Gandhiyaiyum Pathathilla
From Punniyavathi · 1997
- Lyricist
- Kamakodiyan
- Singers
- Mahanadhi Shobana, Chorus
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Punniyavathi1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla | I have never seen Gandhi, |
| Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla | I have never seen Nehru, |
| Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum | To us, Gandhi and Nehru, |
| Aiyanaaru annan thaan | Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar! |
| Subash chandra bose ah paathadhilla | I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose, |
| Ambedkar ah paathadhilla | I have never seen Ambedkar, |
| Engalukku avangal ellaam | To us, all of them, |
| Aiyanaaru annan thaan | Are our elder brother Aiyanaar! |
| Chorus | |
| Naattukkunnu nallaa ozhaichavanga | Those who worked hard for the nation, |
| Nerandharamaa ingae nelachavanga | Those who became permanently etched here, |
| Avanga namma annana pola | They are like our elder brother, |
| Annana paaru avanga pola | Look at brother, he is just like them! |
| Chorus | |
| Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla | I have never seen Gandhi, |
| Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla | I have never seen Nehru, |
| Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum | To us, Gandhi and Nehru, |
| Aiyanaaru annan thaan | Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar! |
| Subash chandra bose ah paathadhilla | I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose, |
| Ambedkar ah paathadhilla | I have never seen Ambedkar, |
| Engalukku avangal ellaam | To us, all of them, |
| Aiyanaaru annan thaan | Are our elder brother Aiyanaar! |
| Female | |
| Daanda daanda daanda daanda | Daanda daanda daanda daanda |
| Daanda daanda daanda daanda | Daanda daanda daanda daanda |
| Daanda daanda | Daanda daanda |
| Female | |
| Paattu cholli vellaiyanukku | Singing songs against the British, |
| Vaettu vedicha bharathiyaaru | Bharathiyar set off explosive resistance; |
| Naattukkulla sundanaiyum | Across the nation, even the poorest child, |
| Padikka vecha kaamaraasaru | Kamarajar ensured they got educated; |
| Chorus | |
| Achakku achakku achakku haei | Achakku achakku achakku haei |
| Achakku achakku achakku haei | Achakku achakku achakku haei |
| Female | |
| Moodathanam viratti namma | Driving away blind superstitions, |
| Muzhikka vecha periyaaru | Periyar woke us all up; |
| Kannaaga naama ennum | The one we cherish like our own eyes, |
| Annaa ennum periyavaru | The great leader revered as Anna; |
| Chorus | |
| Achakku achakku achakku haei | Achakku achakku achakku haei |
| Achakku achakku achakku haei | Achakku achakku achakku haei |
| Female | |
| Ethanaiyo uthamar ellaam | So many noble men have lived, |
| Irundhadhundu paathadhilla | I have never seen them in person; |
| Nalladhellaam sonnaangannu | That they spoke good virtues, |
| Padichadhundu kettadhilla | I have read about, but never heard live; |
| Athana perum onnaachu | All of those great leaders came together, |
| Annan vadivil vandhaachu | And took form as our elder brother! |
| Annana paththi padichadhilla | I haven't read about brother in books, |
| Arinjadhellaam yeduthu vidu | Share whatever you have come to know! |
| Chorus | |
| Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla | I have never seen Gandhi, |
| Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla | I have never seen Nehru, |
| Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum | To us, Gandhi and Nehru, |
| Aiyanaaru annan thaan | Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar! |
| Subash chandra bose ah paathadhilla | I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose, |
| Ambedkar ah paathadhilla | I have never seen Ambedkar, |
| Engalukku avangal ellaam | To us, all of them, |
| Aiyanaaru annan thaan | Are our elder brother Aiyanaar! |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………………. | |
| Female | |
| Appanoda appana petha | My father's grandfather, |
| Appana kooda paathadhilla | I haven't even seen him; |
| Appa naanum porandhadhilla | Nor was I born when my father was born, |
| Abraham linkon ah paathadhilla | I haven't seen Abraham Lincoln either; |
| Chorus | |
| Achakku achakku achakku haei | Achakku achakku achakku haei |
| Achakku achakku achakku haei | Achakku achakku achakku haei |
| Female | |
| Ungoppuraanae sengodi pudicha | Holding the red flag like an elder leader, |
| Lelin ah naanum paathadhilla | I haven't seen Lenin either; |
| Appuramaa adiyedutha | And the one who followed after, |
| Stalin ah kooda paathadhilla | I haven't seen Stalin either; |
| Chorus | |
| Achakku achakku achakku haei | Achakku achakku achakku haei |
| Achakku achakku achakku haei | Achakku achakku achakku haei |
| Female | |
| Vaa oo siya raasaasiya | V.O. Chidambaram, Rajaji, |
| Maa po siya paathadhilla | Ma. Po. Si., I haven't seen them; |
| Innum undu romba peru | There are so many more people, |
| Vittu pochu nenappil illa | They slipped my mind, I don't recall; |
| Athana perum onnaachu | All of those great leaders came together, |
| Annan vadivil vandhaachu | And took form as our elder brother! |
| Sonnadhil yedhum thavarirukkaa | Is there any mistake in what I said? |
| Engalukkunnu ivar irukkaar | We have him here just for us! |
| Chorus | |
| Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla | I have never seen Gandhi, |
| Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla | I have never seen Nehru, |
| Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum | To us, Gandhi and Nehru, |
| Aiyanaaru annan thaan | Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar! |
| Subash chandra bose ah paathadhilla | I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose, |
| Ambedkar ah paathadhilla | I have never seen Ambedkar, |
| Engalukku avangal ellaam | To us, all of them, |
| Aiyanaaru annan thaan | Are our elder brother Aiyanaar! |
| Chorus | |
| Naattukkunnu nallaa ozhaichavanga | Those who worked hard for the nation, |
| Nerandharamaa ingae nelachavanga | Those who became permanently etched here, |
| Avanga namma annana pola | They are like our elder brother, |
| Annana paaru avanga pola | Look at brother, he is just like them! |
| Chorus | |
| Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla | I have never seen Gandhi, |
| Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla | I have never seen Nehru, |
| Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum | To us, Gandhi and Nehru, |
| Aiyanaaru annan thaan | Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar! |
| Subash chandra bose ah paathadhilla | I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose, |
| Ambedkar ah paathadhilla | I have never seen Ambedkar, |
| Engalukku avangal ellaam | To us, all of them, |
| Aiyanaaru annan thaan | Are our elder brother Aiyanaar! |
காந்தியையும் பார்த்ததில்ல
நேருவையும் பார்த்ததில்ல
எங்களுக்கு காந்தியும் நேருவும்
அய்யனாரு அண்ணன்தான்
I have never seen Gandhi,
I have never seen Nehru,
To us, Gandhi and Nehru,
Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar!
I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose,
I have never seen Ambedkar,
To us, all of them,
Are our elder brother Aiyanaar!
சுபாஷ் சந்திரபோஸ பார்த்ததில்ல
அம்பேத்கார பார்த்ததில்ல
எங்களுக்கு அவங்களெல்லாம்
அய்யனாரு அண்ணன்தான்
Those who worked hard for the nation,
Those who became permanently etched here,
They are like our elder brother,
Look at brother, he is just like them!
நாட்டுக்குன்னு நல்லா ஒழைச்சவங்க
நெரந்தரமா இங்கே நெலச்சவங்க
அவங்க நம்ம அண்ணனப் போல
அண்ணனப் பாரு அவங்க போல
I have never seen Gandhi,
I have never seen Nehru,
To us, Gandhi and Nehru,
Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar!
I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose,
I have never seen Ambedkar,
To us, all of them,
Are our elder brother Aiyanaar!
காந்தியையும் பார்த்ததில்ல
நேருவையும் பார்த்ததில்ல
எங்களுக்கு காந்தியும் நேருவும்
அய்யனாரு அண்ணன்தான்
Daanda daanda daanda daanda
Daanda daanda daanda daanda
Daanda daanda
சுபாஷ் சந்திரபோஸ பார்த்ததில்ல
அம்பேத்கார பார்த்ததில்ல
எங்களுக்கு அவங்களெல்லாம்
அய்யனாரு அண்ணன்தான்
Singing songs against the British,
Bharathiyar set off explosive resistance;
Across the nation, even the poorest child,
Kamarajar ensured they got educated;
..............
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
பாட்டுச் சொல்லி
வெள்ளையனுக்கு
வேட்டு வெடிச்ச பாரதியாரு
நாட்டுக்குள்ள சுண்டனையும்
படிக்க வெச்ச காமராசரு
Driving away blind superstitions,
Periyar woke us all up;
The one we cherish like our own eyes,
The great leader revered as Anna;
அச்சக்கு அச்சக்கு
அச்சக்கு ஹேய்
அச்சக்கு அச்சக்கு
அச்சக்கு ஹேய்
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
மூடத்தனம் விரட்டி நம்ம
முழிக்க வெச்ச பெரியாரு
கண்ணாக நாம என்னும்
அண்ணா என்னும் பெரியவரு
So many noble men have lived,
I have never seen them in person;
That they spoke good virtues,
I have read about, but never heard live;
All of those great leaders came together,
And took form as our elder brother!
I haven't read about brother in books,
Share whatever you have come to know!
அச்சக்கு அச்சக்கு
அச்சக்கு ஹேய்
அச்சக்கு அச்சக்கு
அச்சக்கு ஹேய்
I have never seen Gandhi,
I have never seen Nehru,
To us, Gandhi and Nehru,
Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar!
I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose,
I have never seen Ambedkar,
To us, all of them,
Are our elder brother Aiyanaar!
எத்தனையோ உத்தமர் எல்லாம்
இருந்ததுண்டு பாத்ததில்ல
நல்லதெல்லாம் சொன்னாங்கன்னு
படிச்சதுண்டு கேட்டதில்ல
அத்தனை பேரும் ஒண்ணாச்சு
அண்ணன் வடிவில் வந்தாச்சு
அண்ணனப் பத்தி படிச்சதில்ல
அறிஞ்சதெல்லாம் எடுத்து விடு
My father's grandfather,
I haven't even seen him;
Nor was I born when my father was born,
I haven't seen Abraham Lincoln either;
காந்தியையும் பார்த்ததில்ல
நேருவையும் பார்த்ததில்ல
எங்களுக்கு காந்தியும் நேருவும்
அய்யனாரு அண்ணன்தான்
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
சுபாஷ் சந்திரபோஸ பார்த்ததில்ல
அம்பேத்கார பார்த்ததில்ல
எங்களுக்கு அவங்களெல்லாம்
அய்யனாரு அண்ணன்தான்
Holding the red flag like an elder leader,
I haven't seen Lenin either;
And the one who followed after,
I haven't seen Stalin either;
.......................
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
அப்பனோட அப்பனப் பெத்த
அப்பனக்கூடப் பார்த்ததில்ல
அப்ப நானும் பொறந்ததில்ல
ஆப்ரகாம்லிங்கனப் பார்த்ததில்ல
V.O. Chidambaram, Rajaji,
Ma. Po. Si., I haven't seen them;
There are so many more people,
They slipped my mind, I don't recall;
All of those great leaders came together,
And took form as our elder brother!
Is there any mistake in what I said?
We have him here just for us!
அச்சக்கு அச்சக்கு
அச்சக்கு ஹேய்
அச்சக்கு அச்சக்கு
அச்சக்கு ஹேய்
I have never seen Gandhi,
I have never seen Nehru,
To us, Gandhi and Nehru,
Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar!
I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose,
I have never seen Ambedkar,
To us, all of them,
Are our elder brother Aiyanaar!
உங்கொப்புரானே
செங்கொடி புடிச்ச
லெலின நானும் பார்த்ததில்ல
அப்புறமா அடியெடுத்த
ஸ்டாலினக் கூடப் பார்த்ததில்ல
Those who worked hard for the nation,
Those who became permanently etched here,
They are like our elder brother,
Look at brother, he is just like them!
அச்சக்கு அச்சக்கு
அச்சக்கு ஹேய்
அச்சக்கு அச்சக்கு
அச்சக்கு ஹேய்
I have never seen Gandhi,
I have never seen Nehru,
To us, Gandhi and Nehru,
Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar!
I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose,
I have never seen Ambedkar,
To us, all of them,
Are our elder brother Aiyanaar!
வ.ஊ.சிய ராசாசிய
மா.பொ.சிய பார்த்ததில்ல
இன்னும் உண்டு ரொம்ப பேரு
விட்டுப் போச்சு நெனப்பில் இல்ல
அத்தனை பேரும் ஒண்ணாச்சு
அண்ணன் வடிவில் வந்தாச்சு
சொன்னதில்ல ஏதும் தவறு இருக்கா
எங்களுக்குன்னு இவர் இருக்கார்
காந்தியையும் பாத்ததில்ல
நேருவையும் பார்த்ததில்ல
எங்களுக்கு காந்தியும் நேருவும்
அய்யனாரு அண்ணன்தான்
சுபாஷ் சந்திரபோஸ பார்த்ததில்ல
அம்பேத்கார பார்த்ததில்ல
எங்களுக்கு அவங்களெல்லாம்
அய்யனாரு அண்ணன்தான்
நாட்டுக்குன்னு நல்லா ஒழைச்சவங்க
நெரந்தரமா இங்கே நெலச்சவங்க
அவங்க நம்ம அண்ணனப் போல
அண்ணனப் பாரு அவங்க போல
காந்தியையும் பார்த்ததில்ல
நேருவையும் பார்த்ததில்ல
எங்களுக்கு காந்தியும் நேருவும்
அய்யனாரு அண்ணன்தான்
சுபாஷ் சந்திரபோஸ பார்த்ததில்ல
அம்பேத்கார பார்த்ததில்ல
எங்களுக்கு அவங்களெல்லாம்
அய்யனாரு அண்ணன்தான்
Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla
I have never seen Gandhi,
Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla
I have never seen Nehru,
Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum
To us, Gandhi and Nehru,
Aiyanaaru annan thaan
Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar!
Subash chandra bose ah paathadhilla
I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose,
Ambedkar ah paathadhilla
I have never seen Ambedkar,
Engalukku avangal ellaam
To us, all of them,
Aiyanaaru annan thaan
Are our elder brother Aiyanaar!
Naattukkunnu nallaa ozhaichavanga
Those who worked hard for the nation,
Nerandharamaa ingae nelachavanga
Those who became permanently etched here,
Avanga namma annana pola
They are like our elder brother,
Annana paaru avanga pola
Look at brother, he is just like them!
Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla
I have never seen Gandhi,
Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla
I have never seen Nehru,
Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum
To us, Gandhi and Nehru,
Aiyanaaru annan thaan
Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar!
Subash chandra bose ah paathadhilla
I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose,
Ambedkar ah paathadhilla
I have never seen Ambedkar,
Engalukku avangal ellaam
To us, all of them,
Aiyanaaru annan thaan
Are our elder brother Aiyanaar!
Daanda daanda daanda daanda
Daanda daanda daanda daanda
Daanda daanda daanda daanda
Daanda daanda daanda daanda
Daanda daanda
Daanda daanda
Paattu cholli vellaiyanukku
Singing songs against the British,
Vaettu vedicha bharathiyaaru
Bharathiyar set off explosive resistance;
Naattukkulla sundanaiyum
Across the nation, even the poorest child,
Padikka vecha kaamaraasaru
Kamarajar ensured they got educated;
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Moodathanam viratti namma
Driving away blind superstitions,
Muzhikka vecha periyaaru
Periyar woke us all up;
Kannaaga naama ennum
The one we cherish like our own eyes,
Annaa ennum periyavaru
The great leader revered as Anna;
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Ethanaiyo uthamar ellaam
So many noble men have lived,
Irundhadhundu paathadhilla
I have never seen them in person;
Nalladhellaam sonnaangannu
That they spoke good virtues,
Padichadhundu kettadhilla
I have read about, but never heard live;
Athana perum onnaachu
All of those great leaders came together,
Annan vadivil vandhaachu
And took form as our elder brother!
Annana paththi padichadhilla
I haven't read about brother in books,
Arinjadhellaam yeduthu vidu
Share whatever you have come to know!
Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla
I have never seen Gandhi,
Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla
I have never seen Nehru,
Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum
To us, Gandhi and Nehru,
Aiyanaaru annan thaan
Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar!
Subash chandra bose ah paathadhilla
I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose,
Ambedkar ah paathadhilla
I have never seen Ambedkar,
Engalukku avangal ellaam
To us, all of them,
Aiyanaaru annan thaan
Are our elder brother Aiyanaar!
…………………………….
Appanoda appana petha
My father's grandfather,
Appana kooda paathadhilla
I haven't even seen him;
Appa naanum porandhadhilla
Nor was I born when my father was born,
Abraham linkon ah paathadhilla
I haven't seen Abraham Lincoln either;
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Ungoppuraanae sengodi pudicha
Holding the red flag like an elder leader,
Lelin ah naanum paathadhilla
I haven't seen Lenin either;
Appuramaa adiyedutha
And the one who followed after,
Stalin ah kooda paathadhilla
I haven't seen Stalin either;
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Achakku achakku achakku haei
Vaa oo siya raasaasiya
V.O. Chidambaram, Rajaji,
Maa po siya paathadhilla
Ma. Po. Si., I haven't seen them;
Innum undu romba peru
There are so many more people,
Vittu pochu nenappil illa
They slipped my mind, I don't recall;
Athana perum onnaachu
All of those great leaders came together,
Annan vadivil vandhaachu
And took form as our elder brother!
Sonnadhil yedhum thavarirukkaa
Is there any mistake in what I said?
Engalukkunnu ivar irukkaar
We have him here just for us!
Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla
I have never seen Gandhi,
Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla
I have never seen Nehru,
Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum
To us, Gandhi and Nehru,
Aiyanaaru annan thaan
Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar!
Subash chandra bose ah paathadhilla
I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose,
Ambedkar ah paathadhilla
I have never seen Ambedkar,
Engalukku avangal ellaam
To us, all of them,
Aiyanaaru annan thaan
Are our elder brother Aiyanaar!
Naattukkunnu nallaa ozhaichavanga
Those who worked hard for the nation,
Nerandharamaa ingae nelachavanga
Those who became permanently etched here,
Avanga namma annana pola
They are like our elder brother,
Annana paaru avanga pola
Look at brother, he is just like them!
Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla
I have never seen Gandhi,
Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla
I have never seen Nehru,
Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum
To us, Gandhi and Nehru,
Aiyanaaru annan thaan
Are both our elder brother Aiyanaar!
Subash chandra bose ah paathadhilla
I have never seen Subash Chandra Bose,
Ambedkar ah paathadhilla
I have never seen Ambedkar,
Engalukku avangal ellaam
To us, all of them,
Aiyanaaru annan thaan
Are our elder brother Aiyanaar!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Gandhiyaiyum Paathadhilla' is an energetic folk tribute expressing deep devotion and admiration for an elder brother figure named Aiyanaar. The singer lists a wide array of renowned Indian freedom fighters, social reformers, political stalwarts, and global icons—including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, B.R. Ambedkar, Subramania Bharathi, K. Kamaraj, Periyar, C.N. Annadurai, Abraham Lincoln, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, VO Chidambaram Pillai, Rajaji, and Ma. Po. Si. The singer acknowledges that while he has never seen any of these grand historical personalities in real life, his elder brother embodies all their righteousness, selflessness, and leadership in person. Thematically, the song bridges macro-level history with micro-level lived reality, celebrating the hero of the local community as the living synthesis of national and global leaders. Set to a lively beat with rhythmic folk refrains, the lyrics demonstrate how Tamil folk tradition elevates local patriarchs and protectors to mythical heights by connecting them with respected social justice reformers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagakani)
“Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum / Aiyanaaru annan thaan”
The lyricist directly equates national icons like Gandhi and Nehru to the elder brother Aiyanaar, using metaphor to highlight his virtues.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla / Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla”
The repetitive use of 'paathadhilla' at the end of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic end rhyme (Iyaipu).
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Paattu cholli vellaiyanukku / Naattukkulla sundanaiyum”
The second letter sound 'ttu' matches in 'Paattu' and 'Naattu', satisfying the Tamil poetic rule of Ethugai.
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Avanga namma annana pola / Annana paaru avanga pola”
Uses the comparative term 'pola' (like) to explicitly draw a comparison between historical leaders and the elder brother.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Naattukkunnu nallaa ozhaichavanga / Nerandharamaa ingae nelachavanga”
Matching initial consonant sounds ('Na' and 'Ne') across lines creates a harmonious melodic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Kamakodiyan for the 1997 film 'Punniyavathi', this song stands out for its extensive roll call of political and historical figures from various ideologies (ranging from Indian freedom fighters to Dravidian leaders like Periyar and Anna, as well as global communist figures like Lenin and Stalin). It uses traditional folk song rhythm to make historical awareness accessible to mass rural audiences.
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