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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Senthamizh Naadennum

From Ezhavathu Manithan · 1982

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
L. Vaidyanathan
Details
Ezhavathu Manithan1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa….aa….aa…Vocalizing musical notes.
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa….aa….aa…Vocalizing musical notes.
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa….aa….aa…Vocalizing musical notes.
Female
Senthamizh naadennum pothinilaeWhen the phrase 'The land of pure Tamil' is uttered,
Inba thaen vanthu paayuthu kaadhinilaeSweet honey flows into my ears.
Enal thanthaiyar naadendra pechchinilaeWhen spoken of as the land of my ancestors,
Oru sakthi pirakkuthu moochchinilaeA strange power is born within my breath.
Female
Senthamizh naadennum pothinilaeWhen the phrase 'The land of pure Tamil' is uttered,
Inba thaen vanthu paayuthu kaadhinilaeSweet honey flows into my ears.
Enal thanthaiyar naadendra pechchinilaeWhen spoken of as the land of my ancestors,
Oru sakthi pirakkuthu moochchinilaeA strange power is born within my breath.
Female
Vedham niraintha tamilnaduTamil Nadu, filled with sacred wisdom and Vedas,
Uyar veeram serintha tamilnaduTamil Nadu, rich with supreme heroism,
Nalla kadhal puriyum arampaiyar polLike celestial maidens who express sweet love,
Ilang kanniyar soozhntha tamilnaduTamil Nadu, surrounded by youthful maidens.
Female
Senthamizh naadennum pothinilaeWhen the phrase 'The land of pure Tamil' is uttered,
Inba thaen vanthu paayuthu kaadhinilaeSweet honey flows into my ears.
Enal thanthaiyar naadendra pechchinilaeWhen spoken of as the land of my ancestors,
Oru sakthi pirakkuthu moochchinilaeA strange power is born within my breath.
Female
Neela thiraik kadaloraththilaeAlong the shores of the blue-waved ocean,
Nindru niththam thavanj sei kumari ellaiWhere the southern border of Kanyakumari stands doing eternal penance,
Vada maalavan kundram ivatridaiyaeAnd the northern hills of Lord Vishnu,
Pugazh mandi kidakkunth tamilnaduBetween these boundaries, Tamil Nadu lies abundant in glory.
Female
Kalvi sirantha tamilnaduTamil Nadu, supreme in education and knowledge,
Pugazh kamban pirantha tamilnaduTamil Nadu, where the glorious poet Kamban was born,
Nalla palvidhamaayina saaththiraththinThrough various kinds of noble scriptures and scientific treatises,
Manam paarengum veesunth tamilnaduTamil Nadu spreads its fragrant wisdom across the entire world.
Female
Senthamizh naadennum pothinilaeWhen the phrase 'The land of pure Tamil' is uttered,
Inba thaen vanthu paayuthu kaadhinilaeSweet honey flows into my ears.
Enal thanthaiyar naadendra pechchinilaeWhen spoken of as the land of my ancestors,
Oru sakthi pirakkuthu moochchinilaeA strange power is born within my breath.
Female
Valluvan thannai ulaginukkaeGiving Thiruvalluvar to the entire world,
Thanthu vaanpugazh konda tamilnaduTamil Nadu gained sky-high, eternal fame,
Nenjai allum silappathi kaaramendrorCreating the gem-like necklace called Silappathikaram,
Mani yaaram padaiththa tamilnaaduWhich captivates the human heart, Tamil Nadu!
Female
Senthamizh naadennum pothinilaeWhen the phrase 'The land of pure Tamil' is uttered,
Inba thaen vanthu paayuthu kaadhinilaeSweet honey flows into my ears.
Enal thanthaiyar naadendra pechchinilaeWhen spoken of as the land of my ancestors,
Oru sakthi pirakkuthu moochchinilaeA strange power is born within my breath.
Female
Sakthi pirakkuthu moochchinilaeA vibrant power is born within my breath!
Sakthi pirakkuthu moochchinilaeA vibrant power is born within my breath!
Sakthi pirakkuthu moochchinilaeA vibrant power is born within my breath!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Senthamizh Naadennum Pothinilae is a celebrated patriotic poem written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar that evokes deep love, pride, and reverence for Tamil Nadu and the Tamil language. The poet expresses that simply hearing the name of his motherland sweetens his ears like honey and invigorates his very breath with physical and spiritual strength. He highlights the geographical grandeur of Tamil Nadu, stretching from Kanyakumari in the south to Venkatam (Tirupati) in the north. Furthermore, Bharathiyar honors the unmatched cultural and literary contributions of Tamil Nadu. He commemorates legendary figures like Thiruvalluvar, whose Thirukkural gained global renown, and Kamban, the immortal author of the Kamba Ramayanam, alongside the heart-captivating epic Silappathikaram. The poem stands as a timeless anthem glorifying the heritage, intellect, and heroic legacy of the Tamil people.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

End Rhyme (Iyalbu Isonai)

Senthamizh naadennum pothinilae / Inba thaen vanthu paayuthu kaadhinilae

The line endings rhyme across the stanzas using 'pothinilae', 'kaadhinilae', 'pechchinilae', and 'moochchinilae', creating a rhythmic flow.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Inba thaen vanthu paayuthu kaadhinilae

The joy of hearing the name of Tamil Nadu is metaphorically described as sweet honey flowing directly into the ears.

Personification

Nindru niththam thavanj sei kumari ellai

Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India is personified as a maiden standing continuously in deep spiritual penance at the ocean's edge.

Simile (Uwamai)

Nalla kadhal puriyum arampaiyar pol

The young maidens of Tamil Nadu are explicitly compared to 'arampaiyar' (celestial nymphs or maidens) who excel in expressions of love.

Extended Metaphor

Nenjai allum silappathi kaaramendror / Mani yaaram padaiththa tamilnaadu

The epic Silappathikaram is described as a precious gem-studded necklace ('mani yaaram') crafted by Tamil Nadu to captivate human hearts.

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Trivia

This iconic poem was written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, one of modern Tamil literature's greatest revolutionaries and poets. It was incorporated into the 1982 Tamil feature film 'Ezhavathu Manithan' (The Seventh Man), directed by K. Hariharan. The film's soundtrack was composed by L. Vaidyanathan and featured classical and folk-infused renditions of several of Bharathiyar's poems. The poem remains one of the most popular cultural anthems used across schools and cultural events in Tamil Nadu to celebrate linguistic heritage.

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