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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Anbukku Naan Adimai

From Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga · 1977

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Anbukku naan adimai…I am a slave to love...
Thamizh panbukku naan adimai…I am a slave to Tamil culture...
Anbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to love
Thamizh panbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to Tamil culture
Male
Anbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to love
Thamizh panbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to Tamil culture
Anbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to love
Thamizh panbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to Tamil culture
Nalla kolgaikku naan adimaiI am a slave to good principles
Thondar koottatthil naan adimaiI am a slave among the crowd of volunteers
Nalla kolgaikku naan adimaiI am a slave to good principles
Thondar koottatthil naan adimaiI am a slave among the crowd of volunteers
Male
Anbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to love
Thamizh panbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to Tamil culture
Male
Inbangal ingae pongi vazhiyumHere overflowing with pleasures
Mugangal naan paarkkirenI see faces
Idhayam ellaam paalaivanam polLike a desert in every heart
Irukkum nilai paarkkirenI see the state that exists
Male
Inbangal ingae pongi vazhiyumHere overflowing with pleasures
Mugangal naan paarkkirenI see faces
Idhayam ellaam paalaivanam polLike a desert in every heart
Irukkum nilai paarkkirenI see the state that exists
Male
Anbu panivu adakkam engaeWhere are love, humility, and modesty?
Thaedi paarthaen thenpadavillaiI searched and looked, but could not find them
Male
Anbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to love
Thamizh panbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to Tamil culture
Male
Kudikkum neera vilaigal pesiBargaining over the price of drinking water
Kodukkum koottam angaeThere is a crowd selling it over there
Irukkum kaasai thanneer polaeThrowing away available money like water
Iraikkum koottam ingaeHere is a crowd squandering it over here
Male
Kudikkum neera vilaigal pesiBargaining over the price of drinking water
Kodukkum koottam angaeThere is a crowd selling it over there
Irukkum kaasai thanneer polaeThrowing away available money like water
Iraikkum koottam ingaeHere is a crowd squandering it over here
Male
Aadai paadhi aalum paadhiHalf clothes and half human appearance
Arivum paadhi aanadhu ingaeWisdom too has reduced to half here
Male
Anbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to love
Thamizh panbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to Tamil culture
Male
Ullathil ondrum udhatil ondrumOne thing in the heart and another on the lips
Uravu kondeergalaeYou formed relationships like that
Kadamai ganniyam kattuppaattaiDuty, dignity, and discipline
Marandhu poneergalaeYou completely forgot them
Naagareegam enbadhu ellaamAll that is called civilization
Bodhaiyaana paadhai allaIs not an intoxicated path
Male
Anbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to love
Thamizh panbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to Tamil culture
Nalla kolgaikku naan adimaiI am a slave to good principles
Thondar koottatthil naan adimaiI am a slave among the crowd of volunteers
Male
Anbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to love
Thamizh panbukku naan adimaiI am a slave to Tamil culture

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Anbukku Naan Adimai' is an iconic philosophical song from the 1977 Tamil film 'Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga'. The protagonist declares his allegiance to love, Tamil cultural values, noble principles, and dedicated public service. The song critiques the hypocritical and superficial state of modern society, where emotional warmth is replaced by heartless emptiness, commercialization triumphs over basic needs, and superficial trends replace moral wisdom. The lyricist highlights the loss of core values like humility, sincerity, duty, dignity, and discipline, urging people not to mistake superficial indulgence for true civilization. Through a compelling blend of social commentary and cultural pride, the song serves as a moral compass emphasizing humility and moral integrity over material excess.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Emoni)

Anbukku naan adimai / Thamizh panbukku naan adimai

The phrase 'naan adimai' is repeated at the end of consecutive refrain lines to strongly anchor the speaker's commitment to virtues.

Simile (Upamai)

Idhayam ellaam paalaivanam pol

Uses 'pol' (like/as) to compare emotional emptiness in people's hearts to a barren desert ('paalaivanam').

Antithesis (Maranpatta Porul)

Kudikkum neera vilaigal pesi... Irukkum kaasai thanneer polae...

Contrasts two opposing behaviors: commercializing basic drinking water over there versus squandering money like water over here.

Alliterative Allusion (Monai)

Kadamai ganniyam kattuppaattai

Employs 'Ka' alliteration across 'Kadamai', 'Ganniyam', and 'Kattuppaattai' while referencing C. N. Annadurai's famous political and ethical trilogy (Duty, Dignity, Discipline).

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Trivia

'Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga' (1977) was released during the crucial period when M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) transitioned into political leadership. The line 'Kadamai ganniyam kattuppaattai' explicitly echoes the three guiding principles coined by DMK founder C. N. Annadurai. The song was written by lyricist Muthulingam, composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and sung by T. M. Soundararajan.

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