En Annai Desame
From Suthanthira Nattin Adimaigal · 1988
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- K. S. Chitra
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Suthanthira Nattin Adimaigal1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| …………………… | ... |
| Female | |
| En annai dhesamae | Oh my motherland! |
| Naan unnai ketkiraen | I am asking you. |
| Oru dharmam vaazhavae naan needhi ketkiraen | I seek justice so righteousness may survive. |
| Engal karangalil yaeno vilangugal | Why are there handcuffs on our hands? |
| Naangal sudhanthira naattin adimaigal | We are slaves in an independent nation. |
| Naangal sudhanthira naattin adimaigal | We are slaves in an independent nation. |
| Female | |
| En annai dhesamae | Oh my motherland! |
| Naan unnai ketkiraen | I am asking you. |
| Oru dharmam vaazhavae naan needhi ketkiraen | I seek justice so righteousness may survive. |
| Female | |
| …………………. | ... |
| Female | |
| {Veyilum illamal mazhaiyum illamal | {Without sunshine and without rain, |
| Kodhikkum nenjodu uzhaikkum varkkangalae | O working class working with boiling hearts! |
| Vidivum illamal mudivum illamal | With no dawn and no end, |
| Pala perin vaazhkkai theruvil nirkkindrathae….} (2) | The lives of many stand abandoned on the street...} (2) |
| Female | |
| Oru gangai vanthae | Even if a Ganges flows |
| Vayalgalil paainthaalenna | And streams into the fields, |
| Vayal engum ingae | Across all the fields here, |
| Kadhirmani saainthaalenna | Even if precious grains bend down in harvest, |
| Varumai kodumai idhuvaa urimai | Poverty is a cruelty; is this our right? |
| Badhil engae engae yaar solla | Where is the answer, who will tell us? |
| Female | |
| En annai dhesamae | Oh my motherland! |
| Naan unnai ketkiraen | I am asking you. |
| Oru dharmam vaazhavae naan needhi ketkiraen | I seek justice so righteousness may survive. |
| Female | |
| ………………… | ... |
| Female | |
| {Oru gandhiyalla oru nooru gandhi | {Not just one Gandhi, even if a hundred Gandhis |
| Piranthaalum engal admai maraathathaa | Are born, will our slavery not disappear? |
| Kalangum kannodu pulambum nenjodu | With tearful eyes and aching hearts, |
| Thudikkindra yaezhai thuyaram theeraathathaa} (2) | Will the suffering of the agonizing poor never end?} (2) |
| Female | |
| Oru veedum illai | We have no home, |
| Kuruviyin koodum illai | Not even a bird's nest. |
| Pasi ondrae kandom | We have known only hunger, |
| Sudhandhira engae kandom | Where have we seen freedom? |
| Kodiyo uyaram nilaiyo thuyaram | The flag flies high, but our status is miserable, |
| vizhiyellaam kanneer kolangal | Our eyes are filled with patterns of tears. |
| Female | |
| En annai dhesamae….. | Oh my motherland... |
| Naan unnai ketkiraen….. | I am asking you... |
| Oru dharmam vaazhavae….. | So righteousness may survive... |
| Naan needhi ketkiraen….. | I seek justice... |
| Engal karangalil yaeno vilangugal….. | Why are there handcuffs on our hands... |
| Naanal sudhanthira naattin adimaigal…. | We are slaves in an independent nation.... |
.................................
...
என் அன்னை தேசமே
நான் உன்னை கேட்கிறேன்
ஒரு தர்மம் வாழவே நான் நீதி கேட்கிறேன்
எங்கள் கரங்களில் ஏனோ விலங்குகள்
நாங்கள் சுதந்திர நாட்டின் அடிமைகள்
நாங்கள் சுதந்திர நாட்டின் அடிமைகள்
Oh my motherland!
I am asking you.
I seek justice so righteousness may survive.
Why are there handcuffs on our hands?
We are slaves in an independent nation.
We are slaves in an independent nation.
என் அன்னை தேசமே
நான் உன்னை கேட்கிறேன்
ஒரு தர்மம் வாழவே நான் நீதி கேட்கிறேன்
Oh my motherland!
I am asking you.
I seek justice so righteousness may survive.
.................................
...
{வெய்யிலும் இல்லாமல் மழையும் இல்லாமல்
கொதிக்கும் நெஞ்சோடு உழைக்கும் வர்க்கங்களே.....
விடிவும் இல்லாமல் முடிவும் இல்லாமல்
பல பேரின் வாழ்க்கை தெருவில் நிற்கின்றதே.....} (2)
{Without sunshine and without rain,
O working class working with boiling hearts!
With no dawn and no end,
The lives of many stand abandoned on the street...} (2)
ஒரு கங்கை வந்தே
வயல்களில் பாய்ந்தாலென்ன
வயல் எங்கும் இங்கே
கதிர்மணி சாய்ந்தாலென்ன
வறுமை கொடுமை இதுவா உரிமை
பதில் எங்கே எங்கே யார் சொல்ல
Even if a Ganges flows
And streams into the fields,
Across all the fields here,
Even if precious grains bend down in harvest,
Poverty is a cruelty; is this our right?
Where is the answer, who will tell us?
என் அன்னை தேசமே
நான் உன்னை கேட்கிறேன்
ஒரு தர்மம் வாழவே நான் நீதி கேட்கிறேன்
Oh my motherland!
I am asking you.
I seek justice so righteousness may survive.
.................................
...
{ஒரு காந்தியல்ல ஒரு நூறு காந்தி
பிறந்தாலும் எங்கள் அடிமை மாறாததா
கலங்கும் கண்ணோடு புலம்பும் நெஞ்சோடு
துடிக்கின்ற ஏழை துயரம் தீராததா} (2)
{Not just one Gandhi, even if a hundred Gandhis
Are born, will our slavery not disappear?
With tearful eyes and aching hearts,
Will the suffering of the agonizing poor never end?} (2)
ஒரு வீடும் இல்லை
குருவியின் கூடும் இல்லை
பசி ஒன்றே கண்டோம்
சுதந்திரம் எங்கே கண்டோம்
கொடியோ உயரம் நிலையோ துயரம்
விழியெல்லாம் கண்ணீர் கோலங்கள்
We have no home,
Not even a bird's nest.
We have known only hunger,
Where have we seen freedom?
The flag flies high, but our status is miserable,
Our eyes are filled with patterns of tears.
என் அன்னை தேசமே.....
நான் உன்னை கேட்கிறேன்......
ஒரு தர்மம் வாழவே......
நான் நீதி கேட்கிறேன்......
எங்கள் கரங்களில் ஏனோ விலங்குகள்.....
நாங்கள் சுதந்திர நாட்டின் அடிமைகள்.....
Oh my motherland...
I am asking you...
So righteousness may survive...
I seek justice...
Why are there handcuffs on our hands...
We are slaves in an independent nation....
……………………
...
En annai dhesamae
Oh my motherland!
Naan unnai ketkiraen
I am asking you.
Oru dharmam vaazhavae naan needhi ketkiraen
I seek justice so righteousness may survive.
Engal karangalil yaeno vilangugal
Why are there handcuffs on our hands?
Naangal sudhanthira naattin adimaigal
We are slaves in an independent nation.
Naangal sudhanthira naattin adimaigal
We are slaves in an independent nation.
En annai dhesamae
Oh my motherland!
Naan unnai ketkiraen
I am asking you.
Oru dharmam vaazhavae naan needhi ketkiraen
I seek justice so righteousness may survive.
………………….
...
{Veyilum illamal mazhaiyum illamal
{Without sunshine and without rain,
Kodhikkum nenjodu uzhaikkum varkkangalae
O working class working with boiling hearts!
Vidivum illamal mudivum illamal
With no dawn and no end,
Pala perin vaazhkkai theruvil nirkkindrathae….} (2)
The lives of many stand abandoned on the street...} (2)
Oru gangai vanthae
Even if a Ganges flows
Vayalgalil paainthaalenna
And streams into the fields,
Vayal engum ingae
Across all the fields here,
Kadhirmani saainthaalenna
Even if precious grains bend down in harvest,
Varumai kodumai idhuvaa urimai
Poverty is a cruelty; is this our right?
Badhil engae engae yaar solla
Where is the answer, who will tell us?
En annai dhesamae
Oh my motherland!
Naan unnai ketkiraen
I am asking you.
Oru dharmam vaazhavae naan needhi ketkiraen
I seek justice so righteousness may survive.
…………………
...
{Oru gandhiyalla oru nooru gandhi
{Not just one Gandhi, even if a hundred Gandhis
Piranthaalum engal admai maraathathaa
Are born, will our slavery not disappear?
Kalangum kannodu pulambum nenjodu
With tearful eyes and aching hearts,
Thudikkindra yaezhai thuyaram theeraathathaa} (2)
Will the suffering of the agonizing poor never end?} (2)
Oru veedum illai
We have no home,
Kuruviyin koodum illai
Not even a bird's nest.
Pasi ondrae kandom
We have known only hunger,
Sudhandhira engae kandom
Where have we seen freedom?
Kodiyo uyaram nilaiyo thuyaram
The flag flies high, but our status is miserable,
vizhiyellaam kanneer kolangal
Our eyes are filled with patterns of tears.
En annai dhesamae…..
Oh my motherland...
Naan unnai ketkiraen…..
I am asking you...
Oru dharmam vaazhavae…..
So righteousness may survive...
Naan needhi ketkiraen…..
I seek justice...
Engal karangalil yaeno vilangugal…..
Why are there handcuffs on our hands...
Naanal sudhanthira naattin adimaigal….
We are slaves in an independent nation....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Suthanthira Nattin Adimaigal (Slaves of an Independent Country) is a poignant protest song that highlights the stark contrast between national independence and the harsh reality of social inequality. The lyricist addresses the motherland directly, questioning why the working-class citizens remain bound by poverty and suffering despite living in a free democratic country. The song expresses deep anguish over the plight of the poor, noting that economic abundance and political idealism have failed to alleviate their misery. Through striking imagery of high-flying flags versus tear-filled eyes, it serves as a powerful critique of societal neglect and unfulfilled post-independence promises.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Irony / Paradox
“Naangal sudhanthira naattin adimaigal”
The core theme presents the irony of people remaining 'slaves' (adimaigal) inside a 'free/independent nation' (sudhanthira naadu).
Antithesis / Contrast
“Kodiyo uyaram nilaiyo thuyaram”
Contrasts the high elevation of the national flag representing pride with the miserable status of the common working citizens.
Monai (Initial Rhyme)
“Veyilum illamal... / Vidivum illamal...”
Repetition of the initial letter 'V' sound across consecutive lines.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Oru veedum illai / Kuruviyin koodum illai”
Rhyming line endings ('illai') creating rhythmic emphasis on loss and deprivation.
Did you know?
Trivia
Penned by the renowned Tamil lyricist and scholar Pulamaipithan, the song reflects his signature style of embedding strong political consciousness and socialist rhetoric into cinematic poetry.
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