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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thendralodu Udan

From Rajaraja Chozhan · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. R. Mahalingam, Sivaji Ganesan
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan
Movie name
Rajaraja Chozhan
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
18 Mar 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………..
Thendralodu udan piranthaal
Senthamizh pennaal
Thenmathurai kovililae
Sangam valarththaal
Thanjaiyilae kudi pugunthu
Mangalam thanthaal
Tharaniyellaam pugazh parappum
Thaayena vanthaal
Tamizh thaayena vanthaal
Thendralodu udan piranthaal
Senthamizh pennaal
Thenmathurai kovililae
Sangam valarththaal
Thendralodu udan piranthaal
Senthamizh pennaal
Thenmathurai kovililae
Sangam valarththaal
Thanjaiyilae kudi pugunthu
Mangalam thanthaal
Thanjaiyilae kudi pugunthu
Mangalam thanthaal
Tharaniyellaam pugazh parappum
Thaayena vanthaal
Tharaniyellaam pugazh parappum
Thaayena vanthaal
Tamizh thaayena vanthaal
Manimudiyil tholkaappiyam veettrirukkum
Thiruvadiyil silamposai paattisaikkum
Animuththu maalai ettiu thogaiyaagum
Avan aatchi seiyum sengolae
Kuralaagum thirukuralaagum
Manimudiyil tholkaappiyam veettrirukkum
Thiruvadiyil silamposai paattisaikkum
Animuththu maalai ettu thogaiyaagum
Animuththu maalai ettu thogaiyaagum
Aatchi seiyum sengolae kuralaagum
Avan aatchi seiyum sengolae
Kuralaagum thirukuralaagum
Pulavarellaam padaiththu vaiththa ilakkiyangal
Ponmaeni alangaara seethanagal
Kalai mangai idhzh sinthum punnagaikkae
Vilaiyaethu thalai thaazhththi
Vanangiduvom naam vanangiduvom…
Pulavarellaam padaiththu vaiththa ilakkiyangal
Ponmaeni alangaara seethanagal
Kalai mangai idhzh sinthum punnagaikkae
Aa….aa…aa….aa….aa…..aa….aa…aaa….
Kalai mangai idhzh sinthum punnagaikkae
Vilaiyaethu thalai thaazhththi vanangiduvom
Vilaiyaethu thalai thaazhththi
Vanangiduvom naam vanangiduvom…
...
She was born alongside the southern breeze,
The daughter of pure Tamil.
In the temple city of southern Madurai,
She nurtured the Sangam (ancient Tamil literary assembly).
Taking residence in Thanjavur,
She brought blessings and prosperity.
Spreading her fame across the whole world,
She arrived as a mother,
She arrived as Mother Tamil.
She was born alongside the southern breeze,
The daughter of pure Tamil.
In the temple city of southern Madurai,
She nurtured the Sangam...
She was born alongside the southern breeze,
The daughter of pure Tamil.
In the temple city of southern Madurai,
She nurtured the Sangam.
Taking residence in Thanjavur,
She brought blessings and prosperity.
Taking residence in Thanjavur,
She brought blessings and prosperity.
Spreading her fame across the whole world,
She arrived as a mother,
Spreading her fame across the whole world,
She arrived as a mother,
She arrived as Mother Tamil.
Tolkappiyam (ancient grammar text) rests upon her crown,
The musical anklets (Silappathikaram epic) sing at her holy feet.
Her pearl necklace is the Ettuthogai (Eight Anthologies),
And the royal scepter with which he rules
Is the Kural, the sacred Tirukkural.
Tolkappiyam rests upon her crown,
The musical anklets sing at her holy feet.
Her pearl necklace is the Ettuthogai,
Her pearl necklace is the Ettuthogai.
The royal scepter that rules is the Kural,
And the royal scepter with which he rules
Is the Kural, the sacred Tirukkural.
The literature created by all the poets
Are the bridal gifts adorning her golden form.
For the smile blooming on the lips of this goddess of arts,
What price could there be? Bowing our heads,
Let us worship her, let us worship her...
The literature created by all the poets
Are the bridal gifts adorning her golden form.
For the smile blooming on the lips of this goddess of arts,
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
For the smile blooming on the lips of this goddess of arts,
What price could there be? Let us bow our heads and worship her,
What price could there be? Bowing our heads,
Let us worship her, let us worship her...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Rajaraja Chozhan' is a grand ode to Tamil Language, personified as a glorious divine mother (Tamizh Thai). Kannadasan poetically outlines the cultural geography and literary history of Tamil Nadu. Born with the soothing southern breeze (Thendral), she was nurtured at the Sangam academy in Madurai before taking residence in Tanjore, the heart of the Chola empire, bringing prosperity and global acclaim.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagaimai (Metaphor / Personification)

Manimudiyil tholkaappiyam veettrirukkum / Thiruvadiyil silamposai paattisaikkum

Tamil is personified as a regal mother adorned with classic literary works: Tolkappiyam as her crown, Silappathikaram as tinkling anklets at her feet, and Ettuthogai as her pearl necklace.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thendralodu / Senthamizh

Repetition of the second consonant 'n' across consecutive lines creates rhythmic flow.

Moonaal / Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Thanjaiyilae / Tharaniyellaam

Matching initial sounds across starting words in lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in India's first CinemaScope Tamil film 'Rajaraja Chozhan' (1973), this song highlights the glorious patronage of Tamil literature and art by Chola ruler Raja Raja I. It remains one of the most revered classical Tamil pride songs in South Indian cinema.

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