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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Innoruvar Dhayavu

From Thangarathinam · 1960

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thangarathinam
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
9 Mar 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Innoruvar thayavedharkku
Innaattil vaazhvadharkku
Illaiyendra kuraiyum ingae
Inimaelum yen namakku
Innoruvar thayavedharkku
Innaattil vaazhvadharkku
Illaiyendra kuraiyum ingae
Inimaelum yen namakku
Kannithaai kaaveri
Ennaalum thunaiyirukka
Kannithaai kaaveri
Ennaalum thunaiyirukka
Kaigalilae uzhaippadharkku
Balamirukka thiramirukka
Kaigalilae uzhaippadharkku
Balamirukka thiramirukka
Pon vilaiyum valamudaiya
Kannaana nilamirukka
Pon vilaiyum valamudaiya
Kannaana nilamirukka
Pugazhudanae ulagaiyaanda
Inam endra peyar irukka
Pugazhudanae ulagaiyaanda
Inam endra peyar irukka
Innoruvar thayavedharkku
Innaattil vaazhvadharkku
Illaiyendra kuraiyum ingae
Inimaelum yen namakku
Ennathaal imayam polae
Uyarndhuvitta manamirukka
Latchiyamae uyiraaga
Kondaadum gunamirukka
Ennathaal imayam polae
Uyarndhuvitta manamirukka
Latchiyamae uyiraaga
Kondaadum gunamirukka
Munnaettra paadhaiyilae
Arivodu naam nadakka
Munnaettra paadhaiyilae
Arivodu naam nadakka
Kannottam kondavargal
Vazhikatti kaathirukka
Kannottam kondavargal
Vazhikatti kaathirukka
Innoruvar thayavedharkku
Innaattil vaazhvadharkku
Illaiyendra kuraiyum ingae
Inimaelum yen namakku
Vandhaarai varavettru
Vaazhaveitha thennaadu
Vandhaarai varavettru
Vaazhaveitha thennaadu
Valluvanaar podhumaraiyai
Vazhangiya maanaadu
Valluvanaar podhumaraiyai
Vazhangiya maanaadu
Innaalil pirar kaiyai
Edhirpaathu vaazhuvadha
Innaalil pirar kaiyai
Edhirpaathu vaazhuvadha
Ennaalum thuyar megam
Namm meedhu soozhuvadha
Ennaalum thuyar megam
Namm meedhu soozhuvadha
Innoruvar thayavedharkku
Innaattil vaazhvadharkku
Illaiyendra kuraiyum ingae
Inimaelum yen namakku
Why do we need someone else's favor
to live in this land of ours?
The sorrow of lacking anything here—
why should we suffer it anymore?
Why do we need someone else's favor
to live in this land of ours?
The sorrow of lacking anything here—
why should we suffer it anymore?
When Mother Kaveri
is by our side every single day,
when Mother Kaveri
is by our side every single day,
when our hands have the strength
and the skill to work hard,
when our hands have the strength
and the skill to work hard,
when we have rich, fertile,
precious land that yields gold,
when we have rich, fertile,
precious land that yields gold,
and when we bear the proud name of a people
who once ruled the world with glory...
and when we bear the proud name of a people
who once ruled the world with glory...
Why do we need someone else's favor
to live in this land of ours?
The sorrow of lacking anything here—
why should we suffer it anymore?
When we have minds that soar
as high as the Himalayas in thought,
when we have the noble spirit
to cherish our ideals as our very life,
when we have minds that soar
as high as the Himalayas in thought,
when we have the noble spirit
to cherish our ideals as our very life,
on the path of progress,
as we walk forward with wisdom,
on the path of progress,
as we walk forward with wisdom,
and when caring and visionary leaders
are waiting to guide and protect us...
and when caring and visionary leaders
are waiting to guide and protect us...
Why do we need someone else's favor
to live in this land of ours?
The sorrow of lacking anything here—
why should we suffer it anymore?
This southern land has welcomed all who arrived
and helped them build a prosperous life,
this southern land has welcomed all who arrived
and helped them build a prosperous life,
this is our land that gave the world
Valluvar's universal scripture (Tirukkural),
this is our land that gave the world
Valluvar's universal scripture (Tirukkural),
in this day and age, must we look to others' hands
and live in dependence?
in this day and age, must we look to others' hands
and live in dependence?
Must the clouds of sorrow
surround us forever?
Must the clouds of sorrow
surround us forever?
Why do we need someone else's favor
to live in this land of ours?
The sorrow of lacking anything here—
why should we suffer it anymore?
Female
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Female
Female
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Female
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Female
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Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Innoruvar Thayavedharkku is an inspiring social song from the film Thangarathinam (1960), written by A. Maruthakasi and set to music by K. V. Mahadevan. Sung beautifully by P. Susheela, the song serves as a powerful call for self-reliance, self-respect, and hard work, urging people not to depend on the mercy or charity of others when they live in a land blessed with rich natural resources and historic pride. The lyrics celebrate the bounty of Tamil Nadu—symbolized by the perennial Kaveri river and fertile soil—and evoke the historic heritage of Thiruvalluvar and legendary Tamil rulers. By encouraging the listeners to hold high ideals, cultivate wisdom, and walk on the path of progress, the song preaches self-sufficiency and moral courage over despair and dependence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Modhai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Innoruvar thayavedharkku / Innaattil vaazhvadharkku / Illaiyendra kuraiyum ingae / Inimaelum yen namakku”

Repetition of the initial vowel 'I' across consecutive lines (Innoruvar, Innaattil, Illaiyendra, Inimaelum) creates a rhythmic flow.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Ennathaal imayam polae”

The poet compares noble thoughts to the grand heights of the Himalayas using the word 'polae' (like/as).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Ennaalum thuyar megam / Namm meedhu soozhuvadha”

Sorrow is directly conceptualized as dark clouds ('thuyar megam') gathering over life.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thangarathinam (1960) starred S. S. Rajendran and Vijayakumari. Lyricist A. Maruthakasi was renowned for weaving social consciousness, Dravidian cultural pride, and agricultural labor ethics into mainstream Tamil film songs during the 1950s and 1960s.

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