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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ennanga Sir Unga Sattam

From Joker · 2016

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singers
Arandhai Bava, K. Perumal
Music director
Sean Roldan
Details
Joker2016

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………………..What is this, sir?
Male
Ennanga sir-aeWhat is this, sir?
Ennanga sir-aeYeii yeiii..
Chorus
Yeii yeiii..What is this, sir, your law?
Male
Ennanga sir unga sattamWhat is this, sir, your scheme?
Ennanga sir unga thittamWith no one around to question you,
Kelvi ketka aalillaamaYou hold your assemblies and rule arbitrarily.
Poduringa kottamA population of one billion people,
Male
Nooru kodi manidharuAnd random, arbitrary leaders,
Yaaru yaaro thalaivaruYou who leave after buying votes,
Ottu vaangi pora neengaYou are dealers in corruption!
Oozhal oda dealar-uYou who leave after buying votes,
Male
Ottu vaangi pora neengaYou are dealers in corruption!
Oozhaloda dealar-uYeiii yeiii..
Chorus
Yeiii yeiii..The glorious lineage of rulers rendered illiterate and helpless,
Male
Aanda parambara kai naattuWhile corporations rule over and manipulate us.
Aatti padaikkudhu corporattuTo the ministers selling off the country,
Naatta vikkira mandhiri maarukuGive a grand sarcastic salute!
Nallaa vaiyyi salyuttuPa pa pa bha
Male
Pa pa pa bhaPabha pabha paa paa
Pabha pabha paa paaPa pa pa bha
Male
Pa pa pa bhaChorus : Pa pa pa bha
Chorus :Pa pa pa bhaMale : Pabha pabha paa paa
Male :Pabha pabha paa paaChorus : Pabha pabha paa paa
Chorus :Pabha pabha paa paaPabha pabha pabha
Male
Pabha pabha pabhaPa pa pa pa pa pa
Pa pa pa pa pa paYeiii…yeiii
Chorus
Yeiii…yeiiiIn the ration rice, there are worms,
Male
Ration arisi puzhuvulaYet in dreams, we are a superpower,
Vallarasu kanavulaLooking at the direction the nation is heading,
Dhesam pora pokka paarthaIt will never get fixed in the end.
Theradhunga mudivulaYeiii yeiii…
Chorus
Yeiii yeiii…Unable to voice an opinion,
Male
Karuththu solla mudiyalaAnd black money hasn't returned either,
Karuppu panamum thirumbalaEvery individual acts like a village chief,
Aalukkaalu naattamaidhaRight inside the Parliament.
Parlementu naduvulaLuxury cars are on the streets,
Male
Sogusu car-u theruvulaChorus : Yeiii
Chorus :YeiiiWhile the farmer hangs from a noose,
Vivasaayi thookkulaChorus : Yeiii
Chorus :YeiiiPiling interest upon interest,
Vatti mela vatti pottuYou hit hard right in the stomach.
Adikkuringa vayithulaWhat is this, sir, your law?
Male
Ennanga sir unga sattamWhat is this, sir, your scheme?
Ennanga sir unga thittamWhat is this, sir…
Ennanga sir…Yeiii yeiii…yaei yaei
Chorus
Yeiii yeiii…yaei yaeiYeiii yeiii…yaei yaei
Yeiii yeiii…yaei yaeiYeiii yeiii…yaei yaei
Yeiii yeiii…yaei yaeiIs a mobile phone glowing in your hand?
Male
Kaiyila phone-u jolikkudhaDid you get a free television set?
Tv-um oc-il kedaikudhaUrgent to go to the toilet,
Avasarama onnukkum rendukkumIs there even a place to relieve oneself?
Odhunga edamum irukkudhaYeiii yeiii…
Chorus
Yeiii yeiii…Does nature deny anything to us?
Male
Iyarkkai enna marukkudhaDoes it hoard anything inside?
Ethaiyum ulla padhukudhaTo loot and plunder everything,
Ellaathayum sooraiyadaIs the government acting as a pimp?
Sarkar kootti kodukudhaGood drinking water is unavailable,
Male
Nalla thanni kedaikkalaChorus : Yeiii…
Chorus :Yeiii…Clean air is unavailable,
Nalla kaathu kedaikkalaChorus : Yeiii…
Chorus :Yeiii…Through government-run liquor stores,
Arasaanga sarakkulathanYou are killing the common people.
Kolluringa sanangalaWhat is this, sir, your law?
Male
Ennanga sir unga sattamWhat is this, sir, your scheme?
Ennanga sir unga thittamWith no one around to question you,
Kelvi ketka aalillaamaYou hold your assemblies and rule arbitrarily.
Poduringa kottamA population of one billion people,
Male
Nooru kodi manidharuAnd random, arbitrary leaders,
Yaaru yaaro thalaivaruYou who leave after buying votes,
Ottu vaangi pora neengaYou are dealers in corruption!
Oozhal oda dealar-uYou who leave after buying votes,
Male
Ottu vaangi pora neengaYou are dealers in corruption!
Oozhaloda dealar-uYeiii yeiii..
Chorus
Yeiii yeiii..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ennanga Sir is a hard-hitting political satire song from the 2016 Tamil movie 'Joker', directed by Raju Murugan with music composed by Sean Roldan and lyrics by Yugabharathi. The song serves as an angry yet satirical critique of the Indian political system, highlighting the stark contrast between grand government claims (like becoming a global superpower) and the harsh reality faced by common citizens, such as lack of basic sanitation, contaminated ration food, farmer suicides, corporate dominance, and state-monopolized liquor sales. Through sharp rhetorical questions and sarcastic refrains, the protagonist questions the authority of corrupt politicians who secure power through vote-buying rather than public welfare. The song encapsulates the core theme of the film—a citizen fighting against administrative apathy and socio-political absurdity while asserting his right to demand accountability.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ennanga sir unga sattam / Ennanga sir unga thittam

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating rhythm, such as 'sattam' and 'thittam'.

Anaaphora (Repetition)

Ennanga sir unga sattam / Ennanga sir unga thittam

Repetition of 'Ennanga sir' at the start of consecutive lines to emphasize indignation and questioning.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Nalla thanni kedaikkala / Nalla kaathu kedaikkala

Rhyming endings of lines like 'kedaikkala' across stanzas.

Irony / Sarcasm

Naatta vikkira mandhiri maaruku / Nallaa vaiyyi salyuttu

Sarcastic recommendation to salute ministers who sell out the country.

Juxtaposition

Ration arisi puzhuvula / Vallarasu kanavula

Contrasting worms in ration rice with lofty dreams of becoming a global superpower.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ennanga Sir' was composed by Sean Roldan and sung by Sean Roldan alongside M. Lalitha Sudha. The movie 'Joker' won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil at the 64th National Film Awards. Lyricist Yugabharathi used colloquial street-style language combined with folk rhythms to evoke grassroots socio-political protest.

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