Achamillai Achamillai
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை
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Achamillai Achamillai, 'there is no fear', is one of the most quoted songs of the Tamil poet Subramania Bharati. Its hammering refrain has made it a favourite for school stages, rallies and anyone in need of courage.
- Written by
- Subramania Bharati (died 1921)
- Context
- Pandara Pattu, from Bharati's philosophical songs (Gnana Padalgal)
- Year
- before 1921
- Language
- Tamil
Achamillai Achamillai lyrics with English translation
Full text (two stanzas) as given on Tamil Wikisource; stanza numbers omitted and source spelling kept.
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே இச்சகத்து ளோரெலாம் எதிர்த்து நின்ற போதினும், அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே துச்சமாக எண்ணி நம்மைச் தூறுசெய்த போதினும் அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே பிச்சை வாங்கி உண்ணும் வாழ்க்கை பெற்று விட்ட போதிலும் அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே இச்சைகொண்ட பொருளெலாம் இழந்துவிட்ட போதிலும், அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே
Achamillai achamillai achamenba thillaiye Ichchagaththu lorelaam ethirththu nindra pothinum, Achamillai achamillai achamenba thillaiye Thuchchamaaga enni nammaich thoorucheydha pothinum Achamillai achamillai achamenba thillaiye Pichchai vaangi unnum vaazhkkai petru vitta pothilum Achamillai achamillai achamenba thillaiye Ichchaikonda porulelaam izhanthuvitta pothilum, Achamillai achamillai achamenba thillaiye
No fear, no fear, there is no such thing as fear, even if all the people of this world stand against us; No fear, no fear, there is no such thing as fear, even if they scorn us as worthless and slander us; No fear, no fear, there is no such thing as fear, even if we are left with a life of begging for our food; No fear, no fear, there is no such thing as fear, even if we lose everything we ever desired; No fear, no fear, there is no such thing as fear,
கச்சணிந்த கொங்கை மாதர் கண்கள்வீசு போதினும், அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே நச்சைவாயி லே கொணர்ந்து நண்ப ரூட்டு போதினும், அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே பச்சையூ னியைந்த வேற் படைகள் வந்த போதினும், அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே உச்சிமீது வானிடிந்து வீழு கின்ற போதினும், அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே.
Kachchanintha kongai maathar kangalveesu pothinum, Achamillai achamillai achamenba thillaiye Nachchaivaayi le konarnthu nanba roottu pothinum, Achamillai achamillai achamenba thillaiye Pachchaiyoo niyaintha ver padaigal vantha pothinum, Achamillai achamillai achamenba thillaiye Uchchimeethu vaanidinthu veezhu kindra pothinum, Achamillai achamillai achamenba thillaiye.
even if alluring women cast their glances at us; No fear, no fear, there is no such thing as fear, even if friends bring poison and feed it to our lips; No fear, no fear, there is no such thing as fear, even if armies come with spears still red with flesh; No fear, no fear, there is no such thing as fear, even if the sky breaks and falls upon our heads; No fear, no fear, there is no such thing as fear.
Translation: Lyriccs (original translation). Transliteration: Lyriccs.
The story behind Achamillai Achamillai
Subramania Bharati (1882-1921), known as Mahakavi Bharati, was a poet, journalist and freedom fighter who pioneered modern Tamil poetry. Facing an arrest warrant issued by the British in 1908, he spent about ten years in exile in French-ruled Pondicherry, a period in which he wrote many of his best-known works.
This song is grouped with his philosophical songs as Pandara Pattu, a song in the voice of a wandering ascetic. Bharati's writings were nationalised by the Madras government in 1949, the first time an Indian state did so for a poet, which helped his songs spread freely through schools, radio and films.
What Achamillai Achamillai means
The song lists the worst things that could happen and answers each with the same refrain: there is no fear. The whole world may stand against us, people may mock and slander us, we may be reduced to begging or lose everything we wanted - still there is no fear.
The second stanza raises the stakes from social pressures to temptation, betrayal and death: alluring glances, poison offered by friends, armies with bloodied spears, and finally the sky itself falling. The repeated line works like a mantra, turning courage into a habit of mind. In the context of the freedom struggle it was a call to stand firm, and today it is often recited as a lesson in inner strength.
Quick facts
- Written by Subramania Bharati (1882-1921).
- Grouped among his philosophical songs as Pandara Pattu.
- Every second line repeats the refrain 'there is no fear'.
- Bharati's works were nationalised in 1949.