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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naalai Enna Naalai Indru

From Avan Oru Sarithiram · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Avan Oru Sarithiram1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naalai enna naalaiWhy talk of tomorrow?
Indru kooda namathu thaanEven today belongs to us.
Velai enna velaiWhat is the right time?
Vizhunthavarkku vaazhvaiTo grant life to those who have fallen,
Vazhanguvaarum thozharaeO comrades who come to give!
Male
Naalai enna naalaiWhy talk of tomorrow?
Indru kooda namathu thaanEven today belongs to us.
Velai enna velaiWhat is the right time?
Vizhunthavarkku vaazhvaiTo grant life to those who have fallen,
Vazhanguvaarum thozharaeO comrades who come to give!
Male
Naalai enna naalaiWhy talk of tomorrow?
Indru kooda namathu thaanEven today belongs to us.
Velai enna velaiWhat is the right time?
Vizhunthavarkku vaazhvaiTo grant life to those who have fallen,
Vazhanguvaarum thozharaeO comrades who come to give!
Male
Gnaanathodu vaazhuvomWe shall live with wisdom,
Nithaanathodu vaazhuvomWe shall live with patience and composure,
Gnaanathodu vaazhuvomWe shall live with wisdom,
Nithaanathodu vaazhuvomWe shall live with patience and composure,
Maaperum thalaivar sonnaAs declared by the great leader,
Maanthodu vaazhuvomWe shall live with self-respect,
Maaperum thalaivar sonnaAs declared by the great leader,
Maanthodu vaazhuvomWe shall live with self-respect,
Male
Panjam pokka paaduvomWe shall sing to eradicate poverty,
Lanjam neekka kooduvomWe shall unite to eliminate corruption,
Panjam pokka paaduvomWe shall sing to eradicate poverty,
Lanjam neekka kooduvomWe shall unite to eliminate corruption,
Pazhaiya paadhai thannai maatriChanging the old paths,
Puthiya paadhai kaanuvomWe shall forge new paths,
Pazhaiya paadhai thannai maatriChanging the old paths,
Puthiya paadhai kaanuvomWe shall forge new paths,
Chorus
Naalai enna naalaiWhy talk of tomorrow?
Indru kooda namathu thaanEven today belongs to us.
Velai enna velaiWhat is the right time?
Vizhunthavarkku vaazhvaiTo grant life to those who have fallen,
Vazhanguvaarum thozharaeO comrades who come to give!
Male
Oozhalukku vetkkamaeShame upon corruption,
Uzhaippavarukku sorgamaeHeaven for those who labor,
Oozhalukku vetkkamaeShame upon corruption,
Uzhaippavarukku sorgamaeHeaven for those who labor,
Unmaiyaana nermaiyaanaThe honest and truthful,
Makkal engal pakkamaePeople are on our side,
Chorus :Unmaiyaana nermaiyaanaChorus: The honest and truthful,
Makkal engal pakkamaePeople are on our side,
Male
Naanayangal perugavaeLet integrity multiply,
Nallavargal varugavaeLet good people come forward,
Naanayangal perugavaeLet integrity multiply,
Nallavargal varugavaeLet good people come forward,
Naatu makkal nallavarukkuLet the country's people give their ballot,
Vaakku seettu tharugavaeOnly to the good people,
Naatu makkal nallavarukkuLet the country's people give their ballot,
Vaakku seettu tharugavaeOnly to the good people,
Chorus
Naalai enna naalaiWhy talk of tomorrow?
Indru kooda namathu thaanEven today belongs to us.
Velai enna velaiWhat is the right time?
Vizhunthavarkku vaazhvaiTo grant life to those who have fallen,
Vazhanguvaarum thozharaeO comrades who come to give!
Male
Kaalam maatram kaatuvomWe shall show a change of eras,
Kayavar thammai pootuvomWe shall lock up the wicked,
Chorus :Kaalam maatram kaatuvomChorus: We shall show a change of eras,
Kayavar thammai pootuvomWe shall lock up the wicked,
Male
Kalla sandhai pervazhikkuTo the black market hoarders,
Kaivilangu maatuvomWe shall put handcuffs on,
Oorai yaeikkum manidharaeO people who deceive the town,
Ulagai vituu maraigavaeVanish away from this world,
Oorai yaeikkum manidharaeO people who deceive the town,
Ulagai vituu maraigavaeVanish away from this world,
Unmaiyaana puratchi ondruLet a true revolution,
Engal naatil ezhugavaeArise in our land,
Chorus :Unmaiyaana puratchi ondruChorus: Let a true revolution,
Engal naatil ezhugavaeArise in our land,
Chorus
Naalai enna naalaiWhy talk of tomorrow?
Indru kooda namathu thaanEven today belongs to us.
Velai enna velaiWhat is the right time?
Vizhunthavarkku vaazhvaiTo grant life to those who have fallen,
Vazhanguvaarum thozharaeO comrades who come to give!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is an uplifting socio-political call to action that urges unity, ethical leadership, and immediate societal reform. Written during an era of strong social awakening in Tamil cinema, it rallies working-class citizens and comrades to uplift the fallen, fight poverty, eradicate corruption, and dismantle black-market exploitation. Rather than waiting for an uncertain future, the song emphasizes that action must be taken today.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Naalai enna naalai / Velai enna velai

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Naalai' and 'Velai' or 'Gnaanathodu' and 'Nithaanathodu'.

Moonaai (First Letter Alliteration)

Pazhaiya paadhai thannai maatri / Puthiya paadhai kaanuvom

Matching initial sounds across adjacent words, such as 'Pazhaiya paadhai' and 'Puthiya paadhai'.

Anaphora (Refrain)

Naalai enna naalai / Indru kooda namathu thaan

Repetition of the chorus lines throughout the song to reinforce the central political message.

Did you know?

Trivia

Avan Oru Sarithiram (1977) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Manjula. The film's musical score was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Kavinar Kannadasan. The lyrics prominently reflect the socio-political rhetoric popular in 1970s Tamil Nadu politics.

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