Punjai Undu
From Unnal Mudiyum Thambi · 1988
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Unnal Mudiyum Thambi1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thandhan nana | Thandhan nana |
| Thandhan nana | Thandhan nana |
| Thandhan nana | Thandhan nana |
| Thaanaa…. | Thaanaa.... |
| Male | |
| Hoi thandhan nana | Hoi thandhan nana |
| Thandhan nana | Thandhan nana |
| Thandhan nana | Thandhan nana |
| Thaandhan nanaa…. | Thaandhan nanaa.... |
| Male | |
| Punjai undu nanjai undu | There is dry land, there is wetland |
| Pongivarum gangai undu | There is overflowing Ganges river |
| Panjam mattum innum | Only poverty, even now |
| Ingu maaravilla | Has not changed here |
| Enga baaradhathil | In our India |
| Soththuchanda theeravilla | Property disputes have not ended |
| Male | |
| Veedhikkoru katchiyundu | There is a political party for every street |
| Saadhikkoru sangamundu | There is a caste association for every caste |
| Needhi solla mattum | Only to offer justice |
| Ingu naadhiyilla | There is no patron here |
| Sanam nimmadhiyaa | For the people to live peacefully |
| Vaazha oru naalumilla | There is not a single day |
| Male | |
| {Idhu naadaa illa | Is this a country? Or |
| Verum kaadaa | Just a forest? |
| Idhai ketka yaarum | To question this, there is no one |
| Illai thozhaa} (2) | My friend |
| Male | |
| Punjai undu nanjai undu | Is this a country? Or |
| Pongivarum gangai undu | Just a forest? |
| Panjam mattum innum | To question this, there is no one |
| Ingu maaravilla | My friend |
| Enga baaradhathil | There is dry land, there is wetland |
| Soththuchanda theeravilla | There is overflowing Ganges river |
| Male | |
| Vaanaththai etti nirkum | Only poverty, even now |
| Uyarndha maaligai | Has not changed here |
| Yaaringu kattivaithu koduthadhu | In our India |
| Oorukku paadupattu | Property disputes have not ended |
| Uzhaitha koottamo | Reaching up to the skies |
| Veedindri vaasalindri thavikkudhu | Tall mansions |
| Male | |
| Ethanai kaalam ippadi pogum | Who built and gave them here? |
| Endroru kelvi naalai varum | The working crowd that laboured |
| Ullavai ellaam yaarukkum sondham | For the well-being of the town |
| Endringu maarum velai varum | Languishes without home or doorstep |
| Male | |
| Aayiram kaigal koodattum | How long will it go on like this? |
| Aanandha raagam paadattum | A question like that will arise tomorrow |
| Naalaya kaalam nammodu | Everything that exists belongs to everyone |
| Nichaiyam undu poraadu | A time when this changes here will come |
| Vaanagamum vaiyagamum | Let a thousand hands join together |
| Engal kaigalil endraadu | Let them sing a melody of joy |
| Male | |
| Punjai undu nanjai undu | Tomorrow's time is with us |
| Pongivarum gangai undu | Victory is guaranteed, fight on |
| Panjam mattum innum | The sky and the earth |
| Ingu maaravilla | Will be in our hands one day |
| Enga baaradhathil | There is dry land, there is wetland |
| Soththuchanda theeravilla | There is overflowing Ganges river |
| Male | |
| Aatrukku paadhai ingu | Only poverty, even now |
| Yaaru thandhadhu | Has not changed here |
| Thaanaaga paadhai kandu nadakkudhu | In our India |
| Kaatrukku paattu cholli | Property disputes have not ended |
| Yaaru thandhadhu | A path for the river here |
| Thaanaaga paatu onnu padikudhu | Who gave it? |
| Male | |
| Enniya yaavum kaigalil saerum | It finds its own path and flows |
| Nambikkai vendum nenjukkullae | Teaching songs to the breeze |
| Kaalaiyil thondrum sooriyan polae | Who gave it? |
| Ponnoli vendum kannukkullae | It sings a song on its own |
| Male | |
| Cheriyil thendral veesaadhaa | Everything imagined will reach our hands |
| Ezhaiyai vandhu theendaadhaa | Confidence is needed inside the heart |
| Gangai therkae payaadha | Like the sun appearing in the morning |
| Kaveri odu seraadha | Golden light is needed within the eyes |
| Paadupadum thozhargalin | Doesn't breeze blow in the slum? |
| Tholgalil maalai soodaadhaa | Doesn't it come and touch the poor? |
| Male | |
| Punjai undu nanjai undu | Doesn't Ganges flow towards the south? |
| Pongivarum gangai undu | Doesn't it join with the Kaveri? |
| Panjam mattum innum | On the shoulders of hard-working comrades |
| Ingu maaravilla | Won't a garland be worn? |
| Enga baaradhathil | There is dry land, there is wetland |
| Soththuchanda theeravilla | There is overflowing Ganges river |
| Male | |
| {Idhu naadaa illa | Only poverty, even now |
| Verum kaadaa | Has not changed here |
| Idhai ketka yaarum | In our India |
| Illai thozhaa} (2) | Property disputes have not ended |
தந்தன் னானா
தந்தன் னானா
தந்தன் னானா
தானா....
Thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thaanaa....
ஹோய் தந்தன் னானா
தந்தன் னானா
தந்தன் னானா
தந்தன் னானா.....
Hoi thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thaandhan nanaa....
புஞ்சை உண்டு நஞ்சை உண்டு
பொங்கி வரும் கங்கை உண்டு
பஞ்சம் மட்டும் இன்னும்
இங்கு மாறவில்லே
எங்க பாரதத்தின்
சோத்துச் சண்டை தீரவில்லே
There is dry land, there is wetland
There is overflowing Ganges river
Only poverty, even now
Has not changed here
In our India
Property disputes have not ended
வீதிக்கொரு கட்சி உண்டு
சாதிக்கொரு சங்கம் உண்டு
நீதி சொல்ல மட்டும்
இங்கு நாதி இல்லே
சனம் நிம்மதியா
வாழ ஒரு நாளுமில்லே
There is a political party for every street
There is a caste association for every caste
Only to offer justice
There is no patron here
For the people to live peacefully
There is not a single day
{இது நாடா இல்லே
வெறும் காடா
இதக் கேக்க யாரும்
இல்லே தோழா} (2)
Is this a country? Or
Just a forest?
To question this, there is no one
My friend
புஞ்சை உண்டு நஞ்சை உண்டு
பொங்கி வரும் கங்கை உண்டு
பஞ்சம் மட்டும் இன்னும்
இங்கு மாறவில்லே
எங்க பாரதத்தின்
சோத்துச் சண்டை தீரவில்லே
Is this a country? Or
Just a forest?
To question this, there is no one
My friend
There is dry land, there is wetland
There is overflowing Ganges river
வானத்தை எட்டி நிற்கும்
உயர்ந்த மாளிகை
யாரிங்கு கட்டி வைத்துக் கொடுத்தது
ஊருக்குப் பாடுபட்டு
இளைத்த கூட்டமோ
வீடின்றி வாசலின்றித் தவிக்குது
Only poverty, even now
Has not changed here
In our India
Property disputes have not ended
Reaching up to the skies
Tall mansions
எத்தனை காலம்
இப்படிப் போகும்
என்றொரு கேள்வி நாளை வரும்
உள்ளவை எல்லாம்
யாருக்கும் சொந்தம்
என்றிங்கு வாழும் வேளை வரும்
Who built and gave them here?
The working crowd that laboured
For the well-being of the town
Languishes without home or doorstep
ஆயிரம் கைகள் கூடட்டும்
ஆனந்த ராகம் பாடட்டும்
நாளைய காலம் நம்மோடு
நிச்சயம் உண்டு போராடு
வானகமும் வையகமும்
எங்கள் கைகளில் என்றாடு
How long will it go on like this?
A question like that will arise tomorrow
Everything that exists belongs to everyone
A time when this changes here will come
Let a thousand hands join together
Let them sing a melody of joy
புஞ்சை உண்டு நஞ்சை உண்டு
பொங்கி வரும் கங்கை உண்டு
பஞ்சம் மட்டும் இன்னும்
இங்கு மாறவில்லே
எங்க பாரதத்தின்
சோத்துச் சண்டை தீரவில்லே
Tomorrow's time is with us
Victory is guaranteed, fight on
The sky and the earth
Will be in our hands one day
There is dry land, there is wetland
There is overflowing Ganges river
ஆத்துக்குப் பாதை இங்கு
யாரு தந்தது
தானாகப் பாதை கண்டு நடக்குது
காத்துக்குப் பாட்டுச் சொல்லி
யாரு தந்தது
தானாகப் பாட்டு ஒண்ணு படிக்குது
Only poverty, even now
Has not changed here
In our India
Property disputes have not ended
A path for the river here
Who gave it?
எண்ணிய யாவும்
கைகளில் சேரும்
நம்பிக்கை வேண்டும் நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே
காலையில் தோன்றும்
சூரியன் போலே
பொன்னொளி வேண்டும் கண்ணுக்குள்ளே
It finds its own path and flows
Teaching songs to the breeze
Who gave it?
It sings a song on its own
சேரியில் தென்றல் வீசாதா
ஏழையை வந்து தீண்டாதா
கங்கையும் தெற்கே பாயாதா
காவிரியோடு சேராதா
பாடுபடும் தோழர்களின்
தோள்களில் மாலை சூடாதா
Everything imagined will reach our hands
Confidence is needed inside the heart
Like the sun appearing in the morning
Golden light is needed within the eyes
Doesn't breeze blow in the slum?
Doesn't it come and touch the poor?
புஞ்சை உண்டு நஞ்சை உண்டு
பொங்கி வரும் கங்கை உண்டு
பஞ்சம் மட்டும் இன்னும்
இங்கு மாறவில்லே
எங்க பாரதத்தின்
சோத்துச் சண்டை தீரவில்லே
Doesn't Ganges flow towards the south?
Doesn't it join with the Kaveri?
On the shoulders of hard-working comrades
Won't a garland be worn?
There is dry land, there is wetland
There is overflowing Ganges river
{இது நாடா இல்ல
வெறும் காடா
இத கேக்க யாரும்
இல்லே தோழா} (2)
Only poverty, even now
Has not changed here
In our India
Property disputes have not ended
Thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thaanaa….
Thaanaa....
Hoi thandhan nana
Hoi thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thandhan nana
Thaandhan nanaa….
Thaandhan nanaa....
Punjai undu nanjai undu
There is dry land, there is wetland
Pongivarum gangai undu
There is overflowing Ganges river
Panjam mattum innum
Only poverty, even now
Ingu maaravilla
Has not changed here
Enga baaradhathil
In our India
Soththuchanda theeravilla
Property disputes have not ended
Veedhikkoru katchiyundu
There is a political party for every street
Saadhikkoru sangamundu
There is a caste association for every caste
Needhi solla mattum
Only to offer justice
Ingu naadhiyilla
There is no patron here
Sanam nimmadhiyaa
For the people to live peacefully
Vaazha oru naalumilla
There is not a single day
{Idhu naadaa illa
Is this a country? Or
Verum kaadaa
Just a forest?
Idhai ketka yaarum
To question this, there is no one
Illai thozhaa} (2)
My friend
Punjai undu nanjai undu
Is this a country? Or
Pongivarum gangai undu
Just a forest?
Panjam mattum innum
To question this, there is no one
Ingu maaravilla
My friend
Enga baaradhathil
There is dry land, there is wetland
Soththuchanda theeravilla
There is overflowing Ganges river
Vaanaththai etti nirkum
Only poverty, even now
Uyarndha maaligai
Has not changed here
Yaaringu kattivaithu koduthadhu
In our India
Oorukku paadupattu
Property disputes have not ended
Uzhaitha koottamo
Reaching up to the skies
Veedindri vaasalindri thavikkudhu
Tall mansions
Ethanai kaalam ippadi pogum
Who built and gave them here?
Endroru kelvi naalai varum
The working crowd that laboured
Ullavai ellaam yaarukkum sondham
For the well-being of the town
Endringu maarum velai varum
Languishes without home or doorstep
Aayiram kaigal koodattum
How long will it go on like this?
Aanandha raagam paadattum
A question like that will arise tomorrow
Naalaya kaalam nammodu
Everything that exists belongs to everyone
Nichaiyam undu poraadu
A time when this changes here will come
Vaanagamum vaiyagamum
Let a thousand hands join together
Engal kaigalil endraadu
Let them sing a melody of joy
Punjai undu nanjai undu
Tomorrow's time is with us
Pongivarum gangai undu
Victory is guaranteed, fight on
Panjam mattum innum
The sky and the earth
Ingu maaravilla
Will be in our hands one day
Enga baaradhathil
There is dry land, there is wetland
Soththuchanda theeravilla
There is overflowing Ganges river
Aatrukku paadhai ingu
Only poverty, even now
Yaaru thandhadhu
Has not changed here
Thaanaaga paadhai kandu nadakkudhu
In our India
Kaatrukku paattu cholli
Property disputes have not ended
Yaaru thandhadhu
A path for the river here
Thaanaaga paatu onnu padikudhu
Who gave it?
Enniya yaavum kaigalil saerum
It finds its own path and flows
Nambikkai vendum nenjukkullae
Teaching songs to the breeze
Kaalaiyil thondrum sooriyan polae
Who gave it?
Ponnoli vendum kannukkullae
It sings a song on its own
Cheriyil thendral veesaadhaa
Everything imagined will reach our hands
Ezhaiyai vandhu theendaadhaa
Confidence is needed inside the heart
Gangai therkae payaadha
Like the sun appearing in the morning
Kaveri odu seraadha
Golden light is needed within the eyes
Paadupadum thozhargalin
Doesn't breeze blow in the slum?
Tholgalil maalai soodaadhaa
Doesn't it come and touch the poor?
Punjai undu nanjai undu
Doesn't Ganges flow towards the south?
Pongivarum gangai undu
Doesn't it join with the Kaveri?
Panjam mattum innum
On the shoulders of hard-working comrades
Ingu maaravilla
Won't a garland be worn?
Enga baaradhathil
There is dry land, there is wetland
Soththuchanda theeravilla
There is overflowing Ganges river
{Idhu naadaa illa
Only poverty, even now
Verum kaadaa
Has not changed here
Idhai ketka yaarum
In our India
Illai thozhaa} (2)
Property disputes have not ended
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Punjai Undu Nanjai Undu' from the 1988 Tamil film 'Unnal Mudiyum Thambi' is a powerful socio-political song written by Pulamaipithan and composed by Ilaiyaraaja (sung by K. J. Yesudas). The song highlights the severe irony of India's abundant natural wealth—fertile drylands, wetlands, and flowing rivers—contrasted with persistent poverty, homeless labourers, caste politics, and social injustice. The song calls out the apathy of leaders while urging the working class to unite, stay hopeful, and fight for a egalitarian society where resources are shared equally.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Alliteration)
“Punjai undu nanjai undu / Pongivarum gangai undu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines, such as 'Punjai' and 'Pongivarum' or 'Vaanaththai' and 'Uzhaitha'.
Etukai (Assonance / Second-letter Rhyming)
“Punjai undu nanjai undu / Panjam mattum innum / Enga baaradhathil”
Matching second letters in consecutive lines, such as 'Punjai' / 'Panjam' / 'Enga'.
Rhyme & Parallelism
“Punjai undu nanjai undu”
Use of parallel structure ('Punjai undu nanjai undu') creating rhythmic emphasis on economic disparity.
Metaphor
“Idhu naadaa illa / Verum kaadaa”
Comparing the country's lawlessness and governance failure to a wild forest ('verum kaadaa').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Unnal Mudiyum Thambi' was directed by K. Balachander, starring Kamal Haasan and Gemini Ganesan. The film heavily focused on social reform, carnatic music traditions versus modern egalitarian values, and youth empowerment. Ilaiyaraaja's score and Pulamaipithan's revolutionary lyrics made this song an enduring anthem for social justice in Tamil Nadu.
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