Yen Endra Kelvi
From Dravidan · 1989
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Dravidan1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Acham enbathu madamaiyadaa | Fear is foolishness, my friend |
| Anjaamai draavidar udamaiyadaa….aaa…. | Fearlessness is the possession of Dravidians... |
| Anjaamai draavidar udamaiyadaa… | Fearlessness is the possession of Dravidians... |
| Male | |
| Yaen endra kelvi ondru keten | I asked a question starting with 'Why' |
| Indru niyaayam piranthathu | Today, justice was born |
| Yaen endra kelvi ondru keten | I asked a question starting with 'Why' |
| Indru niyaayam piranthathu | Today, justice was born |
| Male | |
| Naan ungal thozhan unmai thondan | I am your friend, a true servant |
| Ennum sontham valarnthathu | Thus a bond of kinship grew |
| Naan ungal thozhan unmai thondan | I am your friend, a true servant |
| Ennum sontham valarnthathu | Thus a bond of kinship grew |
| Male | |
| Koduppathai koduththapin | After giving what ought to be given |
| Ingu dharmam jeyithathu | Here righteousness triumphed |
| Koduppathai koduththapin | After giving what ought to be given |
| Ingu dharmam jeyithathu | Here righteousness triumphed |
| Chorus | |
| Oho oho oho oho | Oho oho oho oho |
| Whistle :………………. | [Whistle sound] |
| Male | |
| {Padhavi adhigaram paarththu vanangaamal | {Without bowing to status and power |
| Needhikku thalai vanangu | Bow your head only to justice |
| Paadupadugindra ungal uzhaippalae | Through the hard work you put in |
| Vazhvathu namnaadu} (2) | Our nation lives} (2) |
| Male | |
| Yaezhai eliyorgal vaazha | So that the poor and humble may prosper |
| Nanendrum oorukku uzhaippavan | I am one who works forever for the town |
| Imayam thaduthaalum idhyam kalangaamal | Even if the Himalayas block, without a distressed heart |
| Ninaiththathai mudippavan | I am one who achieves whatever is intended |
| Male | |
| Yaen endra kelvi ondru keten | I asked a question starting with 'Why' |
| Indru niyaayam piranthathu | Today, justice was born |
| Chorus | |
| ………………. | ............... |
| Male | |
| {Engal thennaadu iniya ponnaadu | {Our southern land is a sweet golden land |
| Indru pola endrum vaazhga | May it live forever just like today |
| Kadamai marakkaamal urimai izhakkaamal | Without forgetting duty, without losing rights |
| Neengal pallaandu vaazhga} (2) | May you live for many years} (2) |
| Male | |
| Needhiyendra kappal karai sera | For the ship of justice to reach the shore |
| Naamae kalangarai vilakkam | We ourselves are the lighthouse |
| Achcham thallungal aanmai kollungal | Cast away fear, embrace courage |
| Nichchayam naalai namathae | Tomorrow is surely ours |
| Male | |
| Yaen endra kelvi ondru keten | I asked a question starting with 'Why' |
| Indru niyaayam piranthathu | Today, justice was born |
| Naan ungal thozhan unmai thondan | I am your friend, a true servant |
| Ennum sontham valarnthathu | Thus a bond of kinship grew |
| Naan ungal thozhan unmai thondan | I am your friend, a true servant |
| Ennum sontham valarnthathu | Thus a bond of kinship grew |
| Koduppathai koduththapin | After giving what ought to be given |
| Ingu dharmam jeyithathu….. | Here righteousness triumphed... |
அச்சம் என்பது மடமையடா
அஞ்சாமை திராவிடர் உடமையடா......ஆஆ...
அஞ்சாமை திராவிடர் உடமையடா
Fear is foolishness, my friend
Fearlessness is the possession of Dravidians...
Fearlessness is the possession of Dravidians...
ஏன் என்ற கேள்வி ஒன்று கேட்டேன்
இன்று நியாயம் பிறந்தது
ஏன் என்ற கேள்வி ஒன்று கேட்டேன்
இன்று நியாயம் பிறந்தது
I asked a question starting with 'Why'
Today, justice was born
I asked a question starting with 'Why'
Today, justice was born
நான் உங்கள் தோழன் உண்மை தொண்டன்
என்னும் சொந்தம் வளர்ந்தது
நான் உங்கள் தோழன் உண்மை தொண்டன்
என்னும் சொந்தம் வளர்ந்தது
I am your friend, a true servant
Thus a bond of kinship grew
I am your friend, a true servant
Thus a bond of kinship grew
கொடுப்பதை கொடுத்தப்பின்
இங்கு தர்மம் ஜெயித்தது
கொடுப்பதை கொடுத்தப்பின்
இங்கு தர்மம் ஜெயித்தது
After giving what ought to be given
Here righteousness triumphed
After giving what ought to be given
Here righteousness triumphed
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ ஓஹோ ஓஹோ
விசில் :
......................
Oho oho oho oho
[Whistle sound]
{பதவி அதிகாரம் பார்த்து வணங்காமல்
நீதிக்கு தலை வணங்கு
பாடுபடுகின்ற உங்கள் உழைப்பாலே
வாழ்வது நம்நாடு} (2)
{Without bowing to status and power
Bow your head only to justice
Through the hard work you put in
Our nation lives} (2)
ஏழை எளியோர்கள் வாழ
நானென்றும் ஊருக்கு உழைப்பவன்
இமயம் தடுத்தாலும் இதயம் கலங்காமல்
நினைத்ததை முடிப்பவன்
So that the poor and humble may prosper
I am one who works forever for the town
Even if the Himalayas block, without a distressed heart
I am one who achieves whatever is intended
ஏன் என்ற கேள்வி ஒன்று கேட்டேன்
இன்று நியாயம் பிறந்தது
I asked a question starting with 'Why'
Today, justice was born
.................................
...............
{எங்கள் தென்னாடு இனிய பொன்னாடு
இன்று போல என்றும் வாழ்க
கடமை மறக்காமல் உரிமை இழக்காமல்
நீங்கள் பல்லாண்டு வாழ்க} (2)
{Our southern land is a sweet golden land
May it live forever just like today
Without forgetting duty, without losing rights
May you live for many years} (2)
நீதியென்ற கப்பல் கரை சேர
நாமே கலங்கரை விளக்கம்
அச்சம் தள்ளுங்கள் ஆண்மை கொள்ளுங்கள்
நிச்சயம் நாளை நமதே
For the ship of justice to reach the shore
We ourselves are the lighthouse
Cast away fear, embrace courage
Tomorrow is surely ours
ஏன் என்ற கேள்வி ஒன்று கேட்டேன்
இன்று நியாயம் பிறந்தது
நான் உங்கள் தோழன் உண்மை தொண்டன்
என்னும் சொந்தம் வளர்ந்தது
கொடுப்பதை கொடுத்தப்பின்
இங்கு தர்மம் ஜெயித்தது...
I asked a question starting with 'Why'
Today, justice was born
I am your friend, a true servant
Thus a bond of kinship grew
I am your friend, a true servant
Thus a bond of kinship grew
After giving what ought to be given
Here righteousness triumphed...
Acham enbathu madamaiyadaa
Fear is foolishness, my friend
Anjaamai draavidar udamaiyadaa….aaa….
Fearlessness is the possession of Dravidians...
Anjaamai draavidar udamaiyadaa…
Fearlessness is the possession of Dravidians...
Yaen endra kelvi ondru keten
I asked a question starting with 'Why'
Indru niyaayam piranthathu
Today, justice was born
Yaen endra kelvi ondru keten
I asked a question starting with 'Why'
Indru niyaayam piranthathu
Today, justice was born
Naan ungal thozhan unmai thondan
I am your friend, a true servant
Ennum sontham valarnthathu
Thus a bond of kinship grew
Naan ungal thozhan unmai thondan
I am your friend, a true servant
Ennum sontham valarnthathu
Thus a bond of kinship grew
Koduppathai koduththapin
After giving what ought to be given
Ingu dharmam jeyithathu
Here righteousness triumphed
Koduppathai koduththapin
After giving what ought to be given
Ingu dharmam jeyithathu
Here righteousness triumphed
Oho oho oho oho
Oho oho oho oho
Whistle :……………….
[Whistle sound]
{Padhavi adhigaram paarththu vanangaamal
{Without bowing to status and power
Needhikku thalai vanangu
Bow your head only to justice
Paadupadugindra ungal uzhaippalae
Through the hard work you put in
Vazhvathu namnaadu} (2)
Our nation lives} (2)
Yaezhai eliyorgal vaazha
So that the poor and humble may prosper
Nanendrum oorukku uzhaippavan
I am one who works forever for the town
Imayam thaduthaalum idhyam kalangaamal
Even if the Himalayas block, without a distressed heart
Ninaiththathai mudippavan
I am one who achieves whatever is intended
Yaen endra kelvi ondru keten
I asked a question starting with 'Why'
Indru niyaayam piranthathu
Today, justice was born
……………….
...............
{Engal thennaadu iniya ponnaadu
{Our southern land is a sweet golden land
Indru pola endrum vaazhga
May it live forever just like today
Kadamai marakkaamal urimai izhakkaamal
Without forgetting duty, without losing rights
Neengal pallaandu vaazhga} (2)
May you live for many years} (2)
Needhiyendra kappal karai sera
For the ship of justice to reach the shore
Naamae kalangarai vilakkam
We ourselves are the lighthouse
Achcham thallungal aanmai kollungal
Cast away fear, embrace courage
Nichchayam naalai namathae
Tomorrow is surely ours
Yaen endra kelvi ondru keten
I asked a question starting with 'Why'
Indru niyaayam piranthathu
Today, justice was born
Naan ungal thozhan unmai thondan
I am your friend, a true servant
Ennum sontham valarnthathu
Thus a bond of kinship grew
Naan ungal thozhan unmai thondan
I am your friend, a true servant
Ennum sontham valarnthathu
Thus a bond of kinship grew
Koduppathai koduththapin
After giving what ought to be given
Ingu dharmam jeyithathu…..
Here righteousness triumphed...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is an uplifting, sociopolitical anthem celebrating Dravidian identity, courage, self-respect, and economic justice. The speaker presents himself as a humble servant and true friend of the working class, urging people to cast away fear and refuse to bow before power or high status. Instead, people are encouraged to bow only to justice and take pride in their hard work, which sustains the nation. The song celebrates the southern land and calls for unity, reminding everyone that by keeping duty alive and standing up for rights, a better tomorrow is guaranteed.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Needhiyendra kappal karai sera / Naamae kalangarai vilakkam”
Justice is metaphorically referred to as a ship ('Needhiyendra kappal') navigating to shore, guided by the people acting as a lighthouse ('kalangarai vilakkam').
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Achcham thallungal aanmai kollungal / Nichchayam naalai namathae”
Rhyming of the second consonant in consecutive lines, such as 'ch' sound in 'Achcham' and 'Nichchayam'.
Monai (Initial Consonant Alliteration)
“Padhavi adhigaram paarththu vanangaamal”
Matching starting sounds in words within the same line, such as 'Pa' in 'Padhavi' and 'paarththu'.
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Trivia
The lyricist Pulamaipithan deliberately references iconic lines popularized in classic M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) songs written by Kannadasan—such as 'Acham enbathu madamaiyada' (from Mannathi Mannan) and 'Yaen endra kelvi' / 'Naan ungal thozhan' (from Aayirathil Oruvan)—to evoke a strong sense of nostalgia and political idealism in Dravidan (1989), which starred Sathyaraj.
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