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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Innoru Gandhi

From Deva · 1995

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Mano, S. N. Surendar
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Deva1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………….[Music]
Male
Innoru gandhiAnother Gandhi
Piranthida vendum bhoomiyilaeMust be born on this earth
Chorus :BhoomiyilaeChorus: On this earth
Male :Kaiyil aayutham yaenthiMale: Holding a weapon in hand
Nadanthida vendum oorinilaeMust walk through the town
Chorus :OorinilaeChorus: Through the town
Male
Saththiyam shanthiTruth and peace
Jeyiththidavillai naattinilaeHave not won in this country
Chorus :NaattinilaeChorus: In this country
Male :Ada iththanai kaalamMale: Oh, for so long a time
Poruththirunthaachchu veettinilaeWe have endured patiently in our homes
Chorus :VeettinilaeChorus: In our homes
Male
Koththadimai pol vaazhnthuLiving like bonded laborers
Naangal kandathu eththanai thollaiHow many troubles have we faced
Sudhanthira sooriyan vanthuThe sun of freedom came
Engal giramaththai thottathu illaiBut has not touched our village
Chorus
Meendum orr viduthalaiOnce again a freedom
Por thanai nadaththiduWar must be waged
Male
Innoru gandhiAnother Gandhi
Piranthida vendum bhoomiyilaeMust be born on this earth
Chorus :BhoomiyilaeChorus: On this earth
Male :Kaiyil aayutham yaenthiMale: Holding a weapon in hand
Nadanthida vendum oorinilaeMust walk through the town
Chorus :OorinilaeChorus: Through the town
Chorus
…………….[Music]
Male
Periya manushan pola vaazhpavanThe one living like an important person
Podura aattam pala yaezhaiyai maattrumThe game he plays will alter many poor people's lives
Male
Padhavi veriyil paavam seipavanThe one committing sins in the madness for power
Vaazhura naadu oru naadalla kaaduThe country he lives in is not a country, but a jungle
Male
Iniyum avaragalHereafter, them
Thalai thookkida vidamaattomWe will not let raise their heads
Idhu pol thodarnthuContinuing like this
Ingu vedhanai padamattomWe will not suffer pain here
Chorus
: Meendum orr viduthalaiOnce again a freedom
Por thanai nadaththiduWar must be waged
Male
Innoru gandhiAnother Gandhi
Piranthida vendum bhoomiyilaeMust be born on this earth
Chorus :BhoomiyilaeChorus: On this earth
Male :Kaiyil aayutham yaenthiMale: Holding a weapon in hand
Nadanthida vendum oorinilaeMust walk through the town
Chorus :OorinilaeChorus: Through the town
Male
Aa….innoru gandhiAh... another Gandhi
Piranthida vendum bhoomiyilaeMust be born on this earth
Chorus :BhoomiyilaeChorus: On this earth
Male :Kaiyil aayutham yaenthiMale: Holding a weapon in hand
Nadanthida vendum oorinilaeMust walk through the town
Chorus :OorinilaeChorus: Through the town
Chorus
…………….[Music]
Male
Adangi odungi aamai polSubdued and huddled like a turtle
Inga vaazhnthathu pothumLiving here thus far is enough
Nizhai thaazhnthathu pothumHaving our status degraded is enough
Male
Bayanthu nadungi oomaipolFrightened and trembling like a mute person
Ingu vaadiya koottamThe crowd that withered here
Ini unarchchiyai kaattumWill now display its emotion
Male
Puratchi vediththaalIf revolution erupts
Sama needhiyum thondridumeEqual justice will emerge
Male
Idhayam kodhiththaalIf the heart boils
Kattu kaavalgal udainthidumaeStrict restrictions will shatter
Male
Innoru gandhiAnother Gandhi
Piranthida vendum bhoomiyilaeMust be born on this earth
Chorus :BhoomiyilaeChorus: On this earth
Male :Kaiyil aayutham yaenthiMale: Holding a weapon in hand
Nadanthida vendum oorinilaeMust walk through the town
Chorus :OorinilaeChorus: Through the town
Male
Saththiyam shanthiTruth and peace
Jeyiththidavillai naattinilaeHave not won in this country
Chorus :NaattinilaeChorus: In this country
Male :Ada iththanai kaalamMale: Oh, for so long a time
Poruththirunthaachchu veettinilaeWe have endured patiently in our homes
Chorus :VeettinilaeChorus: In our homes
Male
Koththadimai pol vaazhnthuLiving like bonded laborers
Naangal kandathu eththanai thollaiHow many troubles have we faced
Sudhanthira sooriyan vanthuThe sun of freedom came
Engal giramaththai thottathu illaiBut has not touched our village
Chorus
Meendum orr viduthalaiOnce again a freedom
Por thanai nadaththiduWar must be waged
Male
Innoru gandhiAnother Gandhi
Piranthida vendum bhoomiyilaeMust be born on this earth
Chorus :BhoomiyilaeChorus: On this earth
Male :Kaiyil aayutham yaenthiMale: Holding a weapon in hand
Nadanthida vendum oorinilaeMust walk through the town
Chorus :OorinilaeChorus: Through the town
Male
Haan….innoru gandhiHaha... another Gandhi
Piranthida vendum bhoomiyilaeMust be born on this earth
Chorus :BhoomiyilaeChorus: On this earth
Male :Kaiyil aayutham yaenthiMale: Holding a weapon in hand
Nadanthida vendum oorinilaeMust walk through the town
Chorus :OorinilaeChorus: Through the town

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Innoru Gandhi from the movie Deva (1995) is a fiery revolutionary song that calls for an assertive, armed leader—a paradoxically weaponized Gandhi—to lead a second freedom struggle against social inequality and political corruption. The song highlights how non-violence, truth, and peace failed to uplift rural villages, where poor people continue to suffer like bonded laborers under power-hungry oppressors. The lyrics call upon the oppressed masses to abandon their passive, fear-stricken existence and rise up in revolution. By channeling their collective rage and taking up arms, the song argues that social equality can be achieved and corrupt forces can be overthrown to establish true justice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Oxymoron

Innoru gandhi / Piranthida vendum bhoomiyilae / Kaiyil aayutham yaenthi

Juxtaposes Mahatma Gandhi, the global symbol of non-violence (Ahimsa), with taking up arms (Kaiyil aayutham yaenthi), creating a striking paradoxical call for a militant leader.

Simile (Uvamaani)

Adangi odungi aamai pol / Bayanthu nadungi oomaipol

Compares the passive, suppressed state of the impoverished villagers to turtles withdrawn in shells (aamai pol) and frightened mute people (oomaipol).

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Sudhanthira sooriyan vanthu / Engal giramaththai thottathu illai

Metaphorically represents freedom as a rising sun (Sudhanthira sooriyan) that fails to reach or illuminate marginalized rural villages.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

bhoomiyilae / oorinilae / naattinilae / veettinilae

Uses repeating rhythmic suffix endings like '-ilae' (bhoomiyilae, oorinilae, naattinilae, veettinilae) across lines to build a chanting, chorus-like momentum.

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Trivia

'Deva' (1995), directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar and starring Vijay, features soundtrack compositions by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by veteran poet Pulamaipithan. The song's radical concept of an 'armed Gandhi' reflects the vigilante justice themes common in Chandrasekhar's directorial works of the 1990s.

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