Skip to content

IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Vellipani Malaiyin

From Kappalotiya Tamizhan · 1961

Lyricist: Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singers: Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Trichy Loganathan
Music director: G. Ramanathan
Movie name: Kappalotiya Tamizhan
Movie release year: 1961
Lyrics added on: 8 Mar 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Velli pani malaiyin meedhulaavuvom

Adi melai kadal muzhudhum kappal viduvom

Male and Chorus :Velli pani malaiyin meedhulaavuvom

Adi melai kadal muzhudhum kappal viduvom

Palli thalam anaithum koyil seiguvom

Palli thalam anaithum koyil seiguvom

Engal bhaaradha dhesam endru thol kottuvom

Engal bhaaradha dhesam endru thol kottuvom

Velli pani malaiyin meedhulaavuvom

Adi melai kadal muzhudhum kappal viduvom

Muthu kulippadhoru then kadalile

Muthu kulippadhoru then kadalile

Moithu vanigar pala naatinar vandhe

Muthu kulippadhoru then kadalile

Muthu Kulippadhoru Then Kadalile

Moithu vanigar pala naatinar vandhe

Nathi namakkiniya porul konarndhe

Nathi namakkiniya porul konarndhe

Nammarul venduvadhu merkkaraiyile

Muthu kulippadhoru then kadalile

Palli thalam anaithum koyil seiguvom

Palli thalam anaithum koyil seiguvom

Engal bhaaradha dhesam endru thol kottuvom

Ayudham seivom nalla kaagidham seivom

Ayudham seivom nalla kaagidham seivom

Aalaigal vaippom kalvi chaalaigal vaippom

Aalaigal vaippom kalvi chaalaigal vaippom

Oyudhal seiyyom thalai saayudhal seiyyom

Oyudhal seiyyom thalai saayudhal seiyyom

Unmaigal solvom pala vanmaigal seivom

Unmaigal solvom pala vanmaigal seivom

Palli thalam anaithum koyil seiguvom

Palli thalam anaithum koyil seiguvom

Engal bhaaradha dhesam endru thol kottuvom

Vandhe maadhram….

We will stroll upon the silvery snow-capped mountains,

And sail our ships across all the western seas!

We will stroll upon the silvery snow-capped mountains,

And sail our ships across all the western seas!

We will turn every place of learning into a sacred temple,

We will turn every place of learning into a sacred temple,

And proudly slap our shoulders, declaring, "This is our land of Bharath (India)!"

And proudly slap our shoulders, declaring, "This is our land of Bharath (India)!"

We will stroll upon the silvery snow-capped mountains,

And sail our ships across all the western seas!

We dive for pearls in the southern sea,

We dive for pearls in the southern sea,

Where merchants from many foreign lands flock together,

We dive for pearls in the southern sea,

We dive for pearls in the southern sea,

Where merchants from many foreign lands flock together,

Bringing us precious goods that we love,

Bringing us precious goods that we love,

And seeking our favor along our western shores!

We dive for pearls in the southern sea!

We will turn every place of learning into a sacred temple,

We will turn every place of learning into a sacred temple,

And proudly slap our shoulders, declaring, "This is our land of Bharath (India)!"

We will manufacture weapons, and we will make fine paper,

We will manufacture weapons, and we will make fine paper,

We will build factories, and we will establish great schools,

We will build factories, and we will establish great schools,

We will never grow weary, nor will we ever bow our heads in defeat,

We will never grow weary, nor will we ever bow our heads in defeat,

We will always speak the truth, and perform many great and generous deeds,

We will always speak the truth, and perform many great and generous deeds!

We will turn every place of learning into a sacred temple,

We will turn every place of learning into a sacred temple,

And proudly slap our shoulders, declaring, "This is our land of Bharath (India)!"

Vande Mataram (I bow to you, Mother India)...

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, this visionary song serves as a powerful patriotic anthem celebrating the grandeur, self-reliance, and intellectual prowess of India. Bharathiyar envisions a progressive nation that masters sea trade, industrial production, education, and defense, spanning from the snow-capped Himalayas in the north to the pearl-rich oceans in the south. The lyricist elevates places of education to the status of temples, advocating for hard work, truthful speech, industrialization, and global trade dominance. In the context of the film 'Kappalottiya Thamizhan' (1961), which depicts the life of freedom fighter V. O. Chidambaram Pillai (VO C), the song serves as an inspiring rallying cry for economic independence and national pride.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Palli thalam anaithum koyil seiguvom”

Bharathiyar metaphorically equates schools and places of learning to divine temples ('Palli thalam anaithum koyil seiguvom'), highlighting education as a holy pursuit.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

“Ayudham seivom nalla kaagidham seivom”

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines, creating rhythm ('Ayudham' / 'Aalaigal' / 'Oyudhal' / 'Unmaigal').

Anaphora / Internal Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“Aalaigal vaippom kalvi chaalaigal vaippom”

The repetition of the future tense verbal ending '-vom' ('seivom', 'vaippom', 'seiyyom') creates a decisive, collective resolve.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

“Velli pani malaiyin meedhulaavuvom”

Exaggerated romantic imagery of strolling across the snowy Himalayas and navigating across all western seas to show limitless ambition.

Did you know?

Trivia

This immortal poem by Mahakavi Bharathiyar was composed long before Indian independence as a blueprint for free India's industrial and educational resurgence. It was adapted for the 1961 biographical film 'Kappalottiya Thamizhan', starring Sivaji Ganesan as V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, who launched the first indigenous Indian shipping company to challenge British monopoly. The film's music was scored by G. Ramanathan and featured power-packed renditions by Seerkazhi Govindarajan and Trichy Loganathan.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Kaalam Varugudhu Nalla Kaalam1955

Kalvanin Kadhali -(1955)Work And DutyCelebratory

Puthiya Vaazhvu1952

AmarakaviWork And DutyAmbition

Mahaan Gandhi Mahaan1947

Naam Iruvar – 1947 FilmPatriotismFreedom

Ore Vaanam Ore Bhoomi1971

En Kelvikku Enna BathilFreedomNature

Vaazhum Valluvarae2018

NimirCelebratorySpirituality

Yezhezhu Malai2024

Yezhu Kadal Yezhu MalaiNatureMountains

From the same album

More songs from Kappalotiya Tamizhan

Endru Thaniyum Male1961

Kappalotiya TamizhanDefiant

Kaatru Veliyidai1961

Kappalotiya TamizhanDevotional

Endru Thaniyum1961

Kappalotiya TamizhanHopeful

Chinna Kuzhanthaigal1961

Kappalotiya TamizhanDevotional

Vanthematharam Enbom1961

Kappalotiya TamizhanTriumphant

Thanneer Vittaa1961

Kappalotiya TamizhanMournful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.