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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanakkam Solli

From Puthiya Manithan · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Vani Jairam, Chorus
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Puthiya Manithan1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vanakkam solli paada vendumWe must sing with greetings,
Vaazhum thaainattai pottriPraising our living motherland.
Chorus :Vanakkam solli paada vendumChorus: We must sing with greetings,
Vaazhum thaainattai pottriPraising our living motherland.
Female
Veeram mannin eeram irandumBoth bravery and the compassion of the soil,
Naatin kann pola pottriCherish them like the two eyes of the nation.
Chorus :Veeram mannin eeram irandumChorus: Both bravery and the compassion of the soil,
Naatin kann pola pottriCherish them like the two eyes of the nation.
Chorus
Jai jawan jai kishanHail the soldier, hail the farmer!
Jai jawan jai kishanHail the soldier, hail the farmer!
Female
Naayagan gaandhi nizhal ena naalumLike the shadow of leader Gandhi, every day,
Nadanthaal kasthuri annaiMother Kasturba walked along.
Chorus :Naayagan gaandhi nizhal ena naalumChorus: Like the shadow of leader Gandhi, every day,
Nadanthaal kasthuri annaiMother Kasturba walked along.
Female :Andha thaai mozhi panbum vaai mozhi anbumFemale: That virtue of the mother tongue and sweet love in words,
Bharatha naatin penmaiExemplify the womanhood of Bharat.
Chorus :Andha thaai mozhi panbum vaai mozhi anbumChorus: That virtue of the mother tongue and sweet love in words,
Bharatha naatin penmaiExemplify the womanhood of Bharat.
Female
Mazhalaiyai yendhiya kaigalinaaleWith the very hands that cradled an infant,
Vaalaiyum yendhiya paavaiShe was a maiden who also wielded a sword,
Andha mangaiyarkarasi jaansiraaniThat queen of women, Jhansi Rani;
Maanamum veeramum thevaiHonor and bravery are indispensable.
Chorus
Jai jawan jai kishanHail the soldier, hail the farmer!
Jai jawan jai kishanHail the soldier, hail the farmer!
Female
Viduthalai vendi than thalai koduthuSacrificing his own life for freedom,
Kodiyinai kaathaan kumaranKumaran protected the national flag.
Chorus :Viduthalai vendi than thalai koduthuChorus: Sacrificing his own life for freedom,
Kodiyinai kaathaan kumaranKumaran protected the national flag.
Female :Nalla paindhamil paattaal puratchiyai vidhaithaanFemale: With sweet Tamil poetry, he sowed the seeds of revolution,
Bharathi endroor amaranAn immortal named Bharathi.
Chorus :Nalla paindhamil paattaal puratchiyai vidhaithaanChorus: With sweet Tamil poetry, he sowed the seeds of revolution,
Bharathi endroor amaranAn immortal named Bharathi.
Female
Thannalam karudha thiyagigalaalaeBecause of selfless freedom fighters,
Thazhaithu namathu naaduOur country flourished.
Thannalam karudha thiyagigalaalaeBecause of selfless freedom fighters,
Thazhaithu namathu naaduOur country flourished.
Andha thiyaagigal kaatha dhesathai kakkaTo guard the nation saved by those martyrs,
Uzhaithida ondraai kooduUnite and labor together.
Andha thiyaagigal kaatha dhesathai kakkaTo guard the nation saved by those martyrs,
Uzhaithida ondraai kooduUnite and labor together.
Chorus
Jai jawan jai kishanHail the soldier, hail the farmer!
Jai jawan jai kishanHail the soldier, hail the farmer!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This patriotic song from the 1974 film 'Puthiya Manithan' serves as an anthem of national pride and unity. It pays rich tribute to key historical figures of the Indian freedom struggle—Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, Tiruppur Kumaran, and Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi—emphasizing their sacrifices, valor, and literary contributions to the nation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Naayagan gaandhi nizhal ena naalum

Compares Kasturba Gandhi's dedicated presence to the shadow of Mahatma Gandhi ('nizhal ena').

Ethai (Second letter rhyming)

Andha thaai mozhi panbum vaai mozhi anbum

The second letters 'ai' rhyme between 'thaai' and 'vaai' to create rhythmic harmony.

Imagery / Metaphor

Mazhalaiyai yendhiya kaigalinaale / Vaalaiyum yendhiya paavai

Contrasts the motherly act of holding a child with holding a sword to depict Rani Jhansi's multidimensional strength.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song incorporates Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's famous national slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kishan' into Lyricist Vaali's patriotic Tamil verses, set to a marching composition by Shankar-Ganesh.

Keep listening

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