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Isaimozhi
Vivasayee album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kadavul Ennum

From Vivasayee · 1967

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Vivasayee
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
5 Apr 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vivasaayi ..vivasaayi
Kadavul ennum mudhalaali
Kandedhutha thozhilaali
Vivasaayi ..vivasaayi
Kadavul ennum mudhalaali
Kandedhutha thozhilaali
Vivasaayi ..vivasaayi
Munnettra paadhaiyilae manasa vaithu
Muzhu moochaa adarkkaaga dhinam uzhaithu
Munnettra paadhaiyilae manasa vaithu
Muzhu moochaa adarkkaaga dhinam uzhaithu
Mannilae mutheduthu pirar vaazha
Mannilae mutheduthu pirar vaazha
Vazhangum gunam udaiyon vivasaai
Vivasaayi ..vivasaayi
Enna valam illai indha thirunaattil
Yen kaiyai yendha vendum velinaattil
Enna valam illai indha thirunaattil
Yen kaiyai yendha vendum velinaattil
Ozhungaai paadu padu vayal kaattil
Ozhungaai paadu padu vayal kaattil
Uyarum un madhippu ayal naattil
Vivasaayi ..vivasaayi
Karuppendrum sivappendrum vaetrumaiyaai
Karudhaamal ellorum otrumaiyaai
Karuppendrum sivappendrum vaetrumaiyaai
Karudhaamal ellorum otrumaiyaai
Poruppulla periyorgal sonnapadi
Poruppulla periyorgal sonnapadi
Uzhaithaal perugaadho saagupadi
Vivasaayi ..vivasaayi
Irundhidalaam naattil pala vannakkodi
Ethanaiyo katchigalin ennappadi
Irundhidalaam naattil pala vannakkodi
Ethanaiyo katchigalin ennappadi
Parakka vendum engum orae chinna kodi
Parakka vendum engum orae chinna kodi
Adhu panjam illai ennum annakkodi
Vivasaayi ..vivasaayi
Kadavul ennum mudhalaali
Kandedhutha thozhilaali
Vivasaayi ..vivasaayi
Farmer... farmer...
The Master called God,
Found and chose the worker:
The farmer... the farmer...
The Master called God,
Found and chose the worker:
The farmer... the farmer...
Setting his heart on the path of progress,
Working hard each day with all his soul,
Setting his heart on the path of progress,
Working hard each day with all his soul,
Harvesting pearls from the soil so others may live,
Harvesting pearls from the soil so others may live,
The one with a giving heart is the farmer!
Farmer... farmer...
What richness is lacking in this blessed land?
Why must we stretch out our hands to foreign nations?
What richness is lacking in this blessed land?
Why must we stretch out our hands to foreign nations?
Work hard and diligently in the fields,
Work hard and diligently in the fields,
And your respect will rise across foreign lands!
Farmer... farmer...
Without dividing people as black or red,
Standing together in complete unity,
Without dividing people as black or red,
Standing together in complete unity,
Following the guidance of responsible elders,
Following the guidance of responsible elders,
If we work, won't our harvest multiply?
Farmer... farmer...
There may be flags of many colors in the land,
According to the wishes of so many parties,
There may be flags of many colors in the land,
According to the wishes of so many parties,
But everywhere, one small flag alone must fly—
But everywhere, one small flag alone must fly—
The flag of food, declaring there is no famine!
Farmer... farmer...
The Master called God,
Found and chose the worker:
The farmer... the farmer...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Vivasaayi' serves as a grand tribute to the agricultural community, elevating the farmer to a divine status as a laborer chosen directly by God to sustain life on Earth. Through inspiring verses, lyricist A. Maruthakasi emphasizes self-respect, national self-reliance, and the dignified nature of manual labor, urging citizens to toil productively in local fields rather than depending on foreign imports.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Kadavul ennum mudhalaali / Kandedhutha thozhilaali

God is metaphorically characterized as the supreme employer ('mudhalaali') and the farmer as His handpicked laborer ('thozhilaali').

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Mannilae mutheduthu pirar vaazha

Agricultural produce harvested from the soil is poetically compared to precious pearls ('muthu').

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Munnettra paadhaiyilae manasa vaithu

The second consonant 'n' (nn) rhymes across lines ('Munnettra' / 'Mannilae').

Monai (Initial-letter alliteration)

Karuppendrum sivappendrum vaetrumaiyaai

The starting letters share matching sound patterns ('Karuppendrum' / 'Karudhaamal').

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic song from the 1967 film 'Vivasayee' features M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) playing an educated agricultural graduate promoting modern farming techniques. The line emphasizing the 'food flag' over party flags reflected MGR's political philosophy of placing hunger eradication above partisan politics.

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