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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Senthamizha Ezhundhu Vaaraayo

From Madurai Veeran · 1956

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
M. L. Vasanthakumari
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Madurai Veeran1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Senthamizhaa ezhundhu vaaraaiyoOh person of pure Tamil, won't you arise and come?
Senthamizhaa ezhundhu vaaraaiyoOh person of pure Tamil, won't you arise and come?
Un singaara thaaimozhiyaiLook at your beautiful mother tongue
Un singaara thaaimozhiyai paaraaiyoWon't you look at your beautiful mother tongue?
Female
Senthamizhaa ezhundhu vaaraaiyoOh person of pure Tamil, won't you arise and come?
Un singaara thaaimozhiyai paaraaiyoWon't you look at your beautiful mother tongue?
Senthamizhaa ezhundhu vaaraaiyoOh person of pure Tamil, won't you arise and come?
Female
Sindhai ellaam inikkum thaenaagumIt becomes sweet honey filling all our thoughts
Aa….aaa….aaa….aaa…..aaa….aaa…Aah... aah... aah... aah... aah... aah...
Aaa….aaa….aaa….aa….Aah... aah... aah... aah...
Sindhai ellaam inikkum thaenaagumIt becomes sweet honey filling all our thoughts
Selvamidhae amudhae thamizhae namadhuThis is our wealth, our nectar, our Tamil language
Sindhai ellaam inikkum thaenaagumIt becomes sweet honey filling all our thoughts
Female
Androru naal arasar moovar madiyilaeOnce upon a time, on the laps of the three great kings
Androru naal arasar moovar madiyilaeOnce upon a time, on the laps of the three great kings
Nindru thavazhndhu maghizhndha mozhiyidhaeThis is the language that stood, crawled, and rejoiced
Kadamaiyodu uyirena kaaraaiyoWon't you protect it dutifully as if it were your life?
Senthamizhaa ezhundhu vaaraaiyoOh person of pure Tamil, won't you arise and come?
Female
Anbu neriyilae arasaala indhaTo rule through the righteous path of love, in this
Agilam ellaam thamizar uravaadaEntire world for Tamils to unite in kinship
Anbu neriyilae arasaala indhaTo rule through the righteous path of love, in this
Agilamellaam thamizar uravaadaEntire world for Tamils to unite in kinship
Thunbangal yaavum parandhodaSo that all sorrows fly away and vanish
Thunbangal yaavum parandhodaSo that all sorrows fly away and vanish
Thooya manangkondu kavi paadaTo sing poetry with a pure heart
Thooya manangkondu kavi paadaTo sing poetry with a pure heart
Female
Pasa sanidhapa nidhapama gapadhasa nidha[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Sanidhapama gamapaa[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Maga padhasa nidhapa nidhapamagari[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Papa garisanidhapaga saa[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Padhasa nidhapamagari maga[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Magapa magari sanidhapa saa[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Magari sarigaa pamaga rigamaa[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Dhapama gamapaa nidhapa mapadhaa[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Pasagasariga gamagarisani[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Risaa nidhapadaa mapadha sanidhaa[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Garisanidha risanidhapa sanidhapama[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Padhapama riga dhapamaga riga padha padhanidha[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Risanidhapadha risanidhapa sanidhapama nidhapamaga[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Pasapama gaarisa maga padhasani[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Risaanidhapadha sanidhapamaga[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Gamanidhapa mapasanidha padhasagari[Classical musical swaras / Solfa notes]
Female
Senthamizhaa ezhundhu vaaraaiyoOh person of pure Tamil, won't you arise and come?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Senthamizhaa ezhundhu vaaraaiyo is a majestic ode celebrating the richness, history, and beauty of the Tamil language. The song calls upon Tamil speakers to wake up to the glorious heritage of their mother tongue, praising Tamil as sweet honey that enriches mind and soul, and describing it as an immortal nectar and priceless treasure.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagandhal)

Selvamidhae amudhae thamizhae namadhu

Tamil is directly compared to sweet honey (thaen), divine nectar (amudhu), and invaluable wealth (selvam).

Personification

Androru naal arasar moovar madiyilae Nindru thavazhndhu maghizhndha mozhiyidhae

The Tamil language is personified as a child that stood, crawled, and played on the laps of the ancient Three Tamil Kings (Chera, Chola, and Pandya).

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thunbangal yaavum parandhoda / Thooya manangkondu kavi paada

Repetition of the initial letter sounds across lines for musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. Ramanathan for the 1956 classic film Madurai Veeran starring M. G. Ramachandran, this song showcases poet Kannadasan's mastery of Thamizh Phatos and literary devotion. The music features elaborate Carnatic classical swara solfas.

Keep listening

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