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Isaimozhi
Kolanji album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Tamizhanda

From Kolanji · 2019

Lyricist
Naveen Mathav
Singers
Naveen Madhav, Deepak
Music director
Natarajan Sankaran
Movie name
Kolanji
Movie release year
2019
Lyrics added on
15 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru vellakaaran kitta
Nee thamizhla pesuviya daa
Ulagathin mudhal inam naanga
Manidhathin maru peyar naanga
Kal thondri mann thondraa
Andha kaalathil piranthavan naanga
Emmarabil jaathigal illai
Em kulathil vedhangal illai
Samathuvathin pillaigal naanga
Thala mimirndhae nadappomdaa
Thamizhandaa
Pachcha thamizhanda
Thamizhandaa
Pachcha thamizhanda
Aadhikka unarvai
Aruththerivom
Anbukku mattum adi panivom
Thamizhandaa
Pachcha thamizhanda
Pachcha thamizhanda
Tamil theriyadha
English karan kitta thamizhla
Pesa kudathunu therinja unnaku
English theriyadha
Pachcha thamizhan kitta
English la pesa kudathunu
Yen da theriyama pochu
Pirappukum ellaa uyirkkum
Sonnavan thamizhanthaan
Yaadhum oorae yaavarum kaelir
Sonnavan thamizhanthaan
Kalvi selvam kondu
Vazhnthavan thamizhanthaan
Ellai ivanukku illai
Ulagam mattumthaan
Sila yaettu thittanagal
Theettum sattangal
Suttu podiyaakku
Thamizh paattu sathangal
Chittu kuruvigal
Dhesiya mozhiyaakku
Aadhikka unarvai
Aruththerivom
Anbukku mattum adi panivom
Thamizhandaa
Pachcha thamizhanda
Thamizhandaa
Pachcha thamizhanda
Thamizhandaa
Pachcha thamizhanda
Chorus :Thamizhandaa
Pachcha thamizhanda
Thamizhandaa
Pachcha thamizhanda….(12)
Male :Ulagathin mudhal inam naanga
Manidhathin maru peyar naanga
Kal thondri mann thondraa
Andha kaalathil piranthavan naanga
Emmarabil jaathigal illai
Em kulathil vedhangal illai
Samathuvathin pillaigal naanga
Thala mimirndhae nadappomdaa
To a white man,
would you ever speak in Tamil, man?
We are the first race in the world,
we are humanity's other name.
Before stone and soil even appeared,
we were the ones born in that dawn of time.
In our heritage, there are no castes.
In our lineage, there are no Vedas.
We are the children of equality,
we will walk with our heads held high!
I'm a Tamil, man!
A pure Tamil, man!
I'm a Tamil, man!
A pure Tamil, man!
Any urge to dominate,
we will crush and cast aside!
We will bow only to love!
I'm a Tamil, man!
A pure Tamil, man!
A pure Tamil, man!
To an Englishman
who doesn't know Tamil,
you know not to speak in Tamil.
Then to a pure Tamil
who doesn't know English,
that you shouldn't speak in English,
why on earth didn't you realize that, man?
'All living beings are born equal'—
the one who said this was a Tamil!
'Every town is our home, and everyone our kin'—
the one who said this was a Tamil!
Rich with the wealth of wisdom and learning,
the one who lived with pride was a Tamil!
He has no borders,
the whole world is his home!
Paper plans and schemes,
and oppressive laws they draft—
burn them down and smash them to dust!
With the sound of Tamil songs,
even for the little sparrows,
make Tamil their national language!
Any urge to dominate,
we will crush and cast aside!
We will bow only to love!
I'm a Tamil, man!
A pure Tamil, man!
I'm a Tamil, man!
A pure Tamil, man!
I'm a Tamil, man!
A pure Tamil, man!
Chorus: I'm a Tamil, man!
A pure Tamil, man!
I'm a Tamil, man!
A pure Tamil, man!...
Male: We are the first race in the world,
we are humanity's other name.
Before stone and soil even appeared,
we were the ones born in that dawn of time.
In our heritage, there are no castes.
In our lineage, there are no Vedas.
We are the children of equality,
we will walk with our heads held high!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This anthem from 'Kolanji' celebrates Tamil identity, antiquity, and egalitarian philosophy. The lyricist Naveen Mathav invokes the rich heritage of the Tamil language and culture, underscoring that ancient Tamil philosophy rejected caste divisions and prioritized human equality and universal brotherhood. The song challenges modern linguistic hypocrisy, questioning why people adapt to non-Tamil speakers while imposing foreign languages on native Tamils.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole / Traditional Allusion

“Kal thondri mann thondraa”

Refers to the ancient Sangam literary idiom asserting that the Tamil language originated before the formation of rocks and soil.

Literary Allusion (Thirukkural)

“Pirappukum ellaa uyirkkum”

References Thirukkural couplet 972 ('Pirappokkum ella uyirkkum'), which asserts equality of all human beings by birth.

Literary Allusion (Purananuru)

“Yaadhum oorae yaavarum kaelir”

Directly quotes Kaniyan Pungundranar's famous line from Purananuru poem 192 emphasizing universal brotherhood.

Anaaphora / Monai (Initial Rhyme)

“Aadhikka unarvai / Aruththerivom / Anbukku mattum adi panivom”

Repetition of initial vowel sounds 'Aa' across adjacent lines to create rhythmic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song incorporates classic Tamil literary philosophy, quoting Thiruvalluvar's Tirukkural and Kaniyan Pungundranar's Purananuru line 'Yaadhum Oorae Yaavarum Kaelir', which is also displayed at the United Nations Headquarters.

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