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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Che Guevara

From Kanithan · 2016

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Drums Sivamani
Details
Kanithan2016

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Nee naan naan neeYou are me, I am you
Naam jaippomWe shall win
Vaal naan thol neeI am the sword, you are the shoulder
Naam jaippomWe shall win
Male
Che guevara che guevaraChe Guevara, Che Guevara
Neeyum naanum che gueveraYou and I are Che Guevara
Male
Aayuthangal thevai illaiWeapons are not needed
Oodagangal kaiyil unduWe have media in our hands
Oodagam ennum kaigal munnaeBefore the hands known as the media
Aayutham enna seiyumWhat can a mere weapon do?
Male
Kaattru pogaatha pakkam koodaEven in places where the wind cannot reach
Kanngal paarkkum en thozhaOur eyes will see, my friend
Naadu muzhkindra poril sethaalIf you die in a war that saves the nation
Endrum saavillai vaadaThere is never death for you, come on!
Ithu oodagam kaanum porkkalamThis is a battlefield witnessed by the media
Male
Che guevara che guevaraChe Guevara, Che Guevara
Neeyum naanum che gueveraYou and I are Che Guevara
Male
Vizhuvathum meendum ezhuvathumFalling down and rising up again
Intha ulagamae kanda sarithiramIs a history that this whole world has witnessed
Vizhunthavar meendum ezhunthidumThat those who fell will rise again
Kaalam viraivilae thondrum sathiyamIs a truth that time will soon reveal
Male
Uzhaippavar ennum miga palarThe blood shed by many
Sinthum uthirathai naaigal kudippathaHardworking people, shall dogs drink it?
Uyirinai thucham endruthaan enniConsidering life as something trivial
Iranginom oru kai paarkkavaeWe stepped into the field to challenge and fight
Ithu yutham yutham ini yuthamaeThis is war, war, henceforth war!
Male
Che guevara che guevaraChe Guevara, Che Guevara
Neeyum naanum che gueveraYou and I are Che Guevara
Male
Oodagam ennum raanuvamThe army known as media
Indru ezhunthathae naattai meetkkavaeHas risen today to rescue the nation
Naattinai kaakkum senaigal moondruThe forces protecting the country are three
Indru nammaiyum serthu naangadaToday including us, we are four!
Male
Kanam kanam saagumDying every single moment
Kozhai nee allaYou are not a coward
Yugam yugam vaazhum veeranaeYou are a hero who lives for ages
Kalathilae nindru irakkalaamWe can stand on the battlefield and die
Meendum pirakkalaam enthan thozhanaeTo be reborn again, my friend
Ithu yutham yutham ini yuthamaeThis is war, war, henceforth war!
Chorus
Nee naan naan neeYou are me, I am you
Naam jaippomWe shall win
Vaal naan thol neeI am the sword, you are the shoulder
Naam jaippomWe shall win
Male
Intha padai thorkkinIf this army loses
Ini entha padai vellumWhich army can ever win?
Andam athu athirumpadiMaking the universe shake
Velvom ini vaadaWe shall conquer now, come on!
Chorus
Intha padai thorkkinIf this army loses
Ini entha padai vellumWhich army can ever win?
Andam athu athirumpadiMaking the universe shake
Velvom ini vaadaWe shall conquer now, come on!
Male
Che guevara che guevaraChe Guevara, Che Guevara
Neeyum naanum che gueveraYou and I are Che Guevara
Che guevara che guevaraChe Guevara, Che Guevara
Neeyum naanum che gueveraYou and I are Che Guevara
Male
{Intha padai thorkkin{If this army loses
Ini entha padai vellumWhich army can ever win?
Andam athu athirumpadiMaking the universe shake
Velvom ini vaada} (2)We shall conquer now, come on!} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This anthem from the movie Kanithan serves as a fiery rally for investigative journalists, comparing media professionals to revolutionary figures like Che Guevara. It emphasizes that physical weapons are unnecessary when the power of truth and media can expose injustice even in the darkest corners where even the wind cannot enter. The song elevates journalism to the status of the 'fourth estate' or fourth branch of national defense alongside army, navy, and air force.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Oodagam ennum raanuvam

Compares media to an army ('Oodagam ennum raanuvam') and journalists to Che Guevara ('Neeyum naanum che guevera').

Emoni / Tamil Alliteration (Ethirhai)

Vaal naan thol nee

Rhythmic match of second consonants in adjacent lines ('Vaal' and 'Naam').

Hyperbole

Kaattru pogaatha pakkam kooda

Exaggeration that media eyes can see even where the wind cannot reach ('Kaattru pogaatha pakkam kooda').

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics were written by the legendary Tamil poet and lyricist Pulamaipithan. The song uses revolutionary icon Che Guevara as a symbol for the protagonist's investigative fight against a massive fake certificate mafia in the film.

Keep listening

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