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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ondru Engal Jadhiye

From Panakkara Kudumbam · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Panakkara Kudumbam1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vellai manidhan vaervaiyumThe sweat of the white man,
Karuppu manidhan kanneerumThe tears of the black man,
Vellai manidhan vaervaiyumThe sweat of the white man,
Karuppu manidhan kanneerumThe tears of the black man,
Female
Uppu neerin vadivilaeIn the form of salty water,
Ondru saerum kadalilaeCome together and merge in the sea.
Male
Aadhi manidhan kallai eduthuEarly man picked up stones,
Vaettai aadinaanAnd went hunting.
Adutha manidhan kaattai azhithuNext, man cleared the forest,
Naattai kaattinaanAnd built a nation.
Female
Mattrum oruvan mannil irangiYet another descended into the soil,
Ponnai thaedinaanAnd searched for gold.
Female
Naetru manidhan vaanil thanadhuYesterday, man drove his chariot,
Thaerai ottinaanAcross the sky.
Male
Aahaa…Aahaa…
Female
Indru manidhan vennilaavilToday, man sought a place,
Idathai thaedinaanOn the white moon.
Male
Mhum…Mhum…
Female
Naetru manidhan vaanil thanadhuYesterday, man drove his chariot,
Thaerai ottinaanAcross the sky.
Indru manidhan vennilaavilToday, man sought a place,
Idathai thaedinaanOn the white moon.
Female
Ondru engal jaadhiyaeOur race is one,
Ondru engal needhiyaeOur justice is one.
Male
Mannaraatchi kaathuProtecting the monarchy,
Nindradhengal kaigalaeWere our hands standing guard.
Female
Makkalaatchi kaanaTo bring about democracy,
Seidhadhengal nenjamaeWas our heart's desire.
Male
Engal aatchi endrum vaazhumOur rule will live forever,
Indha mannilaeOn this earth.
Female
Kallil veedu kattiBuilding houses out of stone,
Thandhadhengal kaigalaeWere the hands that gave them.
Karunai dheepam yaettriLighting the lamp of compassion,
Vaithadhengal nenjamaeWere the hearts that placed them.
Male
Kallil veedu kattiBuilding houses out of stone,
Thandhadhengal kaigalaeWere the hands that gave them.
Female :Karunai dheepam yaettriFemale: Lighting the lamp of compassion,
Vaithadhengal nenjamaeWere the hearts that placed them.
Male
Illai enbadhillai naangal vaazhum naattilaeThere is no scarcity in the land where we live.
Female
Aa… aa… ahahaa… ahahaa…Aa… aa… ahahaa… ahahaa…
Laalalaa laalalaa… aa… aa…Laalalaa laalalaa… aa… aa…
Male
Ondru engal jaadhiyaeOur race is one,
Ondru engal needhiyaeOur justice is one.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a powerful philosophical anthem emphasizing human equality, unity, and the evolutionary march of humanity. Lyricist Kannadasan uses the metaphor of sweat and tears merging into the ocean to show that regardless of skin color or race, all human suffering and labor hold the same value. The lyrics trace human progress chronologically from prehistoric hunters and forest dwellers to miners, aviators, and space explorers reaching for the moon. Furthermore, the song celebrates the working class—the ordinary people whose hands built houses and sustained kingdoms, and whose collective hearts brought forth democracy and social justice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Visual Imagery

Uppu neerin vadivilae / Ondru saerum kadalilae

The merging of sweat and tears into the ocean serves as a metaphor for the universal human condition and brotherhood.

Anaphora / Chronological Parallelism

Aadhi manidhan kallai eduthu... Indru manidhan vennilaavil

Repeated structural phrasing ('Aadhi manidhan', 'Adutha manidhan', 'Naetru manidhan', 'Indru manidhan') creates rhythmic progression detailing human history.

Antithesis

Mannaraatchi kaathu ... Makkalaatchi kaana

Juxtaposition of monarchy ('Mannaraatchi') and democracy ('Makkalaatchi') to highlight societal evolution driven by the common people.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1964 blockbuster movie 'Panakkara Kudumbam', starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. The music was composed by the famous duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, with lyrics penned by Kaviarasu Kannadasan and vocals rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

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