Udal Mannukku Uyir Thamizhukku - Iruvar

Within the movie Iruvar, this song is picturized as a movie within the movie. The lyrics and the music is an appropriate rendition of a battle cry. Shot in black and white and in a style appropriate to the period that the song is depicting, I should agree that it is, on the whole, befitting and well done even though it is not among the top list of picturizations by Maniratnam. He also tends to use the same shooting locations multiple times - I don’t exactly know where this stone structure is, but it has appeared in almost every movie of his and still he has made it appear different and fitting to the situation each time.

The lyrics and music are again very pertinent. Less of a rendition and more of a passive aggressive screaming my Aravind Swamy, the entire song is a rallying cry with ample touches of violence against the enemy.

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Udal Mannukku Uyir Thamizhukku

my body will be claimed by the earth, but my life I submit to my country

thamizhukku literally means for Tamil, which is the language of tamilnadu. I've seen a few states and countries that are very proud of their language that they refer to it synonymously with their country, the French being another. They tend to have a rich culture around their language and are willing to fight even political battles for it, resisting the imposition of other foreign languages and having a rich heritage of prose and poetry.

Ithai Urakka Solvoam Ulagukku

and I shall proudly and loudly shout that

Inam Ondraga Mozhi Vendraga

so that our races unite and our talk is of victory

Puthu Vaelai Eduppom Vidivukku

we shall do what it takes to get us our freedom

Nam Vetri Paathayil Narigal Vanthaal

if wolves appear on our path to victory

Virunthu Vaippom Vinnukku

we shall make a feast of them and serve them to the gods

in Hindu culture it is normal to conduct small rituals to feed and appease the gods and also ancestors who have the power to bless one. Here, the context is more violent and is proclaimed more as a sacrifice.

Pirantha Pillai Nadanthu Pazhaga

so that the new born learns to walk

Kaiyil Velai Koduppom

we shall hand him a sword
I.e. We shall make every child a warrior from the time of his birth

Pirantha Kuzhanthai Iranthu Piranthaal

and if a child dies

Vaalaal Keeri Puthaipoam

we shall bury him with a sword

Yutha Satham Kaettal Pothum

when we hear the call of battle

Mutha Satham Mudipoam

we shall end our lovemaking

Ratha Kulaththai Nirapi Nirapi

we shall wade in lakes of blood

Vetri Thaamarai Paripoam

and pick our victory flower

Engal Mannai Thottavan Kaalgal

the feet that touch our soil

Engal Nilathil Uramaagum

will be buried in our soil

Engal Pennai Thottavan Kaigal

the hands that touch our women

Engal Aduppil Viragaagum

will become firewood in our hearth

I liked the intensity of the challenge in this entire song. It is much more tangible than and hardcore than 'we are going to defeat you'.

Udal Mannukku Uyir Thamizhukku
Ithai Urakka Solvoam Ulagukku
Inam Ondraga Mozhi Vendraga
Puthu Vaelai Eduppom Vidivukku