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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaanam Namadhu Thanthai

From Dhaagam · 1974

Lyricist
Poovai Senguttavan
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
M. B. Sreenivas
Details
Dhaagam1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vaanam namadhu thandhai boomi namadhu annaiThe sky is our father, the earth is our mother.
Ulagam namadhu veedu uyirgal namadhu uravuThe world is our home, all living beings are our kin.
Vaanam namadhu thandhai boomi namadhu annaiThe sky is our father, the earth is our mother.
Ulagam namadhu veedu uyirgal namadhu uravuThe world is our home, all living beings are our kin.
Female
Malaigalilae pirappadharkku aruvi endru peruThat which is born in the mountains is named a waterfall.
Adhu mannil vandhu thazhuvum podhu aaru endru peruWhen it touches the land, it is named a river.
Kodigalilae pirappadharkku malargal endru peruThat which is born on the vines is named a flower.
Female
Manidha inathil pirappadharkkuThat which is born in humankind,
Manidha inathil pirappadharkku kuzhandhai endru peruThat which is born in humankind is named a child.
Vaanam namadhu thandhai boomi namadhu annaiThe sky is our father, the earth is our mother.
Ulagam namadhu veedu uyirgal namadhu uravuThe world is our home, all living beings are our kin.
Female
Thaen pirandhadhu malarilae meen pirandhadhu neerilaeHoney was born in the flower, fish was born in the water.
Iyarkai annai pettra thaayaeMother Nature is the mother who birthed us.
Iyarkai annaiyae pettra thaayaeMother Nature herself is the mother who birthed us.
Endha naalum sondham neeyaeYou are our eternal relative for all time.
Vaanam namadhu thandhai boomi namadhu annaiThe sky is our father, the earth is our mother.
Ulagam namadhu veedu uyirgal namadhu uravuThe world is our home, all living beings are our kin.
Female
Vaanam namadhu thandhai boomi namadhu annaiThe sky is our father, the earth is our mother.
Ulagam namadhu veedu uyirgal namadhu uravuThe world is our home, all living beings are our kin.
Vaanam namadhu thandhai boomi namadhu annaiThe sky is our father, the earth is our mother.
Ulagam namadhu veedu uyirgal namadhu uravuThe world is our home, all living beings are our kin.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply philosophical anthem celebrating universal brotherhood and humanity's inherent connection with nature. It frames the sky and the earth as the collective parents of all living creatures, presenting the entire world as one shared home where every living being is family.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vaanam namadhu thandhai boomi namadhu annai

Directly equates nature to familial bonds, identifying the sky as father and earth as mother.

Parallelism

Thaen pirandhadhu malarilae meen pirandhadhu neerilae

Uses symmetrical syntactic structure to illustrate how different forms of life and elements acquire their identity.

Epistrophe (Iyaibu)

Malaigalilae pirappadharkku aruvi endru peru

Repeats the phrase 'endru peru' (is named) at the end of successive lines to create a rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1974 film 'Dhaagam', composed by the legendary M. B. Sreenivas, who was renowned for introducing choral music styles and western classical influences to South Indian cinema. Lyrics were penned by Poovai Senguttavan.

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