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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaazhga Shanthi Sathiyame

From Kumari · 1952

Lyricist
T. K. Sundara Vadhyar
Singer
Chorus
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kumari1952

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Vaazhga saanthi sathyamaeLong live peace and truth!
Vaazhga maaradha needuzhiLong live endlessly without changing!
Thaazhmai ondrilaa samathuvam eeyandhadhuIt has bestowed equality free of any inferiority.
Thaainaadu thazhaikka vaaindhadhuIt has blessed our motherland to flourish.
Vaazhga saanthi sathyamae vaazhgaLong live peace and truth, long live!
Chorus
Paaraalum per aasai porrThe wars driven by the grand desire to rule the world,
Vendaatha karunaiyudaiyadhuIt possesses compassion that rejects such conflict.
Pagaimai agala anbu perugaMay enmity vanish and love multiply,
Maandhar yendhi panivadhuThis is the ideal humanity upholds and bows to.
Chorus
Amaidhi kulaiya vaikkumThe malice of evil men,
Thushtar aanmaiyaiWhich threatens to disrupt peaceful harmony,
Ahimsaiyaal azhithathumae jeyippadhuIs conquered and destroyed through non-violence.
Vaazhga saanthi sathyamae vaazhgaLong live peace and truth, long live!
Chorus
Needhi pettradhu nidhaana muttradhuJustice is attained, composure is perfected,
Geethai kattradhu kurodha mattradhuThe wisdom of Gita is learned, hatred is eliminated.
Sirippilae neruppaiyum kulirchi seivadhuIt can cool even fire with a simple smile,
Poruppadhai puvikkellaam uraikka valladhuIt is capable of preaching tolerance to the entire world.
Saanthi….saanthi….saanthiPeace... Peace... Peace.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vaazhga Saanthi Sathyamae is a patriotic and devotional chorus song from the 1952 Tamil film Kumari, composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by T. K. Sundara Vadhyar. The song extols the Gandhian philosophy of peace, truth, and non-violence (Ahimsa), celebrating these values as the pillars that uplifted the motherland and granted equality to all people.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mohnai (Initial Alliteration)

Vaazhga saanthi sathyamae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 's' in Saanthi and Sathyamae.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Needhi pettradhu nidhaana muttradhu

Rhyming of the second letter ('t' sound in pettradhu and muttradhu) creating rhythmic symmetry in the line.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Geethai kattradhu kurodha mattradhu

Matching end sounds with 'kattradhu' and 'mattradhu'.

Hyperbole / Poetic Imagery

Sirippilae neruppaiyum kulirchi seivadhu

Exaggeration depicting the power of peace and gentle joy as being strong enough to cool down fire with a smile.

Did you know?

Trivia

Released in the early post-independence era, this track heavily incorporates Gandhian nationalist ideals, which were a popular thematic element in Tamil cinema during the 1950s.

Keep listening

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