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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ondrupaduvom Ondrupaduvom

From Yer Munai · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
L. Vaithiya Nathan
Movie name
Yer Munai
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
27 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ondrupaduvom….mmm….
Ondrupaduvom….mmm….
Ondrupaduvom…ondrupaduvom….
Namathu kanavugal palikkum
Namathu kanavugal palikkum
Uzhavan naalai ulagai aalvaan
Yaermunai…..ingae jeyikkum….mmm….
Ondrupaduvom…ondrupaduvom….
Namathu kanavugal palikkum
Namathu kanavugal palikkum
Uzhavan naalai ulagai aalvaan
Yaermunai…..ingae jeyikkum….mmm….
Uzhavan naalai ulagai aalvaan
Yaermunai…..ingae jeyikkum….mmm….
Vidhaippadhengal vaazhkkai poruppu
Adhai vilaiya vaippathil aayiram thavippu
Vilaintha porulukk vilaiyaeyillai
Idhuthaan indraiya nadappu
Vidhaippadhengal vaazhkkai poruppu
Adhai vilaiya vaippathil aayiram thavippu
Vilaintha porulukk vilaiyaeyillai
Idhuthaan indraiya nadappu
Uzhaiththa piragum nirambavillai
Uzhavan veettu uzhakku
Chorus :Uzhaiththa piragum nirambavillai
Uzhavan veettu uzhakku
Sagathiyil vaazhnthathu pothum
Ada japthi kadangal pothum
Chorus :Sagathiyil vaazhnthathu pothum
Ada japthi kadangal pothum
Uzhaippavan ingae ulagai aalvaan
Idhuvae ulagin vedham…mmm…
Chorus :Uzhaippavan ingae ulagai aalvaan
Idhuvae ulagin vedham…mmm…
Ondrupaduvom…ondrupaduvom….
Namathu kanavugal palikkum
Namathu kanavugal palikkum
Uzhavan naalai ulagai aalvaan
Yaermunai…..ingae jeyikkum….mmm….
Uzhavan naalai ulagai aalvaan
Yaermunai…..ingae jeyikkum….mmm….
………………
Kattiyullathu kanthaithaanae
Adhu ottiyullathum vinthaithaanae
Idhai thatti ketkum thairiyam illai
Maanudamaa idhu maanudamaa….aa….aa….
Kattiyullathu kanthaithaanae
Adhu ottiyullathum vinthaithaanae
Idhai thatti ketkum thairiyam illai
Maanudamaa idhu maanudamaa….
Kalappai polae theintha uzhavanae
Azhuthaal nanamai varumaa…aa…
Kalappai polae theintha uzhavanae
Azhuthaal nanamai varumaa…
Enna uzhuthavan nilaimai
Avan iragai virkkum paravai
Chorus :Enna uzhuthavan nilaimai
Avan iragai virkkum paravai
Ini punniyamenna paavamenna
Puratchi seivathae kadamai
Ini punniyamenna paavamenna
Puratchi seivathae kadamai
Male :Haei
Chorus :Ini punniyamenna paavamenna
Let us unite... mmm...
Let us unite... mmm...
Let us unite... let us unite...
Our dreams will come true.
Our dreams will come true.
Tomorrow, the farmer will rule the world.
The plow will triumph here... mmm...
Let us unite... let us unite...
Our dreams will come true.
Our dreams will come true.
Tomorrow, the farmer will rule the world.
The plow will triumph here... mmm...
Tomorrow, the farmer will rule the world.
The plow will triumph here... mmm...
Sowing the seeds is our life's responsibility,
and raising the crop brings a thousand worries.
Yet there is no fair price for the harvest;
this is the harsh reality today.
Sowing the seeds is our life's responsibility,
and raising the crop brings a thousand worries.
Yet there is no fair price for the harvest;
this is the harsh reality today.
Even after toiling hard, it never gets filled—
the little grain-measuring cup in the farmer's home.
Chorus: Even after toiling hard, it never gets filled—
the little grain-measuring cup in the farmer's home.
Living in the mud is enough!
Debts and seized property are enough!
Chorus: Living in the mud is enough!
Debts and seized property are enough!
The working man will rule the world here,
this is the eternal truth of the earth... mmm...
Chorus: The working man will rule the world here,
this is the eternal truth of the earth... mmm...
Let us unite... let us unite...
Our dreams will come true.
Our dreams will come true.
Tomorrow, the farmer will rule the world.
The plow will triumph here... mmm...
Tomorrow, the farmer will rule the world.
The plow will triumph here... mmm...
...
All we wear are torn rags,
and it is a wonder they still cling to us.
No one has the courage to question this injustice—
is this humanity? Is this truly humanity? Ah... ah...
All we wear are torn rags,
and it is a wonder they still cling to us.
No one has the courage to question this injustice—
is this humanity? Is this truly humanity?
O farmer, worn down like an old plow,
will weeping bring any good? Ah...
O farmer, worn down like an old plow,
will weeping bring any good?
What is the plight of the one who plows?
He is like a bird forced to sell its own feathers.
Chorus: What is the plight of the one who plows?
He is like a bird forced to sell its own feathers.
What do good deeds or sins matter anymore?
To revolt is our only duty!
What do good deeds or sins matter anymore?
To revolt is our only duty!
Male: Hey!
Chorus: What do good deeds or sins matter anymore?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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