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Vilaiyattu Pillai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Yeru Perusa Intha

From Vilaiyattu Pillai · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Vilaiyattu Pillai
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
30 Apr 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yaeru perisaa indha ooru perisaa –
Solladi
Nellu perisaa payaga sollu perisaa
Yaeru perisaa indha ooru perisaa –
Solladi
Nellu perisaa payaga sollu perisaa
Thuninju nirkum vairamulla
Nenju irukku edhukkum
Paninju poga thaevaiyillae
Balam Irukku
Maadirukku veedirukku mannirukku
En manasarinju udhavi seiya ponnirukku
Maadirukku veedirukku mannirukku
En manasarinju udhavi seiya ponnirukku
Yaeru perisaa indha ooru perisaa –
Solladi
Nellu perisaa payaga sollu perisaa
Ponnukkum bhoomikkum
Poruththamundu
Mannai ponnaaga
Ninaikkiradhil arththamundu
Oru nellaith thoovinaa
Nooru nellai kaattuvaa
Oru nellaith thoovinaa
Nooru nellai kaattuvaa
Uyirulla bhoomi maadha..
Avadhaan ulagaththin mudhal maadhaa
Yaeru perisaa indha ooru perisaa –
Solladi
Nellu perisaa payaga sollu perisaa
Neerottam illaiyinaa
Aaerottam nindruvidum
Haaaaa….
Neerottam illaiyinaa
Aaerottam nindruvidum
Aerottam ninnuponnaa
Vayaththukku sorottam
Ennavaagum..
Solladi
Aerottam ninnuponnaa
Vayaththukku sorottam ennavaagum..
Pooththodukkum kaiyaalae
Naaththu nattu vachchaakka
Kaaththu vandhu thaalaattum
Mudivil kadhiru vandhu seeraattum
Aruvadaikku kaaththirukkum
Nellammaa
Nee yaarukkaaga thalai kuninjae
Sollammaa
Paruvam vandha ponnu pola
Achchama
Veetta paakka pora
Aasaiyilae vekkamaa
Nanjaiyammaa petheduththa
Nellammaa
Seerunaalu kalam konduvandha
Ponnammaa
Ooru pagai vandhaalum ennammaa
Naanga unnaalae
Vaazhndhu vittom ponnammaa
Ooru paakka osandhu vittaen
Ulagam paakka osandhu vittaen
Yaar dhayavu thaevai ini sollammaa –
Un aadharavae podhumadi nellammaa
Saavi poga padharu poga
Saththu nellu mothamaaga
Saeththu vaikka naeram vandhaachu –
Ooru paakka
Osandhirukkum kaalam vandhaachu..
Sollunga..
Yaeru perisaa indha ooru perisaa –
Male :Solladi
Nellu perisaa payaga sollu perisaa
Yaeru perisaa indha ooru perisaa aaaa
Is the plough greater, or is this village greater?
Tell me, girl!
Is paddy greater, or is the word of the boys greater?
Is the plough greater, or is this village greater?
Tell me, girl!
Is paddy greater, or is the word of the boys greater?
I have a firm, diamond-like
Heart to face anything,
There is no need to bow down,
I have the strength!
I have cattle, I have a house, I have land,
I have gold to help, knowing my heart!
I have cattle, I have a house, I have land,
I have gold to help, knowing my heart!
Is the plough greater, or is this village greater?
Tell me, girl!
Is paddy greater, or is the word of the boys greater?
Between gold and the land,
There is a sweet harmony,
In treating soil as gold,
There is true meaning!
If you sow a single grain of paddy,
She will yield a hundred grains!
If you sow a single grain of paddy,
She will yield a hundred grains!
Mother Earth who possesses life...
She alone is the primary mother of the world!
Is the plough greater, or is this village greater?
Tell me, girl!
Is paddy greater, or is the word of the boys greater?
If there is no flow of water,
The flowing of the plough will stop.
Haaaaa....
If there is no flow of water,
The flowing of the plough will stop.
If the ploughing comes to a halt,
The feeding of rice to the stomach,
What will happen to it?
Tell me, girl!
If the ploughing comes to a halt,
What will happen to the feeding of rice to the stomach?
With the hands that string flowers,
If you plant the saplings,
The wind will come and sing a lullaby,
In the end, the ear of corn will come and cherish you!
Waiting for the harvest,
O Mother Paddy,
For whom did you bow your head?
Tell me, mother!
Like a young maiden who has come of age,
Is it fear?
Going to see her home,
Is it shyness out of desire?
Born of the fertile wetland,
O Mother Paddy,
Bringing four measures as a gift,
O golden mother!
Even if the enmity of the town comes, so what, dear mother?
Because of you,
We have lived well, golden mother!
I have risen high for the town to see,
I have risen high for the world to see!
Whose favor is needed anymore, tell me, mother?
Your support alone is enough, Mother Paddy!
Clearing away the empty grain and husk,
Gathering all the rich, wholesome paddy together,
The time has come to harvest and store it—
For the village to see,
The time to stand high has come...
Say it, everyone...
Is the plough greater, or is this village greater?
Male: Tell me, girl!
Is paddy greater, or is the word of the boys greater?
Is the plough greater, or is this village greater, ahhh!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a grand rural anthem praising agriculture, the dignity of labor, and the bounty of Mother Earth. Sung primarily from the perspective of a proud farmer, the protagonist asserts the ultimate importance of farming ('Yaeru') and paddy ('Nellu') over village politics and societal arrogance. He highlights how Mother Earth generously transforms a single seed into a hundredfold yield, emphasizing that agriculture is the backbone of all human sustenance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Mannai ponnaaga ninaikkiradhil arththamundu

Comparing the fertile soil/earth directly to gold ('ponnaaga'), emphasizing its immense value and productivity.

Personification (Tharkurippaetragani / Metaphor)

Paruvam vandha ponnu pola achchama... veetta paakka pora aasaiyilae vekkamaa

Personifying the ripe, bending ear of paddy as a shy young bride bowing her head in bashfulness.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Maadirukku veedirukku mannirukku

Repetition of the 'Ma' sound at the beginning/key positions of words creating rhythmic harmony.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Neerottam illaiyinaa / Aaerottam nindruvidum

Matching end sounds ('Neerottam' and 'Aaerottam') to establish a poetic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Vilaiyattu Pillai' (1970), directed by A. P. Nagarajan, stars Shivaji Ganesan in the lead role. The soundtrack composed by 'Mellisai Mannar' K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan features legendary agrarian and philosophical songs celebrating Tamil rural life. T. M. Soundararajan's powerful vocals perfectly matched Shivaji Ganesan's screen presence in bringing out the pride and resilience of a farmer.

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