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Thaanaa Serndha Koottam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Engae Endru Povathu

From Thaanaa Serndha Koottam · 2017

Lyricist
Thamarai
Singer
Anirudh Ravichander
Music director
Anirudh Ravichander
Movie name
Thaanaa Serndha Koottam
Movie release year
2017
Lyrics added on
1 Dec 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Engae endru povadhu
Yaarai solli novadhu
Yedho konjam vazhumbothae
Thotru thotru saavadhu
Ratham ketkum peyidhu
Raathiri pagalaai maayidhu
Ooyvae illai ovvondragaaa
Kooru potu kolludhu
Pirappadhae pilai
Enum ili nilai
Unmai illa naattil thavarudhae mazhai
Dhinam varum pagai
Moolgugindrom setril
Oor uyirukku ingae vilai enna
Verum kanneer sindhi payan enna
Dhinam naanum neeyum
Kaanum kanavugal
Karugi pogum nilai enna
Oru thiramai irundhal podhadha
Idam thedi kondu vaaradha
Indha lanjam oolal rendum ingae
Ketta vaarthai aagathaaaa…..aa…
{Vazhi thedi alaigindrom
Thaniyaaga valargindrom
Thalaikeezhaai thirigindrom
Dhisai theriyaamal thinarugirom} (2)
Satchigal maaruma
Aatchigal maaruma
Soolnilai maaruma
Soolchigal maaruma
Ini naamum
Oru dhaayam veesiyae
Yenii yeranum
Edhiri adi vaangi vaangi
Oodi poganum
{Idhu valiyaal vaadiya kootamada
Oru pudhithaana porattamada
Idhu thedi sertha kootam illai
Thaana serndha koottamada}
Theedhum nandrum
Serndhae vaazhum oril
Theeemai mattum oongi nirkum velai
Kaatrum kooda kaasai ketkum kaalam
Vandhaal enna naamum seiya koodum
Idhu thaana serndha koottamada
Idhu thaana serndha koottamada
Idhu thedi sertha kootam illai
Thaana serndha koottam ada
Where are we supposed to go?
Who is there to blame for our pain?
Even while barely living our lives,
We keep losing and dying inside.
This is a demon that thirsts for blood,
Destroying us day and night.
Without any rest, one by one,
It cuts us into pieces and kills us.
That being born itself is a mistake—
What a humiliating state to be in!
In a land without truth, the rains fail,
New enemies rise every day,
And we are sinking deep in the mud.
What is the worth of a life here?
What is the use of just shedding tears?
Every day, the dreams
That you and I dream—
Why must they burn down to ashes?
Isn't having talent enough?
Won't our rightful place come looking for us?
Won't bribery and corruption here
Ever become forbidden dirty words?
We wander around searching for a way,
We grow up all on our own,
We roam around turned upside down,
We struggle without knowing which way to go.
Will the witnesses ever change?
Will the rulers ever change?
Will our circumstances ever change?
Will the corrupt plots ever change?
From now on, we too
Must roll the dice
And climb up the ladder,
While the enemy takes beating after beating
And runs away!
This is a group worn down by pain, my friend,
This is a brand-new fight!
This isn't a crowd brought together by anyone,
It's a gang that united on its own!
In a town where good and evil
Live side by side,
When evil alone stands tall,
In a time when even the air asks for money,
What else am I supposed to do?
This is a gang that united on its own!
This is a gang that united on its own!
This isn't a crowd brought together by anyone,
It's a gang that united on its own!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Thaanaa Serndha Koottam' serves as a rousing anthem of social frustration, collective disillusionment, and righteous rebellion against systemic corruption, bribery, and socio-economic injustice. It articulates the deep agony of ordinary citizens whose talents go unrecognized and whose dreams are repeatedly crushed in a society where money and influence dictate survival.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Satchigal maaruma / Aatchigal maaruma / Soolnilai maaruma / Soolchigal maaruma”

Repetition of the ending word/suffix '-maaruma' across consecutive lines creates an echoing, rhetorical effect questioning systemic change.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Satchigal maaruma / Soolnilai maaruma / Soolchigal maaruma”

The starting letter 'Sa/Soo' sound recurs at the beginning of these lines, adding rhythmic harmony.

Metaphor

“Oru dhaayam veesiyae / Yenii yeranum”

Compares taking strategic action in life to rolling dice ('dhaayam') and climbing a ladder ('yenii') in a board game like Snakes and Ladders.

Hyperbole

“Kaatrum kooda kaasai ketkum kaalam”

Exaggerates extreme commercialization and corruption by describing an era where even the air requires payment.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is the title track of the 2017 Tamil film 'Thaanaa Serndha Koottam', directed by Vignesh Shivan and starring Suriya. The movie is an official remake of the 2013 Hindi heist film 'Special 26'. Composed and sung by Anirudh Ravichander with lyrics by Thamarai, the phrase 'Thaanaa Serndha Koottam' translates to 'a crowd that assembled on its own', perfectly reflecting the plot where common people spontaneously team up to stage fake raids against corrupt officials.

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From the same album

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