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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yethanai Yethanai

From Ji · 2005

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Shankar Sampoke
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Ji2005

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yethanai yethanaiHow many, how many
Neenda iravugalLong nights
Endraikaavadhu vidiyaadhaaWill it not dawn someday?
Yethanai yethanaiHow many, how many
Kodi kavalaigalCrores of worries
Endraikkaavadhu mudiyaadhaWill they not end someday?
Male
Azhudhu azhudhuCrying and crying
Thoorndha vizhiyilIn eyes dried out from tears
Eppadi eppadi kanavu varumHow, how can dreams arrive?
Pozhudhu muzhudhumAfter all the time
Theerndha piraguHas run out
Eppadi eppadi nilai uyarumHow, how will our status rise?
Inaiyum kaigal velukkum podhuWhen united hands work hard till they pale
Iravil kooda vidiyal varumEven in the dark night, a dawn will come
Chorus
Achcham thavira pazhaguPractice shedding fear
PazhaguPractice
Thuchcham thuyar ena pazhaguPractice treating sorrow as trivial
PazhaguPractice
Ucham thaayagam endruHolding the motherland as the highest peak
Latchiyam adaya pazhaguPractice to reach your goal
Pazhagu pazhaguPractice, practice
Chorus
Anuvai udaikka pazhaguPractice splitting the atom
PazhaguPractice
Pudhumai padaikka pazhaguPractice creating innovation
PazhaguPractice
Vithhai pazhagum pozhudhuWhile learning a skill or art
Vizhu punnum pazhaguPractice bearing the wounds that fall upon you
Pazhagu pazhaguPractice, practice
Male
Irugi irugi pona iravaiTo a night that has grown darker and harder
Innum poruththal murai illaiTolerating it further is not right
Irudhi varayil vaazhvai nondhuLamenting about life until the very end
Irandhu povadhil palan illaiAnd dying has no value
Urudhiodu naalum uzhaiththaalIf we toil every day with determination
Ulagam namakku peridhillaiThe world is not too big for us
Male
Innoru innoruAnother and another
Thooya vidudhalaiPure liberation
Annai bhooomiyai thazhuvaadhaaWill it not embrace Mother Earth?
Thannalam atravarA political system where
Thondrum arasiyalSelfless people emerge
Mannil poovena malaraadhaaWill it not bloom on this earth like a flower?
Male
Seyalai mudhalil nee thodanghuYou first initiate the action
Imayam unnakku keezhirukkumThe Himalayas will lie beneath you
Puyalai manadhil nee ezhuppuRouse a storm inside your mind
Pudhiya dhisaigal thaal thirakkumNew directions will unlock their doors
Ulagam unadhu perai chollaFor the world to speak your name
Vetri sangu isai amaikkumThe conch of victory will play its music
Chorus
Achcham thavira pazhaguPractice shedding fear
PazhaguPractice
Thuchcham thuyar ena pazhaguPractice treating sorrow as trivial
PazhaguPractice
Ucham thaayagam endruHolding the motherland as the highest peak
Latchiyam adaya pazhaguPractice to reach your goal
Pazhagu pazhaguPractice, practice
Male
Namadhu namadhuOurs, ours
Naalai namadhae'Tomorrow is ours'
Ennum poigal vilagividumSuch empty lies will fade away
Yemadhu yemadhuOurs, ours
Yaavum yemadhae'Everything is ours'
Ennum unmai arugil varumSuch truth will draw near
Inidhu inidhuSweet, sweet
Vaazhvum inidhaeLife too is sweet
Ingae indrae theriyavarumWill become evident right here, today

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a high-energy motivational anthem urging youth and individuals to overcome despair, fear, and passive suffering. It begins by questioning endless sorrow and dark times, pointing out that passive tears cannot bring about change. Real transformation occurs when people unite, shed their fears, treat grief as trivial, and actively work toward innovation, self-improvement, and social justice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Achcham thavira pazhagu / Thuchcham thuyar ena pazhagu

The second letter 'ch' (ச்ச) rhymes in 'Achcham' and 'Thuchcham', giving a strong rhythmic cadence to the motivational refrain.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Inidhu inidhu / Vaazhvum inidhae / Ingae indrae theriyavarum

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'I' (இ) across lines creates a musical flow in the concluding verses.

Metaphor

Imayam unnakku keezhirukkum

Comparing huge achievements to having the towering Himalayas beneath one's feet emphasizes the boundless power of initiative.

Anaphora / Epizeuxis (Repetition)

Pazhagu

The word 'Pazhagu' (Practice/Learn) is repeated rhythmically throughout the chorus to strongly reinforce the message of continuous practice and perseverance.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song comes from the 2005 Tamil political action film 'Ji', directed by N. Lingusamy and starring Ajith Kumar. The soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar. The song's lyrical theme draws strong inspiration from the revolutionary poetry of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, specifically borrowing the spirit of 'Achcham Illai Achcham Illai' to inspire student activism within the film's narrative.

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