Acham Enbathu
From Mannadhi Mannan · 1960
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Mannadhi Mannan1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Acham | Fear |
| Enbathu madamaiyada | Is foolishness, my friend. |
| { Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada } (2) | Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians. |
| Male | |
| { Acham | Fear |
| Enbathu madamaiyada | Is foolishness, my friend. |
| Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada } (2) | Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians. |
| Male | |
| Aarilum | Whether at six |
| Saavu noorilum saavu | Or at a hundred, death is inevitable. |
| { Thaayagam kaapathu kadamaiyada } (2) | Protecting the motherland is our duty, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Acham | Fear |
| Enbathu madamaiyada | Is foolishness, my friend. |
| Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada | Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians. |
| Male | |
| Kanaga | Kanaga |
| Vijayarin mudithalai | And Vijaya's crowned heads |
| Nerithu kallinai vaithaan | Were crushed, and a stone was placed upon them |
| Seramagan aaa aaa….. | By the Chera king's son... |
| Male | |
| Kanaga | Kanaga |
| Vijayarin mudithalai | And Vijaya's crowned heads |
| Nerithu kallinai vaithaan | Were crushed, and a stone was placed upon them |
| Seramagan | By the Chera king's son. |
| Male | |
| Imaya | At the Himalayan |
| Varambinil meen | Borders, the fish |
| Kodi yetri isaipada | Flag was hoisted with fame |
| Vaazhnthaan pandiyanae | By the Pandya king who lived gloriously. |
| Male | |
| Acham | Fear |
| Enbathu madamaiyada | Is foolishness, my friend. |
| Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada | Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians. |
| Male | |
| Karuvinil | In the womb |
| Valarum mazhalaiyin | As the child grows, |
| Udalil thairiyam valarpal | Courage in its body is nurtured by |
| Thamizhannai aaaa …… | The Tamil Mother... |
| Male | |
| Karuvinil | In the womb |
| Valarum mazhalaiyin | As the child grows, |
| Udalil thairiyam valarpal | Courage in its body is nurtured by |
| Thamizhannai | The Tamil Mother. |
| Male | |
| Kalangam | If dishonor |
| Piranthaal petraval maanam | Arises, to protect the honor of the mother who bore him, |
| Kaathida ezhuvan aval pillai | Her son shall rise. |
| Male | |
| Acham | Fear |
| Enbathu madamaiyada | Is foolishness, my friend. |
| Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada | Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians. |
| Male | |
| { Vaazhnthavar | Millions have lived, |
| Kodi marainthavar kodi | Millions have passed away; |
| Makkalin manathil nirpavar yaar } (2) | Who stands tall in the hearts of the people? |
| Male | |
| Maaperum | Great |
| Veerar maanam kaapor | Warriors and guardians of self-respect |
| Sarithiram thanilae nirkindrar | Stand eternal in history. |
| Male | |
| Acham | Fear |
| Enbathu madamaiyada | Is foolishness, my friend. |
| Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada | Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians. |
| Male | |
| Aarilum | Whether at six |
| Saavu noorilum saavu | Or at a hundred, death is inevitable. |
| { Thaayagam kaapathu kadamaiyada } (2) | Protecting the motherland is our duty, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Acham | Fear |
| Enbathu madamaiyada | Is foolishness, my friend. |
| Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada | Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians. |
அச்சம் என்பது
மடமையடா
{ அஞ்சாமை திராவிடர்
உடமையடா } (2)
Fear
Is foolishness, my friend.
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
{ அச்சம் என்பது
மடமையடா அஞ்சாமை
திராவிடர் உடமையடா } (2)
Fear
Is foolishness, my friend.
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
ஆறிலும் சாவு
நூறிலும் சாவு
{ தாயகம் காப்பது
கடமையடா } (2)
Whether at six
Or at a hundred, death is inevitable.
Protecting the motherland is our duty, my friend.
அச்சம் என்பது
மடமையடா அஞ்சாமை
திராவிடர் உடமையடா
Fear
Is foolishness, my friend.
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
கனகவிஜயரின்
முடித்தலை நெறித்து
கல்லினை வைத்தான்
சேர மகன் ஆஆ ஆஆ
Kanaga
And Vijaya's crowned heads
Were crushed, and a stone was placed upon them
By the Chera king's son...
கனகவிஜயரின்
முடித்தலை நெறித்து
கல்லினை வைத்தான்
சேர மகன்
Kanaga
And Vijaya's crowned heads
Were crushed, and a stone was placed upon them
By the Chera king's son.
இமய வரம்பினில்
மீன்கொடி ஏற்றி இசை பட
வாழ்ந்தான் பாண்டியனே
At the Himalayan
Borders, the fish
Flag was hoisted with fame
By the Pandya king who lived gloriously.
அச்சம் என்பது
மடமையடா அஞ்சாமை
திராவிடர் உடமையடா
Fear
Is foolishness, my friend.
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
கருவினில் வளரும்
மழலையின் உடலில்
தைரியம் வளர்ப்பாள்
தமிழன்னை ஆஆஆ
In the womb
As the child grows,
Courage in its body is nurtured by
The Tamil Mother...
கருவினில் வளரும்
மழலையின் உடலில்
தைரியம் வளர்ப்பாள்
தமிழன்னை
In the womb
As the child grows,
Courage in its body is nurtured by
The Tamil Mother.
களங்கம் பிறந்தால்
பெற்றவள் மானம் காத்திட
எழுவான் அவள் பிள்ளை
If dishonor
Arises, to protect the honor of the mother who bore him,
Her son shall rise.
அச்சம் என்பது
மடமையடா அஞ்சாமை
திராவிடர் உடமையடா
Fear
Is foolishness, my friend.
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
{ வாழ்ந்தவர் கோடி
மறைந்தவர் கோடி மக்களின்
மனதில் நிற்பவர் யார் } (2)
Millions have lived,
Millions have passed away;
Who stands tall in the hearts of the people?
மாபெரும் வீரர்
மானம் காப்போர்
சரித்திரம் தனிலே
நிற்கின்றார்
Great
Warriors and guardians of self-respect
Stand eternal in history.
அச்சம் என்பது
மடமையடா அஞ்சாமை
திராவிடர் உடமையடா
Fear
Is foolishness, my friend.
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
ஆறிலும் சாவு
நூறிலும் சாவு
{ தாயகம் காப்பது
கடமையடா } (2)
Whether at six
Or at a hundred, death is inevitable.
Protecting the motherland is our duty, my friend.
அச்சம் என்பது
மடமையடா அஞ்சாமை
திராவிடர் உடமையடா
Fear
Is foolishness, my friend.
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
Acham
Fear
Enbathu madamaiyada
Is foolishness, my friend.
{ Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada } (2)
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
{ Acham
Fear
Enbathu madamaiyada
Is foolishness, my friend.
Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada } (2)
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
Aarilum
Whether at six
Saavu noorilum saavu
Or at a hundred, death is inevitable.
{ Thaayagam kaapathu kadamaiyada } (2)
Protecting the motherland is our duty, my friend.
Acham
Fear
Enbathu madamaiyada
Is foolishness, my friend.
Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
Kanaga
Kanaga
Vijayarin mudithalai
And Vijaya's crowned heads
Nerithu kallinai vaithaan
Were crushed, and a stone was placed upon them
Seramagan aaa aaa…..
By the Chera king's son...
Kanaga
Kanaga
Vijayarin mudithalai
And Vijaya's crowned heads
Nerithu kallinai vaithaan
Were crushed, and a stone was placed upon them
Seramagan
By the Chera king's son.
Imaya
At the Himalayan
Varambinil meen
Borders, the fish
Kodi yetri isaipada
Flag was hoisted with fame
Vaazhnthaan pandiyanae
By the Pandya king who lived gloriously.
Acham
Fear
Enbathu madamaiyada
Is foolishness, my friend.
Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
Karuvinil
In the womb
Valarum mazhalaiyin
As the child grows,
Udalil thairiyam valarpal
Courage in its body is nurtured by
Thamizhannai aaaa ……
The Tamil Mother...
Karuvinil
In the womb
Valarum mazhalaiyin
As the child grows,
Udalil thairiyam valarpal
Courage in its body is nurtured by
Thamizhannai
The Tamil Mother.
Kalangam
If dishonor
Piranthaal petraval maanam
Arises, to protect the honor of the mother who bore him,
Kaathida ezhuvan aval pillai
Her son shall rise.
Acham
Fear
Enbathu madamaiyada
Is foolishness, my friend.
Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
{ Vaazhnthavar
Millions have lived,
Kodi marainthavar kodi
Millions have passed away;
Makkalin manathil nirpavar yaar } (2)
Who stands tall in the hearts of the people?
Maaperum
Great
Veerar maanam kaapor
Warriors and guardians of self-respect
Sarithiram thanilae nirkindrar
Stand eternal in history.
Acham
Fear
Enbathu madamaiyada
Is foolishness, my friend.
Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
Aarilum
Whether at six
Saavu noorilum saavu
Or at a hundred, death is inevitable.
{ Thaayagam kaapathu kadamaiyada } (2)
Protecting the motherland is our duty, my friend.
Acham
Fear
Enbathu madamaiyada
Is foolishness, my friend.
Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada
Fearlessness is the asset of Dravidians.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic anthem from Mannadhi Mannan (1960), written by Kaviarasu Kannadasan and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan for M. G. Ramachandran, serves as an inspiring declaration of courage and Tamil pride. The song posits that fear is foolishness and that valor is an inherent characteristic of Dravidians. Reminding the listener that death is inevitable regardless of age—whether at six or a hundred—it establishes defending the motherland as the highest moral obligation. To reinforce its central ethos, the lyricist draws upon celebrated historical legends, invoking Cheran Senguttuvan's conquest over Northern monarchs Kanaga and Vijaya to secure stone from the Himalayas, as well as the Pandya dynasty's triumph in planting their fish flag on the northern borders. It asserts that mothers instill bravery into Tamil children right from the womb, concluding that while countless millions live and perish in anonymity, history remembers only those heroic souls who defend honor and righteousness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Acham / Enbathu madamaiyada / Anjamai dravidar udamaiyada”
Repetition of the initial 'A' vowel sound across lines ('Acham', 'Anjamai', 'Aarilum') creates rhythmic emphasis and lyrical strength.
Historical Allusion (Puranaanooru & Silappatikaram motifs)
“Kanaga / Vijayarin mudithalai / Nerithu kallinai vaithaan / Seramagan”
Refers to Tamil epic history where Cheran Senguttuvan subdues kings Kanaga and Vijaya to bring stone from the Himalayas for Kannagi's memorial idol.
Aphorism / Maxims
“Aarilum / Saavu noorilum saavu”
Employs a famous Tamil philosophical maxim ('Aarilum saavu noorilum saavu') emphasizing the inevitability of death to inspire fearless action.
Did you know?
Trivia
The music for this movie was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, and sung by T. M. Soundararajan. The phrase 'Aarilum saavu noorilum saavu' became one of M. G. Ramachandran's most famous onscreen dialogues/lines, heavily influencing pop culture and political rhetoric in Tamil Nadu for decades.
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