Dhagudu Dhattham
From Manmadhan Ambu · 2010
- Lyricist
- Kamal Haasan
- Singer
- Kamal Haasan
- Music director
- Devi Sri Prasad
- Details
- Manmadhan Ambu2010
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pona pogudhunu viteena | If you let it go thinking 'let it be', |
| Kenannu aappu vapaanda | He will trap you thinking you're a fool. |
| Thaana thedi poi nininna | If you go seeking him on your own, |
| Venunnu kaaka vappaanda | He will intentionally make you wait. |
| Chorus | |
| {Saama thaana vedha dhandam | {Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment — |
| Naalum korthu pogum podhu | When all four strategies are strung together, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say} (2) | Say Dhagudu Dhattham} |
| Male | |
| Dei panakaara | Hey rich man, |
| Kodi thutta saamikku innum | To the god already possessing crores of money, |
| Dhaanam pannura | You still keep donating! |
| Male | |
| Adei panakaara | Hey rich man, |
| Keera-vaanga car-il poiyu | Going in a car to buy cheap greens, |
| Beram pannura | You bargain endlessly! |
| Male | |
| Thappaana aalu edhilum vellum | The wrong person wins in everything, |
| Yeda koodam | It is all absurd and twisted; |
| Yepodhum illai kaalam marum | It won't stay like this forever, times will change, |
| Gnyayam vellum… | Justice will prevail… |
| Chorus | |
| Saama thaana vedha dhandam | Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment — |
| Naalum korthu pogum podhu | When all four strategies are strung together, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Chorus | |
| Hoo..hoo.. | Hoo..hoo.. |
| Male | |
| Hey.. nallavanu yaara solla | Hey.. who can be called good? |
| Kettavanu yaara solla | Who can be called evil? |
| Nallavana kettavana | Is the good man or bad man evil, |
| Mathuravandhan kettavano | Or is the one who changes a person the evil one? |
| Male | |
| Automatic watch pola | Like an automatic watch, |
| Odugira vazhkai idhu | This life keeps running; |
| Aaturavan niruthiputta | If the one who winds it stops it, |
| Nadunisila ninidum-doi | It will freeze right in the middle of the night! |
| Male | |
| Aeeee en nanba | Hey, my friend! |
| Vazhkai enbadhu varusa kadaisi | Life is like a final exam |
| Pariksha pola da | At the end of the year, man. |
| Kel pudhu venba | Listen to this new verse: |
| Un kannil thova katra kaiman | The widow who teaches you to wash clothes, |
| Vezhaiku aagudhada | Is she of any use at work? |
| Chorus | |
| Saama thaana vedha dhandam | Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment — |
| Naalum korthu pogum podhu | When all four strategies are strung together, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Male | |
| Ohh.. mallukatti mallukatti | Oh.. wrestling and striving hard, |
| Paalaga ponadhunna | If everything goes to waste, |
| Billu kattu kaasukaga | Just to get money for paying the bills, |
| Ettukatti solurenda | I am telling you exaggerated lies! |
| Male | |
| Kannuketu ponadhunna | When eyesight is lost, |
| Suriyana kumbuduvaan | He worships the sun god; |
| Sathiyatha kalavu seiya | To steal the truth, |
| Sakidaya thediduvan | He searches for an accomplice. |
| Male | |
| Peranbae… | O Great Love… |
| Nee tharavarthu | You handed over your affection |
| Vera aalu kaiyil serthuta | Into another person's hands! |
| Male | |
| Kaaman ambae | O Cupid's Arrow… |
| Nee kuriya maathi | You missed your target |
| Vera nenjil kutha vachita | And pierced a different heart! |
| Chorus | |
| Saama thaana vedha dhandam | Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment — |
| Naalum korthu pogum podhu | When all four strategies are strung together, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Dhagudu dhattham say | Say Dhagudu Dhattham, |
| Male | |
| Oda pethu vela senjalum | Even if worked hard to breaking point, |
| Oru paisa kooti thandhana… | Did he give even one extra penny? |
| Madaa olachi verthu ninaalum | Even if worked like a fool until soaked in sweat, |
| Vairu-aara soru vachaana .. | Did he provide a full meal to fill the stomach? .. |
போனா போகுதுன்னு
விட்டீன்னா கேனன்னு ஆப்பு
வப்பான்டா தானா தேடி போய்
நின்னீன்னா வேணுன்னு காக்க
வப்பான்டா
If you let it go thinking 'let it be',
He will trap you thinking you're a fool.
If you go seeking him on your own,
He will intentionally make you wait.
{ சாம தான வேத
தண்டம் நாளும் கோர்த்து
போகும்போது தகுடு தத்தோம்
செய் தகுடு தத்தோம் செய்
தகுடு தத்தோம் செய்
தகுடு தத்தோம் செய் } (2)
{Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment —
When all four strategies are strung together,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham}
டேய் பணக்காரா
கோடி துட்ட சாமிக்கு
இன்னும் தானம் பண்ணுற
Hey rich man,
To the god already possessing crores of money,
You still keep donating!
அடே பணக்காரா
கீர வாங்க காரில் போயி
பேரம் பண்ணுற
Hey rich man,
Going in a car to buy cheap greens,
You bargain endlessly!
தப்பான ஆளு எதிலும்
வெல்லும் ஏடாகூடம் எப்போதும்
இல்லை காலம் மாறும் நியாயம்
வெல்லும்
The wrong person wins in everything,
It is all absurd and twisted;
It won't stay like this forever, times will change,
Justice will prevail…
சாம தான வேத
தண்டம் நாளும் கோர்த்து
போகும்போது தகுடு தத்தோம்
செய் தகுடு தத்தோம் செய்
தகுடு தத்தோம் செய்
தகுடு தத்தோம் செய்
Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment —
When all four strategies are strung together,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
ஹோ ஹோ
Hoo..hoo..
ஹே நல்லவன்னு
யாரச் சொல்ல கெட்டவன்னு
யாரச் சொல்ல நல்லவன
கெட்டவனா மாத்துறவன்தான்
கெட்டவனோ
Hey.. who can be called good?
Who can be called evil?
Is the good man or bad man evil,
Or is the one who changes a person the evil one?
ஆட்டோமேடிக்
வாட்ச் போல ஓடுகிற
வாழ்க்கையிது ஆட்டுறவன்
நிறுத்திப்புட்டா நடுநிசியில
நின்னிடும் டோய்
Like an automatic watch,
This life keeps running;
If the one who winds it stops it,
It will freeze right in the middle of the night!
ஏய் என் நண்பா
வாழ்க்கை என்பது
வருஷக்கடைசி பரீட்சைப்
போலடா கேள் புது வெண்பா
உன் கண்ணில் தூவ கற்ற கை
மண் வேலைக்காகுதடா
Hey, my friend!
Life is like a final exam
At the end of the year, man.
Listen to this new verse:
The widow who teaches you to wash clothes,
Is she of any use at work?
சாம தான வேத
தண்டம் நாளும் கோர்த்து
போகும்போது தகுடு தத்தோம்
செய் தகுடு தத்தோம் செய்
தகுடு தத்தோம் செய்
தகுடு தத்தோம் செய்
Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment —
When all four strategies are strung together,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
ஓ மல்லுக்கட்டி
மல்லுக்கட்டி பாலாக
போனதுன்ன பில்லுக்கட்டு
காசுக்காக எட்டுக்கட்டி
சொல்லுறேன்டா
Oh.. wrestling and striving hard,
If everything goes to waste,
Just to get money for paying the bills,
I am telling you exaggerated lies!
கண்ணுக்கெட்டுப்
போனதுன்னா சூரியனக்
கும்புடுவான் சத்தியத்த
கலவு செய்ய சாக்கடைய
தேடிடுவான்
When eyesight is lost,
He worships the sun god;
To steal the truth,
He searches for an accomplice.
பேரன்பே நீ தார
வாா்த்து வேற ஆளு
கையில் சோ்த்துட்ட
காமன் அம்பே நீ குறிய
மாத்தி வேற நெஞ்சில்
குத்த வச்சிட்ட
O Great Love…
You handed over your affection
Into another person's hands!
சாம தான வேத
தண்டம் நாளும் கோர்த்து
போகும்போது தகுடு தத்தோம்
செய் தகுடு தத்தோம் செய்
தகுடு தத்தோம் செய்
தகுடு தத்தோம் செய்
O Cupid's Arrow…
You missed your target
And pierced a different heart!
ஓட பேத்து வேலை
செஞ்சாலும் ஒரு பைசா
கூட்டித் தந்தானா மாடா
உழைச்சி வேர்த்து நின்னாலும்
வயிறாற சோறு வச்சானா
Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment —
When all four strategies are strung together,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Even if worked hard to breaking point,
Did he give even one extra penny?
Even if worked like a fool until soaked in sweat,
Did he provide a full meal to fill the stomach? ..
Pona pogudhunu viteena
If you let it go thinking 'let it be',
Kenannu aappu vapaanda
He will trap you thinking you're a fool.
Thaana thedi poi nininna
If you go seeking him on your own,
Venunnu kaaka vappaanda
He will intentionally make you wait.
{Saama thaana vedha dhandam
{Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment —
Naalum korthu pogum podhu
When all four strategies are strung together,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say} (2)
Say Dhagudu Dhattham}
Dei panakaara
Hey rich man,
Kodi thutta saamikku innum
To the god already possessing crores of money,
Dhaanam pannura
You still keep donating!
Adei panakaara
Hey rich man,
Keera-vaanga car-il poiyu
Going in a car to buy cheap greens,
Beram pannura
You bargain endlessly!
Thappaana aalu edhilum vellum
The wrong person wins in everything,
Yeda koodam
It is all absurd and twisted;
Yepodhum illai kaalam marum
It won't stay like this forever, times will change,
Gnyayam vellum…
Justice will prevail…
Saama thaana vedha dhandam
Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment —
Naalum korthu pogum podhu
When all four strategies are strung together,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Hoo..hoo..
Hoo..hoo..
Hey.. nallavanu yaara solla
Hey.. who can be called good?
Kettavanu yaara solla
Who can be called evil?
Nallavana kettavana
Is the good man or bad man evil,
Mathuravandhan kettavano
Or is the one who changes a person the evil one?
Automatic watch pola
Like an automatic watch,
Odugira vazhkai idhu
This life keeps running;
Aaturavan niruthiputta
If the one who winds it stops it,
Nadunisila ninidum-doi
It will freeze right in the middle of the night!
Aeeee en nanba
Hey, my friend!
Vazhkai enbadhu varusa kadaisi
Life is like a final exam
Pariksha pola da
At the end of the year, man.
Kel pudhu venba
Listen to this new verse:
Un kannil thova katra kaiman
The widow who teaches you to wash clothes,
Vezhaiku aagudhada
Is she of any use at work?
Saama thaana vedha dhandam
Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment —
Naalum korthu pogum podhu
When all four strategies are strung together,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Ohh.. mallukatti mallukatti
Oh.. wrestling and striving hard,
Paalaga ponadhunna
If everything goes to waste,
Billu kattu kaasukaga
Just to get money for paying the bills,
Ettukatti solurenda
I am telling you exaggerated lies!
Kannuketu ponadhunna
When eyesight is lost,
Suriyana kumbuduvaan
He worships the sun god;
Sathiyatha kalavu seiya
To steal the truth,
Sakidaya thediduvan
He searches for an accomplice.
Peranbae…
O Great Love…
Nee tharavarthu
You handed over your affection
Vera aalu kaiyil serthuta
Into another person's hands!
Kaaman ambae
O Cupid's Arrow…
Nee kuriya maathi
You missed your target
Vera nenjil kutha vachita
And pierced a different heart!
Saama thaana vedha dhandam
Conciliation, bribery, division, and punishment —
Naalum korthu pogum podhu
When all four strategies are strung together,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Dhagudu dhattham say
Say Dhagudu Dhattham,
Oda pethu vela senjalum
Even if worked hard to breaking point,
Oru paisa kooti thandhana…
Did he give even one extra penny?
Madaa olachi verthu ninaalum
Even if worked like a fool until soaked in sweat,
Vairu-aara soru vachaana ..
Did he provide a full meal to fill the stomach? ..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Dhagudu Dhattham' is a satirical and philosophical track written and performed by Kamal Haasan for the film Manmadhan Ambu (2010), composed by Devi Sri Prasad. The song offers a sharp critique of societal hypocrisies, economic disparity, and human nature, framed around the ancient Indian political doctrine of 'Sama, Dana, Bheda, Danda' (persuasion, bribery, division, punishment). Through clever wordplay and everyday metaphors—such as wealthy people haggling over cheap vegetables or comparing life to an automatic watch that can stop at any moment—the lyricist muses on karma, moral ambiguity, misplaced love, and the struggles of the working class against exploitation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allusion (Classical Political Doctrine)
“Saama thaana vedha dhandam”
References Chanakya's four strategies of ancient statecraft: Sama (conciliation), Dana (bribery/gifts), Bheda (division), and Danda (punishment/force).
Irony / Satire
“Keera-vaanga car-il poiyu Beram pannura”
Highlights social irony where a rich person donates to rich temples and drives a luxury car yet haggles ruthlessly with poor street vendors.
Simile
“Automatic watch pola Odugira vazhkai idhu”
Compares human life to an automatic watch that operates on external motion and can stop unexpectedly at midnight.
Rhyme / Monai & Ethukai
“Pona pogudhunu viteena / Kenannu aappu vapaanda”
Uses standard Tamil end-rhymes and internal rhyming patterns such as 'Pona' / 'Kenannu' / 'Thaana' / 'Venunnu'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song was written and sung by Kamal Haasan himself. Music for the film Manmadhan Ambu was composed by Devi Sri Prasad. The lyrics incorporate Chanakya's ancient political philosophy (Sama, Dana, Bheda, Danda) blended with modern colloquial commentary.
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