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Anbukku Naan Adimai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aadu Nanaiyuthenu

From Anbukku Naan Adimai · 1980

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Susheela, Saradha, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Anbukku Naan Adimai
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
17 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vandhaai kandhan ena
Vaazhvaliththaai engalukku
Indhaa eduthu kol
Ennudaiya kaanikka
Aadu nananjadhunnu
Onaayi azhudha kadha
Adhu pola irundhadhaiyaa
Naagappan senja vadha
Aadu nananjadhunnu
Azhudhadhadi onaai onnu
Chorus :Onaai onnu onaai onnu
Onaai onnu
Aadu nananjadhunnu
Azhudhadhadi onaai onnu
Yaaru therinjukkadi
Sonnaa purinjukkadi
Oorarinja aalu
Avan yogyadhaiya kelu
Oorarinja aalu
Avan yogyadhaiya kelu
Aadu nananjadhunnu
Azhudhadhadi onaai onnu
Chorus :Onaai onnu onaai onnu
Onaai onnu
Eththanai kuththangal panniyavan
Eppavum thappikka enniyavan
Uththaman alladi ulla padi
Mandhai maththiyil suthura kulla nari
Eththanai kuththangal panniyavan
Eppavum thappikka enniyavan
Uththaman alladi ulla padi
Mandhai maththiyil suthura kulla nari
Saayam velukkumadi
Nyaayam nilaikkumadiyo ho oo hoi
{Paalaattam
Chorus :Kallirukkum
Female :Adi onnaattam
Chorus :Onnirukkum} (2)
Ammaadi em pecha kelu
Chorus :Hoi hoi hoi
Aadu nananjadhunnu
Azhudhadhadi onaai onnu
Chorus :Onaai onnu onaai onnu
Onaai onnu
Yaaru therinjukkadi
Sonnaa purinjukkadi
Oorarinja aalu
Avan yogyadhaiya kelu
Chorus :Oorarinja aalu
Avan yogyadhaiya kelu
Thannanna naadhinaa hoi
Thana thannanna naadhinaa hoi
Thannanna naadhinaa hoi
Thana thannanna naadhinaa hoi
Thaandaanae thana thaandaanae
Thaandaanae thana thaandaanae
Thaandaanae thaandaanae thaandaanae
Female :Thandhana thandhana thandhana naa….
Chorus :Thaandaanae thaandaanae thaandaanae
Female :Thandhana thandhana thandhana
Thandhana……………….
Thappaattam pambaiya thattungadi
Thaalam thappaama kaigala kottungadi
Oorellaam maenjadhu kaattu puli
Adhu peiyaattam onjadhu paattu padi
Chorus :Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoiii
Thappaattam pambaiya thattungadi
Thaalam thappaama kaigala kottungadi
Oorellaam maenjadhu kaattu puli
Adhu peiyaattam onjadhu paattu padi
Koondil pudicha puli
Thaandi kuthikkumadiyoo hoi
{Kattaattaa
Chorus :Buththi varum
Female :Adha vittaakkaa
Chorus :Suththi varum} (2)
Ammaadi sandhosham paaru
Chorus :Hoi hoi hoi
Aadu nananjadhunnu
Azhudhadhadi onaai onnu
Chorus :Onaai onnu onaai onnu
Onaai onnu
Yaaru therinjukkadi
Sonnaa purinjukkadi
Oorarinja aalu
Avan yogyadhaiya kelu
Chorus :Oorarinja aalu
Avan yogyadhaiya kelu
You came like Lord Murugan,
and gave us a new life.
Here, take this,
as my humble offering!
The story of the wolf weeping
because the sheep got wet in the rain—
that is exactly what it was like,
the torment Nagappan caused!
Crying that the sheep got drenched,
a wolf shed fake tears, my girl!
Chorus: A wolf, a wolf!
Yes, a wolf!
Crying that the sheep got drenched,
a wolf shed fake tears, my girl!
Find out who he really is, girl!
Understand what I am telling you!
The whole town knows this man,
just hear about his true colors!
The whole town knows this man,
just hear about his true colors!
Crying that the sheep got drenched,
a wolf shed fake tears, my girl!
Chorus: A wolf, a wolf!
Yes, a wolf!
Think of all the crimes he has done,
always scheming to slip away!
He is no good man inside,
but a sly jackal prowling in the flock!
Think of all the crimes he has done,
always scheming to slip away!
He is no good man inside,
but a sly jackal prowling in the flock!
His false disguise will wash away,
and justice will surely prevail, oh!
Disguised like white milk,
Chorus: toddy can lie within,
Female: appearing as one thing,
Chorus: another lies hidden!
Listen to my words, dear girl!
Chorus: Hoy, hoy, hoy!
Crying that the sheep got drenched,
a wolf shed fake tears, my girl!
Chorus: A wolf, a wolf!
Yes, a wolf!
Find out who he really is, girl!
Understand what I am telling you!
The whole town knows this man,
just hear about his true colors!
Chorus: The whole town knows this man,
just hear about his true colors!
Thannanna naadhina hoy!
Thana thannanna naadhina hoy!
Thannanna naadhina hoy!
Thana thannanna naadhina hoy!
Thaandaane thana thaandaane!
Thaandaane thana thaandaane!
Thaandaane thaandaane thaandaane!
Female: Thanthana thanthana thanthana naa...
Chorus: Thaandaane thaandaane thaandaane!
Female: Thanthana thanthana thanthana...
Thanthana...
Strike the thappu and pambai drums, girls!
Clap your hands without missing the beat!
A wild tiger roamed all over town,
but its wild dance is over now, so sing a song!
Chorus: Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoyyy!
Strike the thappu and pambai drums, girls!
Clap your hands without missing the beat!
A wild tiger roamed all over town,
but its wild dance is over now, so sing a song!
Can a tiger locked in a cage
ever leap out and escape? Hoy!
Only if you tie it tight,
Chorus: will it learn its lesson!
Female: But if you let it loose,
Chorus: it will come prowling around again!
Look at this joy, dear girl!
Chorus: Hoy, hoy, hoy!
Crying that the sheep got drenched,
a wolf shed fake tears, my girl!
Chorus: A wolf, a wolf!
Yes, a wolf!
Find out who he really is, girl!
Understand what I am telling you!
The whole town knows this man,
just hear about his true colors!
Chorus: The whole town knows this man,
just hear about his true colors!
Male
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This lively folk song uses traditional Tamil proverbs and metaphors to expose the hypocrisy and deceit of an antagonist named Nagappan. The singer warns the villagers about a wolf in sheep's clothing—someone who sheds crocodile tears ("a wolf crying that the goat got wet") while secretly committing crimes. The lyrics celebrate the victory of truth and justice over tyranny, comparing the villain to a wild tiger that has finally been caged. Set to energetic folk rhythms involving traditional drums like Thappu and Pambai, the song urges the community to celebrate the end of oppression. It serves both as a moral narrative about how wicked deeds eventually come to light and as a festive call for unity and joyous folk dancing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb / Idiom (Pazhamozhi)

Aadu nananjadhunnu / Azhudhadhadi onaai onnu

Uses the traditional Tamil proverb 'Aadu nananjadhunnu onaai azhudhadhu' (The wolf crying tears because the goat got drenched) to denote crocodile tears and fake sympathy.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Mandhai maththiyil suthura kulla nari

Compares a deceitful criminal operating secretly among innocent people to a cunning jackal lurking inside a herd of sheep.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thappaattam pambaiya thattungadi / Thaalam thappaama kaigala kottungadi

Rhyming of the second consonant 'ppa' between 'Thappaattam' and 'thappaama'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Anbukku Naan Adimai' (1980) stars Rajinikanth and Rathi Devi in lead roles, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics written by Vaali. The song relies heavily on Tamil folk dance forms like Thappaattam.

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