- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- B. Neeraja
- Music director
- L. Vaidyanathan
- Movie name
- Ezhavathu Manithan
- Movie release year
- 1982
- Lyrics added on
- 2 Jan 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This iconic patriotic and philosophical poem by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar is an earnest petition for individual strength and societal transformation. Bharathiyar outlines a ideal roadmap for human life, advocating for mental resilience, noble thoughts, truthfulness, and decisive action alongside social progress such as women's emancipation and environmental prosperity. The poem reflects his vision of creating a heavenly, righteous society on earth through spiritual clarity and practical action.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Epiphora (Iraibu)
“All lines (refrain 'vendum')”
The word 'vendum' (needed/must be) is repeated at the end of nearly every line to create an insistent, rhythmic refrain emphasizing strong desire and prayer.
Moona (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kanavu meippada vendum / Kaivasamaavathu viraivil vedum”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across pairs of lines, such as 'Kanavu' and 'Kaivasamaavathu', or 'Thanamum' and 'Tharaniyilae'.
Edhukai (Second Letter Assonance)
“Mann payanura vendum / Unmai nindrida vendum”
The second letter sound matches in adjacent lines, such as 'Mann' and 'Unmai' or 'Penn' and 'Kann'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Ezhavathu Manithan' (1982), directed by K. Hariharan and starring Raghuvaran, featured music composed by L. Vaidyanathan using classical poems of Subramanya Bharathiyar. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.
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