaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Female
Yaelavalaagi yae laagiYaelavalaagi yae laagi (folk sea refrain)
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)
Yaelavalaagi yae laagiYaelavalaagi yae laagi (folk sea refrain)
Yaelavalae yaelae yaelaeYaelavalae yaelae yaelae (folk sea refrain)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a traditional Tamil fisherman folk chant (Amba Song / Neythal Folk Song) structured around rhythmic work chants like 'Yaelavalae'. It portrays the perilous life, emotions, and resilience of seafaring fisherfolk facing coastal threats, harsh weather, and personal grief. The lyrics express the daily struggle for survival against natural and human enemies ('Chaththuru'), while paying homage to the sea as a maternal deity ('Kadalukku Thaayammaa') who witnesses their sorrow and hardship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uwamai Ani (Simile)

Muththumani polae

Compares the protagonist or sea treasure to a precious pearl using the simile marker 'polae'.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Muththumani polae / Rasapuththiran vanthaanae

Repetition of consonant sounds across coastal rhythmic chants.

Urvagam (Metaphor)

Kattumaram neethaan yaelae

Directly addresses a companion or inner strength as a catamaran ('kattumaram') that provides stability in turbulent waters.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Yaelavalae yaelae yaelae

Repetition of the rhythmic chanting refrain at the end of alternating lines to sync with rowing/hauling work motion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kingston (2025) is India's first sea-horror fantasy film starring G. V. Prakash Kumar, who also composed the music. The song incorporates authentic coastal Tamil folk chant structures ('Yaelo') traditionally used by fishermen to sync physical exertion while hauling nets.

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