- Lyricist
- V. Seetharaman
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- S. Vedhachalam
- Movie name
- Anbu Engey
- Movie release year
- 1958
- Lyrics added on
- 3 Sept 2021
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haei….yaa…..dingiri dingaalae
Meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Haa dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Adhigamaaga padichchu padichchu moolai kalangi pochchu
Anukundaithaan pottukittu azhinju pogalaachchu
Adhigamaaga padichchu padichchu moolai kalangi pochchu
Anukundaithaan pottukittu azhinju pogalaachchu
Arivillaama adakkiputta mirugaminnu sonnom
Antha mirugamellaam nammai paaththu
Sirikkuthenna seivom
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Aiyaa varava paaththu veettil yaenguranga ammaa
Antha aiyaa ingae kummaalanthaan poduraaru chumma haahaann
Aiyaa varava paaththu veettil yaenguranga ammaa
Antha aiyaa ingae kummaalanthaan poduraaru chumma
Appan paattan aashthiyellaam sigarettaaga maari
Aiyaa vaayil pugaiyuthu paar i am very sorry
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Chorus :Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Kariyum koottum sorum thinna maattaar intha mainar
Kaanju pona rotti thundum soup-pum ivaru dinner
Kariyum koottum sorum thinna maattaar intha mainar
Kaanju pona rotti thundum soup-pum ivaru dinner
Kurukku vazhiyil panaththai saerkka intha manushan aasa
Kudhirai vaalil kondu poyi kattiduvaar kaasa
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Chorus :Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Kannum kannum pesikkuthu mookkum mookkum muttuthu
Ponnum aanum jodi pottu kaiyai kaalai aattuthu
Kannum kannum pesikkuthu mookkum mookkum muttuthu
Ponnum aanum jodi pottu kaiyai kaalai aattuthu
Kandavanga mandaiyellaam thalaththoda aaduthu
Kaalu kaiyi udambellaam thookki thookki poduthu
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Chorus :Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Hahaa haahhaa hahaa haahhaa
Aa….Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Chorus :Dingiri dingaalae meenaatchi dingiri dingaalae
Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae
Male :Hahaa haahhaa
Hey... ya... dingiri dingale!
Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Ha, dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Studying and studying too much has muddled their minds,
and now they drop atom bombs and head toward ruin!
Studying and studying too much has muddled their minds,
and now they drop atom bombs and head toward ruin!
We called the animals mindless beasts and tamed them,
yet seeing what we have become, all those animals
are laughing at us—what can we do?
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Waiting for the master to return, his wife yearns at home,
while the master is out here just partying and having a blast, haha!
Waiting for the master to return, his wife yearns at home,
while the master is out here just partying and having a blast!
All his family inheritance has turned into cigarettes,
and look, it goes up in smoke from his mouth—I am very sorry!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Chorus: Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
This spoiled rich boy will not eat curry, vegetables, and rice;
a dried-up slice of bread and soup is his dinner!
This spoiled rich boy will not eat curry, vegetables, and rice;
a dried-up slice of bread and soup is his dinner!
This man wants to get rich quickly through shortcuts,
so he goes and ties all his money to a horse's tail!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Chorus: Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Eyes are locking with eyes, noses are bumping together,
girls and boys pair up and shake their arms and legs!
Eyes are locking with eyes, noses are bumping together,
girls and boys pair up and shake their arms and legs!
Everyone's head is bobbing along to the beat,
flinging their hands, legs, and whole bodies all around!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Chorus: Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Haha haaha haha haaha!
Ah... dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Chorus: Dingiri dingale, Meenakshi, dingiri dingale!
Look at the way the world is going, my dear, thillale!
Male: Haha haaha!
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Dingiri Dingaale' from Anbu Engey (1958) is a satirical commentary on modern human follies, westernization, and societal decay. Set to a catchy folk-pop rhythm with rhythmic refrain phrases ('Dingiri dingaale', 'Thillaale'), the singer mocks the ironies of educated humans bringing self-destruction through atomic warfare, foolishly squandering ancestral wealth on gambling, smoking, and partying while ignoring family obligations at home.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaich-chodugal (Initial Alliteration)
“Kannum kannum pesikkuthu mookkum mookkum muttuthu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines, such as 'Kannum' and 'Ponnum' or 'Kariyum' and 'Kaanju'.
Satire and Irony
“Arivillaama adakkiputta mirugaminnu sonnom / Antha mirugamellaam nammai paaththu / Sirikkuthenna seivom”
Contrasting human advancement with foolishness, pointing out that animals laugh at educated humans who build atomic bombs.
Refrain (Madakku/Thandagam)
“Ulagam pora pokka paaru thangamae thillaalae”
Use of rhythmic folk rhythm filler words like 'dingiri dingaalae' and 'thillaalae' to maintain tempo and lighthearted tone.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by V. T. Rajagopalan with lyrics written by V. Seetharaman, 'Dingiri Dingaale' sung by T. M. Soundararajan is one of Tamil cinema's iconic social-satire dance numbers from the 1950s, famous for its witty commentary on western influence and horse-race gambling.
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