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Lyrics & meaning

Cheran Enge

From Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal · 2017

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Ananthu, Sathyaraj, Mani Kumar
Music director
Bharadwaj
Details
Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal2017

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Cheran engae chozhan engaeWhere is Cheran? Where is Chozhan?
Paandi naadum ponatheThe Pandya land is gone too.
Mannar vamsam aanada mannilIn the land that belonged to royal dynasties,
Mann puzhukkal vaazhuthaeEarthworms are living now.
Male
Cheran engae chozhan engaeWhere is Cheran? Where is Chozhan?
Paandi naadum ponatheThe Pandya land is gone too.
Mannar vamsam aanada mannilIn the land that belonged to royal dynasties,
Mann puzhukkal vaazhuthaeEarthworms are living now.
Male
Thanthai periyaar vantha mannilIn the land where Thanthai Periyar walked,
Manthai nariyaa vaazhvathuIs a herd of foxes living now?
Maanam veeram karpu ellaamSelf-respect, valor, and chastity,
Santhakadaiyaa saervathuAre all ending up in the shanty market!
Male
Tamizhnaattai vittu tamizhLeaving Tamil Nadu, has Tamil
Poe vittathuGone away?
Chorus
Cheran engae chozhan engaeWhere is Cheran? Where is Chozhan?
Paandi naadum ponatheThe Pandya land is gone too.
Mannar vamsam aanada mannilIn the land that belonged to royal dynasties,
Mann puzhukkal vaazhuthaeEarthworms are living now.
Male
Naattai maattrum thozhilaaliyinHe who thought about the home
Veettai paththi yosiththavanOf the worker who changes the nation,
Marumalarchiyin naayaganIs the hero of renaissance,
Marks allavoKarl Marx, isn't he?
Male
Vervaikkaana en vaazhkkaiyaiFor my life meant for hard toil,
Oivukkaaga undaakkinaanHe created time for rest.
May dhinam engal vaazhvukkuIs not May Day a blessing
VaazhththallavoFor our lives?
Male
Moolai mudhalaai vaiththavaraeThose who invest their brains as capital,
Perum mudhalaaligalaai maarugiraarBecome massive capitalists.
Udalai mudhalaai vaiththavaroWhile those who invest their body as capital,
Kaiyil odugal yaenthuvatho..oo….Are left holding begging bowls in hand...
Chorus
Intha ulagam viraivil maattram varumThis world will change very soon,
Mannai uzhaippavar aalum kaalam varumThe era when those who till the soil rule will arrive.
Sooriyan kaattru vaanampolLike the sun, the wind, and the sky,
Engal soththum pothuvaai aagividumOur assets will become common to all.
Male
Samaththuvam thondrividumEquality will emerge,
Tamizha tamizhaO Tamilian! O Tamilian!
Erimalai pongi varum vazhiyilIn the path where a volcano surges,
Erumpugal poochikal enna seiyyumWhat can ants and insects do?
Puligal orr ani saernthuvittaalIf tigers join together in one army,
Bootsvaal koottam enna seiyyumWhat can a crowd of booted soldiers do?
Chorus
Mannan vendaam magudam vendaamNo need for a king, no need for a crown,
Tamizhanaaga vaazhvomLet us live as Tamilians.
Maanam ennum aadaikattiWearing self-respect as clothing,
Manitharaaga maaruvomLet us transform into human beings.
Male
Thanthai periyaar sonna sollaiThe words spoken by Thanthai Periyar,
Sinthaiyil yaettri seyalpaduImbibe in your mind and put into action!
Unnai vendraal ulagai velvaaiIf you conquer yourself, you will conquer the world,
Unnaal mudiyum purappaaduIt is possible for you, set out!
Male
Annai tamil ariyanai yaera aanaiyidu….Order Mother Tamil to ascend the throne...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a social, political, and revolutionary anthem highlighting Tamil pride, Marxist economic reform, and Dravidian self-respect ideology. Written by Vairamuthu, the lyricist laments how a land once ruled by mighty dynasties (Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas) and reformed by visionaries like Thanthai Periyar has fallen into moral and social decay. It calls out economic inequality where physical labor goes unrewarded while capital accumulates among the few, hailing Karl Marx for bringing labor rights and May Day to light. In the latter half, the song turns into a rallying cry for equality, self-respect, and unity among Tamils. It asserts that true human dignity comes from honor and self-improvement rather than monarchy or titles. By urging the youth to internalize progressive thoughts and stand united like a pack of tigers, the song calls for a future where Mother Tamil is restored to her rightful glory and social justice prevails.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagams)

Mannar vamsam aanada mannil / Mann puzhukkal vaazhuthae

Compares corrupt and opportunistic people to 'manthai nariyaa' (herd of foxes) and ordinary passive citizens to 'mann puzhukkal' (earthworms).

Historical Allusion

Thanthai periyaar vantha mannil / Marks allavo

References prominent historic Tamil kingdoms (Chera, Chola, Pandya) as well as global and local social reformers (Karl Marx, Thanthai Periyar).

Rhyme Scheme (Monai & Etukai)

Erimalai pongi varum vazhiyil / Erumpugal poochikal enna seiyyum

Tamil poetic devices of initial sound matching (Monai) and second-letter matching (Etukai) used across lines, such as 'Erimalai' / 'Erumpugal' and 'Mannan' / 'Maanam'.

Rhetorical Question

Udalai mudhalaai vaiththavaro / Kaiyil odugal yaenthuvatho..oo….

Used to provoke critical thinking regarding labor exploitation and societal decline.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal' is a film written and directed by Thangar Bachan starring Prabhu Deva and Bhumika Chawla. The soundtrack was composed by Bharadwaj. This particular track serves as an ideological anthem woven into the narrative to reflect Tamil social consciousness, labor rights, and rationalist movements.

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