Naan Aanaiyittal
From Enga Veettu Pillai · 1965
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Enga Veettu Pillai1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naan aanaiyittal | If I command, |
| Adhu nadanthu vittal | and if it comes to pass, |
| Male | |
| Naan aanaiyittal | If I command, |
| Adhu nadanthu vittal | and if it comes to pass, |
| Ingu ezhaigal | Here, the poor |
| Vethanai padamaatar | will not suffer agony. |
| Male | |
| Uyir ulla varai | As long as there is life, |
| Oru thunbam illai | there will be no sorrow. |
| { Avar kanneer kadalilae | { They will not fall |
| Vizha maatar } (2) | into an ocean of tears. } (2) |
| Male | |
| Naan aanaiyittal | If I command, |
| Adhu nadanthu vittal | and if it comes to pass, |
| Ingu ezhaigal | Here, the poor |
| Vethanai padamaatar | will not suffer agony. |
| Male | |
| Uyir ulla varai | As long as there is life, |
| Oru thunbam illai | there will be no sorrow. |
| { Avar kanneer kadalilae | { They will not fall |
| Vizha maatar } (2) | into an ocean of tears. } (2) |
| Male | |
| { Oru thavaru | { If someone commits a mistake, |
| Seithaal adhai therinthu | if they commit it knowingly, |
| Seithaal avan devan | even if he is a god, |
| Endraalum vida maaten } (2) | I will not let him go unpunished. } (2) |
| Male | |
| Udal uzhaika | I will tell them to toil physically, |
| Solven adhil pizhaika | I will tell them to earn their living through it, |
| Solven avar urimai | but their rightful |
| Porulgalai thoda maaten | belongings, I will never touch. |
| Male | |
| Naan aanaiyittal | If I command, |
| Adhu nadanthu vittal | and if it comes to pass, |
| Ingu ezhaigal | Here, the poor |
| Vethanai padamaatar | will not suffer agony. |
| Male | |
| Uyir ulla varai | As long as there is life, |
| Oru thunbam illai | there will be no sorrow. |
| { Avar kanneer kadalilae | { They will not fall |
| Vizha maatar } (2) | into an ocean of tears. } (2) |
| Male | |
| Silar aasaikum | Some people, for their desires, |
| Thevaikum vaazhvukum | for their needs, their life, |
| Vasathikum ooraar kaal pidipaar | and comfort, will fall at the feet of others. |
| Male | |
| Oru maanam | They have no honor, |
| Illai adhil eenam illai | nor do they feel any shame in it, |
| Avar eppothum vaal pidipaar | they always wag their tails like sycophants. |
| Male | |
| Ethirkaalam varum | The future will arrive, |
| En kadamai varum | my duty will arrive, |
| Indha kootathin aatadhai ozhipen | I will put an end to the power play of this crowd. |
| Male | |
| Pothu neethiyilae | In public justice, |
| Puthu paathaiyilae | on a new path, |
| { Varum nallor | { I will gaze upon the faces |
| Mugathilae vizhipen } (2) | of the good people who come. } (2) |
| Male | |
| Naan aanaiyittal | If I command, |
| Adhu nadanthu vittal | and if it comes to pass, |
| Ingu ezhaigal | Here, the poor |
| Vethanai padamaatar | will not suffer agony. |
| Male | |
| Uyir ulla varai | As long as there is life, |
| Oru thunbam illai | there will be no sorrow. |
| { Avar kanneer kadalilae | { They will not fall |
| Vizha maatar } (2) | into an ocean of tears. } (2) |
| Male | |
| Ingu oomaigal | While the helpless/mute here |
| Yengavum unmaigal | long, and truths |
| Thoonkavum naana paarthirupen | remain asleep, will I just stand by watching? |
| Male | |
| Oru kadavul | There is one God, |
| Undu avan kolgai undu | and He has His principle, |
| Adhai eppothum kaathirupen | I will always guard and uphold that. |
| Male | |
| Munbu yesu | Long ago Jesus |
| Vanthaar pinbu | came, and later |
| Gandhi vanthaar | Gandhi came, |
| Indha maanidar | they were born so that these human beings |
| Thirunthida piranthaar | would reform themselves. |
| Male | |
| Ivar thirunthavillai | Yet these people did not reform, |
| Manam varunthavillai | nor did they feel remorse in their hearts, |
| { Andha melor | { they forgot |
| Sonnathai maranthaar } (2) | what those great souls taught. } (2) |
| Male | |
| Naan aanaiyittal | If I command, |
| Adhu nadanthu vittal | and if it comes to pass, |
| Ingu ezhaigal | Here, the poor |
| Vethanai padamaatar | will not suffer agony. |
| Male | |
| Uyir ulla varai | As long as there is life, |
| Oru thunbam illai | there will be no sorrow. |
| { Avar kanneer kadalilae | { They will not fall |
| Vizha maatar } (2) | into an ocean of tears. } (2) |
| Male | |
| …………………… | ... |
நான் ஆணையிட்டால்
அது நடந்து விட்டால்
If I command,
and if it comes to pass,
நான் ஆணையிட்டால்
அது நடந்து விட்டால் இங்கு
ஏழைகள் வேதனைப் பட
மாட்டார்
If I command,
and if it comes to pass,
Here, the poor
will not suffer agony.
உயிர் உள்ள
வரை ஒரு துன்பமில்லை
{ அவர் கண்ணீர்க் கடலிலே
விழமாட்டார் } (2)
As long as there is life,
there will be no sorrow.
{ They will not fall
into an ocean of tears. } (2)
நான் ஆணையிட்டால்
அது நடந்து விட்டால் இங்கு
ஏழைகள் வேதனைப் பட
மாட்டார்
If I command,
and if it comes to pass,
Here, the poor
will not suffer agony.
உயிர் உள்ள
வரை ஒரு துன்பமில்லை
{ அவர் கண்ணீர்க் கடலிலே
விழமாட்டார் } (2)
As long as there is life,
there will be no sorrow.
{ They will not fall
into an ocean of tears. } (2)
{ ஒரு தவறு
செய்தால் அதைத்
தெரிந்து செய்தால்
அவன் தேவன்
என்றாலும் விட
மாட்டேன் } (2)
{ If someone commits a mistake,
if they commit it knowingly,
even if he is a god,
I will not let him go unpunished. } (2)
உடல் உழைக்கச்
சொல்வேன் அதில்
பிழைக்கச் சொல்வேன்
அவர் உரிமைப் பொருள்களை
தொட மாட்டேன்
I will tell them to toil physically,
I will tell them to earn their living through it,
but their rightful
belongings, I will never touch.
நான் ஆணையிட்டால்
அது நடந்து விட்டால் இங்கு
ஏழைகள் வேதனைப் பட
மாட்டார்
If I command,
and if it comes to pass,
Here, the poor
will not suffer agony.
உயிர் உள்ள
வரை ஒரு துன்பமில்லை
{ அவர் கண்ணீர்க் கடலிலே
விழமாட்டார் } (2)
As long as there is life,
there will be no sorrow.
{ They will not fall
into an ocean of tears. } (2)
சிலர் ஆசைக்கும்
தேவைக்கும் வாழ்வுக்கும்
வசதிக்கும் ஊரார் கால்
பிடிப்பார்
Some people, for their desires,
for their needs, their life,
and comfort, will fall at the feet of others.
ஒரு மானமில்லை
அதில் ஈனமில்லை அவர்
எப்போதும் வால் பிடிப்பார்
They have no honor,
nor do they feel any shame in it,
they always wag their tails like sycophants.
எதிர் காலம்
வரும் என் கடமை
வரும் இந்தக் கூட்டத்தின்
ஆட்டத்தை ஒழிப்பேன்
The future will arrive,
my duty will arrive,
I will put an end to the power play of this crowd.
பொது நீதியிலே
புதுப் பாதையிலே
{ வரும் நல்லோர்
முகத்திலே விழிப்பேன் } (2)
In public justice,
on a new path,
{ I will gaze upon the faces
of the good people who come. } (2)
நான் ஆணையிட்டால்
அது நடந்து விட்டால் இங்கு
ஏழைகள் வேதனைப் பட
மாட்டார்
If I command,
and if it comes to pass,
Here, the poor
will not suffer agony.
உயிர் உள்ள
வரை ஒரு துன்பமில்லை
{ அவர் கண்ணீர்க் கடலிலே
விழமாட்டார் } (2)
As long as there is life,
there will be no sorrow.
{ They will not fall
into an ocean of tears. } (2)
இங்கு ஊமைகள்
ஏங்கவும் உண்மைகள்
தூங்கவும் நானா
பார்த்திருப்பேன்
While the helpless/mute here
long, and truths
remain asleep, will I just stand by watching?
ஒரு கடவுள்
உண்டு அவன் கொள்கை
உண்டு அதை எப்போதும்
காத்திருப்பேன்
There is one God,
and He has His principle,
I will always guard and uphold that.
முன்பு ஏசு
வந்தார் பின்பு காந்தி
வந்தார் இந்த மானிடர்
திருந்திட பிறந்தார்
Long ago Jesus
came, and later
Gandhi came,
they were born so that these human beings
would reform themselves.
இவர் திருந்தவில்லை
மனம் வருந்தவில்லை
{ அந்த மேலோர்
சொன்னதை மறந்தார் } (2)
Yet these people did not reform,
nor did they feel remorse in their hearts,
{ they forgot
what those great souls taught. } (2)
நான் ஆணையிட்டால்
அது நடந்து விட்டால் இங்கு
ஏழைகள் வேதனைப் பட
மாட்டார்
If I command,
and if it comes to pass,
Here, the poor
will not suffer agony.
உயிர் உள்ள
வரை ஒரு துன்பமில்லை
{ அவர் கண்ணீர்க் கடலிலே
விழமாட்டார் } (2)
As long as there is life,
there will be no sorrow.
{ They will not fall
into an ocean of tears. } (2)
.............................
...
Naan aanaiyittal
If I command,
Adhu nadanthu vittal
and if it comes to pass,
Naan aanaiyittal
If I command,
Adhu nadanthu vittal
and if it comes to pass,
Ingu ezhaigal
Here, the poor
Vethanai padamaatar
will not suffer agony.
Uyir ulla varai
As long as there is life,
Oru thunbam illai
there will be no sorrow.
{ Avar kanneer kadalilae
{ They will not fall
Vizha maatar } (2)
into an ocean of tears. } (2)
Naan aanaiyittal
If I command,
Adhu nadanthu vittal
and if it comes to pass,
Ingu ezhaigal
Here, the poor
Vethanai padamaatar
will not suffer agony.
Uyir ulla varai
As long as there is life,
Oru thunbam illai
there will be no sorrow.
{ Avar kanneer kadalilae
{ They will not fall
Vizha maatar } (2)
into an ocean of tears. } (2)
{ Oru thavaru
{ If someone commits a mistake,
Seithaal adhai therinthu
if they commit it knowingly,
Seithaal avan devan
even if he is a god,
Endraalum vida maaten } (2)
I will not let him go unpunished. } (2)
Udal uzhaika
I will tell them to toil physically,
Solven adhil pizhaika
I will tell them to earn their living through it,
Solven avar urimai
but their rightful
Porulgalai thoda maaten
belongings, I will never touch.
Naan aanaiyittal
If I command,
Adhu nadanthu vittal
and if it comes to pass,
Ingu ezhaigal
Here, the poor
Vethanai padamaatar
will not suffer agony.
Uyir ulla varai
As long as there is life,
Oru thunbam illai
there will be no sorrow.
{ Avar kanneer kadalilae
{ They will not fall
Vizha maatar } (2)
into an ocean of tears. } (2)
Silar aasaikum
Some people, for their desires,
Thevaikum vaazhvukum
for their needs, their life,
Vasathikum ooraar kaal pidipaar
and comfort, will fall at the feet of others.
Oru maanam
They have no honor,
Illai adhil eenam illai
nor do they feel any shame in it,
Avar eppothum vaal pidipaar
they always wag their tails like sycophants.
Ethirkaalam varum
The future will arrive,
En kadamai varum
my duty will arrive,
Indha kootathin aatadhai ozhipen
I will put an end to the power play of this crowd.
Pothu neethiyilae
In public justice,
Puthu paathaiyilae
on a new path,
{ Varum nallor
{ I will gaze upon the faces
Mugathilae vizhipen } (2)
of the good people who come. } (2)
Naan aanaiyittal
If I command,
Adhu nadanthu vittal
and if it comes to pass,
Ingu ezhaigal
Here, the poor
Vethanai padamaatar
will not suffer agony.
Uyir ulla varai
As long as there is life,
Oru thunbam illai
there will be no sorrow.
{ Avar kanneer kadalilae
{ They will not fall
Vizha maatar } (2)
into an ocean of tears. } (2)
Ingu oomaigal
While the helpless/mute here
Yengavum unmaigal
long, and truths
Thoonkavum naana paarthirupen
remain asleep, will I just stand by watching?
Oru kadavul
There is one God,
Undu avan kolgai undu
and He has His principle,
Adhai eppothum kaathirupen
I will always guard and uphold that.
Munbu yesu
Long ago Jesus
Vanthaar pinbu
came, and later
Gandhi vanthaar
Gandhi came,
Indha maanidar
they were born so that these human beings
Thirunthida piranthaar
would reform themselves.
Ivar thirunthavillai
Yet these people did not reform,
Manam varunthavillai
nor did they feel remorse in their hearts,
{ Andha melor
{ they forgot
Sonnathai maranthaar } (2)
what those great souls taught. } (2)
Naan aanaiyittal
If I command,
Adhu nadanthu vittal
and if it comes to pass,
Ingu ezhaigal
Here, the poor
Vethanai padamaatar
will not suffer agony.
Uyir ulla varai
As long as there is life,
Oru thunbam illai
there will be no sorrow.
{ Avar kanneer kadalilae
{ They will not fall
Vizha maatar } (2)
into an ocean of tears. } (2)
……………………
...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Naan Aanaiyittal is an iconic, politically charged anthem sung by M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) in the 1965 hit film Enga Veettu Pillai. The song expresses a bold vision of political authority and social justice. The protagonist vows that if he gains the power to rule, he will eradicate poverty, protect the dignity of the working class, and strictly punish wrongdoers without bias, regardless of their status or power.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Avar kanneer kadalilae”
Kanneer kadalilae (In an ocean of tears) metaphorically compares vast, unbearable sorrow and suffering to an ocean.
Allusion (Kurippu)
“Munbu yesu vanthaar pinbu Gandhi vanthaar”
References moral and historical reformers like Jesus and Mahatma Gandhi to emphasize righteous duty and social awakening.
Monai / Rhyme Scheme
“Naan aanaiyittal / Adhu nadanthu vittal”
The repetition of initial sounds and rhythm (e.g., Naan aanaiyittal / Adhu nadanthu vittal) creates strong cadence typical of Tamil lyricism.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by poet Vaali and composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, this song became one of M.G. Ramachandran's signature screen numbers. Its themes of social justice, anti-corruption, and pro-poor populism played a crucial role in building MGR's mass political appeal in Tamil Nadu.
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