Thondru Nigazhndha
From Engal Thaai · 1973
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Engal Thaai1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Engal thaai…..engal thaai……engal thaai | Our mother... our mother... our mother |
| Male | |
| Thondru nigazhnth thanaiththum unarnthidu | Even those scholars who comprehend all ancient happenings |
| Soozhkalai vaanargalum | And master all surrounding fine arts |
| Ival endru piranthaval endrunaraatha | Cannot discern when she was born; |
| Iyalbinalaam engal thaai…. | Such is the timeless nature of our mother... |
| Engal thaai…..engal thaai…… | Our mother... our mother... |
| Male | |
| Nallaram naadiya mannarai vaazhththi | Blessing the kings who seek righteousness, |
| Nayam purivaal engal thaai | Our mother bestows grace and good deeds upon them. |
| Avar allavaraayin avarai vizhungi pin | If they deviate from righteousness, she swallows them up and then |
| Anantha kooththiduvaal…. | Dances her fierce, ecstatic cosmic dance... |
| Anantha kooththiduvaal…. | Dances her fierce, ecstatic cosmic dance... |
| Male | |
| Engal thaai…..engal thaai……engal thaai | Our mother... our mother... our mother |
| Male | |
| Bhomiyinum porai mikkudaiyaal | She possesses patience far greater than Mother Earth, |
| Perum punniya nenjinal thaai | A mother with a heart of immense virtue. |
| Enil thomizhai paar mun nindridung kaarkodunth | Yet when evil forces stand before her, she arises like the formidable, |
| Dhurkkai yanaiyaval thaai… | Dark Goddess Durga herself... |
| Dhurkkai yanaiyaval thaai… | Like Goddess Durga she becomes... |
எங்கள் தாய்.......எங்கள் தாய்......எங்கள் தாய்
Our mother... our mother... our mother
தொன்று நிகழ்ந்த தனைத்தும் உணர்ந்திடு
சூழ்கலை வாணர்களும்
இவள் என்று பிறந்தவள் என்றுணராத
இயல்பினளாம் எங்கள் தாய்......
எங்கள் தாய்.......எங்கள் தாய்......
Even those scholars who comprehend all ancient happenings
And master all surrounding fine arts
Cannot discern when she was born;
Such is the timeless nature of our mother...
Our mother... our mother...
நல்லறம் நாடிய மன்னரை வாழ்த்தி
நயம் புரிவாள் எங்கள் தாய்
அவர் அல்லவராயின் அவரை விழுங்கிப் பின்
ஆனந்தக் கூத்திடுவாள்......
ஆனந்தக் கூத்திடுவாள்......
Blessing the kings who seek righteousness,
Our mother bestows grace and good deeds upon them.
If they deviate from righteousness, she swallows them up and then
Dances her fierce, ecstatic cosmic dance...
Dances her fierce, ecstatic cosmic dance...
எங்கள் தாய்.......எங்கள் தாய்......எங்கள் தாய்
Our mother... our mother... our mother
பூமியினும் பொறை மிக்குடையாள் பெரும்
புண்ணிய நெஞ்சினள் தாய்
எனில் தோமிழைப் பார்முன் நின்றிடுங் காற்கொடுந்
துர்க்கை யனையவள் தாய்.....
துர்க்கை யனையவள் தாய்.....
She possesses patience far greater than Mother Earth,
A mother with a heart of immense virtue.
Yet when evil forces stand before her, she arises like the formidable,
Dark Goddess Durga herself...
Like Goddess Durga she becomes...
Engal thaai…..engal thaai……engal thaai
Our mother... our mother... our mother
Thondru nigazhnth thanaiththum unarnthidu
Even those scholars who comprehend all ancient happenings
Soozhkalai vaanargalum
And master all surrounding fine arts
Ival endru piranthaval endrunaraatha
Cannot discern when she was born;
Iyalbinalaam engal thaai….
Such is the timeless nature of our mother...
Engal thaai…..engal thaai……
Our mother... our mother...
Nallaram naadiya mannarai vaazhththi
Blessing the kings who seek righteousness,
Nayam purivaal engal thaai
Our mother bestows grace and good deeds upon them.
Avar allavaraayin avarai vizhungi pin
If they deviate from righteousness, she swallows them up and then
Anantha kooththiduvaal….
Dances her fierce, ecstatic cosmic dance...
Anantha kooththiduvaal….
Dances her fierce, ecstatic cosmic dance...
Engal thaai…..engal thaai……engal thaai
Our mother... our mother... our mother
Bhomiyinum porai mikkudaiyaal
She possesses patience far greater than Mother Earth,
Perum punniya nenjinal thaai
A mother with a heart of immense virtue.
Enil thomizhai paar mun nindridung kaarkodunth
Yet when evil forces stand before her, she arises like the formidable,
Dhurkkai yanaiyaval thaai…
Dark Goddess Durga herself...
Dhurkkai yanaiyaval thaai…
Like Goddess Durga she becomes...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poem by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar personifies Mother India (Bharat Mata) as an eternal, benevolent, yet formidable divine entity. It highlights her timelessness—her origin is so ancient that even the greatest scholars cannot pinpoint her beginning. She is patient beyond measure, enduring more than Mother Earth itself, and bestows grace upon righteous leaders who rule with justice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor and Hyperbole (Uvamai / Uyarvu Navirtchi)
“Bhomiyinum porai mikkudaiyaal”
Compares Mother India's patience to Mother Earth and asserts it is even greater, emphasizing her infinite endurance.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Enil thomizhai paar mun nindridung kaarkodunth Dhurkkai yanaiyaval thaai”
Contrasts her peaceful, compassionate nature ('punniya nenjinal') with her terrifying form as Durga ('kaarkodunth Dhurkkai') when confronting evil.
Alliteration (Edhukai / Mohnai)
“Thondru nigazhnth thanaiththum unarnthidu”
Uses matching initial consonant and vowel sounds ('Thondru', 'thanaiththum') to create rhythmic musicality.
Did you know?
Trivia
Originally composed by visionary poet Mahakavi Subramania Bharati during the Indian independence movement to invoke national pride, this song glorifies Mother India (Bharat Mata). It was later set to music and sung by legendary composer M. S. Viswanathan for the 1973 film 'Engal Thaai'.
Keep listening
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