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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Engaladhu Bhoomi

From Needhi · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela, Kovai Soundararajan, Veeramani
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Needhi1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Engaladhu boomi kaakka vandha saamiYou are the deity who came to protect our land.
Ennaalum pakkam ninnu nalla vazhi kaamiAlways stand by our side and guide us on the good path.
Chorus
Ennaalum pakkam ninnu nalla vazhi kaamiAlways stand by our side and guide us on the good path.
Female
Unnaalae ooru pongudhu soruBecause of you, the town overflows with food.
Unnaiyoru kovil katti kumbiduvom paaruLook, we will build a temple for you and worship you.
Chorus
Unnaiyoru kovil katti kumbiduvom paaruLook, we will build a temple for you and worship you.
Female
Alli alli thandha kaiyaiThe hand that gave generously and bountifully,
Enni enni paaduvomWe will count and sing its praises.
Kallam illaa ullam kondaHaving an innocent, guiltless heart,
Pillai endru kooruvomWe will call him a child.
Chorus
Alli alli thandha kaiyaiThe hand that gave generously and bountifully,
Enni enni paaduvomWe will count and sing its praises.
Kallam illaa ullam kondaHaving an innocent, guiltless heart,
Pillai endru kooruvomWe will call him a child.
Male
Engaladhu boomi kaakka vandha saami…You are the deity who came to protect our land...
Chorus
Thaangha dhinatthakka thaiyannatthaaThaangha dhinatthakka thaiyannatthaa
Thaangha dhinatthakka thaiyannatthaaThaangha dhinatthakka thaiyannatthaa
Chorus
Thaangha dhinatthakka thaiyannatthaaThaangha dhinatthakka thaiyannatthaa
Thaangha dhinatthakka thaiyannatthaaThaangha dhinatthakka thaiyannatthaa
Female
Sirai chaalai kaidhi endru sonnaangaThey said you were a prisoner in a jail.
Ungala sonnaangaThey said that about you.
Naanga anbaalae kaidhiyaagi ninnongaBut we stood here, imprisoned by love.
Chorus
Aamaamaa ninnongaYes, indeed, we stood here.
Female
Engirundho vandhaaru enga ooru raajaaHe came from somewhere, the king of our town.
Chorus
Ada enga ooru raajaaAh, the king of our town.
Female
Engirundho vandhaaru enga ooru raajaaHe came from somewhere, the king of our town.
Male
Annanidam thambiyidam needhi sonna raajaaThe king who dispensed justice between brothers.
Chorus
Annanidam thambiyidam needhi sonna raajaaThe king who dispensed justice between brothers.
Female
Alli alli thandha kaiyaiThe hand that gave generously and bountifully,
Enni enni paaduvomWe will count and sing its praises.
Kallam illaa ullam kondaHaving an innocent, guiltless heart,
Pillai endru kooruvomWe will call him a child.
Male
Engaladhu boomi kaakka vandha saami…You are the deity who came to protect our land...
Female
Oo…ooo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…o..Oo…ooo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…o..
Chorus :Oo…ooo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…o..Chorus :Oo…ooo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…o..
Male
Sondhamillae bandhamillae andha naalilaeBack in those days, I had no relatives or bonds.
Vandhadhellaam sondhamaachu indha oorilaeIn this town, everyone became my relative.
Sondhamillae bandhamillae andha naalilaeBack in those days, I had no relatives or bonds.
Vandhadhellaam sondhamaachu indha oorilaeIn this town, everyone became my relative.
Kandru pola aadugiraen paasa valaiyilaeI leap and play like a calf in the net of affection.
Mannan pola vaazhugiraen anbu malayilaeI live like a king on this mountain of love.
Kandru pola aadugiraen paasa valaiyilaeI leap and play like a calf in the net of affection.
Mannan pola vaazhugiraen anbu malayilaeI live like a king on this mountain of love.
Male
Engaladhu boomi kaakka vandha saami…You are the deity who came to protect our land...
Female
Ada dikkiraennaanaaHey dikkiraennaanaa
Female
Kaattaeri paeyi onnu aatti vacha kaalathilaeWhen a wild demon was causing havoc in those times,
Pokka vandha doctor ivar yaettaiyaaHe is the doctor who came to cure it, isn't he, sir?
Kaattaeri paeyi onnu aatti vacha kaalathilaeWhen a wild demon was causing havoc in those times,
Pokka vandha doctor ivar yaettaiyaaHe is the doctor who came to cure it, isn't he, sir?
Vilanghu pootta vandha saami idhaThe deity who came to put handcuffs, got caught himself in love,
Maattikkittu anbu vachiShowered love on us,
Paaraatti paada varum paattaiyaaAnd this is the song sung in praise of him, sir!
Ivara paaraatti paada varum paattaiyaaThis is the song sung in praise of him, sir!
Male
Muthamizhin selvan vaazhgaLong live the treasure of the three Tamil forms!
Mukkulathin kanmani vaazhgaLong live the precious gem of the three communities!
Muthamizhin selvan vaazhgaLong live the treasure of the three Tamil forms!
Mukkulathin kanmani vaazhgaLong live the precious gem of the three communities!
Eppuramum pottrida vaazhgaMay he live long, praised on all sides!
Engaladhu mannan vaazhgaLong live our king!
Vaazhiyavae vaazhiyavae pallaanduMay he live long, live long for many years!
Chorus
Pallaandu…For many years...
Male
Paadugiraen paadugiraen pallaanduI sing, I sing for many years!
Chorus
Pallaandu…For many years...
Male
Vaazhiyavae vaazhiyavae pallaanduMay he live long, live long for many years!
Paadugiraen paadugiraen pallaanduI sing, I sing for many years!
Male
Pallaandu paadugindra nallavargal ingirukkaWhile good people who pray for my long life are here,
Paasamoru thaaikku illaiyaeDoes my own mother lack affection for me?
Ullathil ulladhellaam solli vitta pinnaalumEven after speaking out everything that is in my heart,
Unmai thanai kaanavillaiyaeThe truth remains unseen and unaccepted.
Dheivamendru ondru vandhu oorariya naadariyaWill a God come down to bear witness to my mother,
Thaayidathil saatchi sollumaa… aa…Before the whole town and country?... Ah...
Thaai manadhu maari ennaiWill my mother's heart change,
Naermaiyulla pillai endruAnd accept me as an honest son,
Thannidathil yaettru kollumaa…Taking me back unto herself?
Ammaa ammammaa ammaaMother, oh mother, mother!
Thannidathil yaettru kollumaa…Will she accept me back unto herself?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic track from 'Needhi' (1972) begins as a joyful, energetic village celebration where the townspeople revere the protagonist as a guardian deity and a fair king. Though he came into their lives with a past, his generosity and sense of justice earned him absolute love and respect, turning a community of strangers into his family.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kandru pola aadugiraen paasa valaiyilae

Compares the protagonist's joyful behavior amidst the people's affection to a calf playing around freely.

Metaphor (Urvakam)

Anbu malayilae

Metaphorically compares the abundant love received from the villagers to a towering mountain.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Sondhamillae bandhamillae andha naalilae / Vandhadhellaam sondhamaachu indha oorilae

The second letters 'n' in 'Sondhamillae' and 'Vandhadhellaam' rhyme across the consecutive lines.

Monai (Initial Letter Alliteration)

Alli alli thandha kaiyai / Enni enni paaduvom

Repetitive rhythmic imagery and phonetic matching at the beginning of phrases.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Needhi' (1972), starring Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa, was directed by C. V. Rajendran. It was a Tamil remake of the hit 1971 Hindi film 'Dushman' (starring Rajesh Khanna). The iconic music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Kavinar Kannadasan.

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