Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Meenava Nanban album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nerukku Neraai

From Meenava Nanban · 1977

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Meenava Nanban
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
10 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naerukku naeraai varattum
Nenjil thunivirundhaal
Naerukku naeraai varattum
Nenjil thunivirundhaal
En kaelvikku badhilai tharattum
Naermai thiramirundhaal
Naermai thiramirundhaal
En kaelvikku badhilai tharattum
Naermai thiramirundhaal
Naermai thiramirundhaal
Uzhaippor anaivarum ondru
Enum unarvinil valarvadhu nadru
Uzhaippor anaivarum ondru
Enum unarvinil valarvadhu nadru
Valiyor ezhaiyai vaattidum kodumai
Ini oru naalum nadakkaadhu
Ini oru naalum nadakkaadhu
Naerukku naeraai varattum
Nenjil thunivirundhaal
Nenjil thunivirundhaal
Pattiniyaal dhinam ottiya vayiru
Paadhaiyil thavikkudhadaa
Sila paavigal aanavam panjaiyin uyirai
Dhinam dhinam parikkudhadaa
Pattiniyaal dhinam ottiya vayiru
Paadhaiyil thavikkudhadaa
Sila paavigal aanavam panjaiyin uyirai
Dhinam dhinam parikkudhadaa
Maarinaal maarattum illaiyael maattruvom
Theemaigal yaavaiyum koondilae yaettruvom
Naerukku naeraai varattum
Nenjil thunivirundhaal
Nenjil thunivirundhaal
Needhiyin dheebangal yaendhiya kaigalin
Latchiya payanamidhu
Idhil sathiya sodhanai ethanai naerinum
Thaangidum idhayamidhu
Needhiyin dheebangal yaendhiya kaigalin
Latchiya payanamidhu
Idhil sathiya sodhanai ethanai naerinum
Thaangidum idhayamidhu
Annanin paadhaiyil vettriyae kaanalaam
Annanin paadhaiyil vettriyae kaanalaam
Dharmamae kolgaiyaai naalellaam kaakkalaam…
Naerukku naeraai varattum
Nenjil thunivirundhaal
Nenjil thunivirundhaal
Thani oru manidhanukku
Unavillai endraal jagathinai azhithiduvom
Endru thamizh kavi bharathi
Paadiya paattai nadamurai aakiduvom
Thani oru manidhanukku
Unavillai endraal jagathinai azhithiduvom
Endru thamizh kavi bharathi
Paadiya paattai nadamurai aakiduvom
Sonnadhai seiyivom seivadhai solluvom
Annaiyin boomiyae dheivamaai ennuvom
Let them come face-to-face,
if they have courage in their heart!
Let them come face-to-face,
if they have courage in their heart!
Let them answer my question,
if they have the honesty and the strength!
If they have the honesty and the strength!
Let them answer my question,
if they have the honesty and the strength!
If they have the honesty and the strength!
All working people are one—
it is good to grow with that spirit.
All working people are one—
it is good to grow with that spirit.
The cruelty of the strong oppressing the poor
will never happen again!
It will never happen again!
Let them come face-to-face,
if they have courage in their heart!
If they have courage in their heart!
Stomachs sunken from daily hunger
suffer on the streets, my friend!
The arrogance of a few sinners
takes the lives of the poor every day!
Stomachs sunken from daily hunger
suffer on the streets, my friend!
The arrogance of a few sinners
takes the lives of the poor every day!
Let them change if they will, or else we will change them!
We will bring all evil into the courtroom dock!
Let them come face-to-face,
if they have courage in their heart!
If they have courage in their heart!
Carried by hands holding the lamps of justice,
this is a journey of noble purpose.
No matter how many trials of truth arise,
this heart will endure them all.
Carried by hands holding the lamps of justice,
this is a journey of noble purpose.
No matter how many trials of truth arise,
this heart will endure them all.
On the path of Anna (leader Annadurai), we will see only victory!
On the path of Anna (leader Annadurai), we will see only victory!
We will uphold righteousness as our principle every single day!
Let them come face-to-face,
if they have courage in their heart!
If they have courage in their heart!
"If even a single person
has no food, we will destroy the world!"
As the Tamil poet Bharati
sang in his verse, let us turn it into reality!
"If even a single person
has no food, we will destroy the world!"
As the Tamil poet Bharati
sang in his verse, let us turn it into reality!
We will do what we say, and say what we do!
We will revere our motherland as our God!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Naerukku Naeraai Varattum is a fiery political and social anthem from the 1977 Tamil movie Meenava Nanban, starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The song serves as a direct challenge to corrupt oppressors and social exploiters, daring them to face the protagonist head-on if they possess courage and moral standing. It emphasizes working-class solidarity, declaring that the exploitation of the poor by the powerful must come to a permanent end.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Alliteration)

Naerukku naeraai varattum / Nenjil thunivirundhaal

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'N' in 'Naerukku' and 'Nenjil'.

Literary Allusion

Thani oru manidhanukku / Unavillai endraal jagathinai azhithiduvom

Direct quotation and homage to Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's famous revolutionary line about destroying the world if a single person starves.

Antimetabole / Political Rhetoric

Sonnadhai seiyivom seivadhai solluvom

Inversion of words for rhetorical emphasis ('Sonnadhai seiyivom seivadhai solluvom'), highlighting integrity between speech and action.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Meenava Nanban was released in 1977, a pivotal year when M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The line 'Sonnadhai seiyivom, seivadhai solluvom' (We do what we say, and say what we do) was an iconic political slogan in Tamil Nadu polity, closely linked with Dravidian political leadership.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Meenava Nanban

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.