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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Dhesamengum Viduthalai

From Thooya Ullam · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Details
Thooya Ullam1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Dhesam engum viduthalai vizhaFreedom festival across the nation,
Veera thiru vilanghum vettri thiruvizhaA victorious festival shining with heroic glory,
Chorus :Dhesam engum viduthalai vizhaChorus: Freedom festival across the nation,
Veera thiru vilanghum vettri thiruvizhaA victorious festival shining with heroic glory,
Dhesam engum viduthalai vizhaFreedom festival across the nation,
Female
Ezhai endrum adimai endrumNo one as poor or slave,
EvanumillaiyaeThere is no one,
Ezhai endrum adimai endrumNo one as poor or slave,
EvanumillaiyaeThere is no one,
Engal bharathiyin vaarthaigal polaeJust like our poet Bharathi's words,
Hoo o oHoo o o,
Chorus
Dhesam engum viduthalai vizhaFreedom festival across the nation,
Veera thiru vilanghum vettri thiruvizhaA victorious festival shining with heroic glory,
Dhesam engum viduthalai vizhaFreedom festival across the nation,
Male
Hoo o o o o….Hoo o o o o....,
Suthandhiram vandhavudan thoonghivittomaeDid we fall asleep as soon as independence arrived?
Sonnadhellaam marandhu naam nadanthu vittomaeDid we walk forgetting all that was promised?
Suthandhiram vandhavudan thoonghivittomaeDid we fall asleep as soon as independence arrived?
Sonnadhellaam marandhu naam nadanthu vittomaeDid we walk forgetting all that was promised?
Sadhanaiyo siridhum illai thalarndhu vittomaeThere are no achievements at all, we have become tired,
Palanillamal medai yeri pesigindromaeWithout results, we climb platforms and speak speeches,
Male
Sendra kaalam konjamillaiyeConsiderable time has passed,
Namm sindhai pola seigai illayaeOur actions do not match our thoughts,
Chorus :Sendra kaalam konjamillaiyeChorus: Considerable time has passed,
Namm sindhai pola seigai illayaeOur actions do not match our thoughts,
Sendra kaalam konjamillaiyeConsiderable time has passed,
Male
Kazhughu pola vilaigalellam parakkudhu ingaePrices fly high like eagles here,
Kalviynmai kollai laabam valarndhadhu ingaeIlliteracy and huge profits grew here,
Female :Kazhughu pola vilaigalellam parakkudhu ingaeFemale: Prices fly high like eagles here,
Kalviynmai kollai laabam valarndhadhu ingaeIlliteracy and huge profits grew here,
Male
Velai illaa thindattam perugudhu ingaeUnemployment struggle is increasing here,
Vendi nindra unmaiyaana suthanthiram engaeWhere is the true freedom that was sought?
Irulil veezhndha dhesamaanadhaeThe nation has fallen into darkness,
Adhai enni paarkka vandha naalidhaeThis is the day that arrived to ponder upon that,
Chorus :Irulil veezhndha dhesamaanadhaeChorus: The nation has fallen into darkness,
Adhai enni paarkka vandha naalidhaeThis is the day that arrived to ponder upon that,
Irulil veezhndha dhesamaanadhaeThe nation has fallen into darkness,
Adhai enni paarkka vandha naalidhaeThis is the day that arrived to ponder upon that,
Female
Dhesam engum viduthalai vizhaFreedom festival across the nation,
Veera thiru vilanghum vettri thiruvizhaA victorious festival shining with heroic glory,
Chorus :Dhesam engum viduthalai vizhaChorus: Freedom festival across the nation,
Veera thiru vilanghum vettri thiruvizhaA victorious festival shining with heroic glory,
Dhesam engum viduthalai vizhaFreedom festival across the nation,
Male
Padhavi vettai lunja oozhal malindhu vittadhaePower hunting, bribery, and corruption have abounded,
Padhukki vaikkum koottamingae niraindha vittadhaeThe crowd that hoards has filled this place,
Female :Padhavi vettai lunja oozhal malindhu vittadhaeFemale: Power hunting, bribery, and corruption have abounded,
Padhukki vaikkum koottamingae niraindha vittadhaeThe crowd that hoards has filled this place,
Male
Madha virodham jaadhi sandai valarndhu vittadheReligious animosity and caste fights have grown,
Madha virodham jaadhi sandai valarndhu vittadheReligious animosity and caste fights have grown,
Manidhanaiye manidhn thinnum kaalam aandheThis became a time when man devours man,
Idhu suyanalathaal vandhadhallavaIs this not born out of selfishness?
Idhai tholaippadhum namm kadamai allavaIs it not our duty to eliminate this?
Chorus :Suyanalathaal vandhadhallavaChorus: Is this not born out of selfishness?
Idhai tholaippadhum namm kadamai allavaIs it not our duty to eliminate this?
Suyanalathaal vandhadhallavaSuyanalathaal vandhadhallava,
Idhai tholaippadhum namm kadamai allavaIs it not our duty to eliminate this?
Male
Ellaarum ellaamum pera vendumEveryone must get everything,
Chorus :PeravendumChorus: Must get,
Male :Illamai illamal aravendumMale: Poverty must be completely eradicated,
Chorus :AravendumChorus: Must be eradicated,
Female
Ellaarum ellaamum pera vendumEveryone must get everything,
Illamai illamal aravendumPoverty must be completely eradicated,
Chorus :Ellaarum ellaamum pera vendumChorus: Everyone must get everything,
Illamai illamal aravendumPoverty must be completely eradicated,
Male
Indha vaazhvinai yeidhiAchieving this life,
Vaazhndhidum naalaeThe day we live like this,
Inba thaayagam ulaginil engumIs the day our joyful motherland everywhere in the world,
Oliyum manamum adaiyum naalaamWill attain light and fragrance,
Male
Hoo..o o o o….Hoo..o o o o....,
Chorus
Vaazhga thaayagam vaazhiyavaeLong live the motherland, may it flourish!
Vaazhga thaayagam vaazhiyavaeLong live the motherland, may it flourish!
Vaazhga thaayagam vaazhiyavaeLong live the motherland, may it flourish!
Vaazhga thaayagam vaazhiyavaeLong live the motherland, may it flourish!
Chorus
Vaazhga thaayagam vaazhiyavaeLong live the motherland, may it flourish!
Vaazhga thaayagam vaazhiyavaeLong live the motherland, may it flourish!
Vaazhga thaayagam vaazhiyavaeLong live the motherland, may it flourish!
Vaazhga thaayagam vaazhiyavaeLong live the motherland, may it flourish!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This powerful patriotic song from the 1961 film 'Thooya Ullam' reflects on the state of India post-independence. While celebrating national freedom and referencing Mahakavi Bharathiyar's vision of an egalitarian society free of poverty and slavery, the song sharply critiques societal shortcomings that emerged after independence, such as inflation, corruption, hoarding, unemployment, and communal divide.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kazhughu pola vilaigalellam parakkudhu ingae

Compares rising prices of commodities to eagles soaring high in the sky.

Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

Padhavi vettai lunja oozhal malindhu vittadhae / Padhukki vaikkum koottamingae niraindha vittadhae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines to create rhythmic lyricism.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Vaazhga thaayagam vaazhiyavae

Repeated blessing of the motherland to reinforce nationalistic fervor at the conclusion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by legendary lyricist Kannadasan and composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao, 'Dhesam Engum Viduthalai Vizha' stands out as a rare post-independence introspection song in Tamil cinema. Rather than purely celebrating independence, Kannadasan used Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's reformist principles to hold a mirror to contemporary socio-economic issues like inflation and corruption.

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