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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Ennum

From Unakkum Enakkum · 1972

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Unakkum Enakkum
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
25 Jun 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan ennum aganthai konda
Aan kulaththin munnae pengal thaazhnthavaralla
Chorus :Endrum thaazhnthavaralla
Kaalaththai vellugindra
Pen kulaththin munnae aangal uyarnthavaralla
Chorus :Endrum uyaranthavarallaa
Naan ennum aganthai konda
Aan kulaththin munnae pengal thaazhnthavaralla
Chorus :Endrum thaazhnthavaralla
Kaalaththai vellugindra
Pen kulaththin munnae aangal uyarnthavaralla
Chorus :Endrum uyaranthavarallaa
Pengalellaam Adimaiyalla
Bedhai endraal unmaiyalla
Angal ellaam methaigalalla
Yaen idhu theriyavillai
Naan ennum aganthai konda
Aan kulaththin munnae pengal thaazhnthavaralla
Thaazhnthavaralla endrum thaazhnthavaralla
Aduppoothum pengalukku
Padippetharkku endru
Nammai adhigaaram seithathellaam antha naal
Arivaana pengal azhagaaga indu
Arasatchi seivathu intha naal
Thaaliyendra oru veli kondu namai
Aala ninaippathu veriththanam
Pillai perigindra karuviyaagavae
Pengalai madhippathu madaththanam
Thaaliyendra oru veli kondu namai
Aala ninaippathu veriththanam
Chorus :Veriththanam
Female :Pillai perigindra karuviyaagavae
Pengalai madhippathu madaththanam
Chorus :Madaththanam
Maattruvom intha ulagai
Maarattum aangal mamathai
Chorus :Maarattum aangal mamathai
Pendugalaa roja sendugalaa
Vandukalaa vaazhai thandugalaa
Pendugalaa roja sendugalaa
Vandukalaa vaazhai thandugalaa
Kudumbam endra koyililae
Kudiyirukkum deivangalil
Aangal endrum
Pengal endrum bedhamaa
Aduththavarai madhippathuthaan
Adakkam endra ulaginilae
Adimai endrum urimai endrum vaadhamaa
Pendugalaa roja sendugalaa
Vandukalaa vaazhai thandugalaa
Kanniyendra paruva nadhi
Karai purandodum
Adhu kalyaana medaiyilthaan sangamaagum
Kanniyendra paruva nadhi
Karai purandodum
Adhu kalyaana medaiyilthaan sangamaagum
Annai sinthum karunai mazhai
Kuzhanthaikalaagum…..mm…
Annai sinthum karunai mazhai
Kuzhanthaikalaagum…..
Ingu penmai ellaam
Thaaimaiyilthaan muzhumai kaanum
Ingu penmai ellaam
Thaaimaiyilthaan muzhumai kaanum…
Before men filled with the arrogance
of the ego "I", women are not inferior!
Chorus: They are never inferior!
Before womankind,
who conquers time, men are not superior!
Chorus: They are never superior!
Before men filled with the arrogance
of the ego "I", women are not inferior!
Chorus: They are never inferior!
Before womankind,
who conquers time, men are not superior!
Chorus: They are never superior!
Women are not slaves!
Calling them naive is not true!
Not all men are geniuses!
Why don't they understand this?
Before men filled with the arrogance
of the ego "I", women are not inferior!
Not inferior, never inferior!
"Why do women who tend the hearth
need an education?"
Dominating us like that belongs to the past!
Today, intelligent women
gracefully rule in this modern age!
Using the thaali (sacred marriage thread) as a fence
to rule over us is madness!
Treating women merely as
childbearing machines is sheer foolishness!
Using the thaali (sacred marriage thread) as a fence
to rule over us is madness!
Chorus: Madness!
Female: Treating women merely as
childbearing machines is sheer foolishness!
Chorus: Foolishness!
We will change this world!
Let the arrogance of men change!
Chorus: Let the arrogance of men change!
Are they women or bouquets of roses?
Are they honeybees or tender plantain stems?
Are they women or bouquets of roses?
Are they honeybees or tender plantain stems?
In the temple called a family,
among the deities who dwell within,
why make distinctions
between men and women?
In a world where respecting others
is true humility,
why argue over who is a slave and who has rights?
Are they women or bouquets of roses?
Are they honeybees or tender plantain stems?
The youthful river called a young woman
overflows its banks,
and finds its union on the wedding stage!
The youthful river called a young woman
overflows its banks,
and finds its union on the wedding stage!
The shower of grace a mother pours
becomes her children... mmm...
The shower of grace a mother pours
becomes her children...
Here, all womanhood
finds its fulfillment in motherhood!
Here, all womanhood
finds its fulfillment in motherhood...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This progressive feminist anthem challenges historical gender oppression, male chauvinism, and patriarchal stereotypes in society. The song dismantles old prejudices that confined women to domestic roles and denied them education, pointing out that modern women are capable of leadership and governance. It strongly criticizes viewing women merely as reproductive tools or controlling them using marital traditions like the Thaali as a oppressive boundary.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Aduppoothum pengalukku / Padippetharkku endru

Rhyming of the second letter in consecutive lines: 'Pengal' (எ) and 'Bedhai' (எ) or 'Aduppoothum' (டு) and 'Padippetharkku' (டு).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kanniyendra paruva nadhi karai purandodum

Comparing maidenhood to an overflowing river ('Paruva nadhi') and a mother's affection to a rain of mercy ('karunai mazhai').

Rhetorical Question

Pendugalaa roja sendugalaa / Vandukalaa vaazhai thandugalaa

Using poetic questions to challenge societal norms and stereotypes ('Pendugalaa roja sendugalaa').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Aalangudi Somu with music by V. Kumar, this track stands out as a powerful social commentary from early 1970s Tamil cinema, advocating women's empowerment, education, and equal rights long before feminist themes became mainstream in Tamil popular music.

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