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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Andru Bharathi Sonna

From Jadhikkoru Needhi · 1981

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Jadhikkoru Needhi1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Bharatha bhoomi pazhamperum bhoomiThe land of Bharat is an ancient, great land
Neerathan pudhalvar inninaivagattraatheer….You are its children, do not forget this thought...
Male
Andru bharathi sonna vaarththaigalellaamAll the words spoken by Bharathi back then
Pazhasaa pochchu verungathaiyaachchuHave become old and turned into mere stories
Nee pirantha mannil indru unakke idamillaiIn the land where you were born, today you have no place
Intha nilamaithaan innum maaraathoWill this situation not change even now?
Oru vidivelli ingae thondraathoWill a morning star not appear here?
Male
Andru bharathi sonna vaarththaigalellaamAll the words spoken by Bharathi back then
Pazhasaa pochchu verungathaiyaachchuHave become old and turned into mere stories
Nee pirantha mannil indru unakke idamillaiIn the land where you were born, today you have no place
Intha nilamaithaan innum maaraathoWill this situation not change even now?
Oru vidivelli ingae thondraathoWill a morning star not appear here?
Male
Pasiththavan kudisaiyilae pazhanganchi kidaiyaathuIn the hungry person's hut, there is not even old rice porridge
Padaiththavan maaligaiyil paalum sorum kuraiyaathuIn the rich person's palace, milk and rice are never lacking
Pasiththavan kudisaiyilae pazhanganchi kidaiyaathuIn the hungry person's hut, there is not even old rice porridge
Padaiththavan maaligaiyil paalum sorum kuraiyaathuIn the rich person's palace, milk and rice are never lacking
Male
Ilaiththavan yaezhai endraal iruppavan tharamaattaanIf the emaciated person is poor, the wealthy person will not give
Ilaiththavan yaezhai endraal iruppavan tharamaattaanIf the emaciated person is poor, the wealthy person will not give
Thenaaru paayum angae pala vayirugal kaayum ingaeA river of honey flows there, while many stomachs starve here
Male
Andru bharathi sonna vaarththaigalellaamAll the words spoken by Bharathi back then
Pazhasaa pochchu verungathaiyaachchuHave become old and turned into mere stories
Nee pirantha mannil indru unakke idamillaiIn the land where you were born, today you have no place
Intha nilamaithaan innum maaraathoWill this situation not change even now?
Oru vidivelli ingae thondraathoWill a morning star not appear here?
Male
Katta oru nalla thuni kadaiyil vaanga vazhiyaedhuWhere is the way to buy good clothing from a shop to wear?
Pattu sattai sirikkirathu paavi manam kodhikkirathuThe silk shirt laughs while the poor heart boils in anguish
Katta oru nalla thuni kadaiyil vaanga vazhiyaedhuWhere is the way to buy good clothing from a shop to wear?
Pattu sattai sirikkirathu paavi manam kodhikkirathuThe silk shirt laughs while the poor heart boils in anguish
Male
Kottu mazhai veyyilukkellaam kooraiyilae vaasalunduFor pouring rain and scorching heat, there are gaping holes in the roof
Kottu mazhai veyyilukkellaam kooraiyilae vaasalunduFor pouring rain and scorching heat, there are gaping holes in the roof
Ottiya udambu adhilae eththanai thazhumbuOn this skin-and-bones body, how many scars are there?
Male
Andru bharathi sonna vaarththaigalellaamAll the words spoken by Bharathi back then
Pazhasaa pochchu verungathaiyaachchuHave become old and turned into mere stories
Nee pirantha mannil indru unakke idamillaiIn the land where you were born, today you have no place
Intha nilamaithaan innum maaraathoWill this situation not change even now?
Oru vidivelli ingae thondraathoWill a morning star not appear here?
Male
Yaezhai vidum kanneeril erimalaigal uruvaanaalIf volcanoes are formed from the tears shed by the poor
Yaechchu vaazhum koottamellaam engu sendru ilaippaarumWhere will the crowd that lives by exploiting others go to rest?
Yaezhai vidum kanneeril erimalaigal uruvaanaalIf volcanoes are formed from the tears shed by the poor
Yaechchu vaazhum koottamellaam engu sendru ilaippaarumWhere will the crowd that lives by exploiting others go to rest?
Male
Kozhi kooda kazhugaai maarumEven a humble hen will transform into a fierce eagle
Kodhiththezhunthaal thaangaathuIf it boils over in rage, no power can withstand it
Kozhi kooda kazhugaai maarumEven a humble hen will transform into a fierce eagle
Kodhiththezhunthaal thaangaathuIf it boils over in rage, no power can withstand it
Saadhu mirandaal oru sariththiram thondrumWhen the meek person turns furious, a new history will be born
Male
Andru bharathi sonna vaarththaigalellaamAll the words spoken by Bharathi back then
Pazhasaa pochchu verungathaiyaachchuHave become old and turned into mere stories
Nee pirantha mannil indru unakke idamillaiIn the land where you were born, today you have no place
Intha nilamaithaan innum maaraathoWill this situation not change even now?
Oru vidivelli ingae thondraathoWill a morning star not appear here?
Intha nilamaithaan innum maaraathoWill this situation not change even now?
Oru vidivelli ingae thondraatho….Will a morning star not appear here...?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This social commentary song laments how the high ideals and visions of national poet Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi have been reduced to mere words in post-independence India. Despite the nation's rich heritage, severe economic inequality, poverty, and social oppression plague the working class and poor, leaving them with no place to thrive in their own birthplace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Pasiththavan kudisaiyilae pazhanganchi kidaiyaathu / Padaiththavan maaligaiyil paalum sorum kuraiyaathu

The second letters of 'Pasiththavan' and 'Padaiththavan' share the 'di/si' soft consonantal rhyming pattern across complementary lines.

Personification

Pattu sattai sirikkirathu paavi manam kodhikkirathu

The lyricist endows an inanimate object—a silk shirt—with human emotions ('laughs'), contrasting it against the boiling heart of the impoverished person.

Metaphor & Symbolism

Oru vidivelli ingae thondraatho

'Vidivelli' (Morning Star) is used as a metaphor for a savior or the dawn of social revolution and liberation.

Antithesis (Contrast)

Thenaaru paayum angae pala vayirugal kaayum ingae

Direct contrast drawn between the abundance in rich mansions and absolute deprivation in poor huts.

Proverbial Allusion

Saadhu mirandaal oru sariththiram thondrum

Adapts the traditional Tamil proverb 'Saadhu mirandaal kaadu kolladhu' into 'Saadhu mirandaal oru sariththiram thondrum' to forewarn social revolution.

Did you know?

Trivia

The opening lines directly quote Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi's famous patriotic song 'Bharatha Bhoomi Pazhamperum Bhoomi'. Lyricist Pulamaipithan cleverly contrasts Bharathiyar's hopeful nationalist idealism with the harsh social realities and class struggles in the movie 'Jadhikkoru Needhi' (1981).

Keep listening

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