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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naadu Enbadhu

From Roshakkari · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Chorus
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Roshakkari
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
25 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naadu enbathu naangal kadanthu paadupattadhappa
Paadupattavar vaazhavum
Oru veedum illaiyappa
Chorus :Naadu enbathu naangal kadanthu paadupattadhappa
Paadupattavar vaazhavum
Oru veedum illaiyappa
Sathiya thathuvam ethanai
Sonnadhu bharatha boomiyappa
Sathiya thathuvam ethanai
Sonnadhu bharatha boomiyappa
Samadharmam enbadhu varuvadharkku
Vazhiyum illaiyappa
Naadu enbathu naangal kadanthu paadupattadhappa
Paadupattavar vaazhavum
Oru veedum illaiyappa
Paadhai irukku padukka naam
Paippu thanniyai kudikka
Chorus :Paadhai irukku padukka naam
Paippu thanniyai kudikka
Male :Kaigal irukku uzhaikka
Edhir kaalam irukku pizhaikka
Pasikku koduthu padikka
Koduthu valarthuvittomae
Avan panathai nambi
Gunathai izhandhu uravai vittanae
Ada uravai vittanae
{Ada raamaiyaa somaiyaa
Krishnaiyaa kannaiyaa
Kadhaiyai kelungaiyaa
Nalla samayam kidaikkum
Thiruppi adicha
Pizhaithu kollungaiyaa} (2)
Naadu enbathu naangal kadanthu paadupattadhappa
Paadupattavar vaazhavum
Oru veedum illaiyappa
Ezhai manasu neruppu adhu
Eriyum niramum sivappu
Chorus :Ezhai manasu neruppu adhu
Eriyum niramum sivappu
Male :Valarndhu vittadhu veruppu
Adharkku naangal illai poruppu
Makkal panathai vettaiyaadum
Thalaivanum undu
Ingae manivi panathil
Attam podum purushanum undu
Ada raamaiyaa somaiyaa
Krishnaiyaa kannaiyaa
Kadhaiyai kelungaiyaa
Nalla samayam kidaikkum
Thiruppi adicha
Pizhaithu kollungaiyaa
Maadi muludhum kaasu
Avan manadhil mattravar dhoosu
Chorus :Maadi muludhum kaasu
Avan manadhil mattravar dhoosu
Male :Kadantha naalai marandhu
Thalai kanathu vittadhai pesu
Aandi kooda aalai
Pidithu arasanavadhu undu
Avan arasanaagi nandri kettaal
Adimai aavathu undu
Ada raamaiyaa somaiyaa
Krishnaiyaa kannaiyaa
Kadhaiyai kelungaiyaa
Nalla samayam kidaikkum
Thiruppi adicha
Pizhaithu kollungaiyaa
Naadu enbathu naangal kadanthu paadupattadhappa
Paadupattavar vaazhavum
Oru veedum illaiyappa
This country is where we toiled and struggled through, brother!
Yet for the ones who worked hard to live,
there is not even a single home, brother!
Chorus: This country is where we toiled and struggled through, brother!
Yet for the ones who worked hard to live,
there is not even a single home, brother!
How many philosophies of truth
has this land of Bharath (India) preached, brother!
How many philosophies of truth
has this land of Bharath (India) preached, brother!
Yet for true equality to arrive,
there is still no way in sight, brother!
This country is where we toiled and struggled through, brother!
Yet for the ones who worked hard to live,
there is not even a single home, brother!
There is the roadside pavement for us to sleep on,
and public tap water for us to drink.
Chorus: There is the roadside pavement for us to sleep on,
and public tap water for us to drink.
Male: We have our hands to work hard,
and we have the future to make a living.
Feeding his hunger and educating him,
we raised him with all we had!
Yet putting his trust in wealth,
he lost his character and abandoned his family!
Ah, he abandoned his own family!
Hey Ramayya, Somayya,
Krishnayya, Kannayya!
Listen to this story, friends!
When the right time comes,
if you strike back,
you can survive and thrive, friends!
This country is where we toiled and struggled through, brother!
Yet for the ones who worked hard to live,
there is not even a single home, brother!
A poor man's heart is a fire,
and the color it burns is red!
Chorus: A poor man's heart is a fire,
and the color it burns is red!
Male: The anger and resentment have grown deep,
and we are not to blame for it!
There are leaders who plunder
the hard-earned money of the people!
And here, living off his wife's money,
there are husbands who squander and show off!
Hey Ramayya, Somayya,
Krishnayya, Kannayya!
Listen to this story, friends!
When the right time comes,
if you strike back,
you can survive and thrive, friends!
His entire mansion is filled with money,
and in his eyes, other people are merely dust!
Chorus: His entire mansion is filled with money,
and in his eyes, other people are merely dust!
Male: Forgetting the days of his past,
just see how arrogant and big-headed he has become!
Even a beggar, by pulling the right strings,
can end up becoming a king!
Yet if he turns ungrateful after becoming king,
he will surely end up as a slave again!
Hey Ramayya, Somayya,
Krishnayya, Kannayya!
Listen to this story, friends!
When the right time comes,
if you strike back,
you can survive and thrive, friends!
This country is where we toiled and struggled through, brother!
Yet for the ones who worked hard to live,
there is not even a single home, brother!
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Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a socio-political anthem highlighting the plight, resilience, and latent revolutionary power of the working class. The narrator laments that despite the working class building the nation through sweat and toil, they remain homeless, sleeping on streets and drinking tap water. The lyrics critically juxtapose India's rich spiritual philosophies of equality with the stark reality of economic disparity, political corruption, and social arrogance displayed by the wealthy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Ezhai manasu neruppu adhu / Eriyum niramum sivappu

The line compares the oppressed poor man's heart to fire and associates its burning anger with the color red, symbolizing socialist revolution.

Iyaibu (Rhyme / End Rhyme)

Maadi muludhum kaasu / Avan manadhil mattravar dhoosu

The end-rhyming words 'kaasu' (money) and 'dhoosu' (dust) emphasize the moral contrast between material wealth and absolute disdain for human dignity.

Apostrophe / Direct Address

Ada raamaiyaa somaiyaa / Krishnaiyaa kannaiyaa / Kadhaiyai kelungaiyaa

Addressing common folk names (Ramaiya, Somaiya, Krishnaya, Kannaiya) serves as a direct call to consciousness and solidarity for the working masses.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legend Kannadasan and set to tune by M. S. Vishwanathan for the 1974 film Roshakkari, this track reflects the strong socialist and reformist lyrical trends prevalent in Tamil film music during the 1970s. Sung vibrantly by T. M. Soundararajan, it served as a popular working-class awareness song.

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