Ennanne Nattukkulle Kadum
From Themmangu Paattukaaran · 1997
- Lyricist
- Ilaiyaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Themmangu Paattukaaran1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ennannae naattukkullae | Why, brother, inside the country, |
| Kadum panjam aagudhu | A severe famine is spreading. |
| Yen annae vandha nellu | Tell me brother, the harvested paddy, |
| Engannae pogudhu | Where is it disappearing to, brother? |
| Male | |
| Ennannae naattukkullae | Why, brother, inside the country, |
| Kadum panjam aagudhu | A severe famine is spreading. |
| Yen annae vandha nellu | Tell me brother, the harvested paddy, |
| Engannae pogudhu | Where is it disappearing to, brother? |
| Male | |
| Sollannae yaaraal indha | Tell me, brother, by whom did this |
| Soozhchi vandhu serndhadhu | Conspiracy come to pass? |
| Soththukku ezha veedu | For want of food, poor households |
| Sogam kondu vaadudhu | Are wilting away in sorrow. |
| Chorus | |
| Ennannae naattukkullae | Why, brother, inside the country, |
| Kadum panjam aagudhu | A severe famine is spreading. |
| Yen annae vandha nellu | Tell me brother, the harvested paddy, |
| Engannae pogudhu | Where is it disappearing to, brother? |
| Male | |
| Vatraadha kaaviriyum | In a land where the perennial Kaveri |
| Valamaai godhaavariyum | And the fertile Godavari |
| Paayum naattil | Flow abundantly, |
| Ekkaalum gangaiyudan | In a land where alongside the everlasting Ganga, |
| Ezhil migundha yamunai nadhi | The beautiful Yamuna river |
| Odum naattil | Runs free, |
| Vaigai purunaiyudan | Along with Vaigai and Porunai, |
| Vaai inikkum paalaaru | And the sweet-tasting Palar river |
| Oiyum thirunaattil | Rest in this sacred land, |
| Ulagu pugazh nam naattil | In our world-famous country, |
| Aiyago arisi yena | Alas, crying out for rice, |
| Abaya kural kekkudhannae | A distress call is heard, brother! |
| Adhai kandum sila manasu | Even after seeing that, some hearts |
| Asaiyaadhu irukkudhannae | Remain unmoved, brother! |
| Male | |
| Anaigal kattiyum enna | What is the use of building dams, |
| Panjaalai undaakkiyum enna | Or establishing textile mills, |
| Aaththukku paalam katti | Building bridges over rivers, |
| Roatta pottum enna | Or laying down roads? |
| Male | |
| Anaigal pala kattiyadhaalae | Just because many dams were built, |
| Adhigam vilaindhadhallavaa | Bumper crops were harvested, weren't they? |
| Arisikku panjam vandhaal | If there comes a shortage of rice, |
| Anaigalai pichi thingavaa | Can we tear down and eat the dams? |
| Chorus | |
| Arisikku panjam vandhaal | If there comes a shortage of rice, |
| Anaigalai pichi thingavaa | Can we tear down and eat the dams? |
| Male | |
| Ennannae naattukkullae | Why, brother, inside the country, |
| Kadum panjam aagudhu | A severe famine is spreading. |
| Chorus :Yen annae vandha nellu | Chorus: Tell me brother, the harvested paddy, |
| Engannae pogudhu | Where is it disappearing to, brother? |
| Male | |
| Sollannae yaaraal indha | Tell me, brother, by whom did this |
| Soozhchi vandhu serndhadhu | Conspiracy come to pass? |
| Soththukku ezha veedu | For want of food, poor households |
| Sogam kondu vaadudhu | Are wilting away in sorrow. |
| Chorus | |
| Ennannae naattukkullae | Why, brother, inside the country, |
| Kadum panjam aagudhu | A severe famine is spreading. |
| Yen annae vandha nellu | Tell me brother, the harvested paddy, |
| Engannae pogudhu | Where is it disappearing to, brother? |
| Male | |
| Thaenaarum paalaarum | Rivers of honey and milk |
| Theru theruvaai odum endru | Would flow through every street, they said, |
| Andru koori | Proclaiming back then; |
| Sirai chaalai adakku murai | Prisons and methods of oppression |
| Marukkaamal oppu kondu | Without defying, accepting them, |
| Ondru koodi | Gathering together, |
| Ullam nilai kollaamal | With restless minds, |
| Oon urakkam illaamal | Without proper food or sleep, |
| Iravu pagaal paaraamal | Without distinguishing day from night, |
| Yer pidithu nilam uzhudhu | Holding the plow and tilling the land, |
| Vidhai vidhaithu kaathirundhu | Sowing seeds and patiently waiting, |
| Adhu vilaindhu paarthirundhu | Watching the crops grow, |
| Aruvadaiyin nerathilae | And at the time of harvest, |
| Kalam kalamaai mani vilaithu | Yielding grains heap upon heap, |
| Male | |
| Kashtangal paduvadhu naanga | We are the ones suffering hardships, |
| Pon kaasugal paarppadhu neenga | While you are the ones seeing gold coins! |
| Koolikku velaiya senjom | We worked hard for daily wages, |
| Vandhu kooliya korachadhu yenga | So why did you come and reduce our wages? |
| Male | |
| Idha naanga solla ponaa | If we go to question this, |
| Kaaval pottu thadukkavaa | Will you deploy police force to stop us? |
| Aiyiaa nee ezhaikkaaga | Oh sir, for the sake of the poor, |
| Koolaiyai yethi kodukkavaa | Can you please raise our wage allowance? |
| Chorus | |
| Aiyiaa nee ezhaikkaaga | Oh sir, for the sake of the poor, |
| Koolaiyai yethi kodukkavaa | Can you please raise our wage allowance? |
| Male | |
| Ennannae naattukkullae | Why, brother, inside the country, |
| Kadum panjam aagudhu | A severe famine is spreading. |
| Yen annae vandha nellu | Tell me brother, the harvested paddy, |
| Engannae pogudhu | Where is it disappearing to, brother? |
| Male | |
| Sollannae yaaraal indha | Tell me, brother, by whom did this |
| Soozhchi vandhu serndhadhu | Conspiracy come to pass? |
| Soththukku ezha veedu | For want of food, poor households |
| Sogam kondu vaadudhu | Are wilting away in sorrow. |
| Chorus | |
| Ennannae naattukkullae | Why, brother, inside the country, |
| Kadum panjam aagudhu | A severe famine is spreading. |
| Yen annae vandha nellu | Tell me brother, the harvested paddy, |
| Engannae pogudhu | Where is it disappearing to, brother? |
என்னண்ணே நாட்டுக்குள்ள
கடும் பஞ்சம் ஆகுது
ஏனண்ணே வந்த நெல்லு
எங்கண்ணே போகுது
Why, brother, inside the country,
A severe famine is spreading.
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
என்னண்ணே நாட்டுக்குள்ள
கடும் பஞ்சம் ஆகுது
ஏனண்ணே வந்த நெல்லு
எங்கண்ணே போகுது
Why, brother, inside the country,
A severe famine is spreading.
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
சொல்லண்ணே யாரால்
இந்த சூழ்ச்சி வந்து சேர்ந்தது
சோத்துக்கு ஏழ வீடு சோகம்
கொண்டு வாடுது
Tell me, brother, by whom did this
Conspiracy come to pass?
For want of food, poor households
Are wilting away in sorrow.
என்னண்ணே நாட்டுக்குள்ள
கடும் பஞ்சம் ஆகுது
ஏனண்ணே வந்த நெல்லு
எங்கண்ணே போகுது
Why, brother, inside the country,
A severe famine is spreading.
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
வற்றாத காவிரியும்
வளமாய் கோதாவரியும்
பாயும் நாட்டில்
எக்காலும் கங்கையுடன்
எழில் மிகுந்த யமுனை நதி
ஓடும் நாட்டில்
In a land where the perennial Kaveri
And the fertile Godavari
Flow abundantly,
In a land where alongside the everlasting Ganga,
The beautiful Yamuna river
Runs free,
Along with Vaigai and Porunai,
And the sweet-tasting Palar river
Rest in this sacred land,
In our world-famous country,
Alas, crying out for rice,
A distress call is heard, brother!
Even after seeing that, some hearts
Remain unmoved, brother!
வைகை புருணையுடன்
வாய் இனிக்கும் பாலாறு
ஒய்யும் திருநாட்டில்
உலகு புகழ் நம் நாட்டில்
What is the use of building dams,
Or establishing textile mills,
Building bridges over rivers,
Or laying down roads?
அய்யகோ அரிசி என
அபயக் குரல் கேக்குதண்ணே
அதைக் கண்டும் சில மனசு
அசையாது இருக்குதண்ணே
Just because many dams were built,
Bumper crops were harvested, weren't they?
If there comes a shortage of rice,
Can we tear down and eat the dams?
அணைகள் கட்டியும் என்ன
பஞ்சாலை உண்டாக்கியும் என்ன
ஆத்துக்கு பாலம் கட்டி
ரோட்டப் போட்டும் என்ன
If there comes a shortage of rice,
Can we tear down and eat the dams?
அணைகள் பல கட்டியதாலே
அதிகம் விளைந்ததல்லவா
அரிசிக்குப் பஞ்சம் வந்தா
அணைகளை பிச்சித் திங்கவா
Why, brother, inside the country,
A severe famine is spreading.
Chorus: Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
அரிசிக்குப் பஞ்சம் வந்தா
அணைகளை பிச்சித் திங்கவா
Tell me, brother, by whom did this
Conspiracy come to pass?
For want of food, poor households
Are wilting away in sorrow.
என்னண்ணே நாட்டுக்குள்ள
கடும் பஞ்சம் ஆகுது
குழு :
ஏனண்ணே வந்த நெல்லு
எங்கண்ணே போகுது
Why, brother, inside the country,
A severe famine is spreading.
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
சொல்லண்ணே யாரால்
இந்த சூழ்ச்சி வந்து சேர்ந்தது
சோத்துக்கு ஏழ வீடு சோகம்
கொண்டு வாடுது
Rivers of honey and milk
Would flow through every street, they said,
Proclaiming back then;
Prisons and methods of oppression
Without defying, accepting them,
Gathering together,
With restless minds,
Without proper food or sleep,
Without distinguishing day from night,
Holding the plow and tilling the land,
Sowing seeds and patiently waiting,
Watching the crops grow,
And at the time of harvest,
Yielding grains heap upon heap,
என்னண்ணே நாட்டுக்குள்ள
கடும் பஞ்சம் ஆகுது
ஏனண்ணே வந்த நெல்லு
எங்கண்ணே போகுது
We are the ones suffering hardships,
While you are the ones seeing gold coins!
We worked hard for daily wages,
So why did you come and reduce our wages?
தேனாறும் பாலாறும்
தெருத் தெருவாய்
ஓடும் என்று அன்று கூறி
சிறைச்சாலை அடக்கு முறை
மறுக்காமல் ஒப்புக் கொண்டு
ஒன்று கூடி
If we go to question this,
Will you deploy police force to stop us?
Oh sir, for the sake of the poor,
Can you please raise our wage allowance?
உள்ளம் நிலை கொள்ளாமல்
ஊண் உறக்கம் இல்லாமல்
இரவு பகல் பாராமல்
ஏர் பிடித்து நிலம் உழுது
Oh sir, for the sake of the poor,
Can you please raise our wage allowance?
விதை விதைத்து காத்திருந்து
அது விளைந்து பார்த்திருந்து
அறுவடையின் நேரத்திலே
கலம் கலமாய் மணி விளைத்து
Why, brother, inside the country,
A severe famine is spreading.
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
கஷ்டங்கள் படுவது நாங்க
பொன் காசுகள் பார்ப்பது நீங்க
கூலிக்கு வேலைய செஞ்சும்
வந்து கூலிய கொறச்சது ஏங்க
Tell me, brother, by whom did this
Conspiracy come to pass?
For want of food, poor households
Are wilting away in sorrow.
இத நாங்க சொல்லப் போனா
காவல் போட்டு தடுக்கவா
அய்யா நீ ஏழைக்காக
கூலியை ஏத்திக் கொடுக்கவா
Why, brother, inside the country,
A severe famine is spreading.
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
அய்யா நீ ஏழைக்காக
கூலியை ஏத்திக் கொடுக்கவா
என்னண்ணே நாட்டுக்குள்ள
கடும் பஞ்சம் ஆகுது
ஏனண்ணே வந்த நெல்லு
எங்கண்ணே போகுது
சொல்லண்ணே யாரால்
இந்த சூழ்ச்சி வந்து சேர்ந்தது
சோத்துக்கு ஏழ வீடு சோகம்
கொண்டு வாடுது
என்னண்ணே நாட்டுக்குள்ள
கடும் பஞ்சம் ஆகுது
ஏனண்ணே வந்த நெல்லு
எங்கண்ணே போகுது
Ennannae naattukkullae
Why, brother, inside the country,
Kadum panjam aagudhu
A severe famine is spreading.
Yen annae vandha nellu
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Engannae pogudhu
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
Ennannae naattukkullae
Why, brother, inside the country,
Kadum panjam aagudhu
A severe famine is spreading.
Yen annae vandha nellu
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Engannae pogudhu
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
Sollannae yaaraal indha
Tell me, brother, by whom did this
Soozhchi vandhu serndhadhu
Conspiracy come to pass?
Soththukku ezha veedu
For want of food, poor households
Sogam kondu vaadudhu
Are wilting away in sorrow.
Ennannae naattukkullae
Why, brother, inside the country,
Kadum panjam aagudhu
A severe famine is spreading.
Yen annae vandha nellu
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Engannae pogudhu
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
Vatraadha kaaviriyum
In a land where the perennial Kaveri
Valamaai godhaavariyum
And the fertile Godavari
Paayum naattil
Flow abundantly,
Ekkaalum gangaiyudan
In a land where alongside the everlasting Ganga,
Ezhil migundha yamunai nadhi
The beautiful Yamuna river
Odum naattil
Runs free,
Vaigai purunaiyudan
Along with Vaigai and Porunai,
Vaai inikkum paalaaru
And the sweet-tasting Palar river
Oiyum thirunaattil
Rest in this sacred land,
Ulagu pugazh nam naattil
In our world-famous country,
Aiyago arisi yena
Alas, crying out for rice,
Abaya kural kekkudhannae
A distress call is heard, brother!
Adhai kandum sila manasu
Even after seeing that, some hearts
Asaiyaadhu irukkudhannae
Remain unmoved, brother!
Anaigal kattiyum enna
What is the use of building dams,
Panjaalai undaakkiyum enna
Or establishing textile mills,
Aaththukku paalam katti
Building bridges over rivers,
Roatta pottum enna
Or laying down roads?
Anaigal pala kattiyadhaalae
Just because many dams were built,
Adhigam vilaindhadhallavaa
Bumper crops were harvested, weren't they?
Arisikku panjam vandhaal
If there comes a shortage of rice,
Anaigalai pichi thingavaa
Can we tear down and eat the dams?
Arisikku panjam vandhaal
If there comes a shortage of rice,
Anaigalai pichi thingavaa
Can we tear down and eat the dams?
Ennannae naattukkullae
Why, brother, inside the country,
Kadum panjam aagudhu
A severe famine is spreading.
Chorus :Yen annae vandha nellu
Chorus: Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Engannae pogudhu
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
Sollannae yaaraal indha
Tell me, brother, by whom did this
Soozhchi vandhu serndhadhu
Conspiracy come to pass?
Soththukku ezha veedu
For want of food, poor households
Sogam kondu vaadudhu
Are wilting away in sorrow.
Ennannae naattukkullae
Why, brother, inside the country,
Kadum panjam aagudhu
A severe famine is spreading.
Yen annae vandha nellu
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Engannae pogudhu
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
Thaenaarum paalaarum
Rivers of honey and milk
Theru theruvaai odum endru
Would flow through every street, they said,
Andru koori
Proclaiming back then;
Sirai chaalai adakku murai
Prisons and methods of oppression
Marukkaamal oppu kondu
Without defying, accepting them,
Ondru koodi
Gathering together,
Ullam nilai kollaamal
With restless minds,
Oon urakkam illaamal
Without proper food or sleep,
Iravu pagaal paaraamal
Without distinguishing day from night,
Yer pidithu nilam uzhudhu
Holding the plow and tilling the land,
Vidhai vidhaithu kaathirundhu
Sowing seeds and patiently waiting,
Adhu vilaindhu paarthirundhu
Watching the crops grow,
Aruvadaiyin nerathilae
And at the time of harvest,
Kalam kalamaai mani vilaithu
Yielding grains heap upon heap,
Kashtangal paduvadhu naanga
We are the ones suffering hardships,
Pon kaasugal paarppadhu neenga
While you are the ones seeing gold coins!
Koolikku velaiya senjom
We worked hard for daily wages,
Vandhu kooliya korachadhu yenga
So why did you come and reduce our wages?
Idha naanga solla ponaa
If we go to question this,
Kaaval pottu thadukkavaa
Will you deploy police force to stop us?
Aiyiaa nee ezhaikkaaga
Oh sir, for the sake of the poor,
Koolaiyai yethi kodukkavaa
Can you please raise our wage allowance?
Aiyiaa nee ezhaikkaaga
Oh sir, for the sake of the poor,
Koolaiyai yethi kodukkavaa
Can you please raise our wage allowance?
Ennannae naattukkullae
Why, brother, inside the country,
Kadum panjam aagudhu
A severe famine is spreading.
Yen annae vandha nellu
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Engannae pogudhu
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
Sollannae yaaraal indha
Tell me, brother, by whom did this
Soozhchi vandhu serndhadhu
Conspiracy come to pass?
Soththukku ezha veedu
For want of food, poor households
Sogam kondu vaadudhu
Are wilting away in sorrow.
Ennannae naattukkullae
Why, brother, inside the country,
Kadum panjam aagudhu
A severe famine is spreading.
Yen annae vandha nellu
Tell me brother, the harvested paddy,
Engannae pogudhu
Where is it disappearing to, brother?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a social-protest folk song (Themmangu) that highlights the plight of agricultural laborers and poor farmers in Tamil Nadu. The singer questions how a nation blessed with rich rivers like the Kaveri, Godavari, Ganga, Yamuna, Vaigai, and Palar can still suffer from severe rice shortages and famine. He criticizes industrial development, infrastructure projects, and mega-dams if they fail to address basic human hunger, asking rhetorically whether one can eat concrete dams when starving.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Vatraadha kaaviriyum / Valamaai godhaavariyum”
Matching second consonants across lines to create rhythmic symmetry, as seen in 'Vatraadha' and 'Valamaai'.
Rhetorical Question & Irony
“Arisikku panjam vandhaal / Anaigalai pichi thingavaa”
Using sharp rhetorical questioning ('Can we tear down and eat the dams?') to underscore the futility of physical infrastructure without basic food security.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Kashtangal paduvadhu naanga / Pon kaasugal paarppadhu neenga”
Highlighting class divide by contrasting the physical suffering of farmers with the financial gain of landlords/middlemen.
Did you know?
Trivia
Though written in a traditional Tamil folk format (Themmangu), the song contains sharp socio-political critique regarding agrarian distress, government priorities, and hoarding practices that leave farmers impoverished despite abundant harvests.
Keep listening
More from Themmangu Paattukaaran
Themmangu Paattukaaran
Themmangu Paattukaaran
Themmangu Paattukaaran
Themmangu Paattukaaran
Themmangu Paattukaaran
Themmangu Paattukaaran