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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanam Pozhiyattum

From Yer Munai · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. S. Chitra
Music director
L. Vaithiya Nathan
Details
Yer Munai1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Thaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thanthaanaanaaThaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thanthaanaanaa (Rhythmic rhythm syllables)
Thaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thanthaanaanaaThaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thanthaanaanaa (Rhythmic rhythm syllables)
Thaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thaananaThaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana (Rhythmic rhythm syllables)
Female
Vaanam pozhiyattum bhoomi velaiyattumLet the sky rain and let the earth yield crops,
Valaiyal kulunga kummiyadiClap and dance Kummi till your bangles jingle!
Kammaa perugattum kaadu sezhikkattumLet the water tanks overflow and the fields flourish,
Kalayam theera kummiyadiClap and dance Kummi till the pots are empty!
Female
Samainju kedakkum ponnukellaamFor all the young girls waiting to get married,
Nalla thaali varattum kummiyadiClap and dance Kummi so a good wedding knot arrives!
Chorus :Samainju kedakkum ponnukellaamChorus: For all the young girls waiting to get married,
Nalla thaali varattum kummiyadiChorus: Clap and dance Kummi so a good wedding knot arrives!
Female
Ada thalukki kummiyadiHey, clap Kummi stylishly,
Konjam kulukki kummiyadiShake a bit and clap Kummi!
Chorus :Ada thalukki kummiyadiChorus: Hey, clap Kummi stylishly,
Konjam kulukki kummiyadiChorus: Shake a bit and clap Kummi!
Chorus
Vaanam pozhiyattum bhoomi velaiyattumLet the sky rain and let the earth yield crops,
Valaiyal kulunga kummiyadiClap and dance Kummi till your bangles jingle!
Kammaa perugattum kaadu sezhikkattumLet the water tanks overflow and the fields flourish,
Kalayam theera kummiyadiClap and dance Kummi till the pots are empty!
Chorus
Thaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thanthaanaanaaThaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thanthaanaanaa (Rhythmic rhythm syllables)
Thaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thanthaanaanaaThaanana thaanana thaanana thaanana thanthaanaanaa (Rhythmic rhythm syllables)
Female
Uzhugira pozhappu ellaam mazhaiya mazhaiya nambiyalloThe life of farming entirely relies on the rain, doesn't it?
Uzhuthavan iruppathellaam velaiya nambiyalloEverything the farmer owns relies on his harvest, doesn't it?
Kovanaththa adagu vachchu koozhu kudikkumpothuWhen sipping rice gruel after mortgaging even his loincloth,
Kooraiya poe yaelam vittaal kadan adaippathu yaedhuIf the roof itself is auctioned off, how can debts be paid?
Chorus
Yaerodu poraadum rendu kannil neerottamStruggling with the plow, tears flow from both eyes,
Dheivaththukku karunai illa edhukku ingae thaerottamWhen God shows no mercy, why hold a temple chariot festival here?
Female
Mannai kindum jaadhi azhuvathenna needhiWhat justice is there in making the community that tills the earth weep?
Chorus :Mannai kindum jaadhi azhuvathenna needhiChorus: What justice is there in making the community that tills the earth weep?
Female :Kumari pillaigal saernthu kummiyadikkattumaeFemale: Let the young girls gather and dance Kummi,
Chorus :Kumari pillaigal saernthu kummiyadikkattumaeChorus: Let the young girls gather and dance Kummi,
Chorus
Vaanam pozhiyattum bhoomi velaiyattumLet the sky rain and let the earth yield crops,
Valaiyal kulunga kummiyadiClap and dance Kummi till your bangles jingle!
Kammaa perugattum kaadu sezhikkattumLet the water tanks overflow and the fields flourish,
Kalayam theera kummiyadiClap and dance Kummi till the pots are empty!
Female
Samainju kedakkum ponnukellaamFor all the young girls waiting to get married,
Nalla thaali varattum kummiyadiClap and dance Kummi so a good wedding knot arrives!
Chorus :Samainju kedakkum ponnukellaamChorus: For all the young girls waiting to get married,
Nalla thaali varattum kummiyadiChorus: Chorus: Clap and dance Kummi so a good wedding knot arrives!
Female
Ada thalukki kummiyadiHey, clap Kummi stylishly,
Konjam kulukki kummiyadiShake a bit and clap Kummi!
Chorus :Ada thalukki kummiyadiChorus: Hey, clap Kummi stylishly,
Konjam kulukki kummiyadiChorus: Shake a bit and clap Kummi!
Chorus
……………...
Female
Manja kaani velanju vanthaa panjam illaiyadiIf yellow turmeric grows well across the land, there will be no famine, my dear,
Karisa kaadu palan koduththaal kavalai illaiyadiIf the black soil gives a good harvest, there will be no worries, my dear.
Chorus :Naaththeduththu nattu vachchaa vayalukku azhagaagumChorus: Plucking saplings and planting them brings beauty to the field,
Bhoomiyellaam namma pola pushpavathiyaagumThe entire earth blooms just like us.
Female
Pachcha maraththa vettiputtaaIf green trees are chopped down,
Mazhaiyum ingae irukkaathuRain will not fall here anymore.
Yaeri kolam moodiputta edhuvum ingae nadakkuthuIf lakes and ponds are filled up, nothing can thrive here.
Female
Maargazhikku maelae thai irukkuthadiAfter the month of Maargazhi comes the month of Thai,
Chorus :Maargazhikku maelae thai irukkuthadiChorus: After the month of Maargazhi comes the month of Thai,
Female :Paadupattu vaazha kai irukkuthadiFemale: We have hands to work hard and live,
Chorus :Paadupattu vaazha kai irukkuthadiChorus: We have hands to work hard and live,
Chorus
Vaanam pozhiyattum bhoomi velaiyattumLet the sky rain and let the earth yield crops,
Valaiyal kulunga kummiyadiClap and dance Kummi till your bangles jingle!
Kammaa perugattum kaadu sezhikkattumLet the water tanks overflow and the fields flourish,
Kavalai theera kummiyadiClap and dance Kummi to clear away all worries!
Female
Samainju kedakkum ponnukellaamFor all the young girls waiting to get married,
Nalla thaali varattum kummiyadiNalla thaali varattum kummiyadi
Chorus :Samainju kedakkum ponnukellaamChorus: For all the young girls waiting to get married,
Nalla thaali varattum kummiyadiChorus: Clap and dance Kummi so a good wedding knot arrives!
Chorus
Ada thalukki kummiyadiHey, clap Kummi stylishly,
Konjam kulukki kummiyadiShake a bit and clap Kummi!
Ada thalukki kummiyadiHey, clap Kummi stylishly,
Konjam kulukki kummiyadiShake a bit and clap Kummi!
Ada thalukki kummiyadiHey, clap Kummi stylishly,
Konjam kulukki kummiyadiShake a bit and clap Kummi!
Ada thalukki kummiyadiHey, clap Kummi stylishly,
Konjam kulukki kummiyadiShake a bit and clap Kummi!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a vibrant, traditional folk dance song ('Kummi Paattu') centered around the agrarian lifestyle, rural hopes, and social realities of village folk. Through rhythmic clapping and collective singing, village women celebrate the prospects of rain, rich harvests, and prosperity, while expressing hopes for eligible maidens to find good life partners and marry happily.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Folk Refrain

Valaiyal kulunga kummiyadi

Repetition of rhythm line 'Thaanana thaanana' and the imperative call 'Kummiyadi' sets a traditional folk structure.

Monorhyme / Second Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Vaanam pozhiyattum bhoomi velaiyattum

Matching second consonants in words across consecutive lines like 'Vaanam' and 'Kammaa' create rhythmic harmony.

Personification

Bhoomiyellaam namma pola pushpavathiyaagum

Attributing human traits to nature, describing the earth as coming of age / blooming ('pushpavathiyaagum') like a young girl.

Rhetorical Question

Dheivaththukku karunai illa edhukku ingae thaerottam

Questioning societal unfairness and divine apathy towards hard-working tilling farmers.

Did you know?

Trivia

Yer Munai is a classic Tamil movie from 1992 highlighting agricultural labor and rural themes. The lyricist Vairamuthu weaves deep ecological awareness and agrarian struggles into simple traditional folk rhythms.

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