Senthamizhe Vanakkam
From Nadodi Mannan · 1958
- Lyricist
- N. M. Muthukkoothan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Nadodi Mannan1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Senthamizhae vanakkam | Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil! |
| Aadhi thiravidar vaazhvinai | The life of the ancient Dravidians, |
| Seerodu vilakkum | You illuminate with excellence. |
| Senthamizhae vanakkam | Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil! |
| Aadhi thiravidar vaazhvinai | The life of the ancient Dravidians, |
| Seerodu vilakkum | You illuminate with excellence. |
| Senthamizhae vanakkam | Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil! |
| Male | |
| Ainthu ilakkanangal aainthae… | Analyzing the five branches of grammar... |
| Yeh..yeh..yeh..yeh…yeh… | Yeh..yeh..yeh..yeh...yeh... |
| Ainthu ilakkanangal aainthae | Analyzing the five branches of grammar, |
| Ulaga aranginukkae mudhan mudhal | To the global stage for the very first time |
| Nee thanthaalum | Even if you presented it, |
| Aranginukkae mudhan mudhal | To the stage for the very first time |
| Nee thanthaalum | Even if you presented it, |
| Senthamizhae vanakkam | Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil! |
| Male | |
| {Makkalin ullamae koyil | {The hearts of the people are temples |
| Endra maasatra kolgaiyil | By this flawless principle |
| Vaalnthathanaalae} (2) | Because of living accordingly} (2) |
| Male | |
| Petra annai thanthai andri.. | Except for birth parents.. |
| Petra annai thanthai andri melaai | Higher than the birth parents |
| Pirithoru deivam illai enbathaalae | Because you declared there is no other divine power, |
| Senthamizhae vanakkam | Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil! |
| Male | |
| Jaathi samayangal illa… | Without castes or religions... |
| Aaa…aaahh…aahhh… | Aaa...aaahh...aahhh... |
| Jaathi samayangal illa nalla | Without castes or religions, with a good |
| Satta amaippinai kondae | Constitutional structure, |
| Male | |
| Needhi neri vazhi kandaai | You forged the path of justice and virtue! |
| Needhi neri vazhi kandaai engal | You forged the path of justice and virtue, and |
| Nenjilum vaazhvilum ondraagi nindraai | Became one with our hearts and lives! |
| Senthamizhae vanakkam… | Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil... |
செந்தமிழே வணக்கம்
ஆதி திராவிடர் வாழ்வினை
சீரோடு விளக்கும்
செந்தமிழே வணக்கம்
ஆதி திராவிடர் வாழ்வினை
சீரோடு விளக்கும்
செந்தமிழே வணக்கம்
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil!
The life of the ancient Dravidians,
You illuminate with excellence.
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil!
The life of the ancient Dravidians,
You illuminate with excellence.
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil!
ஐந்து இலக்கணங்கள்
ஆய்ந்தே....
ஏ... ஏ... ஏ... ஏ... ஏ...
ஐந்து இலக்கணங்கள் ஆய்ந்தே
உலக அரங்கினுக்கே முதன் முதல்
நீ தந்ததாலும்
அரங்கினுக்கே முதன் முதல்
நீ தந்ததாலும்
செந்தமிழே வணக்கம்
Analyzing the five branches of grammar...
Yeh..yeh..yeh..yeh...yeh...
Analyzing the five branches of grammar,
To the global stage for the very first time
Even if you presented it,
To the stage for the very first time
Even if you presented it,
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil!
{மக்களின் உள்ளமே கோயில்
என்ற மாசற்ற கொள்கையில்
வாழ்ந்ததனாலே} (2)
{The hearts of the people are temples
By this flawless principle
Because of living accordingly} (2)
பெற்ற அன்னை தந்தை அன்றி...
பெற்ற அன்னை தந்தை
அன்றி மேலாய்
பிறிதொரு தெய்வம்
இல்லை என்பதாலே
செந்தமிழே வணக்கம்
Except for birth parents..
Higher than the birth parents
Because you declared there is no other divine power,
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil!
ஜாதி சமயங்கள் இல்லா...
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
ஜாதி சமயங்கள் இல்லா நல்ல
சட்ட அமைப்பினை கொண்டே
Without castes or religions...
Aaa...aaahh...aahhh...
Without castes or religions, with a good
Constitutional structure,
நீதி நெறி வழி கண்டாய்
நீதி நெறி வழி கண்டாய் எங்கள்
நெஞ்சிலும் வாழ்விலும்
ஒன்றாகி நின்றாய்
செந்தமிழே வணக்கம்...
You forged the path of justice and virtue!
You forged the path of justice and virtue, and
Became one with our hearts and lives!
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil...
Senthamizhae vanakkam
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil!
Aadhi thiravidar vaazhvinai
The life of the ancient Dravidians,
Seerodu vilakkum
You illuminate with excellence.
Senthamizhae vanakkam
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil!
Aadhi thiravidar vaazhvinai
The life of the ancient Dravidians,
Seerodu vilakkum
You illuminate with excellence.
Senthamizhae vanakkam
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil!
Ainthu ilakkanangal aainthae…
Analyzing the five branches of grammar...
Yeh..yeh..yeh..yeh…yeh…
Yeh..yeh..yeh..yeh...yeh...
Ainthu ilakkanangal aainthae
Analyzing the five branches of grammar,
Ulaga aranginukkae mudhan mudhal
To the global stage for the very first time
Nee thanthaalum
Even if you presented it,
Aranginukkae mudhan mudhal
To the stage for the very first time
Nee thanthaalum
Even if you presented it,
Senthamizhae vanakkam
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil!
{Makkalin ullamae koyil
{The hearts of the people are temples
Endra maasatra kolgaiyil
By this flawless principle
Vaalnthathanaalae} (2)
Because of living accordingly} (2)
Petra annai thanthai andri..
Except for birth parents..
Petra annai thanthai andri melaai
Higher than the birth parents
Pirithoru deivam illai enbathaalae
Because you declared there is no other divine power,
Senthamizhae vanakkam
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil!
Jaathi samayangal illa…
Without castes or religions...
Aaa…aaahh…aahhh…
Aaa...aaahh...aahhh...
Jaathi samayangal illa nalla
Without castes or religions, with a good
Satta amaippinai kondae
Constitutional structure,
Needhi neri vazhi kandaai
You forged the path of justice and virtue!
Needhi neri vazhi kandaai engal
You forged the path of justice and virtue, and
Nenjilum vaazhvilum ondraagi nindraai
Became one with our hearts and lives!
Senthamizhae vanakkam…
Greetings to you, O Pure Tamil...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a glowing tribute to the Tamil language (Senthamizh) and the ancient Dravidian ethos. It praises Tamil for its rich grammatical foundation consisting of the five classic branches (Ezhuthu, Sol, Porul, Yaappu, Ani) which paved the way for world literature and culture. The lyrics glorify the rationalist and humanist principles embedded in Tamil culture, such as viewing people's hearts as sacred temples, revering parents as the highest deity, and rejecting caste and religious discrimination in favor of equal law, justice, and righteousness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition
“Senthamizhae vanakkam”
The refrain 'Senthamizhae vanakkam' is repeated across stanzas to reinforce reverence for the language.
Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Needhi neri vazhi kandaai”
Rhyming of the second letter 'dhi' in 'Aadhi' and 'Needhi' or 't' in 'Petra' / 'Satta'.
Personification
“Nenjilum vaazhvilum ondraagi nindraai”
The Tamil language is personified as a revered guide, lawgiver, and living presence dwelling in human hearts.
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Trivia
Nadodi Mannan (1958) was a landmark film written, produced, directed by, and starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The lyricist N. M. Muthukkoothan infused strong Dravidian political ideology into the song, emphasizing rationalism, anti-caste sentiment, and linguistic pride.
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