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Uzhaikkum Karangal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naalai Ulagai Aala Vendum

From Uzhaikkum Karangal · 1976

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Uzhaikkum Karangal
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
14 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naalai ulagai aala vendum
uzhaikkum karangalae
Indha naadu muzhuthum malaravendum
puratchi malargalae
Puratchi malargalae! uzhaikkum karangalae!
Naalai ulagai aala vendum
uzhaikkum karangalae
Indha naadu muzhuthum malaravendum
puratchi malargalae
Puratchi malargalae! uzhaikkum karangalae!
Kadamai seivom kalangamalae
Urimai ketppom thayangamalae
Vaarungal thozhargalae
Ondraai vaarungal thozhargalae
Naalai ulagai aala vendum
uzhaikkum karangalae
uzhaikkum karangalae..
…………
Yer pootti thozhil vaithu
Illaamai veettil vaithu
Poraadum kaalam ellaam ponadhamma
Ellorkkum yaavum undu
Endraagum kaalam indru
Neraaga kannil vandhu thondrudhamma
Vidiyum velai varapoguthu
Dharmam theerpai thara poguthu
Nyaayangal saavadhillai endrum
Nyaayangal saavadhillai
Naalai ulagai aala vendum
uzhaikkum karangalae
uzhaikkum karangalae…
Kalvikku saalai undu
Noolukku aalai undu
Naattukku thevai ellaam
naam thedalaam
Thozhukku veram undu
Thorkaadha nyaayam undu
Needhikku nenjam undu
naam vaazhalaam
Sirikkum ezhai mugam paarkkalaam
Sindhum kanneer thanai maatralaam
Varunghal thozhargalae
Ondraai serungal thozhargalae
Naalai ulagai aala vendum
uzhaikkum karangalae
Indha naadu muzhuthum malaravendum
puratchi malargalae
Kadamai seivom kalangamalae
Urimai ketppom thayangamalae
Vaarungal thozhargalae
Ondraai serungal thozhargalae
Naalai ulagai aala vendum
uzhaikkum karangalae
Indha naadu muzhuthum malaravendum
puratchi malargalae
Puratchi malargalae! uzhaikkum karangalae!
Tomorrow, you must rule the world,
O working hands!
Across this entire country, you must bloom,
O flowers of revolution!
Flowers of revolution! O working hands!
Tomorrow, you must rule the world,
O working hands!
Across this entire country, you must bloom,
O flowers of revolution!
Flowers of revolution! O working hands!
Let us do our duty without losing heart,
let us demand our rights without hesitation!
Come forward, comrades!
Come together as one, comrades!
Tomorrow, you must rule the world,
O working hands!
O working hands...
...
Hitching the plow to work the fields,
while poverty stayed behind at home—
those days of endless struggle are gone!
"Everything belongs to everyone,"
that promised time has arrived today,
appearing right before our eyes!
The hour of dawn is coming soon,
righteousness is about to deliver its verdict!
Justice never dies, never,
justice never dies!
Tomorrow, you must rule the world,
O working hands!
O working hands...
There are schools for education,
there are mills to spin thread,
everything our country needs,
we can work and provide!
Our shoulders have courage and strength,
we have justice that can never be defeated,
we have hearts devoted to what is fair,
we can surely thrive and live!
We can see the poor smile,
we can wipe away their falling tears!
Come forward, comrades!
Join together as one, comrades!
Tomorrow, you must rule the world,
O working hands!
Across this entire country, you must bloom,
O flowers of revolution!
Let us do our duty without losing heart,
let us demand our rights without hesitation!
Come forward, comrades!
Join together as one, comrades!
Tomorrow, you must rule the world,
O working hands!
Across this entire country, you must bloom,
O flowers of revolution!
Flowers of revolution! O working hands!
Male
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Male
Male
Male
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Naalai Ulagai Aala Vendum' from Uzhaikkum Karangal (1976) is an iconic socialist and reformist anthem sung by K. J. Yesudas, composed by M. S. Vishwanathan, and penned by Pulamaipithan. The song serves as a rallying call to the working class, urging laborers, farmers, and common people to unite, perform their duties conscientiously, and fearlessly demand their rights to usher in a egalitarian society. Through vivid imagery of dawn, righteousness, and flourishing revolutionary flowers, the song conveys M. G. Ramachandran's political philosophy of empowerment for the underprivileged. It assures the working class that the dark days of poverty and exploitation are coming to an end, and a bright future characterized by education, industry, and social justice awaits them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

“puratchi malargalae”

The working class and laborers are poetically addressed as 'Uzhaikkum Karangal' (working hands) and 'Puratchi Malargal' (revolutionary flowers), metaphorically elevating their social role to agents of transformation.

Emoni / Rhyme (Ethirai and Monai)

“Kadamai seivom kalangamalae / Urimai ketppom thayangamalae”

Rhyming and rhythmic repetition seen in 'Kadamai' (Duty) and 'Urimai' (Right), as well as 'Kalangamalae' and 'Thayangamalae', enhancing the energetic musical quality of the political anthem.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

“Nyaayangal saavadhillai endrum / Nyaayangal saavadhillai”

The emphatic repetition of 'Nyaayangal saavadhillai' (Justice never dies) reinforces confidence in ultimate truth and legal fairness.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Uzhaikkum Karangal' (1976) was one of the key political-message movies starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) prior to his becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977. The song 'Naalai Ulagai Aala Vendum' became an anthem for the AIADMK party cadres and working-class supporters, encapsulating MGR's screen persona as the champion of the poor.

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