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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ellaarum Innaattu Mannaradaa

From Ellorum Innaattu Mannar · 1960

Lyricist
S. Rathinam
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, A. L. Raghavan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
T. G. Lingappa
Details
Ellorum Innaattu Mannar1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ellorum innaattu mannaradaEveryone is a king of this land, my friend.
Chorus :Aaaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…Chorus: Aaaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…
Male :Ingu ilaithavanum valuthavanum illaiyadaMale: Here, there is no weakling or strong person, my friend.
Chorus :Aaaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…Chorus: Aaaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…
Male :Idhu nallorgal solli vaitha unmaiyadaMale: This is the truth spoken by righteous ancestors, my friend.
Chorus :Aaaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…Chorus: Aaaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…
Male :Naanum andha vazhiyae selvomadaMale: We too shall tread upon that same path, my friend.
Chorus :Aaaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…Chorus: Aaaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…
Male
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Urudhi kondu adimai vazhvaiWith determination, a life of slavery,
Udhari thalla vendumWe must shake off and cast away.
Chorus
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Urudhi kondu adimai vazhvaiWith determination, a life of slavery,
Udhari thalla vendumWe must shake off and cast away.
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Male
{Karuvi konda kaigaloduWith hands holding tools,
Ondru kooduvomLet us gather together.
Kai vilangu odiga vendruSo that hand-cuffs break apart,
Murasu kottuvom} (2)Let us beat the drums of victory.
Chorus :Murasu kottuvomChorus: Let us beat the drums.
Male
Tharam uyarndha vaazhvu thannaiA life of high standards,
Naadi ooduvomLet us run towards and seek.
Tharam uyarndha vaazhvu thannaiA life of high standards,
Naadi ooduvom nammaiLet us run towards and seek, against those evil ones,
Thaaztha ennum theeyavarkkuWho seek to degrade us,
Mudivu kattuvomWe shall put an end.
Chorus
HeyyyHeyyy
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Urudhi kondu adimai vazhvaiWith determination, a life of slavery,
Udhari thalla vendumWe must shake off and cast away.
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Male
Kalludaithu mannai vettiBreaking stones and cutting through earth,
Anaigal poduvomWe will build dams.
Chorus :Anaigal poduvomChorus: We will build dams.
Anaigal poduvomWe will build dams.
Male :Thollaiyuttum veenavarkkuMale: To useless people who cause trouble,
Anaigal poduvomWe will put up barriers.
Ingu thollaiyuttum veenavarkkuHere, to useless people who cause trouble,
Anaigal poduvomWe will put up barriers.
Male
Kolla varum vanjanaikkuTo the treacherous who come to destroy,
Anaigal poduivomWe will put up barriers.
Chorus :Anaigal poduvomChorus: We will build dams.
Anaigal poduvomWe will build dams.
Male :Nam kudi kedukka varubavarkkumMale: And to those who come to ruin our community,
Anaigal poduvomWe will put up barriers.
Chorus
HeyyyHeyyy
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Urudhi kondu adimai vazhvaiWith determination, a life of slavery,
Udhari thalla vendumWe must shake off and cast away.
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Female
Neelamalai adiyinilae ponnirukkungaAt the base of the Blue Mountains lies gold,
Chorus :Angae ponn irukkungaChorus: There lies gold!
Female :Enga neenda vayal kaatinilaeFemale: In our vast field forests,
Nell irukkungaPaddy grain resides,
Chorus :Angae nell irukkungaChorus: There paddy grain resides!
Female :Neelamalai adiyinilae ponnirukkungaFemale: At the base of the Blue Mountains lies gold,
Enga neenda vayal kaatinilae nell irukkungaIn our vast field forests paddy grain resides.
Aazhiyilae sembavala muthirukkungaIn the ocean depth lie red corals and pearls,
Aazhiyilae sembavala muthirukkungaIn the ocean depth lie red corals and pearls,
Ivai aththanaikum anaigal pottu urimaiyakkuvomWe shall put check-dams and claim rights over all of them!
Chorus
HeyyyHeyyy
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Urudhi kondu adimai vazhvaiWith determination, a life of slavery,
Udhari thalla vendumWe must shake off and cast away.
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Urudhi kondu adimai vazhvaiWith determination, a life of slavery,
Udhari thalla vendumWe must shake off and cast away.
Male
Aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa…..Aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa…..
Chorus :Ondru patta sakthiyaalChorus: With united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.
Ondru patta sakthiyaalWith united strength,
Urimai kaakka vendumWe must protect our rights.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic revolutionary Tamil anthem emphasizes democratic equality, collective labor, and socio-economic self-determination. The lyrics proclaim that everyone in the land is equal—a 'king'—and rejects social stratification based on strength or weakness. It urges working people to unite with their tools, cast off the shackles of servitude, build infrastructure like dams, and claim ownership over the country's rich natural resources ranging from mountain minerals to agricultural yields and ocean treasures.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ondru patta sakthiyaal / Urudhi kondu adimai vazhvai

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Ondru' and 'Urudhi' (nd/ru phonetic weight) or 'Ingu' and 'Idhu'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Thollaiyuttum veenavarkku / Anaigal poduvom

Using the act of building dams ('Anaigal poduvom') metaphorically to mean blocking or putting a stop to evil and treacherous forces.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Ondru patta sakthiyaal / Urimai kaakka vendum

Repeated emphasis on unity and rights ('Ondru patta sakthiyaal / Urimai kaakka vendum') serving as an uplifting chorus refrain.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ellorum Innaattu Mannar' (1960) features iconic egalitarian lyrics written by S. Rathinam. The title phrase reflects the famous social reform slogan popularized in Tamil political discourse emphasizing sovereignty of the common citizen.

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