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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Dhagudu Dhattham

From Manmadhan Ambu · 2010

Lyricist
Kamal Haasan
Singer
Kamal Haasan
Music director
Devi Sri Prasad
Movie name
Manmadhan Ambu
Movie release year
2010
Lyrics added on
22 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pona pogudhunu viteena
Kenannu aappu vapaanda
Thaana thedi poi nininna
Venunnu kaaka vappaanda
{Saama thaana vedha dhandam
Naalum korthu pogum podhu
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say} (2)
Dei panakaara
Kodi thutta saamikku innum
Dhaanam pannura
Adei panakaara
Keera-vaanga car-il poiyu
Beram pannura
Thappaana aalu edhilum vellum
Yeda koodam
Yepodhum illai kaalam marum
Gnyayam vellum…
Saama thaana vedha dhandam
Naalum korthu pogum podhu
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say
Hoo..hoo..
Hey.. nallavanu yaara solla
Kettavanu yaara solla
Nallavana kettavana
Mathuravandhan kettavano
Automatic watch pola
Odugira vazhkai idhu
Aaturavan niruthiputta
Nadunisila ninidum-doi
Aeeee en nanba
Vazhkai enbadhu varusa kadaisi
Pariksha pola da
Kel pudhu venba
Un kannil thova katra kaiman
Vezhaiku aagudhada
Saama thaana vedha dhandam
Naalum korthu pogum podhu
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say
Ohh.. mallukatti mallukatti
Paalaga ponadhunna
Billu kattu kaasukaga
Ettukatti solurenda
Kannuketu ponadhunna
Suriyana kumbuduvaan
Sathiyatha kalavu seiya
Sakidaya thediduvan
Peranbae…
Nee tharavarthu
Vera aalu kaiyil serthuta
Kaaman ambae
Nee kuriya maathi
Vera nenjil kutha vachita
Saama thaana vedha dhandam
Naalum korthu pogum podhu
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say
Dhagudu dhattham say
Oda pethu vela senjalum
Oru paisa kooti thandhana…
Madaa olachi verthu ninaalum
Vairu-aara soru vachaana ..
If you just let it go and let it slide,
He will treat you like a fool and screw you over, man!
If you willingly go and stand at his door,
He will make you wait on purpose, man!
{Persuasion, bribery, division, and force—
When all four tactics are woven together,
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!} (2)
Hey there, rich man!
Crores of cash to God,
You keep giving away as charity!
Hey there, rich man!
You ride in a car to buy greens,
And haggle over pennies!
The crooked man wins at everything,
In such a twisted way!
Not forever; time will change,
And justice will prevail...
Persuasion, bribery, division, and force—
When all four tactics are woven together,
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!
Hoo.. hoo..
Hey, who can be called good?
Who can be called bad?
Is a good person bad,
Or is the one who corrupts him the truly evil one?
Just like an automatic watch,
This life keeps ticking on.
If the One who keeps it moving stops,
It will freeze in the dead of night, my friend!
Hey, my friend!
Life is just like
A final exam at the end of the year, man!
Listen to this new verse:
The sorrow welling up in your eyes
Only brings hardship to the poor, man!
Persuasion, bribery, division, and force—
When all four tactics are woven together,
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!
Oh, after wrestling and struggling hard,
If everything has gone to ruin,
Just to get money to pay off bills,
I spin fabricated stories, man!
Once his eyesight is completely ruined,
He starts worshipping the sun!
To steal away the truth,
He hunts for clever excuses!
O great love...
Instead of giving yourself to me,
You put yourself into someone else's hands!
O arrow of Manmadhan (god of love),
You shifted your aim
And pierced a completely different heart!
Persuasion, bribery, division, and force—
When all four tactics are woven together,
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!
Play your cunning tricks!
Even if you break your bones working hard,
Did he ever give you a single penny extra?
Even if you toil like a beast drenched in sweat,
Did he ever feed you a belly full of food?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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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