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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naadu Naadu

From Poovukkul Boogambam · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Sangeetha Rajan
Details
Poovukkul Boogambam1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aha ahaa ahaa ahaa aa…..Aha ahaa ahaa ahaa aa…..
Naadu naaduCountry, country!
Chorus :Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaaChorus: Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaa
Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaaJimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaa
Male :Adhuthaanae veeduMale: That itself is home!
Chorus :Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaaChorus: Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaa
Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaaJimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaa
Male
Vettu saththamumThe sound of cutting/fighting
Oru paattu saththamumAnd the sound of a song
Ingu saernthu kekkanumShould be heard together here
Naam vaazhnthu paakkanumWe must live and experience it
Pattaalam orae kudumbamThe army is one single family
Male
Kudumbam ada kozhanthaFamily, oh child!
Adha maranthu kalanthittomForgetting differences, we have blended together
Jaadhi madha paedhamCaste and religious differences
Adha kadanthu valarnthuttom….We have grown beyond them....
Male
Naadu naadu haei haei haeiCountry, country! Hei hei hei!
Adhuthaanae veedu thaaraaraaraa raarararaaThat itself is home! Thaaraaraaraa raarararaa
Male
………………………………
Male
Vayasai ellaam maranthuttomWe have forgotten all our age
Chorus :Kumthalakkadi kummaangoChorus: Kumthalakkadi kummaango
Jimthalakkadi jimmaangoJimthalakkadi jimmaango
Male :Pattaalaththula saernthuttomMale: We joined the army
Chorus :Kumthalakkadi kummaangoChorus: Kumthalakkadi kummaango
Jimthalakkadi jimmaangoJimthalakkadi jimmaango
Male
SamsaaramoAs for family/wife
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi
Male :Aval ulloorulaMale: She is in the hometown
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi
Male :Inga chinna veedu onnumillaMale: There is no second family/mistress here
Chorus :……………..Chorus: ……………..
Male
Raamaiyyaa osthaavaiyyaaRamayya, master!
Maamanthaa ogattaenaiyyaaUncle, shall I take leave?
Vantha vayasilae oru meesai illaiyaeAt the young age we arrived, there was no mustache yet
Ezhuthi koduththittomWe signed away our lives
Oru aasaiyillaiyae haei haeiWe have no other desires! Hei hei!
Male
Naadu naadu ………….Country, country! ………….
Adhuthaanae veedu ……………That itself is home! ……………
Male
………………………………………………
Male
Madharaasi panjaabi gujaratiMadrasi, Punjabi, Gujarati
Ellorum oru thaayin maganallaavaaAre we not all children of one mother?
Male :…………….Male: …………….
Male :Malaiyaali thelungaali bengaaliMale: Malayali, Telugali, Bengali
Ellaarum piriyaatha uravallaavaaAre we not all inseparable relatives?
Male
Hum sap aekkuhaiWe all are one
Saaththoyo poloComrades, say it out loud!
Sare Jahaanse acchaaBetter than the entire world...
Chorus :Hindustan hamaaraaChorus: Our Hindustan is!
Male
Nambilki jollyBeing with us is fun
Chorus :…………..Chorus: …………..
Male :Vaerennaa joliMale: What other work do we have?
Chorus :………….Chorus: ………….
Male
Yuththangal vanthaalIf wars come
Chorus :……….Chorus: ……….
Male :Ingu namthaan vaeliMale: We are the protecting fence here
Chorus :……….Chorus: ……….
Male :Aadungadaa santhosamMale: Dance, my friends! Happiness
Ennaalum nammoduthaanIs always with us forever!
Male
…………………………………...
Male
Naadu naaduCountry, country!
Chorus :Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaaChorus: Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaa
Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaaJimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaa
Male :Adhuthaanae veeduMale: That itself is home!
Chorus :Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaaChorus: Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaa
Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaaJimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaa
Male
Vettu saththamumThe sound of cutting/fighting
Oru paattu saththamumAnd the sound of a song
Ingu saernthu kekkanumShould be heard together here
Naam vaazhnthu paakkanumWe must live and experience it
Pattaalam orae kudumbamThe army is one single family
Male
Kudumbam ada kozhanthaFamily, oh child!
Adha maranthu kalanthittomForgetting differences, we have blended together
Jaadhi madha paedhamCaste and religious differences
Adha kadanthu valarnthuttom….We have grown beyond them....
Male
…………………………………...
Chorus :……………..Chorus: ……………..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Naadu Naadu" from the 1988 Tamil film 'Poovukkul Boogambam' is a spirited patriotic ensemble track that celebrates unity in diversity within the Indian Armed Forces. The lyricist Gangai Amaran portrays soldiers coming together from different regions, linguistic backgrounds, and castes across India—Madrasis, Punjabis, Gujaratis, Malayalis, Telugus, and Bengalis—forming a single cohesive family united by love for their nation. The song highlights the selfless dedication of soldiers who sacrifice their personal comfort, family life, and youth to serve as a protective barrier ("vaeli") at the nation's borders. Despite the hard discipline and potential dangers of battle, they maintain a cheerful and celebratory brotherhood, proving that true patriotism transcends regional and religious boundaries.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil poetry)

Naadu naadu / Adhuthaanae veedu

The second letters of 'Pattaalam' and 'Kudumbam' or lines starting with 'Naadu' and 'Veedu' match, creating rhythm.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Ingu saernthu kekkanum / Naam vaazhnthu paakkanum

Lines ending with similar phonetics like 'kekkanum' and 'paakkanum' establish melodic symmetry.

Refrain / Repetition

Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaa

Rhythmic gibberish chorus lines ('Jimbalakkadi jimbaa jikkaa') repeat throughout to maintain high energy and cadence.

Metaphor

Ingu namthaan vaeli

Comparing soldiers on the border directly to a protective fence ('vaeli') guarding the nation.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Poovukkul Boogambam' is an action-drama film released in 1988, directed by Thiagarajan, featuring music composed by Sangeetha Rajan. The track 'Naadu Naadu' is notable for incorporating iconic nationalistic phrases like 'Sare Jahaan Se Accha' and 'Hum Sab Ek Hain' directly into Tamil lyrics to evoke national integration.

Keep listening

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