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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Neenga Nalla Irukkanam

From Idhayakkani · 1975

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, T. M. Soundararajan, S. Janaki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Idhayakkani1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thennagamaam inba thirunaattilIn the delightful southern land,
MaeviyadhorExisting gracefully,
Kanandathu kudagu malaiOriginating in the Coorg mountains,
Kanivayittril karuvaagiConceived as an embryo in its fertile womb,
Thalai kaaviri ennum thaadhiyidam uruvaagiFormed through the foster mother named Talakaveri,
Female
Vannam paadiSinging in vibrant colors,
Oru valar thendral thaalaattaAs a growing gentle breeze lulls to sleep,
Kannampaadi anai kadandhuCrossing the Kannambadi dam,
Nalam paadiSinging of prosperity,
Male
Yaer veezhchi kaanaamal irukkaEnsuring agriculture does not suffer decline,
Siva samuthira neer veezhchi enum paerilIn the form of Shivanasamudra waterfalls,
Neenda varalaaraaiAs a long saga of history,
Female
Veedu thaandaa karpu vilangumLike a chaste Tamil maiden
Tamil magal polWho does not step beyond her doorstep,
Kaadu thaandum kaaviriyaaiAs river Kaveri traversing dense forests,
Adangi nadanthuFlowing with self-restraint,
Aganda kaaviriyaai pin thavazhndhuCrawling later as the expansive Akhanda Kaveri,
Male
Karikaalan per vaazhumWhere King Karikala's legacy endures,
Kallanaiyil kollidathilAt Kallanai dam and Kollidam river,
Kaanum idamellaamEverywhere the eye can behold,
Thaavi perugi vandhuLeaping and surging forward,
Thanjai valanaattaiProtecting the fertile land of Tanjore
Thaayaagi kaappavalaamAs a loving mother,
Thani karunai kaaviri polLike the uniquely merciful river Kaveri,
Female
Sellum idamellaamWherever you set foot,
Seer perukki paer nirutthiMultiplying excellence and establishing enduring renown,
Kallum kaniyaagumMaking even hard stone turn sweet like fruit,
Karunaiyaal ellorkkumBy showing compassion to everyone,
Male
Pillai yena naalumEvery day like a beloved child,
Pesa vandha kanmaniyaeOh precious eye-gem who has come to guide us!
Vallalae engal vaazhvae idhayakkaniOh generous benefactor, our very life, the apple of our eye!
Female
Neenga nallaa irukkonumMay you remain in good health and well-being,
Naadu munnaeraSo that the nation may progress,
Indha naattil ulla ezhaigalinSo that the lives of the poor in this country
Vaazhvu munnaeraMay advance and prosper!
Male
Endrum nallavanga ellaarumAlways, all good-hearted people
Unga pinnaalaeWill march behind you,
Neenga nenachadhellaam nadakkumungaWhatever noble thoughts you envision will come true,
Kannu munnaalaeRight before your eyes!
Chorus
Neenga nallaa irukkonumMay you remain in good health and well-being,
Naadu munnaeraSo that the nation may progress,
Indha naattil ulla ezhaigalinSo that the lives of the poor in this country
Vaazhvu munnaeraMay advance and prosper!
Male
Uzhaikkum thozhargalaeWorking comrades,
Ondru koodungalUnite as one!
Ulagham namadhu endruSinging that the world belongs to us,
Sindhu paadungalSing a chorus of joy!
Male
Uzhaikkum thozhargalaeWorking comrades,
Ondru koodungalUnite as one!
Ulagham namadhu endruSinging that the world belongs to us,
Sindhu paadungalSing a chorus of joy!
Maedu pallam illaadhaTo build an egalitarian society
Samudhaayam kaanaFree of high and low strata,
Enna vazhi endru enni paarungalPonder and seek the right pathway!
Annaa sonna vazhiFollow the path shown by leader Anna,
Kandu nanmai thaedungalAnd seek welfare for all!
Annaa sonna vazhiFollow the path shown by leader Anna,
Kandu nanmai thaedungalAnd seek welfare for all!
Male
Neenga nallaa irukkonumMay you remain in good health and well-being,
Naadu munnaeraSo that the nation may progress,
Indha naadengum illaamaiSo that poverty and scarcity across this land
Illai endraagaBecome completely non-existent!
Female
Paadu pattu chaettha porulaiGiving away the wealth earned through hard labor
Kodukkum podhum inbamBrings supreme joy;
Vaadum ezhai malarndha mugathaiSeeing the blooming face of a withered poor person
Paarkkum podhum inbamBrings supreme joy!
Naam paadu pattu chaettha porulaiGiving away the wealth we earned through hard labor
Kodukkum podhum inbamBrings supreme joy;
Vaadum ezhai malarndha mugathaiSeeing the blooming face of a withered poor person
Paarkkum podhum inbamBrings supreme joy!
Male
Peraasaiyaalae vandha thunbamMisery born out of extreme greed
Suyanalathin pillaiIs the offspring of selfishness;
Suyanalamae irukkum nenjilIn a heart where selfishness resides,
Amaidhi endrum illaiPeace can never exist!
Peraasaiyaalae vandha thunbamMisery born out of extreme greed
Suyanalathin pillaiIs the offspring of selfishness;
Suyanalamae irukkum nenjilIn a heart where selfishness resides,
Amaidhi endrum illaiPeace can never exist!
Amaidhi endrum illaiPeace can never exist!
Chorus
Neenga nallaa irukkonumMay you remain in good health and well-being,
Naadu munnaeraSo that the nation may progress,
Indha naattil ulla ezhaigalinSo that the lives of the poor in this country
Vaazhvu munnaeraMay advance and prosper!
Male
Kaattrum neerum vaanum neruppumAir, water, sky, and fire
Podhuvil irukkudhuBelong in common to everyone;
Manidhan kaalil patta boomi mattumOnly the earth touched by human feet
Pirindhu kedakkudhuLies fractured into artificial borders.
Kaattrum neerum vaanum neruppumAir, water, sky, and fire
Podhuvil irukkudhuBelong in common to everyone;
Manidhan kaalil patta boomi mattumOnly the earth touched by human feet
Pirindhu kedakkudhuLies fractured into artificial borders.
Male
Pirithu vaithu paarppadhellaamLooking at nature with division and prejudice
Manidha idhayamaeIs the flaw of the human mind;
Pirithu vaithu paarppadhellaamLooking at nature with division and prejudice
Manidha idhayamae ulagilIs the flaw of the human mind in this world!
Pirivu maari orumai vandhaalIf division disappears and unity prevails,
Amaidhi nilavumae amaidhi nilavumaePeace will reign, peace will reign!
Chorus
Neenga nallaa irukkonumMay you remain in good health and well-being,
Naadu munnaeraSo that the nation may progress,
Indha naattil ulla ezhaigalinSo that the lives of the poor in this country
Vaazhvu munnaeraMay advance and prosper!
Male
Nadhiyai pola naamum nadandhuFlowing like a river,
Payan thara vaendumWe must bring fruitfulness to others;
Kadalai pola virindha idhayamA heart broad like the vast ocean
Irunthida vendumMust be cultivated within us;
Male
Vaanam pola pirarukkaagaLike the sky shedding rain for the earth,
Azhudhida vendumWe must weep empathy for others;
Vaazhum vaazhkkai ulagil endrumThe life we live in this world
Vilangida vendum vilangida vendumMust shine as an eternal exemplar, must shine as an exemplar!
Chorus
Neenga nallaa irukkonumMay you remain in good health and well-being,
Naadu munnaeraSo that the nation may progress,
Indha naattil ulla ezhaigalinSo that the lives of the poor in this country
Vaazhvu munnaeraMay advance and prosper!
Neenga nallaa irukkonumMay you remain in good health and well-being,
Naadu munnaeraSo that the nation may progress,
Indha naattil ulla ezhaigalinSo that the lives of the poor in this country
Vaazhvu munnaeraMay advance and prosper!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic track begins with a grand poetic prologue comparing the protagonist (and leader M.G. Ramachandran) to the river Kaveri—originating gently, nourishing every land it touches, turning hard rock into fertile ground, and sustaining the poor like a loving mother. The song transitions into a socio-political anthem urging the leader's long life and good health, as his well-being is directly tied to the upliftment of the poor and the country's progress.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Simile

Thani karunai kaaviri pol

Compares the protagonist's motherly kindness to the nourishing flow of River Kaveri.

Metaphor

Vallalae engal vaazhvae idhayakkani

Refers to the leader as 'Idhayakkani' (the fruit of the heart), symbolizing affection and indispensable value.

Uvamaani / Simile

Kadalai pola virindha idhayam

Encourages human hearts to be broad and accommodating like the vast ocean.

Monnai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

Kaattrum neerum vaanum neruppum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Kaattrum' / 'Manidhan' / 'Pirithu') across stanzas to create rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The opening classical verse 'Thennagamaam' was sung by Seerkazhi Govindarajan, followed by T.M. Soundararajan for the main song composed by M.S. Viswanathan. The term 'Idhayakkani' (Fruit of the Heart) was famously bestowed upon M.G. Ramachandran by DMK founder C.N. Annadurai ('Anna').

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