Mahaan Gandhi Mahaan
From Naam Iruvar – 1947 Film · 1947
- Lyricist
- K. P. Kamatchisundaram
- Singer
- M. S. Rajeswari
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Details
- Naam Iruvar – 1947 Film1947
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa…aa….aa….aaa…aa.. | Aa… aa… aa…aa….aa….aaa…aa.. |
| Mahaan gandhi mahaan | Great Gandhi, the noble soul! |
| Mahaan gandhi mahaan | Great Gandhi, the noble soul! |
| Female | |
| Vaazhndha thyaagiyaam nee | You are the selfless martyr who lived |
| Boologham meedhilae | Upon this Earth! |
| Vaazhndha thyaagiyaam nee | You are the selfless martyr who lived |
| Boologham meedhilae | Upon this Earth! |
| Female | |
| Mahaan gandhi mahaan | Great Gandhi, the noble soul! |
| Mahaan gandhi mahaan | Great Gandhi, the noble soul! |
| Female | |
| Dhaeseeya saeva guru | The guide and master of national service, |
| Dheiveega pooja guru | The master worthy of divine reverence, |
| Dhaeseeya saeva guru | The guide and master of national service, |
| Dheiveega pooja guru | The master worthy of divine reverence, |
| Female | |
| Jega saevaiyae purindhaan | He rendered selfless service to the world, |
| Igha jothiyaai niraindhaan | He filled the world like a divine, luminous light, |
| Jega saevaiyae purindhaan | He rendered selfless service to the world, |
| Igha jothiyaai niraindhaan | He filled the world like a divine, luminous light, |
| Suga vaazhvaiyae marandhaan | He forgot and gave up a life of personal comfort, |
| Female | |
| Suga vaazhvaiyae marandhaan | He forgot and gave up a life of personal comfort, |
| Suya raajya vaazhvai thandhaan | He gave us the life of self-rule and independence, |
| Suga vaazhvaiyae marandhaan | He forgot and gave up a life of personal comfort, |
| Suya raajya vaazhvai thandhaan | He gave us the life of self-rule and independence, |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa…aaa….aaa….aaa… | Aa… aa… aa…aaa….aaa….aaa… |
| Mahaan gandhi mahaan | Great Gandhi, the noble soul! |
| Mahaan gandhi mahaan | Great Gandhi, the noble soul! |
| Female | |
| Kai raattaiyae aayudham | The hand-spinning wheel was his weapon, |
| Kadhar aadaiyae sobidham | Khadi attire was his splendour and charm, |
| Kai raattaiyae aayudham | The hand-spinning wheel was his weapon, |
| Kadhar aadaiyae sobidham | Khadi attire was his splendour and charm, |
| Female | |
| Jeya vandhae maatharam hm… mm… | Victory to Vande Mataram, hm… mm… |
| Jeya bhaaratha mani kodi | Victory to the glorious jewel-like flag of India! |
| Jeya vandhae maatharam hm… mm… | Victory to Vande Mataram, hm… mm… |
| Jeya bhaaratha mani kodi | Victory to the glorious jewel-like flag of India! |
| Female | |
| Seeronghi vaazhgavae | May it flourish in high glory and honor! |
| Seeronghi vaazhgavae | May it flourish in high glory and honor! |
| Jeya vandhae maatharam | Victory to Vande Mataram! |
| Jeya vandhae maatharam | Victory to Vande Mataram! |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa…aaa….aaa….aaa… | Aa… aa… aa…aaa….aaa….aaa… |
| Mahaan gandhi mahaan | Great Gandhi, the noble soul! |
| Mahaan gandhi mahaan | Great Gandhi, the noble soul! |
ஆ......ஆ......ஆ.......ஆ......ஆஆஆ.....ஆ...
மகான் காந்தி மகான்
மகான் காந்தி மகான்
Aa… aa… aa…aa….aa….aaa…aa..
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
வாழ்ந்த தியாகியாம் நீ
பூலோகம் மீதிலே.....
வாழ்ந்த தியாகியாம் நீ
பூலோகம் மீதிலே.....
You are the selfless martyr who lived
Upon this Earth!
You are the selfless martyr who lived
Upon this Earth!
மகான் காந்தி மகான்
மகான் காந்தி மகான்
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
தேசிய சேவா குரு
தெய்வீக பூஜா குரு
தேசிய சேவா குரு
தெய்வீக பூஜா குரு
The guide and master of national service,
The master worthy of divine reverence,
The guide and master of national service,
The master worthy of divine reverence,
ஜெக சேவையே புரிந்தான்
இக ஜோதியாய் நிறைந்தான்
ஜெக சேவையே புரிந்தான்
இக ஜோதியாய் நிறைந்தான்
சுக வாழ்வையே மறந்தான்
He rendered selfless service to the world,
He filled the world like a divine, luminous light,
He rendered selfless service to the world,
He filled the world like a divine, luminous light,
He forgot and gave up a life of personal comfort,
சுக வாழ்வையே மறந்தான்
சுயராஜ்ய வாழ்வை தந்தான்
சுக வாழ்வையே மறந்தான்
சுயராஜ்ய வாழ்வை தந்தான்
He forgot and gave up a life of personal comfort,
He gave us the life of self-rule and independence,
He forgot and gave up a life of personal comfort,
He gave us the life of self-rule and independence,
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....
மகான் காந்தி மகான்
மகான் காந்தி மகான்
Aa… aa… aa…aaa….aaa….aaa…
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
கை ராட்டையே ஆயுதம்
கதர் ஆடையே சோபிதம்
கை ராட்டையே ஆயுதம்
கதர் ஆடையே சோபிதம்
The hand-spinning wheel was his weapon,
Khadi attire was his splendour and charm,
The hand-spinning wheel was his weapon,
Khadi attire was his splendour and charm,
ஜெய வந்தே மாதரம் ம்......ம்ம்.....
ஜெய பாரத மணிக்கொடி
ஜெய வந்தே மாதரம் ம்......ம்ம்.....
ஜெய பாரத மணிக்கொடி
Victory to Vande Mataram, hm… mm…
Victory to the glorious jewel-like flag of India!
Victory to Vande Mataram, hm… mm…
Victory to the glorious jewel-like flag of India!
சீரோங்கி வாழ்கவே
சீரோங்கி வாழ்கவே
ஜெய வந்தே மாதரம்
ஜெய வந்தே மாதரம்
May it flourish in high glory and honor!
May it flourish in high glory and honor!
Victory to Vande Mataram!
Victory to Vande Mataram!
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆஆ.....
மகான் காந்தி மகான்
மகான் காந்தி மகான்
Aa… aa… aa…aaa….aaa….aaa…
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Aa… aa… aa…aa….aa….aaa…aa..
Aa… aa… aa…aa….aa….aaa…aa..
Mahaan gandhi mahaan
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Mahaan gandhi mahaan
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Vaazhndha thyaagiyaam nee
You are the selfless martyr who lived
Boologham meedhilae
Upon this Earth!
Vaazhndha thyaagiyaam nee
You are the selfless martyr who lived
Boologham meedhilae
Upon this Earth!
Mahaan gandhi mahaan
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Mahaan gandhi mahaan
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Dhaeseeya saeva guru
The guide and master of national service,
Dheiveega pooja guru
The master worthy of divine reverence,
Dhaeseeya saeva guru
The guide and master of national service,
Dheiveega pooja guru
The master worthy of divine reverence,
Jega saevaiyae purindhaan
He rendered selfless service to the world,
Igha jothiyaai niraindhaan
He filled the world like a divine, luminous light,
Jega saevaiyae purindhaan
He rendered selfless service to the world,
Igha jothiyaai niraindhaan
He filled the world like a divine, luminous light,
Suga vaazhvaiyae marandhaan
He forgot and gave up a life of personal comfort,
Suga vaazhvaiyae marandhaan
He forgot and gave up a life of personal comfort,
Suya raajya vaazhvai thandhaan
He gave us the life of self-rule and independence,
Suga vaazhvaiyae marandhaan
He forgot and gave up a life of personal comfort,
Suya raajya vaazhvai thandhaan
He gave us the life of self-rule and independence,
Aa… aa… aa…aaa….aaa….aaa…
Aa… aa… aa…aaa….aaa….aaa…
Mahaan gandhi mahaan
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Mahaan gandhi mahaan
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Kai raattaiyae aayudham
The hand-spinning wheel was his weapon,
Kadhar aadaiyae sobidham
Khadi attire was his splendour and charm,
Kai raattaiyae aayudham
The hand-spinning wheel was his weapon,
Kadhar aadaiyae sobidham
Khadi attire was his splendour and charm,
Jeya vandhae maatharam hm… mm…
Victory to Vande Mataram, hm… mm…
Jeya bhaaratha mani kodi
Victory to the glorious jewel-like flag of India!
Jeya vandhae maatharam hm… mm…
Victory to Vande Mataram, hm… mm…
Jeya bhaaratha mani kodi
Victory to the glorious jewel-like flag of India!
Seeronghi vaazhgavae
May it flourish in high glory and honor!
Seeronghi vaazhgavae
May it flourish in high glory and honor!
Jeya vandhae maatharam
Victory to Vande Mataram!
Jeya vandhae maatharam
Victory to Vande Mataram!
Aa… aa… aa…aaa….aaa….aaa…
Aa… aa… aa…aaa….aaa….aaa…
Mahaan gandhi mahaan
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Mahaan gandhi mahaan
Great Gandhi, the noble soul!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This patriotic song pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, hailing him as a noble martyr and saint who dedicated his life to the service of the nation and humanity. It highlights his sacrifice of personal luxuries to bring self-rule (Swaraj) to India, using non-violent symbols like the spinning wheel (Raattai) and simple handwoven Khadi clothing as powerful instruments of struggle. The song closes with resounding chants celebrating Indian independence, the national flag, and the rallying cry 'Vande Mataram'.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition (Erattai)
“Mahaan gandhi mahaan”
The phrase 'Mahaan gandhi mahaan' is repeatedly chanted across stanzas to emphasize reverence and devotion toward Mahatma Gandhi.
Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai)
“Kai raattaiyae aayudham / Kadhar aadaiyae sobidham”
The second consonant sound matches between adjacent lines, creating a pleasing rhythmic harmony (e.g., 'raat-tai' and 'dhar-adayi').
Metaphor (Uruvagham)
“Kai raattaiyae aayudham”
The hand-operated spinning wheel (raattai) is metaphorically framed as a non-violent weapon of freedom.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Naam Iruvar' (1947) was a landmark post-independence Tamil film produced by AVM Productions. It made extensive use of patriotic songs, including compositions praising Mahatma Gandhi and poems by Mahakavi Bharathiyar, which resonated deeply with audiences in newly independent India.
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