Gangai Enna Vaigai Enna
From Muthalali Amma · 1990
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- Chandrabose
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Muthalali Amma1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oooh….ooooh….oooh…. | Oooh….ooooh….oooh…. |
| Gangai enna vaigai enna | What is Ganges, what is Vaigai? |
| Ellaam ingu nadhigalae | Everything here is just rivers. |
| Therkku enna merkae enna | What is south, what is west? |
| Ellam ingu dhisaigalae | Everything here is just directions. |
| Nam manitharil yaen pirivugal | Why are there divisions among our human beings? |
| Idhai enni paarppom thozhanae | Let us ponder this, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Gangai enna vaigai enna | What is Ganges, what is Vaigai? |
| Ellaam ingu nadhigalae | Everything here is just rivers. |
| Therkku enna merkae enna | What is south, what is west? |
| Ellam ingu dhisaigalae | Everything here is just directions. |
| Chorus | |
| Aa…..aaa…..aaa…. | Aa…..aaa…..aaa…. |
| Aaa…..aaa….aaa…. | Aaa…..aaa….aaa…. |
| Male | |
| Thangam undu vairam undu | There is gold, there are diamonds, |
| Enal annai naattilae | In our motherland. |
| Panjam mattum endrum sontham | Yet poverty alone belongs forever, |
| Naangal vaazhum veettilae | To the homes in which we live. |
| Male | |
| Ingae vaazhum yaezhaigal | The poor who live here, |
| Mannai paarkkum vaazhaigal | Are like plantain trees drooping toward the soil. |
| Ennum ennam naalai maarum | This mindset will change tomorrow; |
| Vellum intha saenaigal | These armies will rise to victory. |
| Male | |
| Gangai enna vaigai enna | What is Ganges, what is Vaigai? |
| Ellaam ingu nadhigalae | Everything here is just rivers. |
| Therkku enna merkae enna | What is south, what is west? |
| Ellam ingu dhisaigalae…. | Everything here is just directions.... |
| Chorus | |
| ……………… | ............ |
| Male | |
| Sattam endrum thittam endrum | In the name of laws and government schemes, |
| Inae undu aayiram | There are thousands of promises. |
| Thaenum paalum odum endru | That milk and honey would flow here, |
| Sonnaar andru kaaviyam | Was stated in ancient epics. |
| Male | |
| Ellaam poiyaai ponathu | It all turned out to be a lie; |
| Ellaam kosham aanathu | It all became mere political slogans. |
| Yaezhai maelum yaezhai aanaan | The poor man became even poorer, |
| Engum varumai koodugal | Nests of poverty are everywhere. |
| Male | |
| Gangai enna vaigai enna | What is Ganges, what is Vaigai? |
| Ellaam ingu nadhigalae | Everything here is just rivers. |
| Therkku enna merkae enna | What is south, what is west? |
| Ellam ingu dhisaigalae | Everything here is just directions. |
| Nam manitharil yaen pirivugal | Why are there divisions among our human beings? |
| Idhai enni paarppom thozhanae | Let us ponder this, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Gangai enna vaigai enna | What is Ganges, what is Vaigai? |
| Ellaam ingu nadhigalae | Everything here is just rivers. |
| Therkku enna merkae enna | What is south, what is west? |
| Ellam ingu dhisaigalae…. | Everything here is just directions.... |
ஓஓஹ்.....ஓஓஒஹ்......ஓஓஹ்
கங்கை என்ன வைகை என்ன
எல்லாம் இங்கு நதிகளே
தெற்கே என்ன மேற்கே என்ன
எல்லாம் இங்கு திசைகளே
நம் மனிதரில் ஏன் பிரிவுகள்
இதை எண்ணிப் பார்ப்போம் தோழனே
Oooh….ooooh….oooh….
What is Ganges, what is Vaigai?
Everything here is just rivers.
What is south, what is west?
Everything here is just directions.
Why are there divisions among our human beings?
Let us ponder this, my friend.
கங்கை என்ன வைகை என்ன
எல்லாம் இங்கு நதிகளே
தெற்கே என்ன மேற்கே என்ன
எல்லாம் இங்கு திசைகளே....
What is Ganges, what is Vaigai?
Everything here is just rivers.
What is south, what is west?
Everything here is just directions.
ஆ....ஆஆ....ஆஅ......
ஆஅ......ஆஆ....ஆஅ......
Aa…..aaa…..aaa….
Aaa…..aaa….aaa….
தங்கம் உண்டு வைரம் உண்டு
எங்கள் அன்னை நாட்டிலே
பஞ்சம் மட்டும் என்றும் சொந்தம்
நாங்கள் வாழும் வீட்டிலே
There is gold, there are diamonds,
In our motherland.
Yet poverty alone belongs forever,
To the homes in which we live.
இங்கே வாழும் ஏழைகள்
மண்ணை பார்க்கும் வாழைகள்
என்னும் எண்ணம் நாளை மாறும்
வெல்லும் இந்த சேனைகள்
The poor who live here,
Are like plantain trees drooping toward the soil.
This mindset will change tomorrow;
These armies will rise to victory.
கங்கை என்ன வைகை என்ன
எல்லாம் இங்கு நதிகளே
தெற்கே என்ன மேற்கே என்ன
எல்லாம் இங்கு திசைகளே...
What is Ganges, what is Vaigai?
Everything here is just rivers.
What is south, what is west?
Everything here is just directions....
.........................
............
சட்டம் என்றும் திட்டம் என்றும்
இங்கே உண்டு ஆயிரம்
தேனும் பாலும் ஓடும் என்று
சொன்னார் அன்று காவியம்
In the name of laws and government schemes,
There are thousands of promises.
That milk and honey would flow here,
Was stated in ancient epics.
எல்லாம் பொய்யாய் போனது
எல்லாம் கோஷம் ஆனது
ஏழை மேலும் ஏழை ஆனான்
எங்கும் வறுமை கோடுகள்
It all turned out to be a lie;
It all became mere political slogans.
The poor man became even poorer,
Nests of poverty are everywhere.
கங்கை என்ன வைகை என்ன
எல்லாம் இங்கு நதிகளே
தெற்கே என்ன மேற்கே என்ன
எல்லாம் இங்கு திசைகளே
நம் மனிதரில் ஏன் பிரிவுகள்
இதை எண்ணிப் பார்ப்போம் தோழனே
What is Ganges, what is Vaigai?
Everything here is just rivers.
What is south, what is west?
Everything here is just directions.
Why are there divisions among our human beings?
Let us ponder this, my friend.
கங்கை என்ன வைகை என்ன
எல்லாம் இங்கு நதிகளே
தெற்கே என்ன மேற்கே என்ன
எல்லாம் இங்கு திசைகளே....
What is Ganges, what is Vaigai?
Everything here is just rivers.
What is south, what is west?
Everything here is just directions....
Oooh….ooooh….oooh….
Oooh….ooooh….oooh….
Gangai enna vaigai enna
What is Ganges, what is Vaigai?
Ellaam ingu nadhigalae
Everything here is just rivers.
Therkku enna merkae enna
What is south, what is west?
Ellam ingu dhisaigalae
Everything here is just directions.
Nam manitharil yaen pirivugal
Why are there divisions among our human beings?
Idhai enni paarppom thozhanae
Let us ponder this, my friend.
Gangai enna vaigai enna
What is Ganges, what is Vaigai?
Ellaam ingu nadhigalae
Everything here is just rivers.
Therkku enna merkae enna
What is south, what is west?
Ellam ingu dhisaigalae
Everything here is just directions.
Aa…..aaa…..aaa….
Aa…..aaa…..aaa….
Aaa…..aaa….aaa….
Aaa…..aaa….aaa….
Thangam undu vairam undu
There is gold, there are diamonds,
Enal annai naattilae
In our motherland.
Panjam mattum endrum sontham
Yet poverty alone belongs forever,
Naangal vaazhum veettilae
To the homes in which we live.
Ingae vaazhum yaezhaigal
The poor who live here,
Mannai paarkkum vaazhaigal
Are like plantain trees drooping toward the soil.
Ennum ennam naalai maarum
This mindset will change tomorrow;
Vellum intha saenaigal
These armies will rise to victory.
Gangai enna vaigai enna
What is Ganges, what is Vaigai?
Ellaam ingu nadhigalae
Everything here is just rivers.
Therkku enna merkae enna
What is south, what is west?
Ellam ingu dhisaigalae….
Everything here is just directions....
………………
............
Sattam endrum thittam endrum
In the name of laws and government schemes,
Inae undu aayiram
There are thousands of promises.
Thaenum paalum odum endru
That milk and honey would flow here,
Sonnaar andru kaaviyam
Was stated in ancient epics.
Ellaam poiyaai ponathu
It all turned out to be a lie;
Ellaam kosham aanathu
It all became mere political slogans.
Yaezhai maelum yaezhai aanaan
The poor man became even poorer,
Engum varumai koodugal
Nests of poverty are everywhere.
Gangai enna vaigai enna
What is Ganges, what is Vaigai?
Ellaam ingu nadhigalae
Everything here is just rivers.
Therkku enna merkae enna
What is south, what is west?
Ellam ingu dhisaigalae
Everything here is just directions.
Nam manitharil yaen pirivugal
Why are there divisions among our human beings?
Idhai enni paarppom thozhanae
Let us ponder this, my friend.
Gangai enna vaigai enna
What is Ganges, what is Vaigai?
Ellaam ingu nadhigalae
Everything here is just rivers.
Therkku enna merkae enna
What is south, what is west?
Ellam ingu dhisaigalae….
Everything here is just directions....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Gangai Enna Vaigai Enna' from the movie Muthalali Amma (1990) is a reflective socio-political Tamil song penned by veteran lyricist Pulamaipithan. The song questions man-made regional and social divisions, arguing that just as all rivers are fundamentally water and all cardinal points are merely directions, all human beings are inherently equal. The lyrics highlight the poignant paradox of a nation blessed with vast wealth and resources like gold and diamonds, while its common working people remain trapped in endless poverty. It offers a sharp critique of hollow political slogans and unfulfilled legislative promises that claim to bring prosperity, noting that such rhetoric only leaves the poor in deeper plight. Ultimately, the song serves as a call to unity and a message of hope, declaring that the oppressed will eventually rise, transform their circumstances, and emerge victorious.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question
“Gangai enna vaigai enna”
Asking 'What is Ganges? What is Vaigai?' challenges the listener to realize that geographical names are merely labels and fundamentally all are rivers.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Sattam endrum thittam endrum”
The second consonant sound 'tta' (ட்) in 'Sattam' and 'Thittam' creates a rhythmic Tamil poetic rhyme.
Simile / Metaphor
“Mannai paarkkum vaazhaigal”
Compares the impoverished populace to bent banana plants hanging down toward the earth, illustrating their bowed heads and heavy burdens.
Iyaipu (End Rhyming)
“Ingae vaazhum yaezhaigal / Mannai paarkkum vaazhaigal”
The words 'yaezhaigal' and 'vaazhaigal' rhyme at the end of consecutive lines, giving a lyrical cadence.
Idiom / Imagery
“Thaenum paalum odum endru”
Uses the classic idiom 'land flowing with milk and honey' to represent utopian promises made by leaders.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Pulamaipithan, a prominent Tamil poet known for his philosophical and socialist anthems in Tamil cinema, the song reflects his trademark style of using simple nature imagery (rivers, directions) to convey powerful messages of equality and socio-economic critique.
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