Skip to content
Isaimozhi
En Annan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nenjam Undu

From En Annan · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
En Annan
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
22 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hoi { nenjam
Undu nermai undu
Odu raja neram varum
Kaathirundhu paru raja } (2)
{ Anji anji
Vaazhndhadhu
Bodhum raja } (2)
Nee aatru
Vellam polezhundhu
Odu raja
Hey nenjam
Undu nermai undu
Odu raja neram varum
Kaathirundhu paru raja
{ Adimaiyin
Udambil ratham
Edharku dhinam
Achapatta kozhaiku
Illam edharku } (2)
{ Kodumaiyai
Kandu kandu bayam
Edharku } (2)
Nee kondu vandhadhennada
Meesai muruku hoi
Nenjam
Undu nermai undu
Odu raja neram varum
Kaathirundhu paru raja
{ Annaandhu
Paarkindra maaligai
Katti adhan aruginil
Olai kudisai katti } (2)
{ Ponnana
Ulagendru peyarumittal } (2)
Indha boomi sirikum andha
Saami sirikum hoi
Nenjam
Undu nermai undu
Odu raja neram varum
Kaathirundhu paru raja
…………………
{ Undu undu
Endru nambi kaalai
Edu ingu unnai vitaal
Boomiyedhu kavalai vidu } (2)
{ Rendil ondru
Paarpadharku tholainimirthu } (2)
Adhil needhi unnai thedi
Varum maalai thoduthu
Hoi nenjam
Undu nermai undu
Odu raja neram varum
Kaathirundhu paru raja
Anji anji
Vaazhndhadhu
Bodhum raja
Nee aatru
Vellam polezhundhu
Odu raja
Hoi nenjam
Undu nermai undu
Odu raja neram varum
Kaathirundhu paru raja
Hey, you have heart,
you have honesty,
run forward, Raja! The time will come,
just wait and see, Raja!
Living in fear
and trembling
is enough, Raja!
Rise up like
a river in full flood,
and run forward, Raja!
Hey, you have heart,
you have honesty,
run forward, Raja! The time will come,
just wait and see, Raja!
Why should blood run
in the body of a slave?
Why does a coward
who lives in daily fear
need a home of his own?
Why be afraid
every time you see
cruelty and oppression?
What did you bring with you into this world?
Twirl your mustache with pride, hey!
You have heart,
you have honesty,
run forward, Raja! The time will come,
just wait and see, Raja!
Building a towering mansion
that one must look up to see,
and right beside it,
building a thatched hut,
and if you call this
a golden world,
this earth will laugh,
and that God above will laugh, hey!
You have heart,
you have honesty,
run forward, Raja! The time will come,
just wait and see, Raja!
...
Believe that good things will come,
and take your step forward!
Without people like you, what is this world?
Cast your worries away!
To face the challenge and see it through,
square your shoulders!
Justice will come seeking you,
weaving a garland of victory!
Hey, you have heart,
you have honesty,
run forward, Raja! The time will come,
just wait and see, Raja!
Living in fear
and trembling
is enough, Raja!
Rise up like
a river in full flood,
and run forward, Raja!
Hey, you have heart,
you have honesty,
run forward, Raja! The time will come,
just wait and see, Raja!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Nenjam Undu Nermai Undu is an iconic motivational and political song from the 1970 movie En Annan, starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The song serves as a powerful call to action, urging the common man to shed fear, overcome social inequality, and fight for justice with self-respect and honesty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

“Nee aatru / Vellam polezhundhu / Odu raja”

Comparing the hero's rising courage and movement to a surging river flood ('aatru vellam polezhundhu').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Undu nermai undu”

Matching of the second consonant 'ndu' in 'Nenjam', 'Undu', and 'Undu nermai undu'.

Rhetorical Question

“Adimaiyin Udambil ratham Edharku dhinam”

Using questions to challenge cowardice and servitude ('Adimaiyin udambil ratham edharku').

Personification

“Indha boomi sirikum andha Saami sirikum hoi”

Attributing human actions of laughing to the earth ('boomi sirikum') and God ('saami sirikum') upon seeing societal hypocrisy.

Did you know?

Trivia

This legendary song from En Annan (1970) was written by Kavignar Kannadasan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The song was a major political anthem for M. G. Ramachandran during his political rise, and the title line 'Nenjam Undu Nermai Undu' was later used as the title for a 2019 Tamil movie produced by Sivakarthikeyan.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Ellappugazhum Oruvan Oruvanukke2007
Azhagiya Tamil MaganCourageHope
Vaanam Namakkul2006
Imsai Arasan 23rd PulikeceiCourageResilience
Koovudhu Koovudhu Seval Koovudhu1956
Pennin PerumaiCourageResilience
Kaatrulla Pothe1965
Thayum MagalumCourageResilience
Nenjamundu Nermaiyundu Odu Raja – Rebirth2019
Nenjamundu Nermaiyundu Odu RajaCourageResilience
Aattam Pottu2016
VetrivelResilienceHope

From the same album

More songs from En Annan

View album
Kondai Oru Pakkam1970
En AnnanPlayful
Neela Niram1970
En AnnanRomantic
Kadavul Yen Kallanan1970
En AnnanMournful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.