Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Uzhaikkum Iname

From Vandikkaran Magan · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Vandikkaran Magan1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Uzhaikkum iname udan pirappaeWorking class people, my siblings!
Udan pirappae udan pirappaeMy siblings, my siblings!
Male
Uzhaikkum iname udan pirappaeWorking class people, my siblings!
Ennodu vaarungalenCome along with me.
Pasuvin uruvil ooril ulavumProwling around the town in the guise of a cow,
Puliyai kaattukiraen paarungalenI will show you the tiger, come look!
Male
Uzhaikkum iname udan pirappaeWorking class people, my siblings!
Ennodu vaarungalenCome along with me.
Pasuvin uruvil ooril ulavumProwling around the town in the guise of a cow,
Puliyai kaattukiraen paarungalenI will show you the tiger, come look!
Male
Manitharil sil perAmong human beings, some people
Punitharai polae iruppaar inimaelaeWill pretend to be saints from now on,
Maangalin kannaiJust like the eyes of deer
Kaanal neer maraippathai polaeAre deceived by a blinding mirage.
Male
Manitharil sil perAmong human beings, some people
Punitharai polae iruppaar inimaelaeWill pretend to be saints from now on,
Maangalin kannaiJust like the eyes of deer
Kaanal neer maraippathai polaeAre deceived by a blinding mirage.
Male
Uzhaikkum iname udan pirappaeWorking class people, my siblings!
Ennodu vaarungalenCome along with me.
Ennodu vaarungalenCome along with me.
Male
Yaettai puratti suyanalakkaranaiFlipping open the ledger to the selfish man,
Ketpen naan oru kelvi avanI will ask him a question;
Poottai thiranthu kaattuvatharkkiTo open up and reveal his secret lock,
Ennidam ullathu saaviI possess the key with me.
Male
Yaettai puratti suyanalakkaranaiFlipping open the ledger to the selfish man,
Ketpen naan oru kelvi avanI will ask him a question;
Poottai thiranthu kaattuvatharkkiTo open up and reveal his secret lock,
Ennidam ullathu saaviI possess the key with me.
Male
Yaeippavan thannai maeippaan endruBelieving that the deceiver is its shepherd,
Enniyirukkum aaduIs the foolish sheep.
Yaeippavan thannai maeippaan endruBelieving that the deceiver is its shepherd,
Enniyirukkum aaduIs the foolish sheep.
Male
Nalla aararivulla manitharumIf human beings who possess six senses
Adhupol irunthaal sirikkum naaduAct like that sheep, the country will laugh at them!
Nalla aararivulla manitharumIf human beings who possess six senses
Adhupol irunthaal sirikkum naaduAct like that sheep, the country will laugh at them!
Male
Uzhaikkum iname udan pirappaeWorking class people, my siblings!
Ennodu vaarungalenCome along with me.
Ennodu vaarungalenCome along with me.
Male
Minmini poochchi velichaththilaeIn the faint light of a tiny firefly,
Iruttinil paathai theriyaathuThe path in the dark cannot be seen.
Adhu minnuvathaal uppu kallumJust because it glimmers, a rock salt crystal
Vairam pol aagaathuCan never become a diamond.
Male
Minmini poochchi velichaththilaeIn the faint light of a tiny firefly,
Iruttinil paathai theriyaathuThe path in the dark cannot be seen.
Adhu minnuvathaal uppu kallumJust because it glimmers, a rock salt crystal
Vairam pol aagaathuCan never become a diamond.
Male
Singa koottam thoongi irunthaalIf a pride of lions remains asleep,
Siru nari aattum vaalaiA small jackal will wag its tail.
Singa koottam thoongi irunthaalIf a pride of lions remains asleep,
Siru nari aattum vaalaiA small jackal will wag its tail.
Male
Adhan thookkam kalanthaal nadappathennaWhen their slumber is disturbed, what happens next
Sariththiram sollum naalaiHistory will tell tomorrow!
Adhan thookkam kalanthaal nadappathennaWhen their slumber is disturbed, what happens next
Sariththiram sollum naalaiHistory will tell tomorrow!
Male
Uzhaikkum iname udan pirappaeWorking class people, my siblings!
Ennodu vaarungalenCome along with me.
Pasuvin uruvil ooril ulavumProwling around the town in the guise of a cow,
Puliyai kaattukiraen paarungalenI will show you the tiger, come look!
Male
Uzhaikkum iname udan pirappaeWorking class people, my siblings!
Ennodu vaarungalenCome along with me.
Ennodu vaarungalenCome along with me.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This powerful reformist song addresses the working class as kin, serving as a clarion call to awaken them against societal deception, exploitation, and hypocrisy. The protagonist promises to expose oppressors who pose as gentle saints or 'cows' while hiding their predatory 'tiger' nature, comparing their trickery to a mirage blinding thirsty deer or foolish sheep following a butcher.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Pasuvin uruvil ooril ulavum puliyai kaattukiraen paarungalen

Compares deceitful oppressors to a tiger hiding in the disguise of a cow roaming the town.

Simile (Uvamai)

Punitharai polae iruppaar inimaelae maangalin kannai kaanal neer maraippathai polae

Compares false saints hiding their true evil nature to a mirage fooling a deer's eyesight.

Contrast / Antithesis

Adhu minnuvathaal uppu kallum vairam pol aagaathu

Juxtaposes shiny salt crystals with precious diamonds to illustrate that superficial glitter does not denote real worth.

Extended Metaphor

Singa koottam thoongi irunthaal siru nari aattum vaalai

Depicts the slumbering working class as a sleeping pride of lions and opportunistic oppressors as small jackals taking advantage.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Uzhaikkum Iname Udan Pirappae' from Vandikkaran Magan (1978) is a famous socio-political awakening song rendered in T.M. Soundararajan's commanding voice with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics by Vaali.

Keep listening

More from Vandikkaran Magan