Thamizha Thamizha
From Roja · 1992
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Hariharan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Roja1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thamizha thamizha | O Tamilian, O Tamilian! |
| Naalai nam naalae | Tomorrow is our day! |
| Thamizha thamizha | O Tamilian, O Tamilian! |
| Naadum nam naadae | The country is our country! |
| Male | |
| Thamizha thamizha | O Tamilian, O Tamilian! |
| Naalai nam naalae | Tomorrow is our day! |
| Thamizha thamizha | O Tamilian, O Tamilian! |
| Naadum nam naadae | The country is our country! |
| Male | |
| En veedu thaai thamizh nadu | Say with pride, "My home is Tamil Nadu, the motherland" |
| Endrae sollada | ...say it with pride! |
| En naamam indhian endrae | Stand tall always saying, "My identity is Indian" |
| Endrum nillada | ...stand tall forever! |
| Male | |
| Thamizha thamizha | O Tamilian, O Tamilian! |
| Naalai nam naalae | Tomorrow is our day! |
| Thamizha thamizha | O Tamilian, O Tamilian! |
| Naadum nam naadae | The country is our country! |
| Chorus | |
| Niram maaralaam | Colors may change, |
| Gunam ondru thaan | but character remains one and the same. |
| Idam maaralaam nilam ondru thaan | Places may change, but the soil remains one and the same. |
| Mozhi maaralaam porul ondru thaan | Languages may change, but the inner meaning remains one. |
| Kali maaralaam kodi ondru thaan | Eras may change, but the flag remains one. |
| Dhisai maaralaam nilam ondru thaan | Directions may change, but the land remains one. |
| Isai maaralaam mozhi ondru thaan | Music may change, but the underlying essence remains one. |
| Nam india athu ondru thaan vaa.. | Our India is one, come forward! |
| Male | |
| Thamizha thamizha | O Tamilian, O Tamilian! |
| Kangal kalangaathae | Do not let your eyes tear up! |
| Vidiyum vidiyum ullam mayangaathae | Dawn will break, dawn will break, do not let your heart lose hope! |
| Thamizha thamizha | O Tamilian, O Tamilian! |
| Kangal kalangaathae | Do not let your eyes tear up! |
| Vidiyum vidiyum ullam mayangaathae | Dawn will break, dawn will break, do not let your heart lose hope! |
| Male | |
| Unakkullae indhiya ratha | Is there Indian blood flowing within you, |
| Undaa illaiyaa | or is there not? |
| Ondraana bharatham unnai | Will a united India not protect you? |
| Kaakkum illaiyaa | Will it not protect you? |
| Male | |
| Thamizha thamizha | O Tamilian, O Tamilian! |
| Naalai nam naalae | Tomorrow is our day! |
| Thamizha thamizha | O Tamilian, O Tamilian! |
| Naadum nam naadae | The country is our country! |
| Chorus | |
| Nava bharatham pothuvaanathu | Modern India belongs equally to all, |
| Ithu vervaiyaal uruvaanathu | it was built by human sweat. |
| Pala dhegamo yeruvanadhu | Many bodies were sacrificed and burnt, |
| Athanaal ithu uruvaanathu | and because of that, it came into existence. |
| Subha dhandamaai valuvaanathu | It grew strong like a sacred staff. |
| Ada vaanila vilavenbathu | Ah, can there ever be a tear in the sky? |
| Im mannilaa pirivenbathu ezhu vaa.. | Can there be division in this land? Rise and come! |
தமிழா தமிழா
நாளை நம் நாளே
தமிழா தமிழா நாடும்
நம் நாடே
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Tomorrow is our day!
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
The country is our country!
தமிழா தமிழா
நாளை நம் நாளே
தமிழா தமிழா நாடும்
நம் நாடே
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Tomorrow is our day!
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
The country is our country!
என் வீடு தாய்
தமிழ் நாடு என்றே
சொல்லடா என் நாமம்
இந்தியன் என்றே என்றும்
நில்லடா
Say with pride, "My home is Tamil Nadu, the motherland"
...say it with pride!
Stand tall always saying, "My identity is Indian"
...stand tall forever!
தமிழா தமிழா
நாளை நம் நாளே
தமிழா தமிழா நாடும்
நம் நாடே
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Tomorrow is our day!
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
The country is our country!
நிறம் மாறலாம்
குணம் ஒன்று தான்
இடம் மாறலாம் நிலம்
ஒன்று தான் மொழி
மாறலாம் பொருள்
ஒன்று தான் கலி
மாறலாம் கொடி ஒன்று
தான் திசை மாறலாம்
நிலம் ஒன்று தான் இசை
மாறலாம் மொழி ஒன்று
தான் நம் இந்தியா அது
ஒன்று தான் வா
Colors may change,
but character remains one and the same.
Places may change, but the soil remains one and the same.
Languages may change, but the inner meaning remains one.
Eras may change, but the flag remains one.
Directions may change, but the land remains one.
Music may change, but the underlying essence remains one.
Our India is one, come forward!
தமிழா தமிழா
கண்கள் கலங்காதே
விடியும் விடியும் உள்ளம்
மயங்காதே தமிழா தமிழா
கண்கள் கலங்காதே விடியும்
விடியும் உள்ளம் மயங்காதே
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Do not let your eyes tear up!
Dawn will break, dawn will break, do not let your heart lose hope!
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Do not let your eyes tear up!
Dawn will break, dawn will break, do not let your heart lose hope!
உனக்குள்ளே
இந்திய ரத்தம் உண்டா
இல்லையா ஒன்றான
பாரதம் உன்னை காக்கும்
இல்லையா
Is there Indian blood flowing within you,
or is there not?
Will a united India not protect you?
Will it not protect you?
தமிழா தமிழா
நாளை நம் நாளே
தமிழா தமிழா நாடும்
நம் நாடே
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Tomorrow is our day!
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
The country is our country!
நவபாரதம் பொதுவானது
இது வேர்வையால் உருவானது
பல தேகமோ எருவானது அதனால்
இது உருவானது சுப தண்டமாய்
வலுவானது அட வானிலா
விழாவென்பது இம் மண்ணிலா
பிரிவென்பது எழு வா
Modern India belongs equally to all,
it was built by human sweat.
Many bodies were sacrificed and burnt,
and because of that, it came into existence.
It grew strong like a sacred staff.
Ah, can there ever be a tear in the sky?
Can there be division in this land? Rise and come!
Thamizha thamizha
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Naalai nam naalae
Tomorrow is our day!
Thamizha thamizha
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Naadum nam naadae
The country is our country!
Thamizha thamizha
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Naalai nam naalae
Tomorrow is our day!
Thamizha thamizha
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Naadum nam naadae
The country is our country!
En veedu thaai thamizh nadu
Say with pride, "My home is Tamil Nadu, the motherland"
Endrae sollada
...say it with pride!
En naamam indhian endrae
Stand tall always saying, "My identity is Indian"
Endrum nillada
...stand tall forever!
Thamizha thamizha
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Naalai nam naalae
Tomorrow is our day!
Thamizha thamizha
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Naadum nam naadae
The country is our country!
Niram maaralaam
Colors may change,
Gunam ondru thaan
but character remains one and the same.
Idam maaralaam nilam ondru thaan
Places may change, but the soil remains one and the same.
Mozhi maaralaam porul ondru thaan
Languages may change, but the inner meaning remains one.
Kali maaralaam kodi ondru thaan
Eras may change, but the flag remains one.
Dhisai maaralaam nilam ondru thaan
Directions may change, but the land remains one.
Isai maaralaam mozhi ondru thaan
Music may change, but the underlying essence remains one.
Nam india athu ondru thaan vaa..
Our India is one, come forward!
Thamizha thamizha
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Kangal kalangaathae
Do not let your eyes tear up!
Vidiyum vidiyum ullam mayangaathae
Dawn will break, dawn will break, do not let your heart lose hope!
Thamizha thamizha
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Kangal kalangaathae
Do not let your eyes tear up!
Vidiyum vidiyum ullam mayangaathae
Dawn will break, dawn will break, do not let your heart lose hope!
Unakkullae indhiya ratha
Is there Indian blood flowing within you,
Undaa illaiyaa
or is there not?
Ondraana bharatham unnai
Will a united India not protect you?
Kaakkum illaiyaa
Will it not protect you?
Thamizha thamizha
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Naalai nam naalae
Tomorrow is our day!
Thamizha thamizha
O Tamilian, O Tamilian!
Naadum nam naadae
The country is our country!
Nava bharatham pothuvaanathu
Modern India belongs equally to all,
Ithu vervaiyaal uruvaanathu
it was built by human sweat.
Pala dhegamo yeruvanadhu
Many bodies were sacrificed and burnt,
Athanaal ithu uruvaanathu
and because of that, it came into existence.
Subha dhandamaai valuvaanathu
It grew strong like a sacred staff.
Ada vaanila vilavenbathu
Ah, can there ever be a tear in the sky?
Im mannilaa pirivenbathu ezhu vaa..
Can there be division in this land? Rise and come!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Thamizha Thamizha' is a stirring patriotic anthem from the 1992 film Roja, composed by A. R. Rahman, written by Vairamuthu, and sung by Hariharan. The song serves as a powerful call for national integration, urging Tamilians to feel equal pride in both their regional identity and their Indian nationality. It reassures a grieving nation that unity and brotherhood will overcome conflict. Through vivid poetry, the lyrics emphasize that despite diversity in languages, regions, and cultures, the core identity of the nation remains unified. Vairamuthu uses metaphors of sweat, sacrifice, and indivisible nature to remind citizens that India was forged through collective struggles, making its unity unbreakable.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Etukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Niram maaralaam / Gunam ondru thaan”
Standard Tamil poetic harmony where the second consonant matches across adjacent lines, such as 'Niram' and 'Gunam', or 'Mozhi' and 'Kali'.
Anaphora / Repetition (Eduppu)
“Thamizha thamizha”
Repetition of words like 'Thamizha thamizha' and 'Vidiyum vidiyum' to build emotional fervor and rhythmic rhythm.
Rhetorical Question
“Unakkullae indhiya ratha undaa illaiyaa”
Asking 'Unakkullae indhiya ratha undaa illaiyaa' to provoke deep patriotism and emotional connection.
Metaphor
“Ada vaanila vilavenbathu”
Comparing the country's unity to the sky ('vaanila vilavenbathu'), illustrating that splitting the nation is as impossible as splitting the sky.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Thamizha Thamizha' marked singer Hariharan's breakthrough entry into Tamil cinema under A. R. Rahman's landmark debut album Roja (1992). The song was composed specifically to serve as a unifying national anthem within the film's narrative context surrounding Kashmiri insurgency.
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