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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Theepantham Yenthungada Ondru

From Kungumam Kathai Solgirathu · 1978

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
M. S. Vishwanathan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Kungumam Kathai Solgirathu
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
27 Nov 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Theeppantham yaethungudaa
Ondru searthingu vaarungadaa
Theeppantham yaethungudaa
Ondru searthingu vaarungadaa
Thaaimaikku pangam endraal
Ulagai thanal kondu vaattungadaa
Thaaimaikku pangam endraal
Ulagai thanal kondu vaattungadaa
Thanal kondu vaattungadaa
Theeppantham yaethungudaa
Ondru searthingu vaarungadaa
Naadu petra sudhanthiramo
Nattanadu nisiyiniyile
Naadu pettra sudhanthiramo
Nattanadu nisiyiniyile
Vaazhvu thantha thaaikulamo
Vaaduthingae pasiyinilae
Vaazhvu thantha thaaikulamo
Vaaduthingae pasiyinilae
Paazhukazhum kuzhanthaiyondru
Vanjiyaval madiyinile
Paazhukazhum kuzhanthaiyondru
Vanjiyaval madiyinile
Paavi makkal vilai kodupaar
Dharmam endra peyarinile
Paavi makkal vilai kodupaar
Dharmam endra peyarinile
Theeppantham yaethungudaa
Ondru searthingu vaarungadaa
Thaaimaikku pangam endral
Ulagai thanal kondu vaattungadaa
Thanal kondu vaattungadaa
Nedhiyenna dharumamenna
Evanukku puriyuthadaa
Nedhiyenna dharumamenna
Evanukku puriyuthadaa
Maanamenna roshamenna
Maranthingu thiriyuthadaa
Maanamenna roshamenna
Maranthingu thiriyuthadaa
Kattumillai kaavalillai
Solvatharkkum vetkamadaa
Kattumillai kaavalillai
Solvatharkkum vetkamadaa
Kasukendru pennai thottaal
Kayirendai vettungadaa
Kasukendru pennai thottaal
Kayirendai vettungadaa
Theeppantham yaethungudaa
Ondru searthingu vaarungadaa
Thaaimaikku pangam endral
Ulagai thanal kondu vaattungadaa
Thanal kondu vaattungadaa
Santhaikku vanthathadaa
Ungal maanam ingu kadai sarakku
Santhaikku vanthathadaa
Ungal maanam ingu kadai sarakku
Oru sallikku virukuthadaa
Nalla thaaimaiyenum kulavilakku
Oru sallikku virukuthadaa
Nalla thaaimaiyenum kulavilakku
Pennenna vilai porulaa
Unga pechu mattum thirukuralaa
Pennenna vilai porulaa
Unga pechu mattum thirukuralaa
Nenjukku needhiyellaam
Intha neesarukku kavasangalaa…
Nenjukku needhiyellaam
Intha neesarukku kavasangalaa…
Theeppantham yaethungudaa
Ondru searthingu vaarungadaa
Thaaimaikku pangam endral
Ulagai thanal kondu vaattungadaa
Thanal kondu vaattungadaa
Hold up the flaming torches!
Unite and come together here!
Hold up the flaming torches!
Unite and come together here!
If motherhood is insulted,
Scorch this world with burning coals!
If motherhood is insulted,
Scorch this world with burning coals!
Scorch it with burning coals!
Hold up the flaming torches!
Unite and come together here!
The freedom this country gained
Happened in the dead of night,
The freedom this country gained
Happened in the dead of night,
Yet the mothers who gave us life
Are wasting away in hunger here.
Yet the mothers who gave us life
Are wasting away in hunger here.
A child cries for milk
In that woman's lap,
A child cries for milk
In that woman's lap,
And wicked men try to buy her
In the name of charity!
And wicked men try to buy her
In the name of charity!
Hold up the flaming torches!
Unite and come together here!
If motherhood is insulted,
Scorch this world with burning coals!
Scorch it with burning coals!
What is justice, what is righteousness?
Who even understands them anymore?
What is justice, what is righteousness?
Who even understands them anymore?
What is honor, what is self-respect?
People wander around forgetting them both!
What is honor, what is self-respect?
People wander around forgetting them both!
There is no restraint and no protection,
It is shameful even to speak of it!
There is no restraint and no protection,
It is shameful even to speak of it!
If anyone touches a woman using money,
Chop off both his hands!
If anyone touches a woman using money,
Chop off both his hands!
Hold up the flaming torches!
Unite and come together here!
If motherhood is insulted,
Scorch this world with burning coals!
Scorch it with burning coals!
It has ended up in the market—
Your honor is just a shop item here!
It has ended up in the market—
Your honor is just a shop item here!
Selling for a worthless coin
Is the noble guiding light of motherhood!
Selling for a worthless coin
Is the noble guiding light of motherhood!
Is a woman an item for sale,
While your talk pretends to preach Thirukkural (ancient Tamil moral text)?
Is a woman an item for sale,
While your talk pretends to preach Thirukkural (ancient Tamil moral text)?
Are appeals to conscience and justice
Just protective shields for these vile men?
Are appeals to conscience and justice
Just protective shields for these vile men?
Hold up the flaming torches!
Unite and come together here!
If motherhood is insulted,
Scorch this world with burning coals!
Scorch it with burning coals!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Theeppantham yaethungudaa' is a fiery social protest anthem delivered with raw emotion. It serves as a clarion call to the public to unite and light torches against societal evils, hypocrisies, and the oppression of women and mothers who are driven into dire poverty. The lyricist sharply criticizes the false morality of the elite who preach justice while exploiting the vulnerable.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Ungal maanam ingu kadai sarakku

Compares motherhood to a sacred family lamp ('thaaimaiyenum kulavilakku') and societal honor to market merchandise ('kadai sarakku').

Rhetorical Question (வினா அணி)

Pennenna vilai porulaa / Unga pechu mattum thirukuralaa

Uses sharp questioning to challenge societal hypocrisy and false righteousness.

Ethukai (எதுகை - Second letter rhyming)

Nedhiyenna dharumamenna / Maanamenna roshamenna

Rhyming of the second consonant across lines such as 'Nedhi' and 'Maanam', or 'Kattu' and 'Kasu'.

Monaai (மோனை - Initial sound alliteration)

Naadu petra sudhanthiramo / Nattanadu nisiyiniyile

Matching initial sounds in words like 'Naadu' and 'Nattanadu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

This powerful song was composed and sung by M. S. Viswanathan himself. His high-octane, passionate vocal style was uniquely suited for philosophical and social protest tracks in Tamil cinema during this era. The hard-hitting lyrics were written by the acclaimed poet Pulamaipithan, known for his deep mastery of classical Tamil poetic forms and sharp political commentary.

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