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Lyrics & meaning

Oora Nenjila Thaangum Ungala

From Eghantham · 2018

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singers
Jayamoorthy, Sai Vignesh
Music director
Ganesh Raghavendra
Details
Eghantham2018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaanamae polinjaalumEven if the sky pours rain,
Boomiyae velanjaalumEven if the earth yields crops,
Kaalamum ozhaipavaraeThose who toil tirelessly through all times,
Kadavulnnu solliduvomWe shall hail them as God.
Maanamae nilaiaagaKeeping honor as our firm foundation,
Mann uravae peridhaagaHolding our bond with the soil above all,
Vaazhum indha thiru naataTo make this sacred land we inhabit
Valam peravae senjiduvomFlourish and prosper, we shall strive.
Valam peravae senjiduvom..aaannWe shall strive to bring prosperity... ah,
Naanga valam peravae senjiduvomWe will surely make it prosper!
Male
Oora nenjila thaangum ungalaTo you who carry the entire village in your heart,
Potrum oru naaluThis is a day to honor and praise you.
Naanga nandriya maala kattiyaeWe weave a garland of heartfelt gratitude,
Podum thiru naaluTo adorn you on this holy day.
Male
Ungalathaan deivamunnuRecognizing you as our true deities,
Ada kumbiduvom koodi ninnuAh, we gather together and bow in worship.
Vaanam pola vaazhum ungaFor you who live with a heart as vast as the sky,
Kaala thottu poojai seiyuromWe touch your feet and perform our reverence.
Chorus
Naadariya paraiya adi daaBeat the Parai drum so the whole nation hears!
Nayanama pugazha adi daaPlay a gentle rhythm to sing praises!
Vaan adhira thavila edu daaRaise the Thavil drum until the sky shakes!
Sooriyana irava izhu daaPull down the sun right into the night!
Male
Oora nenjila thaangum ungalaTo you who carry the entire village in your heart,
Potrum oru naaluThis is a day to honor and praise you.
Naanga nandriya maalai kattiyaeWe weave a garland of heartfelt gratitude,
Podum thiru naaluTo adorn you on this holy day.
Chorus
Thandhaana thana nana…(4)Thandhaana thana nana… (repeated 4 times)
Male
Poosaari thechadhuWhat the priest blessed and applied,
Aasaari koladhuWhat the artisan shaped and crafted,
Illaama iruntha oorum illaWithout them, no village can ever exist.
Pidi soryethuOffering a handful of nourishing rice,
Unava uzhaikalanaaIf one does not toil for food,
Varum sogam thaanOnly sorrow will follow.
Avana mathikalanaaIf one does not respect the laborer,
Male
Ooraana josiyaruThe village astrologer,
Kurisollum vedhiyaruThe scripture-reading fortune teller,
Thothaaga kanicha noiyum illaThere is no ailment they could accurately predict.
Oru mannaru thovaikkaEven for a king to dress cleanly,
Thuni velukkumThe washerman bleaches and brightens clothes.
Avar munnala irunthaeOnly through their presence and labor
Ethu nadakkumDoes everything function in society.
Male
Aanaava ariyavaikkumTeaching us and wiping away our ignorance,
Aiyaava vittakkaa padippu illaeWithout the teacher, there is no true education.
Vaazhvora kadaisiyilae kaadyethaTo guide us honorably till the end of life,
Ennaattum sirappu illae…eh eh ehThere is no greater excellence than these trades...
Chorus
Naadariya paraiya adi daaBeat the Parai drum so the whole nation hears!
Nayanama pugazha adi daaPlay a gentle rhythm to sing praises!
Vaan adhira thavila edu daaRaise the Thavil drum until the sky shakes!
Sooriyana irava izhu daaPull down the sun right into the night!
Male
Yeraalam sambalamChasing high salaries,
Yethetho kimbalamAnd various side earnings,
Engaenu alanju oora vittomWandering everywhere, we abandoned our native roots.
Pala naalaaga uravaFor many long days, our kin and relationships,
MaranthirunthomWe had forgotten.
Pagal raavaaga perusaWorking day and night in the city,
ValarnthirunthomWe grew materially.
Male
Aanaalum engalaYet towards us,
Neengaadha anbulaWith unwavering love,
Onnaakka thuninja jallikattuThe Jallikattu tradition stood to unite us.
Verum mannaaga kedanthomWe lay reduced to mere lifeless dust,
Sorana kettuLosing our sense of pride,
Vedhai nellaaga nimirndhomUntil we stood tall and proud like seed paddy,
Velangi kittuRealizing our true worth.
Male
Car odum nagarathulaIn cities where cars endlessly run,
Ellaamae poiyaaga nadakuthungaEverything operates on superficiality and pretense.
Ser oda manathula thaanOnly in hearts rooted in the fertile mud
Nammoda panpaadu irukuthungaDoes our real culture truly reside.
Chorus
{Naadariya paraiya adi daa{Beat the Parai drum so the whole nation hears!
Nayanama pugazha adi daaPlay a gentle rhythm to sing praises!
Vaan adhira thavila edu daaRaise the Thavil drum until the sky shakes!
Sooriyana irava izhu daa} (2)Pull down the sun right into the night!} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a grand, rhythmic tribute to the working-class people, traditional rural occupations, and agrarian heritage of Tamil Nadu. Written by Yuga Bharathi, it elevates everyday laborers—farmers, priests, artisans, washermen, and teachers—to divine status, asserting that society cannot function without their unsung labor. The lyrics emphasize that true godliness lies in honest work and maintaining a deep bond with the soil.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Syllable Rhyme)

Vaanamae polinjaalum / Boomiyae velanjaalum

The second consonant sound 'na' / 'mi' maintains rhythmic symmetry, creating a classic Tamil folk verse structure.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Naadariya paraiya adi daa / Nayanama pugazha adi daa / Vaan adhira thavila edu daa / Sooriyana irava izhu daa

All four lines end with the rhyming suffix 'da' ('adi daa', 'edu daa', 'izhu daa'), generating energetic folk cadence.

Simile (Uwamai Ani)

Vedhai nellaaga nimirndhom

The laborers rising up with restored self-respect and cultural awareness are compared to seed paddy sprouting up tall.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Naanga nandriya maala kattiyae

Gratitude is metaphorically framed as a garland woven together to honor the workers.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics were penned by renowned Tamil lyricist Yuga Bharathi for the 2018 film *Eghantham*, directed by Arulsivan. Yuga Bharathi is famous for his deep connection to Tamil rural culture, folk idioms, and social themes celebrating the working class.

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