Engal Tamizhinam Thoonguvatho
From Yemaatrathe Yemaarathe · 1985
- Lyricist
- K. Kalimuthu
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Yemaatrathe Yemaarathe1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho | Is our Tamilian sleeping? |
| Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho | Longing for a life in his own land? |
| Inimai thamizhai thedugiren | I am searching for sweet Tamil, |
| Idhayam nondhae vaadugiren | My heart grieves and languishes. |
| Male | |
| Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho | Is our Tamilian sleeping? |
| Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho | Longing for a life in his own land? |
| Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho | Is our Tamilian sleeping? |
| Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho | Longing for a life in his own land? |
| Inimai thamizhai thedugiren | I am searching for sweet Tamil, |
| Idhayam nondhae vaadugiren | My heart grieves and languishes. |
| Male | |
| Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho | Is our Tamilian sleeping? |
| Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho | Longing for a life in his own land? |
| Male | |
| Senthamizh naatin thalainagaram | In the capital of the pure Tamil land, |
| Chennaiyil annai thamizh engae | In Chennai, where is mother Tamil? |
| Senthamizh naatin thalainagaram | In the capital of the pure Tamil land, |
| Chennaiyil annai thamizh engae | In Chennai, where is mother Tamil? |
| Naam thaazhnthuvittom | We have fallen low, |
| Adhai unarndhu vittom | We have realized it, |
| Thamizh maanathai kaathida | To protect the honor of Tamil, |
| Ezhunthiduvom | Let us arise! |
| Male | |
| Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho | Is our Tamilian sleeping? |
| Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho | Longing for a life in his own land? |
| Male | |
| Bharathi isaitha ilangaiyilae | In Sri Lanka, which poet Bharathi sang about, |
| Paindhamil inbathin thuyaram illai | The sweet Tamils knew no sorrow then. |
| Bharathi isaitha ilangaiyilae | In Sri Lanka, which poet Bharathi sang about, |
| Paindhamil inbathin thuyaram illai | The sweet Tamils knew no sorrow then. |
| Ingu eezhathilae avar azhugai oli | Here in Eelam, now the sound of their weeping echoes, |
| Idai vandha kadal avar kanneerae | The ocean separating us is made of their tears. |
| Male | |
| Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho | Is our Tamilian sleeping? |
| Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho | Longing for a life in his own land? |
| Male | |
| Puliyae puliyae vizhithu ezhu | O tiger! O tiger! Wake up and rise! |
| Pootiya vilangai udaithu vidu | Break apart the locked shackles! |
| Puliyae puliyae vizhithu ezhu | O tiger! O tiger! Wake up and rise! |
| Pootiya vilangai udaithu vidu | Break apart the locked shackles! |
| Naam ondru pattaal pagai oodathoo | If we unite, will not the enemy flee? |
| Oru porkaalam ingu malaraadhoo | Will not a golden era blossom here? |
| Male | |
| Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho | Is our Tamilian sleeping? |
| Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho | Longing for a life in his own land? |
| Inimai thamizhai thedugiren | I am searching for sweet Tamil, |
| Idhayam nondhae vaadugiren | My heart grieves and languishes. |
| Male | |
| Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho | Is our Tamilian sleeping? |
| Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho | Longing for a life in his own land? |
எங்கள் தமிழினம் தூங்குவதோ
சொந்த மண்ணில் வாழ்வுக்கு ஏங்குவதோ
இனிமை தமிழை தேடுகிறேன்
இதயம் நொந்தே வாடுகிறேன்...
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Longing for a life in his own land?
I am searching for sweet Tamil,
My heart grieves and languishes.
எங்கள் தமிழினம் தூங்குவதோ
சொந்த மண்ணில் வாழ்வுக்கு ஏங்குவதோ
எங்கள் தமிழினம் தூங்குவதோ
சொந்த மண்ணில் வாழ்வுக்கு ஏங்குவதோ
இனிமை தமிழை தேடுகிறேன்
இதயம் நொந்தே வாடுகிறேன்...
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Longing for a life in his own land?
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Longing for a life in his own land?
I am searching for sweet Tamil,
My heart grieves and languishes.
எங்கள் தமிழினம் தூங்குவதோ
சொந்த மண்ணில் வாழ்வுக்கு ஏங்குவதோ
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Longing for a life in his own land?
செந்தமிழ் நாட்டின் தலைநகராம்
சென்னையில் அன்னை தமிழ் எங்கே
செந்தமிழ் நாட்டின் தலைநகராம்
சென்னையில் அன்னை தமிழ் எங்கே
நாம் தாழ்ந்து விட்டோம் அதை உணர்ந்து விட்டோம்
தமிழ் மானத்தை காத்திட எழுந்திடுவோம்
In the capital of the pure Tamil land,
In Chennai, where is mother Tamil?
In the capital of the pure Tamil land,
In Chennai, where is mother Tamil?
We have fallen low,
We have realized it,
To protect the honor of Tamil,
Let us arise!
எங்கள் தமிழினம் தூங்குவதோ
சொந்த மண்ணில் வாழ்வுக்கு ஏங்குவதோ
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Longing for a life in his own land?
பாரதி இசைத்த இலங்கையிலே
பைந்தமிழ் இனத்தின் துயரமில்லை
பாரதி இசைத்த இலங்கையிலே
பைந்தமிழ் இனத்தின் துயரமில்லை
இங்கு ஈழத்திலே அவர் அழுகை ஒலி
இடை வந்த கடல் அவர் கண்ணீரோ
In Sri Lanka, which poet Bharathi sang about,
The sweet Tamils knew no sorrow then.
In Sri Lanka, which poet Bharathi sang about,
The sweet Tamils knew no sorrow then.
Here in Eelam, now the sound of their weeping echoes,
The ocean separating us is made of their tears.
எங்கள் தமிழினம் தூங்குவதோ
சொந்த மண்ணில் வாழ்வுக்கு ஏங்குவதோ
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Longing for a life in his own land?
புலியே புலியே விழித்து எழு
பூட்டிய விலங்கை உடைத்து விடு
புலியே புலியே விழித்து எழு
பூட்டிய விலங்கை உடைத்து விடு
நாம் ஒன்றுபட்டால் பகை ஓடாதோ
ஒரு பொற்காலம் இங்கு மலராதோ
O tiger! O tiger! Wake up and rise!
Break apart the locked shackles!
O tiger! O tiger! Wake up and rise!
Break apart the locked shackles!
If we unite, will not the enemy flee?
Will not a golden era blossom here?
எங்கள் தமிழினம் தூங்குவதோ
சொந்த மண்ணில் வாழ்வுக்கு ஏங்குவதோ
இனிமை தமிழை தேடுகிறேன்
இதயம் நொந்தே வாடுகிறேன்...
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Longing for a life in his own land?
I am searching for sweet Tamil,
My heart grieves and languishes.
எங்கள் தமிழினம் தூங்குவதோ
சொந்த மண்ணில் வாழ்வுக்கு ஏங்குவதோ
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Longing for a life in his own land?
Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho
Longing for a life in his own land?
Inimai thamizhai thedugiren
I am searching for sweet Tamil,
Idhayam nondhae vaadugiren
My heart grieves and languishes.
Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho
Longing for a life in his own land?
Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho
Longing for a life in his own land?
Inimai thamizhai thedugiren
I am searching for sweet Tamil,
Idhayam nondhae vaadugiren
My heart grieves and languishes.
Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho
Longing for a life in his own land?
Senthamizh naatin thalainagaram
In the capital of the pure Tamil land,
Chennaiyil annai thamizh engae
In Chennai, where is mother Tamil?
Senthamizh naatin thalainagaram
In the capital of the pure Tamil land,
Chennaiyil annai thamizh engae
In Chennai, where is mother Tamil?
Naam thaazhnthuvittom
We have fallen low,
Adhai unarndhu vittom
We have realized it,
Thamizh maanathai kaathida
To protect the honor of Tamil,
Ezhunthiduvom
Let us arise!
Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho
Longing for a life in his own land?
Bharathi isaitha ilangaiyilae
In Sri Lanka, which poet Bharathi sang about,
Paindhamil inbathin thuyaram illai
The sweet Tamils knew no sorrow then.
Bharathi isaitha ilangaiyilae
In Sri Lanka, which poet Bharathi sang about,
Paindhamil inbathin thuyaram illai
The sweet Tamils knew no sorrow then.
Ingu eezhathilae avar azhugai oli
Here in Eelam, now the sound of their weeping echoes,
Idai vandha kadal avar kanneerae
The ocean separating us is made of their tears.
Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho
Longing for a life in his own land?
Puliyae puliyae vizhithu ezhu
O tiger! O tiger! Wake up and rise!
Pootiya vilangai udaithu vidu
Break apart the locked shackles!
Puliyae puliyae vizhithu ezhu
O tiger! O tiger! Wake up and rise!
Pootiya vilangai udaithu vidu
Break apart the locked shackles!
Naam ondru pattaal pagai oodathoo
If we unite, will not the enemy flee?
Oru porkaalam ingu malaraadhoo
Will not a golden era blossom here?
Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho
Longing for a life in his own land?
Inimai thamizhai thedugiren
I am searching for sweet Tamil,
Idhayam nondhae vaadugiren
My heart grieves and languishes.
Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho
Is our Tamilian sleeping?
Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho
Longing for a life in his own land?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Engal Thamizhan Thoonguvatho is a rousing socio-political song that calls for the awakening, dignity, and unity of Tamil people. The lyricist laments the declining prominence of the Tamil language in its own cultural heartland and capital, Chennai, while expressing deep sorrow for the plight and suffering of Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)
“Inimai thamizhai thedugiren / Idhayam nondhae vaadugiren”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'I' at the start of consecutive lines creates rhythmic harmony.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Idai vandha kadal avar kanneerae”
The ocean separating India and Sri Lanka is poetically metaphorized as the collective tears of the suffering Eelam Tamils.
Apostrophe / Symbolism
“Puliyae puliyae vizhithu ezhu”
Addressing the Tamil people directly as 'tigers', invoking the historical symbol of Tamil valor (associated with the Chola dynasty and Tamil identity) to awaken their strength.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Engal thamizhan thoonguvatho / Sondha mannil vaazhvukku yenguvatho”
The lines end with matching trailing sounds ('thoonguvatho' and 'yenguvatho'), reinforcing the questioning tone.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics for this song were penned by K. Kalimuthu, a prominent Tamil scholar, writer, and politician who served as a Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Sung by Malaysia Vasudevan with music by Chandrabose, the track remains a well-known Tamil identity anthem.
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