Engal Dhraavida Ponnaade
From Maalaiyitta Mangai · 1958
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. R. Mahalingam
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Maalaiyitta Mangai1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vindhiyam kumari idai | Located between the Vindhyas and Kanyakumari, |
| Vilangum thirunaadae ..ae…..ae….aaa… | Oh glorious holy land! |
| Velendhum moovendhar aandirundha thennaadae | Oh southern land ruled by the three great spear-wielding kings! |
| Engal dhraavida ponnaadae… ae… | Our golden Dravidian land... |
| Male | |
| Engal dhraavida ponnaadae… | Our golden Dravidian land... |
| Kalai vaazhum thennaadae… ae.. | Oh southern land where fine arts flourish... |
| Engal dhraavida ponnaadae… | Our golden Dravidian land... |
| Kalai vaazhum thennaadae… | Oh southern land where fine arts flourish... |
| Male | |
| Iyal isai naadagam | Literature, music, and drama, |
| Aram porul inbam | Virtue, wealth, and love, |
| Vilangum senthamizh naadae | Oh glorious land of pure Tamil! |
| Engal dhraavida ponnaadae… | Our golden Dravidian land... |
| Kalai vaazhum thennaadae… | Oh southern land where fine arts flourish... |
| Male | |
| Sariththiram paadum kaaveri | The Kaveri river whose history is sung, |
| Ilam thalirkodi polae odugiraal | Flows like a tender young creeper. |
| Sangam valarndha madhuraiyilae | In Madurai, where the Tamil Sangam flourished, |
| Engal thamizh magal | Our Tamil daughter |
| Thamizh isai paadugiraal | Sings soul-stirring Tamil music. |
| Male | |
| Vizhigalai polae kumariyin melae | Like twin eyes, over Kanyakumari, |
| Meen magal thulli aadugiraal | The fish-goddess leaps and dances. |
| Vilaiyaadum vaigai azhiyaadha poigai | The playful Vaigai river is an eternal reservoir, |
| Dhisai dhorum isai paadum thaai naadae | Oh motherland whose music echoes in every direction! |
| Male | |
| Engal dhraavida ponnaadae… | Our golden Dravidian land... |
| Kalai vaazhum thennaadae… | Oh southern land where fine arts flourish... |
| Male | |
| Singala theevin kadarkkaraiyai | On the seacoast of the island of Lanka, |
| Engal senthamizh thozhar | Our comrades of pure Tamil |
| Azhagu seidhaar | Adorned and beautified it. |
| Egipthiyar naattin nadhikkaraiyil | On the riverbanks of the Egyptian land, |
| Engal ilam thamizh veerar | Our young Tamil warriors |
| Bhavani vandhaar | Paraded in grand majesty. |
| Male | |
| Villavan chaeran paandiya naattin | The archer Chera king married |
| Vel vizhi magalai manam mudiththaan | The spear-eyed maiden of the Pandya kingdom. |
| Vilaigindra selvam valargindra thangam | Yielding prosperity and growing gold, |
| Dhisai dhorum isai paadum thaai naadae | Oh motherland whose music echoes in every direction! |
| Male | |
| Engal dhraavida ponnaadae… | Our golden Dravidian land... |
| Kalai vaazhum thennaadae… | Oh southern land where fine arts flourish... |
| Iyal isai naadagam | Literature, music, and drama, |
| Aram porul inbam | Virtue, wealth, and love, |
| Vilangum senthamizh naadae | Oh glorious land of pure Tamil! |
| Engal dhraavida ponnaadae… | Our golden Dravidian land... |
| Kalai vaazhum thennaadae… | Oh southern land where fine arts flourish... |
விந்தியம் குமரியிடை
விளங்கும் திருநாடே......ஏ....ஏ....ஆஅ....
வேலேந்தும் மூவேந்தர் ஆண்டிருந்த தென்னாடே
எங்கள் திராவிடப் பொன்னாடே....ஏ....
Located between the Vindhyas and Kanyakumari,
Oh glorious holy land!
Oh southern land ruled by the three great spear-wielding kings!
Our golden Dravidian land...
எங்கள் திராவிடப் பொன்னாடே......
கலை வாழும் தென்னாடே....ஏ....
எங்கள் திராவிடப் பொன்னாடே......
கலை வாழும் தென்னாடே
Our golden Dravidian land...
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
Our golden Dravidian land...
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
இயல் இசை நாடகம்
அறம் பொருள் இன்பம்
விலங்கும் செந்தமிழ் நாடே
எங்கள் திராவிடப் பொன்னாடே......
கலை வாழும் தென்னாடே
Literature, music, and drama,
Virtue, wealth, and love,
Oh glorious land of pure Tamil!
Our golden Dravidian land...
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
சரித்திரம் பாடும் காவேரி
இளம் தளிர்க்கொடி போலே ஓடுகிறாள்
சங்கம் வளர்த்த மதுரையிலே
எங்கள் தமிழ் மகள்
தமிழிசை பாடிகிறாள்
The Kaveri river whose history is sung,
Flows like a tender young creeper.
In Madurai, where the Tamil Sangam flourished,
Our Tamil daughter
Sings soul-stirring Tamil music.
விழிகளைப் போலே குமரியின் மேலே
மீன் மகள் துள்ளி ஆடுகிறாள்
விளையாடும் வைகை அழியாத பொய்கை
திசைதோறும் இசை பாடும் தாய்நாடே
Like twin eyes, over Kanyakumari,
The fish-goddess leaps and dances.
The playful Vaigai river is an eternal reservoir,
Oh motherland whose music echoes in every direction!
எங்கள் திராவிடப் பொன்னாடே......
கலை வாழும் தென்னாடே.....
Our golden Dravidian land...
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
சிங்களத் தீவின் கடற்கரையை
எங்கள் செந்தமிழ்த் தோழர்
அழகு செய்தார்
எகிப்திய நாட்டின் நதிக்கரையில்
எங்கள் இளந்தமிழ் வீரர்
பவனி வந்தார்
On the seacoast of the island of Lanka,
Our comrades of pure Tamil
Adorned and beautified it.
On the riverbanks of the Egyptian land,
Our young Tamil warriors
Paraded in grand majesty.
வில்லவன் சேரன் பாண்டிய நாட்டின்
வேல்விழி மகளை மணமுடித்தான்
விளைகின்ற செல்வம் வளர்கின்ற தங்கம்
திசைதோறும் இசை பாடும் தாய்நாடே
The archer Chera king married
The spear-eyed maiden of the Pandya kingdom.
Yielding prosperity and growing gold,
Oh motherland whose music echoes in every direction!
எங்கள் திராவிடப் பொன்னாடே......
கலை வாழும் தென்னாடே
இயல் இசை நாடகம்
அறம் பொருள் இன்பம்
விலங்கும் செந்தமிழ் நாடே
எங்கள் திராவிடப் பொன்னாடே......
கலை வாழும் தென்னாடே......
Our golden Dravidian land...
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
Literature, music, and drama,
Virtue, wealth, and love,
Oh glorious land of pure Tamil!
Our golden Dravidian land...
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
Vindhiyam kumari idai
Located between the Vindhyas and Kanyakumari,
Vilangum thirunaadae ..ae…..ae….aaa…
Oh glorious holy land!
Velendhum moovendhar aandirundha thennaadae
Oh southern land ruled by the three great spear-wielding kings!
Engal dhraavida ponnaadae… ae…
Our golden Dravidian land...
Engal dhraavida ponnaadae…
Our golden Dravidian land...
Kalai vaazhum thennaadae… ae..
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
Engal dhraavida ponnaadae…
Our golden Dravidian land...
Kalai vaazhum thennaadae…
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
Iyal isai naadagam
Literature, music, and drama,
Aram porul inbam
Virtue, wealth, and love,
Vilangum senthamizh naadae
Oh glorious land of pure Tamil!
Engal dhraavida ponnaadae…
Our golden Dravidian land...
Kalai vaazhum thennaadae…
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
Sariththiram paadum kaaveri
The Kaveri river whose history is sung,
Ilam thalirkodi polae odugiraal
Flows like a tender young creeper.
Sangam valarndha madhuraiyilae
In Madurai, where the Tamil Sangam flourished,
Engal thamizh magal
Our Tamil daughter
Thamizh isai paadugiraal
Sings soul-stirring Tamil music.
Vizhigalai polae kumariyin melae
Like twin eyes, over Kanyakumari,
Meen magal thulli aadugiraal
The fish-goddess leaps and dances.
Vilaiyaadum vaigai azhiyaadha poigai
The playful Vaigai river is an eternal reservoir,
Dhisai dhorum isai paadum thaai naadae
Oh motherland whose music echoes in every direction!
Engal dhraavida ponnaadae…
Our golden Dravidian land...
Kalai vaazhum thennaadae…
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
Singala theevin kadarkkaraiyai
On the seacoast of the island of Lanka,
Engal senthamizh thozhar
Our comrades of pure Tamil
Azhagu seidhaar
Adorned and beautified it.
Egipthiyar naattin nadhikkaraiyil
On the riverbanks of the Egyptian land,
Engal ilam thamizh veerar
Our young Tamil warriors
Bhavani vandhaar
Paraded in grand majesty.
Villavan chaeran paandiya naattin
The archer Chera king married
Vel vizhi magalai manam mudiththaan
The spear-eyed maiden of the Pandya kingdom.
Vilaigindra selvam valargindra thangam
Yielding prosperity and growing gold,
Dhisai dhorum isai paadum thaai naadae
Oh motherland whose music echoes in every direction!
Engal dhraavida ponnaadae…
Our golden Dravidian land...
Kalai vaazhum thennaadae…
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
Iyal isai naadagam
Literature, music, and drama,
Aram porul inbam
Virtue, wealth, and love,
Vilangum senthamizh naadae
Oh glorious land of pure Tamil!
Engal dhraavida ponnaadae…
Our golden Dravidian land...
Kalai vaazhum thennaadae…
Oh southern land where fine arts flourish...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song is a majestic ode to the Tamil region and the broader Dravidian land, celebrating its ancient history, geography, arts, and cultural ideals. It outlines the boundaries stretching from the Vindhya mountains down to Kanyakumari, traditionally ruled by the three great Tamil dynasties—the Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas. It glorifies the foundations of Tamil civilization, particularly the three divisions of Tamil ('Muthamizh': Literature, Music, and Drama) and the three classical purusharthas or life goals ('Aram, Porul, Inbam': Virtue, Wealth, and Pleasure).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai Ani (Simile)
“Ilam thalirkodi polae odugiraal”
The flowing movement of the Kaveri River is explicitly compared using 'polae' (like/as) to a delicate, creeping vine.
Personification
“Sariththiram paadum kaaveri”
The Kaveri river is personified as a bard singing the history of the land.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Engal dhraavida ponnaadae… / Kalai vaazhum thennaadae…”
The rhyming end sound '-naadae' creates a melodic cadence throughout the chorus.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Vindhiyam kumari idai / Velendhum moovendhar aandirundha thennaadae”
Matching of the second consonant sound 'ndh' (ந்) across consecutive opening lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Maalaiyitta Mangai' (1958) was produced by lyricist Kannadasan himself under his banner Kannadasan Films. The music was composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and sung powerfully by T. R. Mahalingam. This song played a prominent role during the mid-20th century Tamil linguistic renaissance and political movement, serving as a popular anthem celebrating Tamil identity and Dravidian heritage.
Keep listening
More from Maalaiyitta Mangai
Maalaiyitta Mangai
Maalaiyitta Mangai
Maalaiyitta Mangai
Maalaiyitta Mangai
Maalaiyitta Mangai
Maalaiyitta Mangai