Aambalaingala Nenga
From Urimaikural · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Urimaikural1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Chacha chacha chacha | Cha cha cha cha |
| Cha cha chaa | Cha cha cha |
| Female | |
| Aambalaingalaa | Are you men? |
| Neenga aambalaingalaa | Are you really men? |
| Aambalaingalaa | Are you men? |
| Neenga aambalaingalaa | Are you really men? |
| Or aarugajam selaikati | Drape a six-yard saree, |
| Naalu valai podungalen | and put on four bangles. |
| Female | |
| Aambalaingalaa | Are you men? |
| Neenga aambalaingalaa | Are you really men? |
| Or aarugajam selaikati | Drape a six-yard saree, |
| Naalu valai podungalen | and put on four bangles. |
| Aambalaingalaa | Are you men? |
| Neenga aambalaingalaa | Are you really men? |
| Female | |
| Aambalaingalaa | Are you men? |
| Neenga aambalaingalaa | Are you really men? |
| Female | |
| {Vaal piditha parambarayil | Did you come from a lineage that held swords? |
| Vanthavangalaa | Did you come from such a lineage? |
| Puli vaal piditha veerargalin | Are you the descendants of brave heroes |
| Vaarisugalaa} (2) | who held tigers by their tails? |
| Female | |
| {Mel udhatil | Are you women with a mustache |
| Meesa vecha pombalaingalaa | growing on your upper lip? |
| Ada vethuvetu | Oh, are you empty drums |
| Satham podum mathalangalaa} (2) | that make useless noise? |
| Female | |
| Chacha chacha chacha | Cha cha cha cha |
| Cha cha chaa | Cha cha cha |
| Female | |
| Aambalaingalaa | Are you men? |
| Neenga aambalaingalaa | Are you really men? |
| Or aarugajam selaikati | Drape a six-yard saree, |
| Naalu valai podungalen | and put on four bangles. |
| Aambalaingalaa | Are you men? |
| Neenga aambalaingalaa | Are you really men? |
| Female | |
| {Anthakaala aambalainga | Men of those old days |
| Por purivaanga | would wage heroic wars, |
| Nalla aakamaana vela seiya | and to do constructive work, |
| Yer uzhuvaanga} (2) | they would plow the fields. |
| Female | |
| {Inthakaala neenga | You men of today |
| Athai marandhuviteenga | have forgotten all that, |
| Ini ilichavaayan pattam vaanga | and you were born merely to earn |
| Porandhu viteenga} (2) | the title of gullible fools! |
| Female | |
| Chacha chacha chacha | Cha cha cha cha |
| Cha cha chaa | Cha cha cha |
| Aambalaingalaa | Are you men? |
| Neenga aambalaingalaa | Are you really men? |
| Female | |
| {Gandhi ennum veeramagan | This is the land where a brave son like Gandhi |
| Pirandha naadunga | was born, |
| Nalla kadamai sonna arinjar anna | the land where wise Anna, who preached noble duty, |
| Valarndha naadunga} (2) | grew up. |
| Female | |
| {Neenga kooda intha naatu | Even you are supposed to be human beings |
| Manidhar dhaanunga | belonging to this country, |
| Enaku neramillai seekirama | I don't have time, quickly |
| Valayal podunga} (2) | put on your bangles! |
| Female | |
| Chacha chacha chacha | Cha cha cha cha |
| Cha cha chaa | Cha cha cha |
| Aambalaingalaa | Are you men? |
| Neenga aambalaingalaa | Are you really men? |
| Or aarugajam selaikati | Drape a six-yard saree, |
| Naalu valai podungalen | and wear four bangles. |
| Aambalaingalaa | Are you men? |
| Neenga aambalaingalaa | Are you really men? |
| Aambalaingalaa | Are you men? |
| Neenga aambalaingalaa cha cha | Are you really men? Cha cha! |
சசச்ச.....சச்ச...
ச்சே ச்சே ச்சே
ஆம்பளைங்களா
நீங்க ஆம்பளைங்களா
Cha cha cha cha
Cha cha cha
ஆம்பளைங்களா
நீங்க ஆம்பளைங்களா
{ஓர் ஆறு கஜம் சேலை கட்டி
நாலு வளை போடுங்களே
ஆம்பளைங்களா
நீங்க ஆம்பளைங்களா} (2)
ஆம்பளைங்களா
நீங்க ஆம்பளைங்களா
Are you men?
Are you really men?
Are you men?
Are you really men?
Drape a six-yard saree,
and put on four bangles.
{வாள் பிடித்த
பரம்பரையில் வந்தவங்களா
புலி வால் பிடித்த
வீரர்களின் வாரிசுகளா} (2)
Are you men?
Are you really men?
Drape a six-yard saree,
and put on four bangles.
Are you men?
Are you really men?
{மேல் உதட்டில்
மீசை வச்ச பொம்பளைங்களா
அட வெத்து வேட்டு
சத்தம் போடும் மத்தளங்களா} (2)
Are you men?
Are you really men?
சசச்ச.....சச்ச...
ச்சே ச்சே ச்சே
ஆம்பளைங்களா
நீங்க ஆம்பளைங்களா
ஓர் ஆறு கஜம் சேலை கட்டி
நாலு வளை போடுங்களே
ஆம்பளைங்களா
நீங்க ஆம்பளைங்களா
Did you come from a lineage that held swords?
Did you come from such a lineage?
Are you the descendants of brave heroes
who held tigers by their tails?
{அந்த கால ஆம்பளைங்க
போர் புரிவாங்க
நல்ல ஆக்கமான வேலை செய்ய
ஏர் உழுவாங்க} (2)
Are you women with a mustache
growing on your upper lip?
Oh, are you empty drums
that make useless noise?
{இந்த காலம் நீங்க அதை
மறந்து விட்டிங்க
இனி இளிச்சிவாயன் பட்டம் வாங்க
பொறந்துவிட்டீங்க} (2)
Cha cha cha cha
Cha cha cha
சசச்ச.....சச்ச...
ச்சே ச்சே ச்சே
ஆம்பளைங்களா
நீங்க ஆம்பளைங்களா
Are you men?
Are you really men?
Drape a six-yard saree,
and put on four bangles.
Are you men?
Are you really men?
{காந்தி என்னும் வீர மகன்
பிறந்த நாடுங்க
நல்ல கடமை சொன்ன அறிஞர்
அண்ணா வளர்ந்த நாடுங்க} (2)
Men of those old days
would wage heroic wars,
and to do constructive work,
they would plow the fields.
{நீங்க கூட இந்த நாட்டு
மனிதர் தானுங்க
எனக்கு நேரம் இல்லை
சீக்கிரமா வளையல் போடுங்க} (2)
You men of today
have forgotten all that,
and you were born merely to earn
the title of gullible fools!
சசச்ச.....சச்ச...
ச்சே ச்சே ச்சே
ஆம்பளைங்களா நீங்க ஆம்பளைங்களா
ஓர் ஆறு கஜம் சேலை கட்டி
நாலு வளை போடுங்களே
ஆம்பளைங்களா நீங்க ஆம்பளைங்களா
ஆம்பளைங்களா நீங்க ஆம்பளைங்களா
ச்சே..ச்சே...
Cha cha cha cha
Cha cha cha
Are you men?
Are you really men?
This is the land where a brave son like Gandhi
was born,
the land where wise Anna, who preached noble duty,
grew up.
Even you are supposed to be human beings
belonging to this country,
I don't have time, quickly
put on your bangles!
Cha cha cha cha
Cha cha cha
Are you men?
Are you really men?
Drape a six-yard saree,
and wear four bangles.
Are you men?
Are you really men?
Are you men?
Are you really men? Cha cha!
Chacha chacha chacha
Cha cha cha cha
Cha cha chaa
Cha cha cha
Aambalaingalaa
Are you men?
Neenga aambalaingalaa
Are you really men?
Aambalaingalaa
Are you men?
Neenga aambalaingalaa
Are you really men?
Or aarugajam selaikati
Drape a six-yard saree,
Naalu valai podungalen
and put on four bangles.
Aambalaingalaa
Are you men?
Neenga aambalaingalaa
Are you really men?
Or aarugajam selaikati
Drape a six-yard saree,
Naalu valai podungalen
and put on four bangles.
Aambalaingalaa
Are you men?
Neenga aambalaingalaa
Are you really men?
Aambalaingalaa
Are you men?
Neenga aambalaingalaa
Are you really men?
{Vaal piditha parambarayil
Did you come from a lineage that held swords?
Vanthavangalaa
Did you come from such a lineage?
Puli vaal piditha veerargalin
Are you the descendants of brave heroes
Vaarisugalaa} (2)
who held tigers by their tails?
{Mel udhatil
Are you women with a mustache
Meesa vecha pombalaingalaa
growing on your upper lip?
Ada vethuvetu
Oh, are you empty drums
Satham podum mathalangalaa} (2)
that make useless noise?
Chacha chacha chacha
Cha cha cha cha
Cha cha chaa
Cha cha cha
Aambalaingalaa
Are you men?
Neenga aambalaingalaa
Are you really men?
Or aarugajam selaikati
Drape a six-yard saree,
Naalu valai podungalen
and put on four bangles.
Aambalaingalaa
Are you men?
Neenga aambalaingalaa
Are you really men?
{Anthakaala aambalainga
Men of those old days
Por purivaanga
would wage heroic wars,
Nalla aakamaana vela seiya
and to do constructive work,
Yer uzhuvaanga} (2)
they would plow the fields.
{Inthakaala neenga
You men of today
Athai marandhuviteenga
have forgotten all that,
Ini ilichavaayan pattam vaanga
and you were born merely to earn
Porandhu viteenga} (2)
the title of gullible fools!
Chacha chacha chacha
Cha cha cha cha
Cha cha chaa
Cha cha cha
Aambalaingalaa
Are you men?
Neenga aambalaingalaa
Are you really men?
{Gandhi ennum veeramagan
This is the land where a brave son like Gandhi
Pirandha naadunga
was born,
Nalla kadamai sonna arinjar anna
the land where wise Anna, who preached noble duty,
Valarndha naadunga} (2)
grew up.
{Neenga kooda intha naatu
Even you are supposed to be human beings
Manidhar dhaanunga
belonging to this country,
Enaku neramillai seekirama
I don't have time, quickly
Valayal podunga} (2)
put on your bangles!
Chacha chacha chacha
Cha cha cha cha
Cha cha chaa
Cha cha cha
Aambalaingalaa
Are you men?
Neenga aambalaingalaa
Are you really men?
Or aarugajam selaikati
Drape a six-yard saree,
Naalu valai podungalen
and wear four bangles.
Aambalaingalaa
Are you men?
Neenga aambalaingalaa
Are you really men?
Aambalaingalaa
Are you men?
Neenga aambalaingalaa cha cha
Are you really men? Cha cha!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This energetic and provocative song from the 1974 movie 'Urimaikural' uses sharp satire to taunt men who lack courage, responsibility, and action. The singer mockingly asks if they are truly men or merely women wearing mustaches on their upper lips, suggesting that if they cannot stand up for their rights and duties, they should wear six-yard sarees and bangles instead.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Sarcastic Metaphor
“Mel udhatil meesa vecha pombalaingalaa”
Comparing passive men to women wearing mustaches or hollow drums making empty noise.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Anthakaala aambalainga... / Inthakaala neenga...”
Contrasting the valor and hard work of ancient men ('Anthakaala aambalainga') with the laziness and passivity of modern men ('Inthakaala neenga').
Alliteration (Monai)
“Aambalaingalaa / Aarugajam”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('A') in consecutive words for rhythmic punch.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Urimaikural' (1974) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), Latha, and Anjali Devi, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The song's lyrics by Kannadasan include direct references to Mahatma Gandhi and C. N. Annadurai ('Arinjar Anna'), seamlessly blending cinematic drama with political commentary aligned with MGR's public persona.
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