Bhoomi Yenna Bhoomi
From Uzhaithu Vaazha Vendum · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Devendran
- Details
- Uzhaithu Vaazha Vendum1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi | What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth. |
| Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami | What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god. |
| Thunbangal kandaal kanmoodi kondaal | If it closes its eyes upon seeing sufferings, |
| Koyilgalum ingae thevaiyaa | Are temples even needed here? |
| Male | |
| Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi | What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth. |
| Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami | What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god. |
| Male | |
| Thuttukkaaga ennenna vashangal | What sort of deceptions exist just for the sake of money! |
| Kettu pona pinnaalae koshangal | Slogans raised only after everything gets ruined! |
| Oottukkaaga ennenna jaalangal | What sort of tricks played just for sustenance! |
| Oodum neeril pottaargal kolangal | They drew kolams (patterns) on running water. |
| Male | |
| Vannangal suvar engum vannangal | Colors, everywhere on the walls are colors. |
| Chinnangal avamaana chinnangal | Symbols, shameful symbols. |
| Ipothu vaadhaadu eppothum poraadu | Debate now, fight always! |
| Paattu paadi panjam theeraathu | Poverty will not end merely by singing songs. |
| Male | |
| Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi | What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth. |
| Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami | What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god. |
| Male | |
| Kattupaadu endrellam kooruvaan | He preaches discipline and self-control, |
| Kaasukkaaga mathamellam maaruvaan | Yet changes his religion for money. |
| Katchikkaaga veeran pola pesuvaan | He speaks like a hero for the sake of his party, |
| Kaasai vaangi kondaalo yaeshuvaan | Yet once he accepts a bribe, he hurls abuses/scolds. |
| Male | |
| Pitchaithaan ellaamae pitchaithaan | Everything is just alms, pure alms. |
| Kotchaithaan nigalkaalam kotchaithaan | The present era is vulgar, pure vulgarity. |
| Yuththangal illaamal raththangal sinthaamal | Without wars and without shedding blood, |
| Yaezhai vaazha yogam illaiyo | Is there no fortune for the poor to live? |
| Male | |
| Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi | What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth. |
| Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami | What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god. |
| Male | |
| Karunai konda nenjangal dheivangal | Compassionate hearts are the true gods. |
| Kanneer maattrum ullangal koyilgal | Hearts that wipe away tears are the real temples. |
| Puththan gaandhi sonnaargal paadangal | Buddha and Gandhi taught us lessons, |
| Purinthu kondathu yaarendru paarungal | Look around and see who has actually understood them. |
| Male | |
| unmaikku oru naalum azhivillai | Truth never faces destruction on any day. |
| Nanmaikku oru naalum mudivillai | Goodness never comes to an end on any day. |
| Maaratha anbodu vaazhgindra panbaadu | A culture living with unwavering love, |
| Konda ullam koyil aagaathaa…. | Won't a heart possessing it become a temple? |
| Male | |
| Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi | What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth. |
| Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami | What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god. |
| Thunbangal kandaal kanmoodi kondaal | If it closes its eyes upon seeing sufferings, |
| Koyilgalum ingae thevaiyaa | Are temples even needed here? |
| Male | |
| Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi | What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth. |
| Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami | What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god. |
பூமி என்ன பூமி இது ஏழை பூமி
சாமி என்ன சாமி அது கோழை சாமி
துன்பங்கள் கண்டால் கண்மூடி கொண்டால்
கோயில்களும் இங்கே தேவையா...
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
If it closes its eyes upon seeing sufferings,
Are temples even needed here?
பூமி என்ன பூமி இது ஏழை பூமி
சாமி என்ன சாமி அது கோழை சாமி
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
துட்டுக்காக என்னென்ன வேஷங்கள்
கெட்டுப் போன பின்னாலே கோஷங்கள்
ஓட்டுக்காக என்னென்ன ஜாலங்கள்
ஓடும் நீரில் போட்டார்கள் கோலங்கள்
What sort of deceptions exist just for the sake of money!
Slogans raised only after everything gets ruined!
What sort of tricks played just for sustenance!
They drew kolams (patterns) on running water.
வண்ணங்கள் சுவர் எங்கும் வண்ணங்கள்
சின்னங்கள் அவமான சின்னங்கள்
இப்போது வாதாடு எப்போதும் போராடு
பாட்டுப் பாடி பஞ்சம் தீராது......
Colors, everywhere on the walls are colors.
Symbols, shameful symbols.
Debate now, fight always!
Poverty will not end merely by singing songs.
பூமி என்ன பூமி இது ஏழை பூமி
சாமி என்ன சாமி அது கோழை சாமி
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
கட்டுப்பாடு என்றெல்லாம் கூறுவான்
காசுக்காக மதமெல்லாம் மாறுவான்
கட்சிக்காக வீரன் போல் பேசுவான்
காசை வாங்கிக் கொண்டாலோ ஏசுவான்
He preaches discipline and self-control,
Yet changes his religion for money.
He speaks like a hero for the sake of his party,
Yet once he accepts a bribe, he hurls abuses/scolds.
பிச்சைதான் எல்லாமே பிச்சைதான்
கொச்சைதான் நிகழ்காலம் கொச்சைதான்
யுத்தங்கள் இல்லாமல் ரத்தங்கள் சிந்தாமல்
ஏழை வாழ யோகம் இல்லையோ...
Everything is just alms, pure alms.
The present era is vulgar, pure vulgarity.
Without wars and without shedding blood,
Is there no fortune for the poor to live?
பூமி என்ன பூமி இது ஏழை பூமி
சாமி என்ன சாமி அது கோழை சாமி
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
கருணை கொண்ட நெஞ்சங்கள் தெய்வங்கள்
கண்ணீர் மாற்றும் உள்ளங்கள் கோயில்கள்
புத்தன் காந்தி சொன்னார்கள் பாடங்கள்
புரிந்து கொண்டது யாரென்று பாருங்கள்
Compassionate hearts are the true gods.
Hearts that wipe away tears are the real temples.
Buddha and Gandhi taught us lessons,
Look around and see who has actually understood them.
உண்மைக்கு ஒரு நாளும் அழிவில்லை
நன்மைக்கு ஒரு நாளும் முடிவில்லை
மாறாத அன்போடு வாழ்கின்ற பண்பாடு
கொண்ட உள்ளம் கோயில் ஆகாதா......
Truth never faces destruction on any day.
Goodness never comes to an end on any day.
A culture living with unwavering love,
Won't a heart possessing it become a temple?
பூமி என்ன பூமி இது ஏழை பூமி
சாமி என்ன சாமி அது கோழை சாமி
துன்பங்கள் கண்டால் கண்மூடி கொண்டால்
கோயில்களும் இங்கே தேவையா...
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
If it closes its eyes upon seeing sufferings,
Are temples even needed here?
பூமி என்ன பூமி இது ஏழை பூமி
சாமி என்ன சாமி அது கோழை சாமி
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
Thunbangal kandaal kanmoodi kondaal
If it closes its eyes upon seeing sufferings,
Koyilgalum ingae thevaiyaa
Are temples even needed here?
Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
Thuttukkaaga ennenna vashangal
What sort of deceptions exist just for the sake of money!
Kettu pona pinnaalae koshangal
Slogans raised only after everything gets ruined!
Oottukkaaga ennenna jaalangal
What sort of tricks played just for sustenance!
Oodum neeril pottaargal kolangal
They drew kolams (patterns) on running water.
Vannangal suvar engum vannangal
Colors, everywhere on the walls are colors.
Chinnangal avamaana chinnangal
Symbols, shameful symbols.
Ipothu vaadhaadu eppothum poraadu
Debate now, fight always!
Paattu paadi panjam theeraathu
Poverty will not end merely by singing songs.
Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
Kattupaadu endrellam kooruvaan
He preaches discipline and self-control,
Kaasukkaaga mathamellam maaruvaan
Yet changes his religion for money.
Katchikkaaga veeran pola pesuvaan
He speaks like a hero for the sake of his party,
Kaasai vaangi kondaalo yaeshuvaan
Yet once he accepts a bribe, he hurls abuses/scolds.
Pitchaithaan ellaamae pitchaithaan
Everything is just alms, pure alms.
Kotchaithaan nigalkaalam kotchaithaan
The present era is vulgar, pure vulgarity.
Yuththangal illaamal raththangal sinthaamal
Without wars and without shedding blood,
Yaezhai vaazha yogam illaiyo
Is there no fortune for the poor to live?
Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
Karunai konda nenjangal dheivangal
Compassionate hearts are the true gods.
Kanneer maattrum ullangal koyilgal
Hearts that wipe away tears are the real temples.
Puththan gaandhi sonnaargal paadangal
Buddha and Gandhi taught us lessons,
Purinthu kondathu yaarendru paarungal
Look around and see who has actually understood them.
unmaikku oru naalum azhivillai
Truth never faces destruction on any day.
Nanmaikku oru naalum mudivillai
Goodness never comes to an end on any day.
Maaratha anbodu vaazhgindra panbaadu
A culture living with unwavering love,
Konda ullam koyil aagaathaa….
Won't a heart possessing it become a temple?
Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
Thunbangal kandaal kanmoodi kondaal
If it closes its eyes upon seeing sufferings,
Koyilgalum ingae thevaiyaa
Are temples even needed here?
Bhoomi enna bhoomi idhu yaezhai bhoomi
What kind of earth is this? This is a poor man's earth.
Saami enna saami adhu kozhai saami
What kind of god is this? That is a cowardly god.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song presents a sharp socio-political critique questioning divine apathy, political hypocrisy, and widespread social inequality. The narrator challenges a silent divine order that ignores the plight of the impoverished, while calling out opportunistic individuals who manipulate religion and political affiliations for personal wealth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhukai (Second letter rhyming)
“Thuttukkaaga ennenna vashangal / Kettu pona pinnaalae koshangal”
Repetition of the second consonant sound 'tt' across consecutive lines (Thuttukkaaga / Kettu / Oottukkaaga).
Rhetorical Question
“Koyilgalum ingae thevaiyaa”
Asking a question not to receive an answer, but to make a strong point about the futility of silent deities.
Metaphor
“Karunai konda nenjangal dheivangal”
Directly equating compassionate human hearts to divine beings and temples.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by lyricist Vairamuthu, this song reflects the rationalist and humanist tradition prominent in Tamil reformist cinema, prioritizing human empathy over ritualistic religious devotion.
Keep listening
More from Uzhaithu Vaazha Vendum
Uzhaithu Vaazha Vendum
Uzhaithu Vaazha Vendum
Uzhaithu Vaazha Vendum
Uzhaithu Vaazha Vendum