Chittirai Solaigale
From Naan Yen Pirandhen · 1972
- Lyricist
- Bharathidasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Naan Yen Pirandhen1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Sithira cholaigalae | O picturesque groves! |
| Umai nangu thirutha ip paarinilae..ae…ae… | To groom you well on this earth... |
| Male | |
| Sithira cholaigalae | O picturesque groves! |
| Umai nangu thirutha ip paarinilae | To groom you well on this earth, |
| Munnar ethanai thozhargal | How many comrades in the past |
| Ratham sorindhanaro | Spilled their blood |
| Ungal vaerinilae… | At your roots... |
| Ungal vaerinilae… | At your roots... |
| Male | |
| Thaamarai pootha thadaagangalae | O lotus-blooming ponds! |
| Umai thandha akkaalathilae | In those times when you were created, |
| Thaamarai pootha thadaagangalae | O lotus-blooming ponds! |
| Umai thandha akkaalathilae | In those times when you were created, |
| Engal thooimai sagodharar | Did our pure brothers |
| Thoorndhu maraindhadhai sollavo njaalathilae | Get buried and vanish? Shall I proclaim it to the world? |
| Sollavo njaalathilae | Shall I proclaim it to the world? |
| Male | |
| Sithira cholaigalae | O picturesque groves! |
| Umai nangu thirutha ip paarinilae | To groom you well on this earth, |
| Munnar ethanai thozhargal | How many comrades in the past |
| Ratham sorindhanaro | Spilled their blood |
| Ungal vaerinilae… | At your roots... |
| Ungal vaerinilae… | At your roots... |
| Male | |
| Aarthidum endhira koottangalae | O roaring machinery sets! |
| Ungal aadhi andham sollavo | Shall I tell your origin and end? |
| Aarthidum endhira koottangalae | O roaring machinery sets! |
| Ungal aadhi andham sollavo | Shall I tell your origin and end? |
| Neengal oor thozhilaalar uzhaitha uzhaippil | That you arose from the toil of the working class, |
| Udhithadhu mei allavo | Is it not the truth? |
| Udhithadhu mei allavo | Is it not the truth? |
| Male | |
| Thaaraniyae thozhilaalar uzhaippukku | O Earth, to the labor of the working class, |
| Saatchiyum neeyandro | Are you not the witness? |
| Thaaraniyae thozhilaalar uzhaippukku | O Earth, to the labor of the working class, |
| Saatchiyum neeyandro | Are you not the witness? |
| Pasi theerum endraal uyir pogum ena chollum | Saying that if hunger is satiated, life will end, |
| Selvargal needhi nandro | Is the justice of the wealthy right? |
| Selvargal needhi nandro | Is the justice of the wealthy right? |
| Male | |
| Sithira cholaigalae | O picturesque groves! |
| Umai nangu thirutha ip paarinilae | To groom you well on this earth, |
| Sithira cholaigalae | O picturesque groves! |
| Umai nangu thirutha ip paarinilae | To groom you well on this earth, |
| Munnar ethanai thozhargal | How many comrades in the past |
| Ratham sorindhanaro | Spilled their blood |
| Ungal vaerinilae… | At your roots... |
| Ungal vaerinilae… | At your roots... |
சித்திரச் சோலைகளே
உம்மை நன்கு திருத்த இப் பாரினிலே...ஏ ...ஏ...
O picturesque groves!
To groom you well on this earth...
சித்திரச் சோலைகளே
உம்மை நன்கு திருத்த இப் பாரினிலே
முன்னர் எத்தனை தோழர்கள்
ரத்தம் சொரிந்தனரோ
உங்கள் வேரினிலே...
உங்கள் வேரினிலே...
O picturesque groves!
To groom you well on this earth,
How many comrades in the past
Spilled their blood
At your roots...
At your roots...
தாமரை பூத்த தடாகங்களே
உமை தந்த அக்காலத்திலே
தாமரை பூத்த தடாகங்களே
உமை தந்த அக்காலத்திலே
எங்கள் தூய்மைச் சகோதரர்
தூர்ந்து மறைந்ததைச் சொல்லவோ ஞாலத்திலே
சொல்லவோ ஞாலத்திலே
O lotus-blooming ponds!
In those times when you were created,
O lotus-blooming ponds!
In those times when you were created,
Did our pure brothers
Get buried and vanish? Shall I proclaim it to the world?
Shall I proclaim it to the world?
சித்திரச் சோலைகளே
உம்மை நன்கு திருத்த இப் பாரினிலே
முன்னர் எத்தனை தோழர்கள்
ரத்தம் சொரிந்தனரோ
உங்கள் வேரினிலே...
உங்கள் வேரினிலே...
O picturesque groves!
To groom you well on this earth,
How many comrades in the past
Spilled their blood
At your roots...
At your roots...
ஆர்த்திடும் யந்திரக் கூட்டங்களே
உங்கள் ஆதி அந்தம் சொல்லவோ
ஆர்த்திடும் யந்திரக் கூட்டங்களே
உங்கள் ஆதி அந்தம் சொல்லவோ
நீங்கள் ஊர் தொழிலாளர் உழைத்த உழைப்பில்
உதித்தது மெய் அல்லவோ
உதித்தது மெய் அல்லவோ...
O roaring machinery sets!
Shall I tell your origin and end?
O roaring machinery sets!
Shall I tell your origin and end?
That you arose from the toil of the working class,
Is it not the truth?
Is it not the truth?
தாரணியே தொழிலாளர் உழைப்புக்கு
சாட்சியும் நீயன்றோ
தாரணியே தொழிலாளர் உழைப்புக்கு
சாட்சியும் நீயன்றோ
பசி தீரும் என்றால்
உயிர் போகும் எனச் சொல்லும்
செல்வர்கள் நீதி நன்றோ
செல்வர்கள் நீதி நன்றோ
O Earth, to the labor of the working class,
Are you not the witness?
O Earth, to the labor of the working class,
Are you not the witness?
Saying that if hunger is satiated, life will end,
Is the justice of the wealthy right?
Is the justice of the wealthy right?
சித்திரச் சோலைகளே
உம்மை நன்கு திருத்த இப் பாரினிலே
சித்திரச் சோலைகளே
உம்மை நன்கு திருத்த இப் பாரினிலே
முன்னர் எத்தனை தோழர்கள்
ரத்தம் சொரிந்தனரோ
உங்கள் வேரினிலே...
உங்கள் வேரினிலே...
O picturesque groves!
To groom you well on this earth,
O picturesque groves!
To groom you well on this earth,
How many comrades in the past
Spilled their blood
At your roots...
At your roots...
Sithira cholaigalae
O picturesque groves!
Umai nangu thirutha ip paarinilae..ae…ae…
To groom you well on this earth...
Sithira cholaigalae
O picturesque groves!
Umai nangu thirutha ip paarinilae
To groom you well on this earth,
Munnar ethanai thozhargal
How many comrades in the past
Ratham sorindhanaro
Spilled their blood
Ungal vaerinilae…
At your roots...
Ungal vaerinilae…
At your roots...
Thaamarai pootha thadaagangalae
O lotus-blooming ponds!
Umai thandha akkaalathilae
In those times when you were created,
Thaamarai pootha thadaagangalae
O lotus-blooming ponds!
Umai thandha akkaalathilae
In those times when you were created,
Engal thooimai sagodharar
Did our pure brothers
Thoorndhu maraindhadhai sollavo njaalathilae
Get buried and vanish? Shall I proclaim it to the world?
Sollavo njaalathilae
Shall I proclaim it to the world?
Sithira cholaigalae
O picturesque groves!
Umai nangu thirutha ip paarinilae
To groom you well on this earth,
Munnar ethanai thozhargal
How many comrades in the past
Ratham sorindhanaro
Spilled their blood
Ungal vaerinilae…
At your roots...
Ungal vaerinilae…
At your roots...
Aarthidum endhira koottangalae
O roaring machinery sets!
Ungal aadhi andham sollavo
Shall I tell your origin and end?
Aarthidum endhira koottangalae
O roaring machinery sets!
Ungal aadhi andham sollavo
Shall I tell your origin and end?
Neengal oor thozhilaalar uzhaitha uzhaippil
That you arose from the toil of the working class,
Udhithadhu mei allavo
Is it not the truth?
Udhithadhu mei allavo
Is it not the truth?
Thaaraniyae thozhilaalar uzhaippukku
O Earth, to the labor of the working class,
Saatchiyum neeyandro
Are you not the witness?
Thaaraniyae thozhilaalar uzhaippukku
O Earth, to the labor of the working class,
Saatchiyum neeyandro
Are you not the witness?
Pasi theerum endraal uyir pogum ena chollum
Saying that if hunger is satiated, life will end,
Selvargal needhi nandro
Is the justice of the wealthy right?
Selvargal needhi nandro
Is the justice of the wealthy right?
Sithira cholaigalae
O picturesque groves!
Umai nangu thirutha ip paarinilae
To groom you well on this earth,
Sithira cholaigalae
O picturesque groves!
Umai nangu thirutha ip paarinilae
To groom you well on this earth,
Munnar ethanai thozhargal
How many comrades in the past
Ratham sorindhanaro
Spilled their blood
Ungal vaerinilae…
At your roots...
Ungal vaerinilae…
At your roots...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This powerful reformist poem written by revolutionary poet Bharathidasan pays tribute to the sacrifices of the working class. Addressing elements of nature and human creation—such as manicured groves, lotus ponds, and industrial machinery—the poet reminds them that their existence and beauty are built upon the blood, sweat, and lives of fallen laborers. The song sharply critiques economic inequality and questions the moral justice of wealthy oppressors who exploit workers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Apostrophe (Personification)
“Sithira cholaigalae”
Directly addressing non-human entities like manicured groves, lotus ponds, machines, and the earth as if they can hear and witness labor history.
Metaphor
“Ratham sorindhanaro Ungal vaerinilae…”
Comparing the nourishment of tree roots to the blood spilled by workers who cleared and cultivated the lands.
Rhetorical Question
“Selvargal needhi nandro”
Asking whether the self-serving justice and logic of the rich is truly fair, prompting reflection from the audience.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Ungal vaerinilae…”
Repeating key phrases to emphasize the sacrifice of comrades and the eternal truth of worker labor.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by 'Puratchi Kavinjar' Bharathidasan, this iconic labor anthem was featured in the 1972 M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) film 'Naan Yen Pirandhen'. The movie's music was scored by the duo Shankar-Ganesh, and the track was famously rendered by T. M. Soundararajan.
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