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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ethirkaalam Ini

From En Thangachi Padichava · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
En Thangachi Padichava1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Aa….aaa….aa….aa….aa….Vocalizing (Ah... ah...)
Aa…..aaa…..aa…aa….aa….Vocalizing (Ah... ah...)
Male
Edhirkaalam ini nam per ezhuthumThe future will write our name from now on.
Naam adimai illai varu naal muzhuthumWe are not slaves for all the days to come.
Idhu yaezhaiyin urimaikkuralThis is the voice of the poor's rights.
Idhu engalin kadamikkuralThis is the voice of our duty.
Thozhuvom uzhuvom veeru pol ezhuvomWe will worship, we will plow, we will rise with valor.
Male
Edhirkaalam ini nam per ezhuthumThe future will write our name from now on.
Naam adimai illai varu naal muzhuthumWe are not slaves for all the days to come.
Chorus
Aa….aaa….aa….aa….aa….Vocalizing (Ah... ah...)
Aa…..aaa…..aa…aa….aa….Vocalizing (Ah... ah...)
Aa….aaa….aa….aa….aa….Vocalizing (Ah... ah...)
Aa…..aaa…..aa…aa….aa….Vocalizing (Ah... ah...)
Male
Appanum pillaiyum koththadimaiFather and son were bonded laborers.
Ennam kattalai maariyathuThe mindset and commands have now changed.
Nithamum sinthiya vervai ellaamAll the sweat shed on a daily basis
Kadal ellaiyaai meeriyathuHas surpassed even the boundaries of the ocean.
Male
Variyavarin vizhigakellaam erimazhaiyaagiyathuThe eyes of the impoverished have turned into a rain of fire.
Porumai ellaam maariyathu pudhu vazhi thondriyathuAll patience has transformed, and a new path has emerged.
Irul vilagum pozhuthu idhuThis is the time when darkness recedes.
Innulum thunbamum neegiyathuAffliction and sorrow have now ended.
Male
Edhirkaalam ini nam per ezhuthumThe future will write our name from now on.
Naam adimai illai varu naal muzhuthumWe are not slaves for all the days to come.
Male
Idhu yaezhaiyin urimaikkuralThis is the voice of the poor's rights.
Idhu engalin kadamikkuralThis is the voice of our duty.
Thozhuvom uzhuvom veeru pol ezhuvomWe will worship, we will plow, we will rise with valor.
Male
Edhirkaalam ini nam per ezhuthumThe future will write our name from now on.
Naam adimai illai varu naal muzhuthumWe are not slaves for all the days to come.
Chorus
Aaa….aaa….aa…Vocalizing (Ah... ah...)
Aaa….aaa….aa…Vocalizing (Ah... ah...)
Male
Yaezhaigal irukkira veettinilIn the house where poor people live,
Idhuvarai inbangal vanthathilaiHappiness has never entered until now.
Kangal vazhikira kavirigalThe rivers of tears flowing from the eyes
Oru kalmum nindrathilaiHave never stopped at any time.
Male
Idhuvaraiyil poruththirunthomUntil today, we endured everything patiently.
Iruttil paduththirunthomWe lay helpless in the darkness.
Vidivuvarum ena ninaiththuThinking that dawn would eventually arrive,
Vizhigalai thiranthirunthomWe kept our eyes wide open.
Pudhiya oli piranthathadaA new light has been born, my friend!
Pudhu vazhi adhanil thiranthathadaaA new path has opened through it, my friend!
Chorus
Edhirkaalam ini nam per ezhuthumThe future will write our name from now on.
Male :Edhirkaalam ini nam per ezhuthumMale: The future will write our name from now on.
Chorus :Naam adimai illai varu naal muzhuthumChorus: We are not slaves for all the days to come.
Male :Naam adimai illai varum naal muzhuthuMale: We are not slaves for all the days to come.
Male
Idhu yaezhaiyin urimaikkuralThis is the voice of the poor's rights.
Idhu engalin kadamikkuralThis is the voice of our duty.
Thozhuvom uzhuvom veeru pol ezhuvomWe will worship, we will plow, we will rise with valor.
Chorus
Aa….aaa….aa….aa….aa….Vocalizing (Ah... ah...)
Aa…..aaa…..aa…aa….aa….Vocalizing (Ah... ah...)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Edhirkaalam Ini Nam Per Ezhuthum is an uplifting revolutionary song from the 1988 Tamil film En Thangachi Padichava. The song portrays the uprising and social awakening of marginalized agricultural workers who have suffered under generations of bonded labor and oppression. It serves as a call to action, declaring that the era of submissiveness has ended and a new dawn of freedom, equality, and dignity has arrived. Through imagery of tears turning into fire and darkness giving way to light, the lyrics proclaim that those who till the land and sweat for society will dictate their own future with pride and self-respect.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagaim)

Variyavarin vizhigakellaam erimazhaiyaagiyathu

Tears from constant suffering are metaphorically portrayed as rivers (Kavirigal), while the wrath of the oppressed is depicted as a rain of fire (Erimazhai).

Rhyme / Monai (Initial Assonance)

Thozhuvom uzhuvom veeru pol ezhuvom

The repeating starting sounds ('Thozhuvom', 'uzhuvom', 'ezhuvom') create a strong rhythmic drive suitable for a marching song.

Parallelism / Anaphora

Idhu yaezhaiyin urimaikkural / Idhu engalin kadamikkural

Repetition of 'Idhu' at the start of consecutive lines creates emphasis on rights and duty.

Did you know?

Trivia

En Thangachi Padichava (1988) was directed by P. Vasu and starred Prabhu and Rupini in lead roles. The film's soundtrack was composed by Gangai Amaran, who also penned the lyrics for this inspiring labor movement song.

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