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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Tamizhanda

From Kolanji · 2019

Lyricist
Naveen Mathav
Singers
Naveen Madhav, Deepak
Music director
Natarajan Sankaran
Details
Kolanji2019

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru vellakaaran kittaTo a white man
Nee thamizhla pesuviya daaWould you speak in Tamil?
Male
Ulagathin mudhal inam naangaWe are the world's first race
Manidhathin maru peyar naangaWe are another name for humanity
Kal thondri mann thondraaBefore rocks and soil were formed
Andha kaalathil piranthavan naangaWe are those born in that ancient time
Male
Emmarabil jaathigal illaiThere are no castes in our tradition
Em kulathil vedhangal illaiThere are no Vedas in our clan
Samathuvathin pillaigal naangaWe are the children of equality
Thala mimirndhae nadappomdaaWe will walk with our heads held high
Male
ThamizhandaaA Tamilian!
Pachcha thamizhandaA pure Tamilian!
ThamizhandaaA Tamilian!
Pachcha thamizhandaA pure Tamilian!
Chorus
Aadhikka unarvaiDomination feelings
AruththerivomWe will sever them
Anbukku mattum adi panivomWe bow down only to love
Male
ThamizhandaaA Tamilian!
Pachcha thamizhandaA pure Tamilian!
Male
Pachcha thamizhandaA pure Tamilian!
Male
Tamil theriyadhaTo someone who doesn't know Tamil
English karan kitta thamizhlaTo an Englishman, in Tamil
Pesa kudathunu therinja unnakuYou knew you shouldn't speak
English theriyadhaTo someone who doesn't know English
Pachcha thamizhan kittaTo a pure Tamilian
English la pesa kudathunuThat you shouldn't speak in English
Yen da theriyama pochuWhy didn't you realize that?
Chorus
Pirappukum ellaa uyirkkumAll living beings are equal by birth
Sonnavan thamizhanthaanIt was a Tamilian who said that
Yaadhum oorae yaavarum kaelirEvery city is my native place, everyone is my kin
Sonnavan thamizhanthaanIt was a Tamilian who said that
Chorus
Kalvi selvam konduPossessing education and wealth
Vazhnthavan thamizhanthaanIt was a Tamilian who lived prosperously
Ellai ivanukku illaiThere are no boundaries for him
Ulagam mattumthaanOnly the entire world
Chorus
Sila yaettu thittanagalSome written plans
Theettum sattangalLaws that are framed
Suttu podiyaakkuBurn them into dust
Thamizh paattu sathangalSounds of Tamil songs
Chittu kuruvigalLike house sparrows
Dhesiya mozhiyaakkuMake them the national language
Chorus
Aadhikka unarvaiDomination feelings
AruththerivomWe will sever them
Anbukku mattum adi panivomWe bow down only to love
Male
ThamizhandaaA Tamilian!
Pachcha thamizhandaA pure Tamilian!
ThamizhandaaA Tamilian!
Pachcha thamizhandaA pure Tamilian!
Male
ThamizhandaaA Tamilian!
Pachcha thamizhandaA pure Tamilian!
Chorus :ThamizhandaaChorus: A Tamilian!
Pachcha thamizhandaA pure Tamilian!
Chorus
ThamizhandaaA Tamilian!
Pachcha thamizhanda….(12)Pure Tamilian...(12)
Male :Ulagathin mudhal inam naangaMale: We are the world's first race
Manidhathin maru peyar naangaWe are another name for humanity
Kal thondri mann thondraaBefore rocks and soil were formed
Andha kaalathil piranthavan naangaWe are those born in that ancient time
Male
Emmarabil jaathigal illaiThere are no castes in our tradition
Em kulathil vedhangal illaiThere are no Vedas in our clan
Samathuvathin pillaigal naangaWe are the children of equality
Thala mimirndhae nadappomdaaWe will walk with our heads held high

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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