Thamizh Engal Uyiranathu
From Poompuhar · 1964
- Lyricist
- Mayavanathan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Details
- Poompuhar1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thathi thakanaka jam | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Tharikidathaka thaa thakadhim | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Thathi thakanaka jam | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Tharikidathaka thaa thakadhim | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Thathi thakanaka jam jam thoku tharikidathaka | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Thathi thakanaka jam jam thiku tharikidathaka | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Thathi thakanaka jam thakadhit thakanaka jam | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Dit thakanaka jam thakadhit thakanaka jam | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Thadhari thadhana thajonu thadhimi | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Thathi thaa thakadhiku thakadhikuthaka thaa | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Thathi thaa thakadhiku thakadhikuthaka thaa | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Thathi thaa thakadhiku thakadhikuthaka thaa | Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance |
| Female | |
| Thamizh engal uyiraanadhu… | Tamil has become our very life... |
| Thamizh engal uyiraanadhu | Tamil has become our very life |
| Indha thamizh engal uyiraanadhu | This Tamil language has become our very life |
| Kaala chuzhalaalum kanalaalum | Neither by the whirlwind of time nor by fire |
| Azhiyaadhu nilaiyaana | Imperishable and eternal, |
| Thamizh engal uyiraanadhu… | Tamil has become our very life... |
| Female | |
| Padipporkku paal pondradhu… | To those who read it, it is like sweet milk... |
| Padipporkku paal pondradhu | To those who read it, it is like sweet milk |
| Thannai pagaipporkku vael pondradhu | To those who oppose it, it is like a sharp spear |
| Female | |
| Padipporkku paal pondradhu… | To those who read it, it is like sweet milk... |
| Thannai pagaipporkku vael pondradhu | To those who oppose it, it is like a sharp spear |
| Engal thaaiyagathil thanmaana | In our self-respecting motherland, |
| Kalai thaeril sathiraadum | Dancing atop the chariot of arts, |
| Thamizh engal uyiraanadhu… | Tamil has become our very life... |
| Female | |
| {Senthamizhum pen kuralum | Let refined Tamil and a woman's voice |
| Ondraagattum | Become unified as one |
| Dheva mangaiyarum ingu vandhu | May celestial maidens descend here |
| Nindraadattum} (2) | And perform dance in unison |
| Female | |
| {Thandai ittu vandha adi | May the feet wearing anklets step gracefully |
| Sendaagattum | Like a fresh bouquet of flowers |
| Naadham thandhi thotta veenai | May music as resonant as a plucked string on a Veena |
| Yena undaagattum} (2) | Be created right here |
| Female | |
| {Sindhugindra punmuruval | May the subtle smile spilling forth |
| Muthaagattum | Be as precious as gleaming pearls |
| Thaen pongugindra kannam | May cheeks overflowing with sweetness like honey |
| Poongothaagattum} (2) | Be like a cluster of beautiful flowers |
| Female | |
| {Andhi veyil pattu udal | May the body touched by the evening sunlight |
| Ponnaagattum | Turn into radiant gold |
| Kandu aadavar ullam salladai | May the hearts of men who behold this become a sieve |
| Kannaagattum} (2) | With countless eyes to admire |
| Kandu aadavar ullam salladai kannaagattum | May the hearts of men who behold this become a sieve full of eyes |
| Kandu aadavar ullam salladai kannaagattum | May the hearts of men who behold this become a sieve full of eyes |
தத்தித் தகனக ஜம் தரிகிடதக தா தகதிம்
தத்தித் தகனக ஜம் தரிகிடதக தா தகதிம்
தத்தித் தகனக ஜம் ஜம் தொகு தரிகிடதக
தகதித் தகனக ஜம் ஜம் திகு தரிகிடதக
தத்தித் தகனக ஜம் தகதித் தகனக ஜம்
தீத் தகனக ஜம் தகதித் தகனக ஜம்
ததரி ததண தஜொணு ததிமி
தத்தித் தா தகதிகு தகதிகுதக தா
தத்தித் தா தகதிகு தகதிகுதக தா
தத்தித் தா தகதிகு தகதிகுதக தா
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
தமிழ் எங்கள் உயிரானது...
தமிழ் எங்கள் உயிரானது
இந்தத் தமிழ் எங்கள் உயிரானது
காலச் சுழலாலும் கனலாலும்
அழியாது நிலையான
தமிழ் எங்கள் உயிரானது...
Tamil has become our very life...
Tamil has become our very life
This Tamil language has become our very life
Neither by the whirlwind of time nor by fire
Imperishable and eternal,
Tamil has become our very life...
படிப்போர்க்கு பால் போன்றது...
படிப்போர்க்கு பால் போன்றது
தன்னை பகைப்போர்க்கு வேல் போன்றது
To those who read it, it is like sweet milk...
To those who read it, it is like sweet milk
To those who oppose it, it is like a sharp spear
படிப்போர்க்கு பால் போன்றது
தன்னை பகைப்போர்க்கு வேல் போன்றது
எங்கள் தாயகத்து தன்மான
கலைத் தேரில் சதிராடும்
தமிழ் எங்கள் உயிரானது...
To those who read it, it is like sweet milk...
To those who oppose it, it is like a sharp spear
In our self-respecting motherland,
Dancing atop the chariot of arts,
Tamil has become our very life...
{செந்தமிழும் பெண் குரலும்
ஒன்றாகட்டும்
தேவ மங்கையரும் இங்கு வந்து
நின்றாடட்டும்} (2)
Let refined Tamil and a woman's voice
Become unified as one
May celestial maidens descend here
And perform dance in unison
{தண்டை இட்டு வந்த அடி
செண்டாகட்டும்
நாதம் தந்தி தொட்ட வீணை என
உண்டாகட்டும்} (2)
நாதம் தந்தி தொட்ட வீணை என உண்டாகட்டும்
May the feet wearing anklets step gracefully
Like a fresh bouquet of flowers
May music as resonant as a plucked string on a Veena
Be created right here
{சிந்துகின்ற புன்முறுவல்
முத்தாகட்டும்
தேன் பொங்குகின்ற கன்னம்
பூங்கொத்தாகட்டும்} (2)
May the subtle smile spilling forth
Be as precious as gleaming pearls
May cheeks overflowing with sweetness like honey
Be like a cluster of beautiful flowers
{அந்தி வெயில் பட்டு உடல்
பொன்னாகட்டும்
கண்டு ஆடவர் உள்ளம் சல்லடைக்
கண்ணாகட்டும்} (2)
கண்டு ஆடவர் உள்ளம் சல்லடைக் கண்ணாகட்டும்
கண்டு ஆடவர் உள்ளம் சல்லடைக் கண்ணாகட்டும்
May the body touched by the evening sunlight
Turn into radiant gold
May the hearts of men who behold this become a sieve
With countless eyes to admire
May the hearts of men who behold this become a sieve full of eyes
May the hearts of men who behold this become a sieve full of eyes
Thathi thakanaka jam
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Tharikidathaka thaa thakadhim
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Thathi thakanaka jam
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Tharikidathaka thaa thakadhim
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Thathi thakanaka jam jam thoku tharikidathaka
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Thathi thakanaka jam jam thiku tharikidathaka
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Thathi thakanaka jam thakadhit thakanaka jam
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Dit thakanaka jam thakadhit thakanaka jam
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Thadhari thadhana thajonu thadhimi
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Thathi thaa thakadhiku thakadhikuthaka thaa
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Thathi thaa thakadhiku thakadhikuthaka thaa
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Thathi thaa thakadhiku thakadhikuthaka thaa
Rhythmic vocal syllables of classical dance
Thamizh engal uyiraanadhu…
Tamil has become our very life...
Thamizh engal uyiraanadhu
Tamil has become our very life
Indha thamizh engal uyiraanadhu
This Tamil language has become our very life
Kaala chuzhalaalum kanalaalum
Neither by the whirlwind of time nor by fire
Azhiyaadhu nilaiyaana
Imperishable and eternal,
Thamizh engal uyiraanadhu…
Tamil has become our very life...
Padipporkku paal pondradhu…
To those who read it, it is like sweet milk...
Padipporkku paal pondradhu
To those who read it, it is like sweet milk
Thannai pagaipporkku vael pondradhu
To those who oppose it, it is like a sharp spear
Padipporkku paal pondradhu…
To those who read it, it is like sweet milk...
Thannai pagaipporkku vael pondradhu
To those who oppose it, it is like a sharp spear
Engal thaaiyagathil thanmaana
In our self-respecting motherland,
Kalai thaeril sathiraadum
Dancing atop the chariot of arts,
Thamizh engal uyiraanadhu…
Tamil has become our very life...
{Senthamizhum pen kuralum
Let refined Tamil and a woman's voice
Ondraagattum
Become unified as one
Dheva mangaiyarum ingu vandhu
May celestial maidens descend here
Nindraadattum} (2)
And perform dance in unison
{Thandai ittu vandha adi
May the feet wearing anklets step gracefully
Sendaagattum
Like a fresh bouquet of flowers
Naadham thandhi thotta veenai
May music as resonant as a plucked string on a Veena
Yena undaagattum} (2)
Be created right here
{Sindhugindra punmuruval
May the subtle smile spilling forth
Muthaagattum
Be as precious as gleaming pearls
Thaen pongugindra kannam
May cheeks overflowing with sweetness like honey
Poongothaagattum} (2)
Be like a cluster of beautiful flowers
{Andhi veyil pattu udal
May the body touched by the evening sunlight
Ponnaagattum
Turn into radiant gold
Kandu aadavar ullam salladai
May the hearts of men who behold this become a sieve
Kannaagattum} (2)
With countless eyes to admire
Kandu aadavar ullam salladai kannaagattum
May the hearts of men who behold this become a sieve full of eyes
Kandu aadavar ullam salladai kannaagattum
May the hearts of men who behold this become a sieve full of eyes
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thamizh Engal Uyiraanadhu is a classical dance song from the 1964 epic movie Poompuhar, written by lyricist Mayavanathan. The song glorifies the Tamil language as the vital life force of Tamil people, exalting its everlasting nature that withstands time and fire. It draws striking imagery, characterizing Tamil as sweet milk to its lovers and a sharp spear to its adversaries.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Padipporkku paal pondradhu / Thannai pagaipporkku vael pondradhu”
Compares reading Tamil to nourishing milk (paal pondradhu) and opposing Tamil to a sharp spear (vael pondradhu).
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kalai thaeril sathiraadum Thamizh engal uyiraanadhu”
Metaphorically portrays Tamil as a living entity dancing gracefully upon the chariot of fine arts.
Initial Rhyme (Monai)
“Padipporkku paal pondradhu”
Repetition of initial consonants 'Pa' creating rhythmic harmony in Tamil poetry.
Hyperbole (Ushaiyokthi / Audharya)
“Kandu aadavar ullam salladai kannaagattum”
Exaggerates the onlookers' mesmerized state, suggesting their hearts turn into sieves made of eyes.
Did you know?
Trivia
Poompuhar (1964) is a cinematic adaptation of the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram, written by Ilango Adigal. The film's powerful dialogues were penned by M. Karunanidhi, and this dance sequence reflects the classic Sangam era aesthetic.
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