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Isaimozhi
Thookku Medai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ini Oru Thollai

From Thookku Medai · 1982

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Thookku Medai
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
16 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Iniyoru thollayum illai
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illai
Iniyoru thollayum illai
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illai
Iniyoru thollayum illai
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illai
Kuraiyum kavalaiyum illai
Kani tharum mamaram ondrum adhil
Kaaigalum pinju kanigalum undu
Kani tharum mamaram ondrum adhil
Kaaigalum pinju kanigalum undu
Manitharil aayiram jaathi endra
Vanjaga vaarththaiyai oppuvathillai
Manitharil aayiram jaathi endra
Vanjaga vaarththaiyai oppuvathillai
Nanthanai pol oru paarppaan
Intha naattinil illai
Nanthanai pol oru paarppaan
Intha naattinil illai
Gunam nallathaayin entha kulathinaraenum
Ulaginbam adaithal elithena kandom
Iniyoru thollayum illai
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illai
Kuraiyum kavalaiyum illai
Unmaiyin per deivam enbom andri
Oodhidm deivangal poiyena kandom
Unmaiyin per deivam enbom andri
Oodhidm deivangal poiyena kandom
Nandru puraanangal seithaar
Athil nalla kavithai palapala thanthaar
Kavithai miga nallathenum akkathaigal
Poiyendru thelivura kandom
Sooththirakkoru neethi thanda
Sorunpaarpukku veroru needhi
Saaththiram sollidumaayin
Adhu saaththiramandru sathiyendru kandom
Saaththiram sollidumaayin
Adhu saaththiramandru sathiyendru kandom
Iniyoru thollayum illai
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illai
Iniyoru thollayum illai
Pirivillai kuraiyum kavalaiyum illai
Kuraiyum kavalaiyum illai
Kuraiyum kavalaiyum illai
There is no trouble anymore,
No division, no lack, and no worry.
There is no trouble anymore,
No division, no lack, and no worry.
There is no trouble anymore,
No division, no lack, and no worry.
No lack and no worry.
There is a single fruit-bearing mango tree;
On it are tender buds, raw fruits, and ripe fruits.
There is a single fruit-bearing mango tree;
On it are tender buds, raw fruits, and ripe fruits.
The claim that there are a thousand castes among humans—
We do not accept such deceptive words.
The claim that there are a thousand castes among humans—
We do not accept such deceptive words.
A true Brahmin like Nandan (the revered Dalit saint)
Does not exist in this land.
A true Brahmin like Nandan (the revered Dalit saint)
Does not exist in this land.
If one's character is good, whatever their caste may be,
We have realized it is easy to find joy in this world.
There is no trouble anymore,
No division, no lack, and no worry.
No lack and no worry.
We declare that the name of Truth is God,
And we have realized that the preached gods are false.
We declare that the name of Truth is God,
And we have realized that the preached gods are false.
They created the ancient epics well,
And gave us many fine poems within them.
Though the poetry is very beautiful,
We have clearly realized those stories are false.
One law for the Shudra (lower-caste worker), and for the idle
Priest living on free food, another law—
If the scripture claims this,
We have realized it is not scripture, but a conspiracy!
If the scripture claims this,
We have realized it is not scripture, but a conspiracy!
There is no trouble anymore,
No division, no lack, and no worry.
There is no trouble anymore,
No division, no lack, and no worry.
No lack and no worry.
No lack and no worry.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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Sila Per Vazha1959
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Kaalam Varugudhu Nalla Kaalam1955
Kalvanin Kadhali -(1955)EqualitySpirituality
Jeeva Oliyaaga1947
PaithiyakkaranEqualityFreedom

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