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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Annamitta Kai

From Annamitta Kai · 1972

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Annamitta Kai1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Annamitta kai…The hand that fed food…
Nanmai aakki vitta kai…The hand that created goodness…
Unai ennai uyara vaithuMaking you and me rise high
Ulagamellaam vaazha vaithuMaking the whole world thrive and live
Male
Annamitta kai…The hand that fed food…
Nanmai aakki vitta kai…The hand that created goodness…
Unai ennai uyara vaithuMaking you and me rise high
Ulagamellaam vaazha vaithuMaking the whole world thrive and live
Male
Annamitta kai…The hand that fed food…
Nanmai aakki vitta kai…The hand that created goodness…
Male
Illaamai neekka vendumPoverty must be eradicated
Thozhil aakkam vendumWork and production must be encouraged
Ingu ellorum vaazha vendumEveryone here must live well
Munnaera enna vendumWhat is needed to progress forward?
Nal ennam vendumGood intentions are needed
Than uzhaippaalae unna vendumOne must eat through one's own hard labor
Male
Illaamai neekka vendumPoverty must be eradicated
Thozhil aakkam vendumWork and production must be encouraged
Ingu ellorum vaazha vendumEveryone here must live well
Munnaera enna vendumWhat is needed to progress forward?
Nal ennam vendumGood intentions are needed
Than uzhaippaalae unna vendumOne must eat through one's own hard labor
Male
Paadupatta kai adhu paattaali kaiThe hand that toiled hard is the worker's hand
Paadupatta kai adhu paattaali kaiThe hand that toiled hard is the worker's hand
Seiyum thozhilai deivamaagaTreating the work performed as god
Nilai niruthi udal varuthiEstablishing dignity while putting strain on the body
Male
Annamitta kai…The hand that fed food…
Nanmai aakki vitta kai…The hand that created goodness…
Male
Panjukkul noolai eduthuTaking thread out of cotton
Pattaadai thoduthuWeaving silk garments
Than maanathai kaatthirukkaTo protect one's dignity and modesty
Mannukkul vetti mudithuDigging deep inside the earth
Pon katti eduthuExtracting blocks of gold
Nam thaevaikku chaerthirukkaStoring them for all our needs
Male
Panjukkul noolai eduthuTaking thread out of cotton
Pattaadai thoduthuWeaving silk garments
Than maanathai kaatthirukkaTo protect one's dignity and modesty
Mannukkul vetti mudithuDigging deep inside the earth
Pon katti eduthuExtracting blocks of gold
Nam thaevaikku chaerthirukkaStoring them for all our needs
Male
Vaazha vaikkum kaiThe hand that enables life
Adhu ezhai makkal kaiThat is the hand of the poor working people
Vaazha vaikkum kaiThe hand that enables life
Adhu ezhai makkal kaiThat is the hand of the poor working people
Kaattai maettai thottamaakkiTransforming forests and mounds into lush gardens
Naattu makkal vaattam pokkiRemoving the suffering and hunger of the nation's people
Male
Annamitta kai…The hand that fed food…
Nanmai aakki vitta kai…The hand that created goodness…
Unai ennai uyara vaithuMaking you and me rise high
Ulagamellaam vaazha vaithuMaking the whole world thrive and live
Male
Annamitta kai…The hand that fed food…
Nanmai aakki vitta kai…The hand that created goodness…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Annamitta Kai' is a socio-political anthem celebrating the dignity of labor and the indispensable role of the working class—farmers, weavers, miners, and laborers—in sustaining society. Written by Vaali for M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), the song emphasizes self-reliance, moral nobility, hard work, and socialist ideals. It glorifies workers as the backbone of humanity, whose labor feeds, clothes, and enriches the world. The song calls for eradicating poverty through honest labor and positive thinking rather than exploitation or idle dependency.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monoreyme / Etukai (Assonance)

Annamitta kai… / Nanmai aakki vitta kai…

Repetition of the second letter 'n' (nn) in 'Annamitta' and 'Nanmai', providing rhythmic cohesion across lines.

Epanalepsis / Repetition

Annamitta kai…

Refrain phrase 'Annamitta kai' is repeated throughout the song to anchor the theme of benevolence and hard labor.

Rhyme / Iyaibu

Illaamai neekka vendum / Thozhil aakkam vendum / Ingu ellorum vaazha vendum

End-rhyme featuring '-vendum' across consecutive lines to emphasize moral imperatives.

Personification / Synecdoche

Vaazha vaikkum kai / Adhu ezhai makkal kai

Using 'kai' (hand) to represent the entirety of the laboring individual and working class.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Annamitta Kai' (1972) was M. G. Ramachandran's last film released under the banner of MGR Pictures before he founded his political party, ADMK, in October 1972. The film's title and lead song were strategically used to reinforce MGR's public image as a champion of the poor and a benevolent giver.

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