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Lyrics & meaning

Vande Matharam

From Bharathi · 2000

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
Madhu Balakrishnan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Bharathi2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Jeya vandhae maatharamVictory! I bow to thee, Mother.
Male
Aariya boomiyil naariyarumOn this noble land, both the women
Narasooriyarum sollum veeriya vaasagamand heroic brave men utter this powerful slogan.
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Male
Nondhae poyinum vendhae maayinumEven if we suffer in pain or burn and perish,
Nan dhaesatharu vandhae solvadhuthe people of this fine nation come forward to proclaim:
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Ondraai nindrini vendraayinumWhether we win by standing united,
Uyir sendraayinum vali kundaadhu odhuvamor even if our life leaves us, we shall chant without losing strength:
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Sodharar kaal nirai maadharir yaavarumBrothers, along with all the virtuous women,
Aadharavoru pala dheedharavodhuvamwith unity and support, casting away evil, shall chant:
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Male
Thaayae baaradha neeyae vaazhiyaO Mother India, long may you live!
Neeyae saran ini neeyae yemadhuyirYou alone are our refuge now, you alone are our very life!
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Chorus
Jeya jeya baarathaVictory, victory to Bharath!
Jeya jeya baarathaVictory, victory to Bharath!
Jeya jeya baarathaVictory, victory to Bharath!
Jeya jeya jeya jeyaVictory, victory, victory, victory!
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Jeya vandhae maatharamVictory! I bow to thee, Mother.
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Jeya vandhae maatharamVictory! I bow to thee, Mother.
Male
Ondru pattaal undu vaazhvaeIf we are united, we have life and prosperity;
Nammil otrumai neengilif unity leaves us,
Anaivarkkum thaazhvaeit brings downfall to everyone.
Chorus
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Jeya vandhae maatharamVictory! I bow to thee, Mother.
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Jeya vandhae maatharamVictory! I bow to thee, Mother.
Male
Aariya boomiyil naariyarumOn this noble land, both the women
Narasooriyarum sollum veeriya vaasagamand heroic brave men utter this powerful slogan.
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Chorus
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Jeya vandhae maatharamVictory! I bow to thee, Mother.
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Jeya vandhae maatharamVictory! I bow to thee, Mother.
Male
Eppadham vaaithidum maenumWhatever status or position is attained,
Nammil yaavarkkumfor all of us among ourselves,
Andha nilai podhuvaagumthat status shall be held in common.
Male
Muppadhu kodiyum vaazhvomAll thirty crores of us shall live together;
Male
Veezhil muppadhu kodiyumif we fall, all thirty crores of us
Muzhumaiyil veezhvomshall completely fall together.
Male
Aariya boomiyil naariyarumOn this noble land, both the women
Narasooriyarum sollum veeriya vaasagamand heroic brave men utter this powerful slogan.
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Male
Nondhae poyinum vendhae maayinumEven if we suffer in pain or burn and perish,
Nan dhaesatharu vandhae solvadhuthe people of this fine nation come forward to proclaim:
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Ondraai nindrini vendraayinumWhether we win by standing united,
Uyir sendraayinum vali kundaadhu odhuvamor even if our life leaves us, we shall chant without losing strength:
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Sodharar kaal nirai maadharir yaavarumBrothers, along with all the virtuous women,
Aadharavoru pala dheedharavodhuvamwith unity and support, casting away evil, shall chant:
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Male
Thaayae baaradha neeyae vaazhiyaO Mother India, long may you live!
Neeyae saran ini neeyae yemadhuyirYou alone are our refuge now, you alone are our very life!
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Chorus
Jeya jeya baarathaVictory, victory to Bharath!
Jeya jeya baarathaVictory, victory to Bharath!
Jeya jeya baarathaVictory, victory to Bharath!
Jeya jeya jeya jeyaVictory, victory, victory, victory!
{Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Jeya vandhae maatharamVictory! I bow to thee, Mother.
Vandhae maatharamI bow to thee, Mother.
Jeya vandhae maatharam} (2)Victory! I bow to thee, Mother.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This patriotic song by Mahakavi Subramania Bharati is a passionate rallying cry for Indian independence and unity. It extols Mother India (Bharata Mata) as the ultimate sanctuary and life force of its people. Bharati emphasizes that men and women alike across the noble land chant 'Vande Mataram' regardless of suffering, adversity, or death. The poem forcefully highlights the necessity of unity, reminding countrymen that thirty crore Indians prosper together or fall together, emphasizing complete equality and collective destiny.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emoni / Second Letter Rhyme (Ethirai)

Nondhae poyinum vendhae maayinum

Repetition of the second consonant sound across lines for rhythmic cohesion, as in 'Nondhae' and 'Vendhae'.

Anaphora / Repetition

Jeya jeya baaratha

Repeated use of 'Jeya jeya' and 'Vandhae maatharam' to build emotional resonance, rhythm, and nationalist fervor.

Aetukai / Internal Rhyme

Ondru pattaal undu vaazhvae

Internal rhyming within the same line, such as 'Ondru pattaal' and 'undu vaazhvae'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Mahakavi Subramania Bharati during the Indian independence movement, this Tamil translation and expansion of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's 'Vande Mataram' became a defining anthem in South India. In the 2000 biographical film 'Bharathi', directed by Gnana Rajasekaran, this immortal verse was set to music by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and rendered powerfully by chorus singers.

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