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Lyrics & meaning

Vande Matharam

From Bharathi · 2000

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
Madhu Balakrishnan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Bharathi
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
26 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vandhae maatharam
Jeya vandhae maatharam
Aariya boomiyil naariyarum
Narasooriyarum sollum veeriya vaasagam
Vandhae maatharam
Nondhae poyinum vendhae maayinum
Nan dhaesatharu vandhae solvadhu
Vandhae maatharam
Ondraai nindrini vendraayinum
Uyir sendraayinum vali kundaadhu odhuvam
Vandhae maatharam
Sodharar kaal nirai maadharir yaavarum
Aadharavoru pala dheedharavodhuvam
Vandhae maatharam
Thaayae baaradha neeyae vaazhiya
Neeyae saran ini neeyae yemadhuyir
Vandhae maatharam
Jeya jeya baaratha
Jeya jeya baaratha
Jeya jeya baaratha
Jeya jeya jeya jeya
Vandhae maatharam
Jeya vandhae maatharam
Vandhae maatharam
Jeya vandhae maatharam
Ondru pattaal undu vaazhvae
Nammil otrumai neengil
Anaivarkkum thaazhvae
Vandhae maatharam
Jeya vandhae maatharam
Vandhae maatharam
Jeya vandhae maatharam
Aariya boomiyil naariyarum
Narasooriyarum sollum veeriya vaasagam
Vandhae maatharam
Vandhae maatharam
Jeya vandhae maatharam
Vandhae maatharam
Jeya vandhae maatharam
Eppadham vaaithidum maenum
Nammil yaavarkkum
Andha nilai podhuvaagum
Muppadhu kodiyum vaazhvom
Veezhil muppadhu kodiyum
Muzhumaiyil veezhvom
Aariya boomiyil naariyarum
Narasooriyarum sollum veeriya vaasagam
Vandhae maatharam
Nondhae poyinum vendhae maayinum
Nan dhaesatharu vandhae solvadhu
Vandhae maatharam
Ondraai nindrini vendraayinum
Uyir sendraayinum vali kundaadhu odhuvam
Vandhae maatharam
Sodharar kaal nirai maadharir yaavarum
Aadharavoru pala dheedharavodhuvam
Vandhae maatharam
Thaayae baaradha neeyae vaazhiya
Neeyae saran ini neeyae yemadhuyir
Vandhae maatharam
Jeya jeya baaratha
Jeya jeya baaratha
Jeya jeya baaratha
Jeya jeya jeya jeya
{Vandhae maatharam
Jeya vandhae maatharam
Vandhae maatharam
Jeya vandhae maatharam} (2)
Vande Mataram (I bow to you, Mother)!
Victory, Vande Mataram!
In this noble land, both the women
and the radiant men chant this powerful word:
Vande Mataram!
Even if we suffer in agony or burn and perish,
the people of this good land will unite and say:
Vande Mataram!
Standing united, whether we triumph
or lose our lives, we will chant with unbroken strength:
Vande Mataram!
Brothers and noble women, all together,
supporting one another to wipe out every evil, let us chant:
Vande Mataram!
Mother India, long may you live!
You are our only refuge, you are our very life!
Vande Mataram!
Victory, victory to Mother India!
Victory, victory to Mother India!
Victory, victory to Mother India!
Victory, victory, victory, victory!
Vande Mataram!
Victory, Vande Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Victory, Vande Mataram!
If we stand united, we shall truly live;
if unity leaves us,
ruin will fall upon all of us.
Vande Mataram!
Victory, Vande Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Victory, Vande Mataram!
In this noble land, both the women
and the radiant men chant this powerful word:
Vande Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Victory, Vande Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Victory, Vande Mataram!
Whatever high honour or standing we attain,
for every single one of us,
that status belongs equally to all.
All thirty crores (three hundred million) of us will live as one,
and if we fall, all thirty crores of us
will fall together completely!
In this noble land, both the women
and the radiant men chant this powerful word:
Vande Mataram!
Even if we suffer in agony or burn and perish,
the people of this good land will unite and say:
Vande Mataram!
Standing united, whether we triumph
or lose our lives, we will chant with unbroken strength:
Vande Mataram!
Brothers and noble women, all together,
supporting one another to wipe out every evil, let us chant:
Vande Mataram!
Mother India, long may you live!
You are our only refuge, you are our very life!
Vande Mataram!
Victory, victory to Mother India!
Victory, victory to Mother India!
Victory, victory to Mother India!
Victory, victory, victory, victory!
Vande Mataram (I bow to you, Mother),
Victory, Vande Mataram!
Vande Mataram,
Victory, Vande Mataram!
Male
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Chorus
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Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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