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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ini Oru Thollai

From Thookku Medai · 1982

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Thookku Medai1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Iniyoru thollayum illaiThere will be no trouble anymore
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illaiThere is no separation, no defect, and no worry
Male
Iniyoru thollayum illaiThere will be no trouble anymore
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illaiThere is no separation, no defect, and no worry
Iniyoru thollayum illaiThere will be no trouble anymore
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illaiThere is no separation, no defect, and no worry
Kuraiyum kavalaiyum illaiNo defect and no worry
Male
Kani tharum mamaram ondrum adhilOn a single fruit-bearing mango tree
Kaaigalum pinju kanigalum unduThere are raw fruits, tender buds, and ripe fruits
Kani tharum mamaram ondrum adhilOn a single fruit-bearing mango tree
Kaaigalum pinju kanigalum unduThere are raw fruits, tender buds, and ripe fruits
Male
Manitharil aayiram jaathi endraThe claim that there are a thousand castes among humans
Vanjaga vaarththaiyai oppuvathillaiI do not accept such deceptive words
Manitharil aayiram jaathi endraThe claim that there are a thousand castes among humans
Vanjaga vaarththaiyai oppuvathillaiI do not accept such deceptive words
Male
Nanthanai pol oru paarppaanA true spiritual seeker like Nandanar
Intha naattinil illaiDoes not exist in this nation
Nanthanai pol oru paarppaanA true spiritual seeker like Nandanar
Intha naattinil illaiDoes not exist in this nation
Male
Gunam nallathaayin entha kulathinaraenumIf one possesses good character, regardless of caste
Ulaginbam adaithal elithena kandomWe have realized that attaining world's bliss is easy
Male
Iniyoru thollayum illaiThere will be no trouble anymore
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illaiThere is no separation, no defect, and no worry
Kuraiyum kavalaiyum illaiNo defect and no worry
Male
Unmaiyin per deivam enbom andriWe declare that Truth is the true name of God
Oodhidm deivangal poiyena kandomAnd we realized that chanted gods are false
Unmaiyin per deivam enbom andriWe declare that Truth is the true name of God
Oodhidm deivangal poiyena kandomAnd we realized that chanted gods are false
Male
Nandru puraanangal seithaarThey created great mythological puranas well
Athil nalla kavithai palapala thanthaarAnd gave many fine poems within them
Male
Kavithai miga nallathenum akkathaigalEven if the poetry is very beautiful, those stories
Poiyendru thelivura kandomWe clearly realize are false
Sooththirakkoru neethi thandaIf one law is given to a working-class Shudra
Sorunpaarpukku veroru needhiAnd another law to a privileged priest
Male
Saaththiram sollidumaayinIf a scripture preaches such discrimination
Adhu saaththiramandru sathiyendru kandomWe realize it is not a scripture, but a conspiracy
Saaththiram sollidumaayinIf a scripture preaches such discrimination
Adhu saaththiramandru sathiyendru kandomWe realize it is not a scripture, but a conspiracy
Male
Iniyoru thollayum illaiThere will be no trouble anymore
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illaiThere is no separation, no defect, and no worry
Iniyoru thollayum illaiThere will be no trouble anymore
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illaiThere is no separation, no defect, and no worry
Kuraiyum kavalaiyum illaiNo defect and no worry
Kuraiyum kavalaiyum illaiNo defect and no worry

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a adapted setting of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's revolutionary poem composed by Shankar Ganesh for the 1982 movie 'Thookku Medai'. It serves as a fiery manifesto against caste discrimination, superstitious dogma, and hypocrisy in religious texts. Bharathiyar uses simple analogies—such as comparing humans to different stages of fruit growing on the exact same tree—to emphasize human unity and equality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Analogy (Uvamai)

Kani tharum mamaram ondrum adhil / Kaaigalum pinju kanigalum undu

Compares human variations within a single race to raw, tender, and ripe fruits growing on a single mango tree, proving inherent unity.

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyming)

Nanthanai pol oru paarppaan / Intha naattinil illai

Rhyming of the second consonant ('n') across consecutive poetic lines.

Social Critique / Antithesis

Sooththirakkoru neethi thanda / Sorunpaarpukku veroru needhi

Juxtaposes differential treatment in ancient laws between lower and higher castes to expose systemic injustice.

Did you know?

Trivia

The poem references 'Nandanar', a prominent Dalit Nayanmar saint. Bharathiyar redefined the true meaning of spiritual elevated stature by calling Nandanar the real priest/Brahmin, challenging birth-based caste superiority.

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