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Isaimozhi
Kadamban album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Uchimalai Azhagu

From Kadamban · 2017

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Mukesh
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Movie name
Kadamban
Movie release year
2017
Lyrics added on
2 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hey uchi malai azhagu
Aadharama ulla vara
Intha ooru ulagamae
Selichu vazha illa kora
Pachai chedi kodiga
Palagi pesi allithara
Naanga kaiya yenthithan
Polaika maattom pogum vara
{Kasu panam
Sothu sugam
Poiyidum tholanjithan
Namma kakkum intha
Katta nambi
Valvomae thuninjithan} (2)
Hey uchi malai azhagu
Aadharama ulla vara
Intha ooru ulagamae
Selichu vazha illa kora
Paambu thelu
Palli kuda
Paasam kaati
Thalli oda
Koodi valum intha vaazhva
Kondaduvom
Kora illamalae
Nallum poluthum panpaduvom
Karuvula namma somanthava
Erakki vidura veliyila
Usurathu pogum varaiyila
Thaanguthu kaadu madiyila
Ehh…hhhhh…
Ehh…hhhhh…
Oda neeril thaavum meena
Onna sernthu kombuthena
Pangu podum enga kootam
Joranathae
Vazhi maaramalae
Pogum thesaiyo
Neranathae..
Irupatha ellam kodukura
Kaadaa iraivan irukkuran
Adikira kathula asanjuthan
Azhagaa avanum sirikkiran
Hey thanthana naa nae
Hey thanthana naa nae
Hey thanthana thanthaana
thanthaanaa naaa naee..
Hey thanthana thanthaana
thanthaana thantha naee…
Kaadana kaadu
Thaayaga aaru
Vetha vetkama
Vellama pannama
Thimbomae soru
Mala thaiyoda
Anbalae ellamae
Kaiserum paaru
Hey, the mountain peaks are beautiful,
and as long as they remain our foundation,
this whole village and world
will thrive without any lack.
The green plants and creepers
befriend us and give generously,
so we will never beg for anything
till the very end of our days.
Money and wealth,
possessions and comforts,
will all be lost one day.
Relying on this land
that protects us,
we will live with courage!
Hey, the mountain peaks are beautiful,
and as long as they remain our foundation,
this whole village and world
will thrive without any lack.
Snakes and scorpions,
even the lizards,
show affection
before scurrying away.
This life lived together with nature,
let us celebrate it!
Without any lack,
we live enriched day by day.
The mother who carried us in her womb
leaves us out in the open world,
but until our breath leaves us,
this forest holds us in its lap.
Eh...hhhh...
Eh...hhhh...
The fish leaping in the stream,
and the wild honey we gather together,
our clan shares it all—
how wonderful it is!
Without straying from our path,
the direction we walk
is always true and straight..
Giving away everything it has,
God lives as this very forest.
Swaying gently in the wind,
He smiles so beautifully.
Hey thandhana naane
Hey thandhana naane
Hey thandhana thandhaana
Thandhaanaa naane..
Hey thandhana thandhaana
Thandhaana thandhane...
This vast, wild forest,
the river flowing like a mother—
without sowing any seeds,
without farming the fields,
we eat our food in peace.
Through the mountain mother's
boundless love, everything
comes right into our hands, you see!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the film Kadamban is a soulful celebration of the harmonious relationship between tribal communities and the natural environment. The lyrics express profound gratitude toward the forest, rivers, and mountains, which provide everything necessary for human survival without the need for material wealth, formal agriculture, or greed. The forest dwellers regard nature not merely as a resource, but as a living divine mother and protector who nurtures them from birth until death. The song highlights the philosophy of contentment, mutual sharing, and living alongside wild creatures in mutual affection and respect. Material possessions like money and property are depicted as temporary and hollow, whereas the unconditional love and bounty of mother nature are eternal. Through rhythmic folk refrains, the lyrics showcase a lifestyle rooted in dignity, self-sufficiency, and deep spiritual unity with the natural world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Pachai chedi kodiga Palagi pesi allithara

Nature, plants, and the forest are personified as friends and divine mother figures who speak, nurture, hold humans in their lap, and smile through the swaying breeze.

Emonai (Initial Rhyming)

Kaadana kaadu / Thaayaga aaru

Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive poetic phrases ('Kaadana' / 'Thaayaga').

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Pachai chedi kodiga / Palagi pesi allithara

Matching second letter rhyming patterns commonly found in classic Tamil poetry ('Pachai' / 'Palagi').

Metaphor

Kaadaa iraivan irukkuran

The forest itself is identified directly as God ('Kaadaa iraivan irukkuran').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for the 2017 action-drama film 'Kadamban', directed by Ragava and starring Arya and Catherine Tresa. The track captures the authentic lifestyle of indigenous forest tribes residing in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu. Lyricist Yugabharathi used traditional folk rhythm syllables ('Thanthana Naa Nae') to evoke a raw, organic tribal aura.

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