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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Neeyum Naanum Onnu Endra

From Kizhakke Pogum Rail · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kizhakke Pogum Rail1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ae… hoiHey... hoi
Chorus
Ae… hoiHey... hoi
Male
Ae… hoi ae… ae…Hey... hoi hey... hey...
Male
Ae ellaarukkum ellaamum kedachunnaaHey, if everyone got everything they needed,
Yaethamillae yerakkamillae yaeippadharkkum aalum illaeThere would be no high or low status, nor anyone around to deceive.
Ezhai endra inam pirichaa paazhum manasu aasa vechaenWhen classified as poor, this wretched heart harbors desires,
Paavam seiya dhoobam podumThat offer incense encouraging one to commit sin,
Chorus
Aamaa dhoobam podum…Yes, it offers incense...
Male
Neeyum naanum onnu endra nilamai vaenungaWe need a state where you and I are equal,
Andha naeram kaalam saerum varaiyilUntil that opportune time and moment arrive,
Kaaval veenunga namma kaaval veenungaWe need vigilance, our constant watch is required.
Neeyum naanum onnu endra nilamai vaenungaWe need a state where you and I are equal,
Andha naeram kaalam saerum varaiyilUntil that opportune time and moment arrive,
Kaaval veenunga namma kaaval veenungaWe need vigilance, our constant watch is required.
Chorus
Sabaash… sabaash… maela po…Bravo... bravo... go higher...
Male
Naalai maarum kaalamunnu yaengiya manasuThe heart that yearned thinking times would change tomorrow,
Pala naal vaayum vayirum kaayum podhu maaruvadhunduChanges when the mouth and stomach stay starved for days.
Ezha vayiru moonu vaela kaanura varaikkumUntil the poor man's stomach sees three meals a day,
Namma kaaval kaakkum parambaraikkaeFor our lineage that stands guard over society,
Thala vali irukku thambi thala vali irukkuThere is a headache, brother, there is a headache!
Chorus
Aamaa thala vali irukku aamaa thala vali irukkuYes, there is a headache, yes, there is a headache!
Male
Neeyum naanum onnu endra nilamai vaenungaWe need a state where you and I are equal,
Andha naeram kaalam saerum varaiyilUntil that opportune time and moment arrive,
Kaaval veenunga namma kaaval veenungaWe need vigilance, our constant watch is required.
Chorus
Sabaash… balae… innum maela po…Bravo... well done... go even higher...
Male
Odi odi vedha vedhachaan urchaagathoduHe ran around sowing seeds with great enthusiasm,
Chorus
Sabaashu appadi podu sabaashuBravo, strike it like that, bravo!
Male
Uzhavan eedillaadha uzhaippai ingae velaichalil paaruLook at the yield born from the farmer's unmatched hard work,
Chorus
Balae balae balae balaeBravo, bravo, bravo, bravo!
Male
Aadi paadi kadhiraruppaan aanandhatthoduHe harvests the grain while dancing and singing with joy,
Aanaa arutha karudhu pora idamBut the harvested crop goes to...
Vaeroru veedu thambi vaeroru veeduAnother house, brother, another house!
Chorus
Aamaa vaeroru veedu aamaa vaeroru veeduYes, another house, yes, another house!
Male
Neeyum naanum onnu endra nilamai vaenungaWe need a state where you and I are equal,
Andha naeram kaalam saerum varaiyilUntil that opportune time and moment arrive,
Kaaval veenunga namma kaaval veenungaWe need vigilance, our constant watch is required.
Chorus :Namma kaaval veenunga namma kaaval veenungaChorus: We need our vigilance, we need our vigilance,
Male
Namma kaaval veenungaWe need our vigilance,
Chorus
Namma kaaval veenungaWe need our vigilance.
Male
Aadi paadi kadhiraruppaan aanandhathoduHe harvests the grain while dancing and singing with joy,
Aanaa arutha karudhu pora idamBut the harvested crop goes to...
Vaeroru veedu thambi vaeroru veeduAnother house, brother, another house!
Aama vaeroru veeduYes, another house!
Chorus
Sabashu appadi podu sabaashuBravo, strike it like that, bravo!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-philosophical song highlights social inequality, economic exploitation, and the plight of the working class, particularly farmers and night watchmen. It argues that if wealth and resources were equally distributed, social hierarchies and deceit would cease to exist. Until true equality is achieved, vigilance and unity are essential for the marginalized to protect themselves against systemic injustice. The song uses the poignant image of a farmer who works tirelessly to sow and harvest crops with joy, only for the fruits of his labor to end up in someone else's household. Through rhythmic chants, folk dialogue, and social commentary, the lyrics express a yearning for social reform and a world where every poor person receives basic sustenance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Yaethamillae yerakkamillae... / Ezhai endra inam pirichaa...

The second consonant 'ya' matches across 'Yaethamillae' and 'Ezhai' in lines 5 and 6.

Monai (Initial letter alliteration)

Uzhavan eedillaadha uzhaippai ingae velaichalil paaru

Repetition of the initial 'U' sound in 'Uzhavan' and 'uzhaippai'.

Anaphora / Repetition

Neeyum naanum onnu endra nilamai vaenunga

The refrain demanding social equality ('Neeyum naanum onnu endra...') repeats throughout the song for emphasis.

Social Irony

Aanaa arutha karudhu pora idam / Vaeroru veedu thambi vaeroru veedu

Irony highlighting how the farmer who grows the grain does not get to keep it; it ends up in a rich landlord's house instead.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features in Bharathiraja's iconic film 'Kizhakke Pogum Rail' (1978), which served as a landmark movie in Tamil cinema for bringing rural realism and authentic regional folk flavor to the screen. Though Kannadasan contributed philosophical lines to the film, Ilaiyaraaja's music and rural folk arrangements defined the entire soundtrack.

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