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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Salaam Chennai

From Album Songs 2020 · 2020

Lyricist
Karthik Netha
Singer
Sathya Prakash
Music director
Ghibran
Movie name
Album Songs 2020
Movie release year
2020
Lyrics added on
12 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Salaam chennaiyae
Male :Salaam chennaiyae
Male :Sellga munnalae
Male :Sellga munnalae
Male :Yaavum anbaalae
Male :Anbaalae
Male :Maarum thannaalae
Male :Thannaalae
Thodaamal vazhum bothum
Thannerai theendum vaanam
Neenda thanimai neenda thanimai
Vaazhvin valimai kaattum
Eppodhum pola vaazha
Appodhai meendum kaana
Perunarvil theendi tholavai kaana
Iyalbu naalai thondrum
Neethaanae maatram
Neethaanae maatram
Neethaanae yettram
Neethaanae yettram
Neethaanae thevai
Neethaanae thevai
Neethaanae naalai
Neethaanae naalai
Salaam chennaiyae
Male :Salaam chennaiyae
Male :Sellga munnalae
Male :Sellga munnalae
Male :Yaavum anbaalae
Male :Yaavum anbaalae
Male :Maarum thannaalae
Male :Maarum thannaalae
Pookadaiyum neezh theruvum
Naam illaamal yengalaam
Oor ulagil naam inaya
Peridarai pookalaam
Vaa vaa vaa vanthu
Nee unnai maathikko
No no no solli koottathai neengikko
Ma ma mask kondu nee konjum maatikko
Hey you kannaal pesikko seendikko
Theedaamai eppodhum
Perum theemaiyae
Peranbil theendalaam
Neethaanae maatram
Neethaanae yettram
Neethaanae thevai
Neethaanae naalai
{Neethaanae maatram
Chorus :Neethaanae maatram
Male :Neethaanae yettram
Chorus :Neethaanae yettram
Male :Neethaanae thevai
Chorus :Neethaanae thevai
Male :Neethaanae naalai
Chorus :Neethaanae naalai} (2)
Salaam, Chennai!
Male: Salaam, Chennai!
Male: Keep moving forward!
Male: Keep moving forward!
Male: Through love, everything...
Male: Through love...
Male: Will change on its own.
Male: On its own.
Even as we live without touching,
the sky still touches the water.
Long isolation, long isolation,
will reveal the strength of life.
To live normally as we always did,
to see those days once again,
to connect through deep feeling across the distance,
a normal tomorrow will dawn.
You are the change!
You are the change!
You are the rise!
You are the rise!
You are what is needed!
You are what is needed!
You are tomorrow!
You are tomorrow!
Salaam, Chennai!
Male: Salaam, Chennai!
Male: Keep moving forward!
Male: Keep moving forward!
Male: Through love, everything...
Male: Through love, everything...
Male: Will change on its own!
Male: Will change on its own!
The flower stalls and the long streets
may long for us in our absence.
For us to reunite with the whole world,
we can make this crisis bloom into hope.
Come, come, step up,
and change your habits.
Say no, no, no and stay away from crowds!
Put on a mask and wear it properly!
Hey you, talk and tease with just your eyes!
Physical untouchability is always
a terrible evil,
so let us touch through boundless love!
You are the change!
You are the rise!
You are what is needed!
You are tomorrow!
{You are the change!
Chorus: You are the change!
Male: You are the rise!
Chorus: You are the rise!
Male: You are what is needed!
Chorus: You are what is needed!
Male: You are tomorrow!
Chorus: You are tomorrow!} (x2)
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song serves as a motivational awareness anthem written during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, dedicated to the city of Chennai and its resilient people. It encourages citizens to follow safety precautions such as practicing social distancing, avoiding crowds, wearing masks, and communicating safely through eyes and gestures rather than physical contact. The lyrics highlight that while physical separation is essential during tough times, emotional solidarity and shared love will bring back normalcy and help society defeat the crisis.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Epinome

Neethaanae maatram / Neethaanae yettram

The phrase 'Neethaanae' (You alone are) is repeated continuously across lines to emphasize that individual discipline and responsibility are key to driving societal change.

Edukku (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thodaamal vazhum bothum / Thannerai theendum vaanam

The second consonant sound 'd' is matched in 'Thodaamal' and 'Thannerai', a classic Tamil poetic rhythm technique.

Metaphor

Thannerai theendum vaanam

Comparing the horizon where the sky appears to touch the sea ('Thannerai theendum vaanam') to illustrate how connection exists even across physical distance.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track was produced as an independent awareness single during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic lockdown to boost public morale in Chennai, utilizing Karthik Netha's uplifting lyrical style to promote safety practices like mask-wearing.

Keep listening

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