Naan Yaar Andru
From Naam Pirandha Mann · 1977
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Naam Pirandha Mann1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Idhaya thalaivaa nee sollu | Tell me, leader of hearts |
| Irumbu manithaa nee sollu | Tell me, iron man |
| Kanniya neriyae nee sollu | Tell me, righteous path |
| Karma veera nee sollu | Tell me, tireless warrior of duty |
| Male | |
| Naan yaar andru naan yaar | Who was I back then? Who was I? |
| Naan yaar andru naan yaar | Who was I back then? Who was I? |
| Andru naattil iruntha | Among the country's population back then |
| Naarpathu kodiyil naan yaar | Who was I among those forty crores? |
| Naan yaar | Who was I? |
| Male | |
| Vaanil uyarum | Soaring in the sky |
| Mani kodiyodu adipattavan | I was beaten along with the glorious flag |
| Uyar vanthae matharam vanthae matharam vanthae matharam | Chanting noble 'Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram' |
| Vanthae matharam endrathanaalae udhaipattavan | I was kicked simply for shouting 'Vande Mataram' |
| Aandugal thorum anniyan kaalil mithipattavan | Year after year, I was trampled under the foreigner's feet |
| Intha anupavam varumena ariyaamal andru siraipattavan | I suffered in prison back then without knowing this outcome would follow |
| Male | |
| Naan yaar andru naan yaar | Who was I back then? Who was I? |
| Andru naattil iruntha | Among the country's population back then |
| Naarpathu kodiyil naan yaar | Who was I among those forty crores? |
| Naan yaar…. | Who was I...? |
| Male | |
| Viduthalai ennum velvi theeyil karugiyavan | I was charred in the sacrificial fire called freedom |
| Uyar veera sudhanthiram vanthathu kandu urugiyavan | I melted with joy seeing the arrival of heroic independence |
| Viduthalai ennum velvi theeyil karugiyavan | I was charred in the sacrificial fire called freedom |
| Uyar veera sudhanthiram vanthathu kandu urugiyavan | I melted with joy seeing the arrival of heroic independence |
| Male | |
| Tharuthalai koottam dharpaar nadaththa udhaviyavan | I helped a band of scoundrels hold court and rule |
| Tharuthalai koottam dharpaar nadaththa udhaviyavan | I helped a band of scoundrels hold court and rule |
| Endrum thanakkena yaedhum thevaiyillai ena udhariyavan | I brushed aside personal desire, claiming I needed nothing for myself |
| Yaedhum thevaiyillai ena udhariyavan | Claiming I needed nothing for myself |
| Male | |
| Naan yaar andru naan yaar…. | Who was I back then? Who was I...? |
| Chorus | |
| Raghupathi ragava rajaram patheetha baavana seethaaram | Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patit Pavan Sita Ram |
| Raghupathi ragava rajaram patheetha baavana seethaaram | Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patit Pavan Sita Ram |
| Male | |
| Gandhiyai kooda maranthathandro innadu | Hasn't this nation forgotten even Mahatma Gandhi? |
| Annal kamarajarai thottrach seitha innadu | This nation defeated even the revered Kamarajar in elections |
| Avaraiyum maranthathandro innadu | Hasn't this nation forgotten him as well? |
| Ennai maranthathil adhisayamillai ippothu | There is no surprise that it has forgotten me now |
| Dei dei ennai maranthathil adhisayamillai ippothu | Hey! There is no surprise that it has forgotten me now |
| Nadu idhilae irunthu viduthalai peruvathu eppothu | When will the nation obtain freedom from all this? |
| Male | |
| Naan yaar andru naan yaar | Who was I back then? Who was I? |
| Andru naattil iruntha | Among the country's population back then |
| Naarpathu kodiyil naan yaar | Who was I among those forty crores? |
| Naan yaar…. | Who was I...? |
| Male | |
| Naan yaar andru naan yaar… | Who was I back then? Who was I...? |
இதயத் தலைவா நீ சொல்லு........
இரும்பு மனிதா நீ சொல்லு........
கண்ணிய நெறியே நீ சொல்லு......
கர்ம வீரா நீ சொல்லு............
Tell me, leader of hearts
Tell me, iron man
Tell me, righteous path
Tell me, tireless warrior of duty
நான் யார் அன்று நான் யார்
நான் யார் அன்று நான் யார்
அன்று நாட்டில் இருந்த
நாற்பது கோடியில் நான் யார்
நான் யார்....
Who was I back then? Who was I?
Who was I back then? Who was I?
Among the country's population back then
Who was I among those forty crores?
Who was I?
வானில் உயரும்
மணிக் கொடியோடு அடிப்பட்டவன்
உயர் வந்தே மாதரம் வந்தே மாதரம் வந்தே மாதரம்
வந்தே மாதரம் என்றதனாலே உதைப்பட்டவன்
ஆண்டுகள் தோறும் அந்நியன் காலில் மிதிப்பட்டவன்
இந்த அனுபவம் வருமென அறியாமல் அன்று சிறைப்பட்டவன்
Soaring in the sky
I was beaten along with the glorious flag
Chanting noble 'Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram'
I was kicked simply for shouting 'Vande Mataram'
Year after year, I was trampled under the foreigner's feet
I suffered in prison back then without knowing this outcome would follow
நான் யார் அன்று நான் யார்
அன்று நாட்டில் இருந்த
நாற்பது கோடியில் நான் யார்
நான் யார்....
Who was I back then? Who was I?
Among the country's population back then
Who was I among those forty crores?
Who was I...?
விடுதலை என்னும் வேள்வித் தீயில் கருகியவன்
உயர் வீர் சுதந்திரம் வந்தது கண்டு உருகியவன்
விடுதலை என்னும் வேள்வித் தீயில் கருகியவன்
உயர் வீர் சுதந்திரம் வந்தது கண்டு உருகியவன்
I was charred in the sacrificial fire called freedom
I melted with joy seeing the arrival of heroic independence
I was charred in the sacrificial fire called freedom
I melted with joy seeing the arrival of heroic independence
தறுதலைக் கூட்டம் தர்பார் நடத்த உதவியவன்
தறுதலைக் கூட்டம் தர்பார் நடத்த உதவியவன்
என்றும் தனக்கென ஏதும் தேவையில்லை என உதறியவன்
ஏதும் தேவையில்லை என உதறியவன்
I helped a band of scoundrels hold court and rule
I helped a band of scoundrels hold court and rule
I brushed aside personal desire, claiming I needed nothing for myself
Claiming I needed nothing for myself
நான் யார் அன்று நான் யார்....
Who was I back then? Who was I...?
ரகுபதி ராகவ ராஜாராம் பதீத பாவன சீதாராம்
ரகுபதி ராகவ ராஜாராம் பதீத பாவன சீதாராம்
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patit Pavan Sita Ram
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patit Pavan Sita Ram
காந்தியைக் கூட மறந்ததன்றோ இந்நாடு
அண்ணல் காமராஜரை தோற்றச் செய்த இந்நாடு
அவரையும் மறந்ததன்றோ இந்நாடு
என்னை மறந்ததில் அதிசயமில்லை இப்போது
டேய் டேய் என்னை மறந்ததில் அதிசயமில்லை இப்போது
நாடு இதிலே இருந்து விடுதலை பெறுவது எப்போது
Hasn't this nation forgotten even Mahatma Gandhi?
This nation defeated even the revered Kamarajar in elections
Hasn't this nation forgotten him as well?
There is no surprise that it has forgotten me now
Hey! There is no surprise that it has forgotten me now
When will the nation obtain freedom from all this?
நான் யார் அன்று நான் யார்
அன்று நாட்டில் இருந்த
நாற்பது கோடியில் நான் யார்
நான் யார்....
Who was I back then? Who was I?
Among the country's population back then
Who was I among those forty crores?
Who was I...?
நான் யார் அன்று நான் யார்....
Who was I back then? Who was I...?
Idhaya thalaivaa nee sollu
Tell me, leader of hearts
Irumbu manithaa nee sollu
Tell me, iron man
Kanniya neriyae nee sollu
Tell me, righteous path
Karma veera nee sollu
Tell me, tireless warrior of duty
Naan yaar andru naan yaar
Who was I back then? Who was I?
Naan yaar andru naan yaar
Who was I back then? Who was I?
Andru naattil iruntha
Among the country's population back then
Naarpathu kodiyil naan yaar
Who was I among those forty crores?
Naan yaar
Who was I?
Vaanil uyarum
Soaring in the sky
Mani kodiyodu adipattavan
I was beaten along with the glorious flag
Uyar vanthae matharam vanthae matharam vanthae matharam
Chanting noble 'Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram'
Vanthae matharam endrathanaalae udhaipattavan
I was kicked simply for shouting 'Vande Mataram'
Aandugal thorum anniyan kaalil mithipattavan
Year after year, I was trampled under the foreigner's feet
Intha anupavam varumena ariyaamal andru siraipattavan
I suffered in prison back then without knowing this outcome would follow
Naan yaar andru naan yaar
Who was I back then? Who was I?
Andru naattil iruntha
Among the country's population back then
Naarpathu kodiyil naan yaar
Who was I among those forty crores?
Naan yaar….
Who was I...?
Viduthalai ennum velvi theeyil karugiyavan
I was charred in the sacrificial fire called freedom
Uyar veera sudhanthiram vanthathu kandu urugiyavan
I melted with joy seeing the arrival of heroic independence
Viduthalai ennum velvi theeyil karugiyavan
I was charred in the sacrificial fire called freedom
Uyar veera sudhanthiram vanthathu kandu urugiyavan
I melted with joy seeing the arrival of heroic independence
Tharuthalai koottam dharpaar nadaththa udhaviyavan
I helped a band of scoundrels hold court and rule
Tharuthalai koottam dharpaar nadaththa udhaviyavan
I helped a band of scoundrels hold court and rule
Endrum thanakkena yaedhum thevaiyillai ena udhariyavan
I brushed aside personal desire, claiming I needed nothing for myself
Yaedhum thevaiyillai ena udhariyavan
Claiming I needed nothing for myself
Naan yaar andru naan yaar….
Who was I back then? Who was I...?
Raghupathi ragava rajaram patheetha baavana seethaaram
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patit Pavan Sita Ram
Raghupathi ragava rajaram patheetha baavana seethaaram
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patit Pavan Sita Ram
Gandhiyai kooda maranthathandro innadu
Hasn't this nation forgotten even Mahatma Gandhi?
Annal kamarajarai thottrach seitha innadu
This nation defeated even the revered Kamarajar in elections
Avaraiyum maranthathandro innadu
Hasn't this nation forgotten him as well?
Ennai maranthathil adhisayamillai ippothu
There is no surprise that it has forgotten me now
Dei dei ennai maranthathil adhisayamillai ippothu
Hey! There is no surprise that it has forgotten me now
Nadu idhilae irunthu viduthalai peruvathu eppothu
When will the nation obtain freedom from all this?
Naan yaar andru naan yaar
Who was I back then? Who was I?
Andru naattil iruntha
Among the country's population back then
Naarpathu kodiyil naan yaar
Who was I among those forty crores?
Naan yaar….
Who was I...?
Naan yaar andru naan yaar…
Who was I back then? Who was I...?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This powerful philosophical song expresses the anguish and disillusionment of an unsung freedom fighter in post-independence India. The protagonist invokes national icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Iron Man), and Kamarajar, questioning his own identity and sacrifice among the forty crore citizens during the freedom struggle. He recalls suffering torture, beatings, and imprisonment under British rule while proudly raising the flag and chanting 'Vande Mataram'. He laments how the sacrifices of true patriots were rendered futile when corrupt opportunists took power. Reflecting on how society quickly forgot visionaries like Gandhi and defeated leaders like Kamarajar in elections, he feels it is no surprise that an anonymous freedom fighter like him has been entirely erased from memory. He concludes with a poignant question asking when the nation will truly break free from political degeneration and greed.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Viduthalai ennum velvi theeyil karugiyavan”
Compares the struggle for freedom to a sacred sacrificial fire ('Velvi thee') where patriots burnt themselves out.
Aetukai (Second letter rhyme)
“Irumbu manithaa nee sollu / Karma veera nee sollu”
Rhyming of the second character 'ru' in 'Irumbu' and 'ar' in 'Karma' creating rhythmical harmony in the opening invocation.
Esubu / End Rhyme
“Aandugal thorum anniyan kaalil mithipattavan”
Consistent use of the verbal participle ending '-avan' across multiple lines ('adipattavan', 'udhaipattavan', 'mithipattavan', 'siraipattavan') to emphasize the hero's identity through actions.
Rhetorical Question
“Naan yaar andru naan yaar”
The repeated question 'Naan yaar' (Who am I?) serves as an existential query emphasizing the loss of identity and gratitude.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by poet Kannadasan for the 1977 film 'Naam Pirandha Mann' starring Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan, the song stands as one of Tamil cinema's most potent political commentaries on post-independence disillusionment. The mention of Kamarajar being defeated ('Annal kamarajarai thottrach seitha innadu') directly references the iconic 1967 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections where K. Kamaraj lost his seat, a tragedy that deeply affected Kannadasan.
Keep listening
More from Naam Pirandha Mann
Naam Pirandha Mann
Naam Pirandha Mann
Naam Pirandha Mann
Naam Pirandha Mann