Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Vaaname Ellai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Jana Gana Mana

From Vaaname Ellai · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Maragadha Mani
Movie name
Vaaname Ellai
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
10 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hmm mm mm mm mmm
Hmm mm mm mmmm mmm
Thanna nanna nanannaa thaa naa naa
Female :Thanna nanna nanannaa thaa naa naa
Male :Thaanaaa dharnaaa thana
Female :Thaanaa dharanaaa naa naaaa
Male :Thanna nanna nanannaa naa naa
Thanna nanna nanannaa naa naa
Jana gana mana ena jadhi sollum neram
Jananamum maranamum sandhikkum kaalam
Mudiyum nigazhchi ahaa
Manadhil magizhchi
Thulli ezha vendum
Yen azha vendum
Indha bhoomikku nandri solli
Purappada vendum aa aa aaa aaa
Jana gana mana ena jadhi sollum neram
Jananamum maranamum sandhikkum kaalam
Janikkum uyirgal saagaamal ponaal
Thaangaadhu thaangaadhu
Boologam ennaavadhu
Suzhalum bhoomi sutraadhu saami
Swaasikka mudiyaadhu appodhu en seivadhu
Kaalam vandhaal
Edhuvum ingu nadakkum
Neram vandhaal paravai rekkai thudikkum
Kizhakku vaanam azhaikkum neram
Kiligal koottam parakkattum
Geedhangal isaikattum
Dhisai engae adho angae…..angae
Indha tharai vaazhkkai verum sirai vaazhkkai
Indha sirai patta silandhikku vidudhalai vaetkai
Jana gana mana ena jadhi sollum neram
Jananamum maranamum sandhikkum kaalam
Mazhaiyin thuligal
Mannodu veezhndhaal
Mazhai konda saavendru
Vaan megamdhaan sollumaa
Nagarum nadhigal
Kadalodu saerndhaal
Nadhi konda saavendru
Kadalenna thadai sollumaa
Sangamikka iyarkai katru thandhadhu
Sangamathaal ulagam innum ulladhu
Pallathil serum vellathai polae
Iyarkkayodu kalakkalaam
Jegathaiyae jeyikkalaam
Dhisai engae adho angae…..angae
Aaaah aaah aaah aaah aaah aaah
Jana gana mana ena jadhi sollum neram
Jananamum maranamum sandhikkum kaalam
Mudiyum nigazhchi ahaa
Manadhil magizhchi
Thulli ezha vendum
Yen azha vendum
Indha bhoomikku nandri solli
Purappada vendum aa aa aaa aaa
Jana gana mana ena jadhi sollum neram
Jananamum maranamum sandhikkum kaalam
Hmm mm mm mm mmm
Hmm mm mm mmmm mmm
Thanna nanna nananna thaa naa naa
Female: Thanna nanna nananna thaa naa naa
Male: Thaana tharna thana
Female: Thaana tharanaa naa naaaa
Male: Thanna nanna nananna naa naa
Thanna nanna nananna naa naa
It is time to chant the rhythm of Jana Gana Mana,
The moment when birth and death meet.
The final farewell, aha!
There is joy in our hearts!
We should leap up with joy,
Why should we weep?
Saying thank you to this earth,
We must take our leave, ah ah aaaa aa.
It is time to chant the rhythm of Jana Gana Mana,
The moment when birth and death meet.
If the lives born here never died,
It could not bear it, it could not bear it!
What would become of this world?
The spinning earth would stop turning, oh Lord!
There would be no air to breathe, what could we do then?
When the time comes,
Anything can happen here.
When the moment arrives, a bird's wings will flutter.
When the eastern sky calls out,
Let the flock of parrots take flight!
Let melodies play on!
Which way do we go? Look there... right there!
This life on the ground is merely life in prison;
This trapped spider longs to be free.
It is time to chant the rhythm of Jana Gana Mana,
The moment when birth and death meet.
When drops of rain
Fall upon the ground,
Calling it the death of the rain,
Would the clouds in the sky ever say that?
When flowing rivers
Merge with the ocean,
Calling it the death of the river,
Would the sea object and say that?
Nature has taught us how to unite;
Because of this union, the world still survives.
Like floodwaters rushing into the lowlands,
Let us blend with nature,
And conquer the whole universe!
Which way do we go? Look there... right there!
Aaa aa aa aa aa aa
It is time to chant the rhythm of Jana Gana Mana,
The moment when birth and death meet.
The final farewell, aha!
There is joy in our hearts!
We should leap up with joy,
Why should we weep?
Saying thank you to this earth,
We must take our leave, ah ah aaaa aa.
It is time to chant the rhythm of Jana Gana Mana,
The moment when birth and death meet.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the film 'Vaaname Ellai' explores philosophical themes about life, death, and accepting impermanence with joy rather than grief. The lyrics frame death not as a tragic end, but as a natural culmination of life's journey—a necessary transition that keeps the balance of the world intact, much like rain joining the earth or rivers merging into the ocean. Instead of mourning, one should feel gratitude towards the earth and embrace liberation with a joyful spirit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Jana gana mana ena jadhi sollum neram / Jananamum maranamum sandhikkum kaalam”

Matching initial sounds in consecutive words across lines, such as 'Jananamum' and 'maranamum' or 'Jana' and 'Jananamum'.

Metaphor

“Indha tharai vaazhkkai verum sirai vaazhkkai / Indha sirai patta silandhikku vidudhalai vaetkai”

Comparing human life on earth to life in prison ('sirai vaazhkkai') and the soul to a spider longing for freedom.

Analogy

“Mazhaiyin thuligal Mannodu veezhndhaal... Nagarum nadhigal Kadalodu saerndhaal”

Drawing parallels between human death and natural occurrences like rain falling to earth or rivers merging into the ocean.

Did you know?

Trivia

Vaaname Ellai (1992) was directed by legendary filmmaker K. Balachander. The music was composed by Maragadhamani (M. M. Keeravani), and the lyrics were penned by Vairamuthu. The film revolves around five young people who decide to end their lives together in 30 days, making this song a poignant philosophical reflection on mortality and existential freedom within the movie's narrative.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Udal Enna Uyir Enna1993
AmaravathiMortalityContemplative
Azhagu Rasipatharke Arivu1964
Vazhkai VazhvatharkeNatureHope
Poove Ne Aadava1996
KalkiNatureFreedom
Kanavu Kaanum1984
Neengal KettavaiMortalityContemplative
Alli Thantha Bhoomi1981
NanduNatureGratitude
Pirar Vaada1994
MahanadhiMortalityHope

From the same album

More songs from Vaaname Ellai

View album
Nadodi Mannargale1992
Vaaname EllaiCelebratory
Nee Aandavana1992
Vaaname EllaiTender
Siragillai1992
Vaaname EllaiHopeful
Kambangade Kambangade1992
Vaaname EllaiPlayful
Sogam Eni Ellai1992
Vaaname EllaiCelebratory

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.