Udal Mannuku
From Iruvar · 1997
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Arvind Swamy
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Iruvar1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Udal mannukku | Body belongs to the soil, |
| Uyir thamizhukku | Life belongs to Tamil, |
| Idhai urakka solvom ulagukku} (2) | We shall proclaim this loudly to the world! |
| Male | |
| Inam ondraaga | As our race unites, |
| Mozhi vendraaga | As our language triumphs, |
| Pudhu velai yeduppom vidivukku | We will raise a new spear for our liberation! |
| Male | |
| Nam vettri paadhayil | On our path to victory, |
| Narigal vandhaal | If foxes appear, |
| Virundhu vaippom vinnukku | We will offer them as a feast to the skies! |
| Male | |
| Udal mannukku | Body belongs to the soil, |
| Uyir thamizhukku | Life belongs to Tamil, |
| Idhai urakka solvom ulagukku | We shall proclaim this loudly to the world! |
| Male | |
| Inam ondraaga | As our race unites, |
| Mozhi vendraaga | As our language triumphs, |
| Pudhu velai yeduppom vidivukku | We will raise a new spear for our liberation! |
| Male | |
| Nam vettri paadhayil | On our path to victory, |
| Narigal vandhaal | If foxes appear, |
| Virundhu vaippom vinnukku | We will offer them as a feast to the skies! |
| Male | |
| Pirandha pillai | For a newborn child |
| Nadandhu pazhaga | To practice walking, |
| Kaiyil velai koduppom | We will place a spear in its hand! |
| Pirandha kuzhandhai | If a child |
| Irandhu pirandhaal | Is born dead, |
| Vaalaal keeri pudhaippom | We will slash it with a sword before burying it! |
| Male | |
| Yudha saththam kettaal podhum | Just hearing the sound of war is enough, |
| Muththa saththam mudippom | We will put an end to the sound of kisses! |
| Raththa kulaththai nirappi nirappi | Filling lake after lake with blood, |
| Vettri thaamarai parippom | We will pluck the lotus of victory! |
| Male | |
| Yengal mannai thottavan kaalgal | The feet of the one who touches our soil |
| Yengal nilaththil uramaagum | Will become fertilizer in our land! |
| Yengal pennai thottavan kaigal | The hands of the one who touches our women |
| Yengal aduppil viragaagum | Will become firewood in our hearth! |
| Male | |
| Udal mannukku | Body belongs to the soil, |
| Uyir thamizhukku | Life belongs to Tamil, |
| Idhai urakka solvom ulagukku | We shall proclaim this loudly to the world! |
| Male | |
| Inam ondraaga | As our race unites, |
| Mozhi vendraaga | As our language triumphs, |
| Pudhu velai yeduppom vidivukku | We will raise a new spear for our liberation! |
{ உடல் மண்ணுக்கு
உயிர் தமிழுக்கு இதை
உரக்க சொல்வோம்
உலகுக்கு } (2)
Body belongs to the soil,
Life belongs to Tamil,
We shall proclaim this loudly to the world!
இனம் ஒன்றாக
மொழி வென்றாக புது
புது வேலை எடுப்போம்
விடிவுக்கு
As our race unites,
As our language triumphs,
We will raise a new spear for our liberation!
நம் வெற்றி
பாதையில் நரிகள்
வந்தால் விருந்து
வைப்போம் விண்ணுக்கு
On our path to victory,
If foxes appear,
We will offer them as a feast to the skies!
உடல் மண்ணுக்கு
உயிர் தமிழுக்கு இதை
உரக்க சொல்வோம்
உலகுக்கு
Body belongs to the soil,
Life belongs to Tamil,
We shall proclaim this loudly to the world!
இனம் ஒன்றாக
மொழி வென்றாக புது
புது வேலை எடுப்போம்
விடிவுக்கு
As our race unites,
As our language triumphs,
We will raise a new spear for our liberation!
நம் வெற்றி
பாதையில் நரிகள்
வந்தால் விருந்து
வைப்போம் விண்ணுக்கு
On our path to victory,
If foxes appear,
We will offer them as a feast to the skies!
பிறந்த பிள்ளை
நடந்து பழக கையில்
வேலை கொடுப்போம்
பிறந்த குழந்தை இறந்து
பிறந்தால் வாளால் கீறி
புதைப்போம்
For a newborn child
To practice walking,
We will place a spear in its hand!
If a child
Is born dead,
We will slash it with a sword before burying it!
யுத்த சத்தம்
கேட்டால் போதும்
முத்த சத்தம் முடிப்போம்
ரத்த குளத்தை நிரப்பி நிரப்பி
வெற்றி தாமரை பறிப்போம்
Just hearing the sound of war is enough,
We will put an end to the sound of kisses!
Filling lake after lake with blood,
We will pluck the lotus of victory!
எங்கள் மண்ணை
தொட்டவன் கால்கள்
எங்கள் நிலத்தில் உரமாகும்
எங்கள் பெண்ணை தொட்டவன்
கைகள் எங்கள் அடுப்பில்
விறகாகும்
The feet of the one who touches our soil
Will become fertilizer in our land!
The hands of the one who touches our women
Will become firewood in our hearth!
உடல் மண்ணுக்கு
உயிர் தமிழுக்கு இதை
உரக்க சொல்வோம்
உலகுக்கு
Body belongs to the soil,
Life belongs to Tamil,
We shall proclaim this loudly to the world!
இனம் ஒன்றாக
மொழி வென்றாக புது
புது வேலை எடுப்போம்
விடிவுக்கு
As our race unites,
As our language triumphs,
We will raise a new spear for our liberation!
{Udal mannukku
Body belongs to the soil,
Uyir thamizhukku
Life belongs to Tamil,
Idhai urakka solvom ulagukku} (2)
We shall proclaim this loudly to the world!
Inam ondraaga
As our race unites,
Mozhi vendraaga
As our language triumphs,
Pudhu velai yeduppom vidivukku
We will raise a new spear for our liberation!
Nam vettri paadhayil
On our path to victory,
Narigal vandhaal
If foxes appear,
Virundhu vaippom vinnukku
We will offer them as a feast to the skies!
Udal mannukku
Body belongs to the soil,
Uyir thamizhukku
Life belongs to Tamil,
Idhai urakka solvom ulagukku
We shall proclaim this loudly to the world!
Inam ondraaga
As our race unites,
Mozhi vendraaga
As our language triumphs,
Pudhu velai yeduppom vidivukku
We will raise a new spear for our liberation!
Nam vettri paadhayil
On our path to victory,
Narigal vandhaal
If foxes appear,
Virundhu vaippom vinnukku
We will offer them as a feast to the skies!
Pirandha pillai
For a newborn child
Nadandhu pazhaga
To practice walking,
Kaiyil velai koduppom
We will place a spear in its hand!
Pirandha kuzhandhai
If a child
Irandhu pirandhaal
Is born dead,
Vaalaal keeri pudhaippom
We will slash it with a sword before burying it!
Yudha saththam kettaal podhum
Just hearing the sound of war is enough,
Muththa saththam mudippom
We will put an end to the sound of kisses!
Raththa kulaththai nirappi nirappi
Filling lake after lake with blood,
Vettri thaamarai parippom
We will pluck the lotus of victory!
Yengal mannai thottavan kaalgal
The feet of the one who touches our soil
Yengal nilaththil uramaagum
Will become fertilizer in our land!
Yengal pennai thottavan kaigal
The hands of the one who touches our women
Yengal aduppil viragaagum
Will become firewood in our hearth!
Udal mannukku
Body belongs to the soil,
Uyir thamizhukku
Life belongs to Tamil,
Idhai urakka solvom ulagukku
We shall proclaim this loudly to the world!
Inam ondraaga
As our race unites,
Mozhi vendraaga
As our language triumphs,
Pudhu velai yeduppom vidivukku
We will raise a new spear for our liberation!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Udal Mannukku is an intense patriotic and martial anthem from Mani Ratnam's 1997 political drama Iruvar. Written by Vairamuthu, the song serves as a powerful rallying cry celebrating Tamil linguistic identity, territorial sovereignty, and martial courage, mirroring the Dravidian political rhetoric of mid-20th century Tamil Nadu. The lyrics draw heavily upon ancient Sangam literary traditions, establishing a profound cultural ethos where life itself is subordinate to language and land. Beyond political pride, the song conveys a sense of absolute defiance against oppressors, utilizing vivid and fiery imagery of sacrifice, battle, and retribution to ignite revolutionary fervor in the listener.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Udal mannukku / Uyir thamizhukku / Idhai urakka solvom ulagukku”
The song uses matching end suffixes like 'mannukku', 'thamizhukku', and 'ulagukku' to create an authoritative, chant-like rhythm suited for a political anthem.
Allusion (Sangam Literature Motif)
“Pirandha kuzhandhai irandhu pirandhaal vaalaal keeri pudhaippom”
Refers directly to the ancient Sangam tradition documented in Purananuru, where dead or stillborn infants were slashed with a sword before burial so they wouldn't depart without a warrior's wound.
Metaphor
“Nam vettri paadhayil narigal vandhaal”
Refers to treacherous or deceitful enemies as cunning 'foxes' blocking the path to victory.
Hyperbole (Exaggeration for Effect)
“Yengal mannai thottavan kaalgal yengal nilaththil uramaagum”
Exaggerates the fate of invaders to depict absolute dominance, claiming enemy limbs will serve as soil fertilizer and kitchen fuel.
Did you know?
Trivia
The line about slashing stillborn infants with a sword is a direct adaptation of a classical Tamil heroic poem from the Purananuru anthology (Verse 74/86 tradition), reflecting the 'Veera Yugam' (Heroic Age) concept that dying without battle scars was considered dishonorable for Tamil warriors.
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