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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Jana Gana Mana

From Aaytha Ezhuthu · 2004

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
A. R. Rahman, Karthik
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Aaytha Ezhuthu2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Oh yuva yuvaOh youth, youth
Oh yuva yuvaOh youth, youth
Oh oho ooo ooo ooo oooOh oho ooo ooo ooo ooo
Ho ho ho ho ho hoHo ho ho ho ho ho
Male
Jana gana manaMind of the people
Janangalai ninaiThink of the people
Kanavugal vellaFor dreams to triumph
Kaariyam thunaiAction must be your aid
Male
Oliyae vazhiyaagaLet light be the path
Malaiyae padiyaagaLet mountains be the steps
Pagaiyum podiyaagaLet enmity turn to dust
Chuck chuck chuck chuck gumseyChuck chuck chuck chuck gumsey
Male
Jana gana manaMind of the people
Janangalai ninaiThink of the people
Kanavugal vellaFor dreams to triumph
Kaariyam thunaiAction must be your aid
Male
Oliyae vazhiyaagaLet light be the path
Malaiyae padiyaagaLet mountains be the steps
Pagaiyum podiyaagaLet enmity turn to dust
Chuck chuck chuck chuck gumseyChuck chuck chuck chuck gumsey
Male
Iniyoru iniyoruFrom now on, from now on
Vidhi seivomWe shall make a new law
Chorus :Oh yuva yuva oh yuvaChorus: Oh youth youth oh youth
Male
Vidhiyinai maatrumA destiny that alters destiny
Vidhi seivomWe shall make
Chorus :Oh yuva yuva oh yuvaChorus: Oh youth youth oh youth
Male
Aayutham edu aanavam suduPick up a weapon, burn arrogance
Theepantham edu theemaiyai suduPick up a torch, burn evil
Male
Irulai erithu viduIncinerate the darkness
Ezhaikkum vaazhvukkumFor the poor and for life
Irukkindra idaiveli kuraithuReduce the existing gap
Nilai niruthuEstablish stability
Adi kottaththil vittathaiBreak what was left in corners
Sattathin vattathai udaithuBreak the rigid circle of the law
Chorus
Oh yuva oh yuvaOh youth oh youth
Oh yuva oh yuvaOh youth oh youth
Male
Jana gana manaMind of the people
Janangalai ninaiThink of the people
Kanavugal vellaFor dreams to triumph
Kaariyam thunaiAction must be your aid
Male
Achchathai viduShed your fear
Latchiyam thoduReach for your ambition
Vetrumai vidu vetriyai thoduShed discrimination, touch victory
Thozhaa poraaduFriend, fight!
Malaigalil nuzhaikindra nadhiyenaLike a river penetrating through mountains
Suyavazhi amaithuCarve your own path
Padai nadathuLead the force
Adi vetrikku pakkathilRight next to victory
Mutrathin sutrathai niruthuGather your inner circle of supporters
Male
Nallavar yaavarumWhen good people
UdhungikollaStep aside and stay quiet
Narigalin naataamai thodangividumThe reign of sneaky foxes begins
Vaalibha kootani vaan eduthaalIf the youth coalition claims the sky
Valappakkam bhoomi thirumbi vidumThe earth will rotate in the right direction
Chorus
Oh yuva oh yuvaOh youth oh youth
Oh yuva oh yuvaOh youth oh youth
Male
Jana gana manaMind of the people
Janangalai ninaiThink of the people
Kanavugal vellaFor dreams to triumph
Kaariyam thunaiAction must be your aid
Male
Oliyae vazhiyaagaLet light be the path
Malaiyae padiyaagaLet mountains be the steps
Pagaiyum podiyaagaLet enmity turn to dust
Chuck chuck chuck chuck gumseyChuck chuck chuck chuck gumsey
Male
Jana gana manaMind of the people
Janangalai ninaiThink of the people
Kanavugal vellaFor dreams to triumph
Kaariyam thunaiAction must be your aid
Male
Iniyoru iniyoruFrom now on, from now on
Vidhi seivomWe shall make a new law
Chorus :Oh yuva yuva oh yuvaChorus: Oh youth youth oh youth
Male
Vidhiyinai maatrumA destiny that alters destiny
Vidhi seivomWe shall make
Chorus :Oh yuva yuva oh yuvaChorus: Oh youth youth oh youth

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Jana Gana Mana (Yuva) from Aaytha Ezhuthu is a high-energy youth anthem calling upon the young generation to actively participate in society and politics. The lyrics urge youth to cast away fear, bridge the economic gap between rich and poor, and break corrupt systemic barriers. It warns that when good citizens remain passive, cunning politicians ('foxes') take control, and thus calls for youth leadership to steer society back onto the right path.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monorhyme / Rhyme (Iyaiputh Thodai)

Oliyae vazhiyaaga / Malaiyae padiyaaga / Pagaiyum podiyaaga

Rhyming endings in consecutive lines such as vazhiyaaga, padiyaaga, podiyaaga.

Simile (Upamai)

Malaigalil nuzhaikindra nadhiyena / Suyavazhi amaithu

Comparing the youth carving their own independent journey to a river cutting through mountains.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Narigalin naataamai thodangividum

Using 'foxes' as a metaphor for corrupt political opportunists who rule when good people step aside.

Antithesis / Parallelism

Achchathai vidu / Latchiyam thodu / Vetrumai vidu vetriyai thodu

Juxtaposition of dropping negatives and seizing positives in consecutive rhythmic clauses.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's political thriller 'Aaytha Ezhuthu' (and its Hindi counterpart 'Yuva'), the song serves as the main anthem for Surya's character Michael Vasanth, a student activist inspired by real-life activist George Reddy.

Keep listening

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