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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Annaaththe Aaduraar

From Apoorva Sagodharargal · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Apoorva Sagodharargal1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Annaatha aaduraarThe big boss is dancing
Oththikko oththikkoMove aside, move aside
Thenaaattu vengadhaanHe is the Bengal tiger of the southern land
Oththukko oththukkoAccept it, accept it
Male
Annaatha aaduraarThe big boss is dancing
Chorus :Oththikko oththikkoChorus: Move aside, move aside
Male :Thenaaattu vengadhaanMale: He is the Bengal tiger of the southern land
Chorus :Oththukko oththukkoChorus: Accept it, accept it
Male
Kaattoaram maeyumGrazing near the edge of the forest
Kurumbaadu adhaiThat short-tailed sheep
Pottaathaan namakku saappaaduOnly if we slay it, do we get food
Male
Ada kaattoaram maeyumHey, grazing near the forest
Chorus :KurumbaaduChorus: The short-tailed sheep
Male :Adhai pottaathaan namakkuMale: Only if we slay it, for us
Chorus :SaappaaduChorus: Food!
Male
Seerinaa seeruvenIf you hiss, I will hiss back
Keerinaa keeruvenIf you scratch, I will scratch back
Male
{Annaatha aaduraar{The big boss is dancing
Chorus :Oththikko oththikkoChorus: Move aside, move aside
Male :Thenaaattu vengadhaanMale: He is the Bengal tiger of the southern land
Chorus :Oththukko oththukko} (2)Chorus: Accept it, accept it} (2)
Male
Ada thaara thambattamLet the frame drum and tam-tam
Thattattum kottattum naanaada hoiBeat and strike as I dance, hoi!
Thesam thikku ettum chokkatumLet all eight directions of the world be spellbound
Nikkatum poovaaram poadathaanLet them stand by to offer flower garlands
Male
Paaru munnaalum pinnaalumLook, ahead and behind
yennaalum vaalaada hoiWagging its tail forever, hoi!
Ye aarum vambukkum thumbukkumSo that no one comes to me seeking trouble
Engittae vaaraama odathaanOr mischief, but runs away instead!
Male
Ada pokkiri aaduraanLook, the rogue is dancing
Modhinaa thooludhaanIf you clash, you will be crushed to dust
Naan paanjaadaWhen I pounce!
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi
Male
Mookkudhaan mogaradhaanYour nose and your face
Yegirithaan pogumaeWill go flying off
Naan paandhaadaWhen I show off my moves!
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi
Male
Kilaadi oorilaeIn this town of clever tricksters
Chorus :Yaarada kooradaChorus: Who is it? Tell us!
Male :Malaadi paarpoomaMale: Shall we test and see who is the champion?
Chorus :Vangada ahhhChorus: Come on, ahhh
Male
Oru thuppakki kaiyil yedukaathaeDo not take a gun in your hand
Yentha thottavum yenna tholaikaathaeNo bullet can destroy me!
Male
Annaatha aaduraarThe big boss is dancing
Chorus :Oththikko oththikkoChorus: Move aside, move aside
Male :Thenaaattu vengadhaanMale: He is the Bengal tiger of the southern land
Chorus :Oththukko oththukkoChorus: Accept it, accept it
Male
Ada annaatha aaduraarHey, the big boss is dancing
Chorus :Oththikko oththikkoChorus: Move aside, move aside
Male :Podu thenaaattu vengadhaanMale: Strike it! He is the Bengal tiger of the southern land
Chorus :Oththukko oththukko} (2)Chorus: Accept it, accept it} (2)
Male
Ada paasam vechaalaeIf you show love and affection
Vaalaatti nippenae naaipola hoiI will stand wagging my tail like a dog, hoi!
Mosam senjalae kollaamal kolvenaeBut if you betray me, I will torment you to death
Peypola maarithaanTransforming into a ghost!
Male
Ullam ippothum eppothumMy heart, now and forever
Kondenae poovaaga hoiI keep soft like a flower, hoi!
Gnayam illatha pollaraiUnjust and wicked people
Chaaipenae puliyaaga maarithaanI will bring down, transforming into a tiger!
Male
Ada ottunna ottuvenIf I attach, I stick close
Vettuna vettuven en veeraapuIf I cut, I slash completely—that is my pride!
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi
Male
Oththaiya ninnu naanStanding all alone
Viththaya kaatuven en kiththaapuI will display my mastery—that is my swagger!
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi
Male
Villaadhi villanumEven the ultimate arch-villain
Chorus :Anjanum kenjanumChorus: Must fear and beg
Male :Vandhingae vandhanamMale: Must come here and bow
Chorus :Sollanum mmmChorus: And offer greetings, mmm
Male
Oru thuppakki kaiyil yedukaathaeDo not take a gun in your hand
Yentha thottavum yenna tholaikaathaeNo bullet can destroy me!
Male
Annaatha aaduraarThe big boss is dancing
Chorus :Oththikko oththikkoChorus: Move aside, move aside
Male :Thenaaattu vengadhaanMale: He is the Bengal tiger of the southern land
Chorus :Oththukko oththukkoChorus: Accept it, accept it
Male
Kaattoaram maeyumGrazing near the edge of the forest
Kurumbaadu adhaiThat short-tailed sheep
Pottaathaan namakku saappaaduOnly if we slay it, do we get food
Male
Ada kaattoaram maeyumHey, grazing near the forest
Chorus :KurumbaaduChorus: The short-tailed sheep
Male :Adha pottaathaan namakkuMale: Only if we slay it, for us
Chorus :SaappaaduChorus: Food!
Male
Seerinaa seeruvenIf you hiss, I will hiss back
Keerinaa keeruvenIf you scratch, I will scratch back
Chorus
{Annaatha aaduraar{The big boss is dancing
Oththikko oththikkoMove aside, move aside
Thenaaattu vengadhaanHe is the Bengal tiger of the southern land
Oththukko oththukko} (2)Accept it, accept it} (2)
Male
Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi hoiHoi hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Annaatha Aaduraar is an iconic, energetic hero-introduction song from Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), featuring Raja (played by Kamal Haasan). The song serves as a bold celebration of the protagonist's street-smart nature, supreme confidence, and unyielding fearlessness. He warns troublemakers to step aside, declaring himself as formidable as a Bengal tiger from the southern land.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Seerinaa seeruven / Keerinaa keeruven

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words to create rhythm.

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Annaatha aaduraar / Thenaaattu vengadhaan

Rhyming the second character of lines to maintain Tamil poetic cadence.

Simile (Uvamai)

Vaalaatti nippenae naaipola hoi ... Chaaipenae puliyaaga maarithaan

Direct comparison of human traits to animal behaviors (loyal as a dog, fierce as a tiger).

Iyaibu (Refrain / End Rhyme)

Oththikko oththikko / Oththukko oththukko

Repetition of identical words at line endings for dramatic call-and-response effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

This high-octane track was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, written by Vaali, and sung with intense vigor by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. It remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous mass dance anthems, celebrated for Kamal Haasan's energetic choreography and iconic street-style swagger.

Keep listening

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