Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sange Muzhangu

From Kalangarai Vilakkam · 1965

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singers
Sirkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kalangarai Vilakkam1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{ Sangae muzhangu } (2)Blow the conch shell!
Female
Sangae muzhanguBlow the conch shell!
Female
EngalOur
Vaazhvum engalLife and our
Valamum mangaadhaUnfading prosperity
Thamizh endruIs eternal Tamil!
{ Sangae muzhangu } (2)Blow the conch shell!
Female
EngalOur
Vaazhvum engalLife and our
Valamum mangaadhaUnfading prosperity
Thamizh endruIs eternal Tamil!
Sangae muzhanguBlow the conch shell!
Female
EngalOur
Pagaivar engoEnemies have somewhere
Maraindhaar ingullaVanished into hiding, seeing
Thamizhargal ondraadhal kanduThe Tamils here united as one!
Female
PonguRaging
Thamizharku innalHarm to Tamils
VilaithaalIf anyone causes
Female
……………….....
Female
PonguRaging
Thamizharku innalHarm to Tamils
Vilaithaal sangaaramIf anyone causes, annihilation
NisamendruIs an absolute truth!
Sangae muzhanguBlow the conch shell!
Chorus
{ Sangae muzhangu } (3)Blow the conch shell!
Female
ThingalodumAlong with the moon
Sezhum parudhi thannodumAnd with the radiant sun
Vinnodum udukalodumAlong with the sky and stars
Mangul kadal ivatrodum pirandhaBorn together with the ocean and clouds
{Thamizhudan pirandhom naangal } (2)We were born together with Tamil!
Male
AanmaiValorous
Singathin kootamendrumAs a pride of lions
Siriyorkum nyabagam seiRemind even the ignorant ones!
Muzhangu sangaeSound the conch shell!
Chorus
Sangae muzhanguBlow the conch shell!
Chorus
……………………....
Male
VenkodumaiAgainst extreme cruelty
Saakaatil vilaiyaadumPlaying even in the field of death
Thol engalvetri tholgalOur shoulders are shoulders of victory!
Male
……………………...
Male
GangayaiLike the Ganges
Pol kaviri pol karuthukalAnd like the Kaveri, noble thoughts
Oorum ullam engal ullamFlow in our hearts; our heart
Male
Thamizh engal moochamHas Tamil as its very breath!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sangae Muzhangu is a famous Tamil poem written by Pavendar Bharathidasan that expresses passionate Tamil linguistic pride, unity, and courage. The speaker calls for the conch shell to be sounded to herald that Tamil language and culture are the immortal foundations of Tamil life and prosperity. Seeing the solidarity of the Tamil people, oppressors and enemies flee in fear, with a severe warning that harming the Tamils will inevitably result in total destruction.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Thamizh engal moocham

Tamil is metaphorically declared to be the very breath ('moochu') of life for the Tamil people.

Simile (Upamai)

Gangayai pol kaviri pol karuthukal

The flow of righteous and noble thoughts in Tamil minds is compared using 'pol' (like) to the endless flow of rivers Ganges and Kaveri.

Ethukai (Second-letter Assonance)

Thingalodum / Vinnodum

Tamil poetic meter featuring rhyming second letters ('nn') in 'Thingalodum' and 'Vinnodum'.

Anaphora / Refrain

{ Sangae muzhangu }

Repetition of 'Sangae muzhangu' serves as an inspiring musical and rhetorical call to action.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic poem was written by Pavendar Bharathidasan, one of modern Tamil literature's most influential revolutionary poets. The song was featured in the 1965 film Kalangarai Vilakkam starring M. G. Ramachandran, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan.

Keep listening

More from Kalangarai Vilakkam