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Savale Samali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Annai Bhoomi

From Savale Samali · 1971

Lyricist
Malliyam Rajagopal
Singer
M. S. Vishwanathan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Savale Samali
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
19 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Annai boomi endru mannai
Vanangugirom
Annai boomi endru mannai
Vanangugirom
Ponnai aval tharuvaal nellin maniyaaga
Ponnai aval tharuvaal nellin maniyaaga
Kadhiror muzhamirukkum
Kattadithaal kalamirukkum
Kadhiror muzhamirukkum k
Kattadithaal kalamirukkum
Adhilor mani nellum yaar uzhaithar yena chollum
Adhilor mani nellum yaar uzhaithar yena chollum
Varappae thalagaani
Vaikkolae panju methai
Marappae kidaiyaadhu maanam enum porvaiyundu
Marappae kidaiyaadhu maanam enum porvaiyundu
Uzhaippae mooladhanam
Urimai illaa ezhai janam
Uzhaippae mooladhanam
Urimai illaa ezhai janam
Azhukkae udalil thaan adhanullae vellai manam
Azhukkae udalil thaan adhanullae vellai manam
Annai boomi endru mannai
Vanangugirom…
Calling this soil Mother Earth,
we bow to it in worship.
Calling this soil Mother Earth,
we bow to it in worship.
She gives us gold in the form of grain,
She gives us gold in the form of grain.
Each stalk of grain grows a forearm long,
and threshing it fills the threshing floor.
Each stalk of grain grows a forearm long,
and threshing it fills the threshing floor.
Every single grain in it tells who toiled for it.
Every single grain in it tells who toiled for it.
The field's mud ridge is our pillow,
dry straw is our cotton mattress,
We never forget our ways, wrapped in the blanket of dignity.
We never forget our ways, wrapped in the blanket of dignity.
Hard work is our only capital,
we are poor folk with no rights.
Hard work is our only capital,
we are poor folk with no rights.
Dirt is only on our bodies, inside lies a pure heart.
Dirt is only on our bodies, inside lies a pure heart.
Calling this soil Mother Earth,
we bow to it in worship...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Savale Samali' is a profound ode to Mother Earth and the noble farming community. It portrays the humble yet dignified lives of farmers who revere the soil as a deity that yields golden crops of paddy in exchange for their honest labor. Despite enduring poverty and lacking material luxuries, farmers find satisfaction in their hard work. The lyrics emphasize that while their bodies may be stained with field soil, their hearts remain pure, untainted, and filled with integrity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Ponnai aval tharuvaal nellin maniyaaga”

Paddy grains are directly compared to gold ('Ponnai aval tharuvaal nellin maniyaaga'), field ridges to pillows ('Varappae thalagaani'), and honor to a blanket ('maanam enum porvaiyundu').

Contrast / Anthesis

“Azhukkae udalil thaan adhanullae vellai manam”

Contrasts physical dirt on the outside of the farmer's body with the pure white purity of their heart inside.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Varappae thalagaani Vaikkolae panju methai”

Repetition of the initial letter/sound sound across words ('Varappae' / 'Vaikkolae', 'Uzhaippae' / 'Urimai').

Did you know?

Trivia

Savale Samali (1971) stars Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with vocals provided by T. M. Soundararajan. The song stands as one of Tamil cinema's most famous tributes to agriculture and the dignity of manual labor.

Keep listening

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