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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Bommai Nayagi

From Bommai Nayagi · 2023

Lyricist
Sithan Jayamoorthy
Singer
Ilaya Kamban
Music director
Sundaramurthy KS
Details
Bommai Nayagi2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Therkethi seemaayilaeIn the southern territory,
Seeraazha boomiyilaeIn the fertile land,
Vanga kadalaadumWhere the Bay of Bengal dances,
Anappana kadalooruNear the vibrant Cuddalore,
Male
Pennaiyaarukku adiyilumBelow the Pennai River,
Paravanaaru odi varumThe Paravanar River runs,
Inga vaazhum makka kadhaiyathaanThe story of the people living here,
Adhu varalaara paadi varumIt sings as history.
Male
Thandora adingadaBeat the tom-tom drum,
Saravedi vedingadaaBurst the chain crackers!
Thandora adingadaBeat the tom-tom drum,
Saravedi vedingadaaBurst the chain crackers!
Male
Mundaasa kattungadaTie the turban,
Muttumvaraiyila muttungadaClash until you reach the end!
Mundaasa kattungadaTie the turban,
Muttumvaraiyila muttungadaClash until you reach the end!
Male
Bommai nayagi bommai nayagiBommai Nayagi, Bommai Nayagi,
Bommai nayagiBommai Nayagi,
Puyaleri vaaradaShe comes riding a storm,
Manna kakka thaanTo protect this land,
Mazhaipola vaaraadaShe comes like the rain!
Male
Bommai nayagiBommai Nayagi,
Puyaleri varaadaShe comes riding a storm,
Manna kakka thaanTo protect this land,
Mazhaipola vaaraadaShe comes like the rain!
Male
Moonubogam tharuvaShe gives three harvests a year,
Pakkathuna varuva..aaaa…She stands by your side...
Ye moonubogam tharuvaHey, she gives three harvests,
Pakkathuna varuvaShe stands by your side!
Male
TheemaiyellamAll evil,
Ada theemaiyellamOh, all evil,
Ada theemaiyellam saaya thaanOh, to bring down all evil,
Theettuvaada aruvaShe sharpens her sickle!
Male
Bommai nayagi bommai nayagiBommai Nayagi, Bommai Nayagi,
Bommai nayagiBommai Nayagi,
Puyaleri vaaradaShe comes riding a storm,
Manna kakka thaanTo protect this land,
Mazhaipola vaaraadaShe comes like the rain!
Male
Bommai nayagiBommai Nayagi,
Puyaleri vaaradaShe comes riding a storm,
Manna kakka thaanTo protect this land,
Mazhaipola vaaraadaShe comes like the rain!
Male
Thaithom thaithom thaa thaithai thaaThaithom thaithom thaa thaithai thaa
Ellorum pathu maasam thaandaEveryone is born after ten months in the womb,
Namakkulla saadhi sanda yendaWhy do we fight over caste, my friend?
Male
Ada vaazhkkai idhuOh, this life is,
Nalla varam thaandaA precious boon, my friend!
Vaazha sonnarValluvar taught us,
Valluvar thaandaHow to live properly!
Male
Ada aadhiyila porandhomOh, we were born in the beginning,
Onnaaga irundhomWe stayed united together,
Aanava jaadhiArrogant caste pride,
Un nenjil yendaWhy is it in your heart?
Male
Aan pen rendu saadhiMale and female are the only two castes,
Avvaiyaar sonna needhiThat is the justice Avvaiyar stated!
Aama aan pen rendu saadhiYes, male and female are the only two castes,
Avvaiyaar sonna needhiThat is the justice Avvaiyar stated!
Male
Kelada naan sollum saedhiListen, my friend, to the news I tell,
Kilakku vidiyum thaedhiThe date when the east will dawn!
Kelada naan sollum saedhiListen, my friend, to the news I tell,
Kilakku vidiyum thaedhiThe date when the east will dawn!
Male
Ada neeyenna naan ennaWhat are you and what am I?
Keezhenna mel ennaWhat is low and what is high?
Ellorum onnudaEveryone is equal as one,
Solludhu mannudaThat is what the earth tells us!
Male
Hey anbu thaandaHey, love alone is,
Inga magathuvamThe greatness here!
Idha manusa paya purinjikkittaIf mankind understands this,
Ellaam samathuvamEverything becomes equality!
Male
Hey madha sanda vendamadaHey, no need for religious fights,
Annan thambhi aanomadaWe became brothers!
Yedha kondu poga poromWhat are we going to take with us when we die?
Ellaam sari samamadaEverything is completely equal!
Male
Bommai nayagi bommai nayagiBommai Nayagi, Bommai Nayagi,
Bommai nayagiBommai Nayagi,
Puyaleri vaaradaShe comes riding a storm,
Manna kakka thaanTo protect this land,
Mazhaipola vaaraadaShe comes like the rain!
Male
Bommai nayagiBommai Nayagi,
Puyaleri vaaradaShe comes riding a storm,
Manna kakka thaanTo protect this land,
Mazhaipola vaaraadaShe comes like the rain!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Bommai Nayagi is an energetic folk song set in the Cuddalore region of Tamil Nadu. It begins by praising the geographic richness and coastal culture of the land, celebrating the guardian deity and spirit of Bommai Nayagi who protects the soil like rain and rises like a storm against injustice and evil. As the song progresses, it transforms into a social manifesto against social divisions. By citing classical Tamil moral figures like Thiruvalluvar and Avvaiyar, the lyrics urge people to abandon caste pride and religious disputes, emphasizing that humanity is born equal and that true nobility lies in love, harmony, and egalitarianism.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Mazhaipola vaaraada

Compares the beneficial and life-giving arrival of the protective force to gentle rain.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Puyaleri vaarada

Describes arriving while 'riding a storm' to signify immense power, intensity, and righteousness.

Ethikai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kelada naan sollum saedhi / Kilakku vidiyum thaedhi

The second letters of 'saedhi' and 'thaedhi' match, creating rhythmic flow across lines.

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippeedhu)

Aan pen rendu saadhi / Avvaiyaar sonna needhi

Directly refers to ancient Tamil philosophers Thiruvalluvar and Avvaiyar to validate the message of social equality.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Bommai Nayagi stars Yogi Babu in a acclaimed lead dramatic role depicting a father's struggle for justice in rural Tamil Nadu. The song incorporates traditional folk instruments and regional Cuddalore dialect.

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