Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Iyarkai Annai

From Enga Veettu Penn · 1965

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Enga Veettu Penn1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hooo ooo oo ooHooo ooo oo oo
Iyarkkai annai thandhadhellamAll that Mother Nature has given
Ellorkkum sondhamadaBelongs to everyone, my friend
Iyarkkai annai thandhadhellamAll that Mother Nature has given
Ellorkkum sondhamadaBelongs to everyone, my friend
Enadhu unadhu enbadhellaamAll concepts of 'mine' and 'yours'
Idaiyil maarum bandhamadaAre temporary bonds that change in between
Idaiyil maarum bandhamadaAre temporary bonds that change in between
Iyarkkai annai thandhadhellamAll that Mother Nature has given
Ellorkkum sondhamadaBelongs to everyone, my friend
Male
Vaan mazhai neerum mannin gunathaalEven rainwater from the sky, due to the nature of the soil
Maattram adaiavdhunduUndergoes a change in its quality
Vaan mazhai neerum mannin gunathaalEven rainwater from the sky, due to the nature of the soil
Maattram adaiavdhunduUndergoes a change in its quality
Vanjagar uravaal nalla manidharumSimilarly, good people influenced by deceitful company
Theeyavar aavadhunduCan turn into wicked people
Male
Unakku munnae pirandha nilamThe land that was born before you
Oorukkellaam kodutha nilamThe land that gave abundance to the entire town
Unakku munnae pirandha nilamThe land that was born before you
Oorukkellaam kodutha nilamThe land that gave abundance to the entire town
Unakku pinnum irukkumadaWill remain long after you are gone
Urimai endraal sirikkumadaIt will laugh if you claim ownership over it
Iyarkkai annai thandhadhellamAll that Mother Nature has given
Ellorkkum sondhamadaBelongs to everyone, my friend
Male
Iravum pagalum inbamum thunbamumDay and night, pleasure and sorrow
Iyarkkai vaguthathadaWere ordained by Mother Nature
Iravum pagalum inbamum thunbamumDay and night, pleasure and sorrow
Iyarkkai vaguthathadaWere ordained by Mother Nature
Indha irandukkum idaiyil amaidhi kaanbavanThe one who finds peace amidst these dualities
Idhayam sirandhadhadaPossesses a noble heart
Male
Naan endra aganthaiyinaaleBecause of the ego named 'I'
Nammai kanda manidhar illaiNo human truly understands or respects us
Naan endra aganthaiyinaaleBecause of the ego named 'I'
Nammai kanda manidhar illaiNo human truly understands or respects us
Naam endra ottrumai vandhaalIf unity built on 'we' arrives
Naatinilae thuyarmillaiThere will be no sorrow in the country
Male
Iyarkkai annai thandhadhellamAll that Mother Nature has given
Ellorkkum sondhamadaBelongs to everyone, my friend
Enadhu unadhu enbadhellaamAll concepts of 'mine' and 'yours'
Idaiyil maarum bandhamadaAre temporary bonds that change in between
Idaiyil maarum bandhamadaAre temporary bonds that change in between
Iyarkkai annai thandhadhellamAll that Mother Nature has given
Ellorkkum sondhamadaBelongs to everyone, my friend

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This philosophical song from 'Enga Veettu Penn' (1965), composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered powerfully by Seerkazhi Govindarajan, imparts timeless egalitarian wisdom written by Aalangudi Somu. The lyrics emphasize that all natural resources belong equally to everyone, and human notions of individual ownership ('mine' and 'yours') are temporary illusions. Through vivid analogies, the song explains how pure rainwater assumes the characteristics of the soil it hits, just as good individuals get corrupted by wicked association. Furthermore, it reminds us that the Earth predates humanity and will outlast us all, making claims of land ownership absurd. The song concludes by advocating equanimity in the face of life's dualities and calling for collective unity ('we') over individual vanity ('I') to eliminate suffering from society.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagamm (Personification / Metaphor)

Iyarkkai annai thandhadhellam

Nature is personified as a benevolent universal mother ('Iyarkkai annai') who provides equally to all.

Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)

Iravum pagalum inbamum thunbamum

Contrasting pairs are used to show natural dualities ordained by nature: 'Iravum pagalum' (Night and Day) and 'inbamum thunbamum' (Pleasure and Pain).

Etukai (Second letter rhyming)

Naan endra aganthaiyinaale / Naam endra ottrumai vandhaal

The second consonant 'na' matches across lines: 'Naan' in line 31 and 'Naam' in line 35, highlighting the shift from singular ego to collective unity.

Analogy / Utamai

Vaan mazhai neerum mannin gunathaal Maattram adaiavdhundu

Compares rainwater absorbing soil qualities to good human beings absorbing the traits of bad company.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by famous lyricist Aalangudi Somu, this song remains one of Tamil cinema's hallmark philosophical solos performed by the legendary classical singer Seerkazhi Govindarajan. Its moral messaging about land ownership and social equality mirrored the socio-political rhetoric popular in Tamil Nadu during the 1960s.

Keep listening

More from Enga Veettu Penn