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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ondrupaduvom Ondrupaduvom

From Yer Munai · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
L. Vaithiya Nathan
Details
Yer Munai1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ondrupaduvom….mmm….Let us unite... mmm...
Ondrupaduvom….mmm….Let us unite... mmm...
Male
Ondrupaduvom…ondrupaduvom….Let us unite... let us unite...
Namathu kanavugal palikkumOur dreams will come true
Namathu kanavugal palikkumOur dreams will come true
Uzhavan naalai ulagai aalvaanTomorrow, the farmer will rule the world
Yaermunai…..ingae jeyikkum….mmm….The tip of the plough will win here... mmm...
Chorus
Ondrupaduvom…ondrupaduvom….Let us unite... let us unite...
Namathu kanavugal palikkumOur dreams will come true
Namathu kanavugal palikkumOur dreams will come true
Uzhavan naalai ulagai aalvaanTomorrow, the farmer will rule the world
Yaermunai…..ingae jeyikkum….mmm….The tip of the plough will win here... mmm...
Uzhavan naalai ulagai aalvaanTomorrow, the farmer will rule the world
Yaermunai…..ingae jeyikkum….mmm….The tip of the plough will win here... mmm...
Male
Vidhaippadhengal vaazhkkai poruppuSowing seeds is our life's responsibility
Adhai vilaiya vaippathil aayiram thavippuThere are a thousand anxieties in bringing them to yield
Vilaintha porulukk vilaiyaeyillaiThere is no fair price for the grown produce
Idhuthaan indraiya nadappuThis is today's reality
Chorus
Vidhaippadhengal vaazhkkai poruppuSowing seeds is our life's responsibility
Adhai vilaiya vaippathil aayiram thavippuThere are a thousand anxieties in bringing them to yield
Vilaintha porulukk vilaiyaeyillaiThere is no fair price for the grown produce
Idhuthaan indraiya nadappuThis is today's reality
Male
Uzhaiththa piragum nirambavillaiEven after working hard, it never gets filled
Uzhavan veettu uzhakkuThe rice measuring cup in the farmer's home
Chorus :Uzhaiththa piragum nirambavillaiChorus: Even after working hard, it never gets filled
Uzhavan veettu uzhakkuThe rice measuring cup in the farmer's home
Male
Sagathiyil vaazhnthathu pothumEnough of living in the slough of poverty
Ada japthi kadangal pothumHey, enough of these property-seizing debts!
Chorus :Sagathiyil vaazhnthathu pothumChorus: Enough of living in the slough of poverty
Ada japthi kadangal pothumHey, enough of these property-seizing debts!
Male
Uzhaippavan ingae ulagai aalvaanThe one who toils will rule the world here
Idhuvae ulagin vedham…mmm…This is the ultimate gospel of the world... mmm...
Chorus :Uzhaippavan ingae ulagai aalvaanChorus: The one who toils will rule the world here
Idhuvae ulagin vedham…mmm…This is the ultimate gospel of the world... mmm...
Chorus
Ondrupaduvom…ondrupaduvom….Let us unite... let us unite...
Namathu kanavugal palikkumOur dreams will come true
Namathu kanavugal palikkumOur dreams will come true
Uzhavan naalai ulagai aalvaanTomorrow, the farmer will rule the world
Yaermunai…..ingae jeyikkum….mmm….The tip of the plough will win here... mmm...
Uzhavan naalai ulagai aalvaanTomorrow, the farmer will rule the world
Yaermunai…..ingae jeyikkum….mmm….The tip of the plough will win here... mmm...
Chorus
………………
Male
Kattiyullathu kanthaithaanaeWhat he wears is just tattered rags
Adhu ottiyullathum vinthaithaanaeAnd how it still hangs on him is a miracle
Idhai thatti ketkum thairiyam illaiThere is no courage left to stand up and question this
Maanudamaa idhu maanudamaa….aa….aa….Is this humanity? Is this truly humanity?
Chorus
Kattiyullathu kanthaithaanaeWhat he wears is just tattered rags
Adhu ottiyullathum vinthaithaanaeAnd how it still hangs on him is a miracle
Idhai thatti ketkum thairiyam illaiThere is no courage left to stand up and question this
Maanudamaa idhu maanudamaa….Is this humanity? Is this truly humanity?
Male
Kalappai polae theintha uzhavanaeO farmer, worn out like a wooden plough!
Azhuthaal nanamai varumaa…aa…Will good times come if you just weep?
Kalappai polae theintha uzhavanaeO farmer, worn out like a wooden plough!
Azhuthaal nanamai varumaa…Will good times come if you just weep?
Male
Enna uzhuthavan nilaimaiWhat is the plight of the one who ploughed the land?
Avan iragai virkkum paravaiHe is like a bird forced to sell its own feathers
Chorus :Enna uzhuthavan nilaimaiChorus: What is the plight of the one who ploughed the land?
Avan iragai virkkum paravaiHe is like a bird forced to sell its own feathers
Chorus
Ini punniyamenna paavamennaWhat does virtue or sin matter anymore?
Puratchi seivathae kadamaiTo revolt is our only duty now
Chorus
Ini punniyamenna paavamennaWhat does virtue or sin matter anymore?
Puratchi seivathae kadamaiTo revolt is our only duty now
Male :HaeiMale: Hey!
Chorus :Ini punniyamenna paavamennaChorus: What does virtue or sin matter anymore?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This powerful reformist song serves as a clarion call for agrarian unity and revolution. Lyricist Vairamuthu highlights the plight of Tamil farmers who work relentlessly in the mud only to face crippling debts, low crop pricing, poverty, and systemic neglect. The song contrasts the noble duty of farming with the tragic reality that the farmer's own home remains impoverished.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Kalappai polae theintha uzhavanae

Compares the farmer's physical and mental exhaustion directly to a wooden ploughshare that wears down over time through constant friction with the soil.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Avan iragai virkkum paravai

Metaphorically compares a destitute farmer selling his basic necessities/land to survive to a bird forced to sell its own wings/feathers.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kattiyullathu kanthaithaanae / Adhu ottiyullathum vinthaithaanae

The second consonant sound 'tt' matches in both lines ('Kattiyullathu' and 'ottiyullathum').

Monai (Initial Letter Alliteration)

Vidhaippadhengal vaazhkkai poruppu / Adhai vilaiya vaippathil...

Alliteration on the initial sound 'Vi' in 'Vidhaippadhengal' and 'vilaiya'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song title and movie name 'Yer Munai' directly refers to the tip of a ploughshare, a traditional Tamil symbol of agriculture and labor pride popularised by classical poet Kirupanandha Variyar and DMK political rhetoric.

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