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Isaimozhi
Michael Raj album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Dhora Mani Paththara

From Michael Raj · 1987

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Michael Raj
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
23 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haei dhorai
Dhorai mani paththarai
Kadhai nallaa katturae
Ooru vaaya poththurae
Inga ullathellaam surutturae
Appappaa idhellaam thappappaa
Dhorai mani paththarai
Chorus :Dhorai mani paththarai
Male :Kadhai nallaa katturae
Chorus :Kadhai nallaa katturae
Male :Ooru vaaya poththurae
Chorus :Ooru vaaya poththurae
Male :Inga ullathellaam surutturae
Chorus :Inga ullathellaam surutturae
Male :Appappaa idhellaam thappappaa
Kaasu panam serkka machi
Senja paavam konjamaa
Kaasiyil gangaiyil kazhuvunaalum pogumaa
Chinna chinna thirudangathaan
Jeyilukulae pogiraan
Periya periya thirudanellaam
Periya manusan aaguraan
Thirudanga yaarudaa oorukulla keludaa
Thirunthikka paarudaa thinnurathu sorudaa
Maanam ketta nainaavukku manushannu perudaa
Dhorai mani paththarai
Chorus :Dhorai mani paththarai
Male :Kadhai nallaa katturae
Chorus :Kadhai nallaa katturae
Male :Ooru vaaya poththurae
Chorus :Ooru vaaya poththurae
Male :Inga ullathellaam surutturae
Chorus :Inga ullathellaam surutturae
Male :Appappaa idhellaam thappappaa…..aamaam…
Appanoda soththu unna
Aattam poda vaikkuthu
Aatchi thantha odambu ingae
Palapalappaa nikkuthu
Kaasukkaaga unna suththu kaakaikalae kooduthu
Kaithadinga rosham kettu koshangalae poduthu
Unakunnu ennadaa
Perumaiyum vaazhuthu
Chee yaezhainga vervaithaan bhoomiya aaluthu
Moochcha konjam izhuththu vittaa
Puyaladikka poguthu
Dhorai mani paththarai
Chorus :Dhorai mani paththarai
Male :Kadhai nallaa katturae
Chorus :Kadhai nallaa katturae
Male :Ooru vaaya poththurae
Chorus :Ooru vaaya poththurae
Male :Inga ullathellaam surutturae
Chorus :Inga ullathellaam surutturae
Male :Appappaa idhellaam thappappaa…doi…
Dhorai mani paththarai
Chorus :Dhorai mani paththarai
Male :Kadhai nallaa katturae
Chorus :Kadhai nallaa katturae
Male :Ooru vaaya poththurae
Chorus :Ooru vaaya poththurae
Male :Inga ullathellaam surutturae
Chorus :Inga ullathellaam surutturae
Male :Appappaa idhellaam thappappaa…..aamaam…
Hey, big shot!
Big shot, it's half past ten!
You spin tall tales so well!
You shut the town's mouth!
You pocket everything in sight!
Oh man, all of this is dead wrong!
Big shot, it's half past ten!
Chorus: Big shot, it's half past ten!
Male: You spin tall tales so well!
Chorus: You spin tall tales so well!
Male: You shut the town's mouth!
Chorus: You shut the town's mouth!
Male: You pocket everything in sight!
Chorus: You pocket everything in sight!
Male: Oh man, all of this is dead wrong!
To pile up wealth and cash, buddy,
are the sins you committed small in number?
Even if washed in the sacred Ganges at Kasi, will they wash away?
Only the petty thieves
end up going behind bars,
while all the massive thieves
become respectable gentlemen!
Ask around the town who the real thieves are!
Try to mend your ways—what you eat is food, have some conscience!
This shameless fellow is still called a human being!
Big shot, it's half past ten!
Chorus: Big shot, it's half past ten!
Male: You spin tall tales so well!
Chorus: You spin tall tales so well!
Male: You shut the town's mouth!
Chorus: You shut the town's mouth!
Male: You pocket everything in sight!
Chorus: You pocket everything in sight!
Male: Oh man, all of this is dead wrong... yes indeed!
Your father's inherited wealth
makes you dance with arrogance!
Your body, pampered by power,
stands here gleaming bright!
Greedy crows gather around you just for money!
Shameless goons blindly cheer and shout slogans for you!
What real greatness
do you truly possess?
Come on, it is the sweat of the poor that rules this earth!
If they just take a deep breath and blow,
a mighty storm will rise!
Big shot, it's half past ten!
Chorus: Big shot, it's half past ten!
Male: You spin tall tales so well!
Chorus: You spin tall tales so well!
Male: You shut the town's mouth!
Chorus: You shut the town's mouth!
Male: You pocket everything in sight!
Chorus: You pocket everything in sight!
Male: Oh man, all of this is dead wrong... hey you!
Big shot, it's half past ten!
Chorus: Big shot, it's half past ten!
Male: You spin tall tales so well!
Chorus: You spin tall tales so well!
Male: You shut the town's mouth!
Chorus: You shut the town's mouth!
Male: You pocket everything in sight!
Chorus: You pocket everything in sight!
Male: Oh man, all of this is dead wrong... yes indeed!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic folk-style track from the 1987 film 'Michael Raj' is a biting social satire penned by celebrated poet Mu. Metha. The song takes aim at wealthy oppressors, corrupt politicians, and hypocritical elites who steal from society on a massive scale while escaping punishment. Meanwhile, petty thieves end up behind bars, exposing the double standards of society. The lyrics praise the power and dignity of the working class, reminding the corrupt rich that their wealth was inherited, not earned. It warns that sycophants surround them only for money, and that when the oppressed masses unite and raise their voice, their collective power will hit like a storm to wipe out injustice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaasukkaaga unna suththu kaakaikalae kooduthu

Compares sycophantic followers to crows ('kaakaikal') gathering purely for money.

Antithesis / Irony

Chinna chinna thirudangathaan Jeyilukulae pogiraan / Periya periya thirudanellaam Periya manusan aaguraan

Contrasts petty thieves who are jailed with big looters who become respected society men.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navirtchi)

Moochcha konjam izhuththu vittaa Puyaladikka poguthu

Exaggerates the force of the working poor's deep breath as capable of creating a storm that overthrows power.

Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kaasu panam serkka machi ... / Kaasiyil gangaiyil kazhuvunaalum pogumaa

Matching starting letters across lines, such as 'Kaasu' and 'Kaasiyil'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Michael Raj' (1987) was directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar and featured music composed by Chandrabose, with lyrics by prominent poet Mu. Metha. The film stars Raghuvaran in a lead heroic role.

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