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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ethanai Kaalam Thaan

From LKG · 2019

Lyricist
Ko Sesha
Singer
Sean Roldan
Music director
Leon James
Details
LKG2019

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aaaa….aaa…haa….aaa…aaa….aa..(Vocalizing) Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa…aaa….aa..
Haa….aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa..(Vocalizing) Haa….aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa..
Male
Ethanai kaalam dhaanFor how much longer
Yemaatruvaar indha naatilae…Will they deceive people in this country?
Chorus :Nam naatilaeChorus: In our country!
Male
Innum ethanai kaalam dhaanFor how much longer
Yemaatruvar indha naatileWill they deceive people in this country?
Sondha naatilaeIn their own country!
Nam naatilaeIn our country!
Male
Haa..haa..haa aaa(Vocalizing) Haa..haa..haa aaa
Male
Innum ethanai kaalam dhaanFor how much longer
Yemaatruvar indha naatileWill they deceive people in this country?
Sondha naatilaeIn their own country!
Nam naatilaeIn our country!
Chorus :NaatilaeChorus: In the country!
Male
Sathiyam thavaraadhaNever deviating from truth,
Uthaman polavae nadikkiraarHe pretends to be a noble soul!
Aaaa….heyyy eyyyy eyyy(Vocalizing) Aaaa….heyyy eyyyy eyyy
Sathiyam thavaraadhaNever deviating from truth,
Uthaman polave nadikkiraarHe pretends to be a noble soul!
Samayam paarthu pala vagaiyilumBiding his time, in various ways,
Kollai adikkiraarHe loots and plunders!
Samayam paarthu pala vagaiyilumBiding his time, in various ways,
Kollai adikkiraarHe loots and plunders!
Male
Bakthanai polavaePosing like a devout devotee,
Pagal vesham kaattiPutting on a hypocritical mask,
Pamara makkalaiThe innocent, simple folk,
Valaiyinil mattiHe traps them in his net!
Chorus
Ethanai kaalam thaan…For how much longer…
Male :OoohoohooMale: Ooohoohoo
Chorus :Innum ethanai kaalam thaanChorus: For how much longer
Male :Eheyy….Male: Eheyy….
Male
Innum ethanai kaalam thaanFor how much longer
Yemaatruvaar indha naatilaeWill they deceive people in this country?
Sondha naatilaeIn their own country!
Nam naatilaeIn our country!
Male
Hae…ae…heh ehh(Vocalizing) Hae…ae…heh ehh
Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa
Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa
Thandhana thandhaana thaana thannananaa(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhaana thaana thannananaa
Thannananaanaa thannananaanaa naaa…hoi(Folk vocables) Thannananaanaa thannananaanaa naaa…hoi
Male
Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa..hoi(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa..hoi
Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa…hoi(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa…hoi
Thandhana thandhaana thaana thannananaa(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhaana thaana thannananaa
Thannananaanaa thannananaanaa naaa…naa(Folk vocables) Thannananaanaa thannananaanaa naaa…naa
Male
Pechinil matum veeramValor exists only in his speeches,
Ivar seivathellam verum beramWhile all he actually does is bargain and deal!
Vaakkugal koduppadhu vazhakkamMaking empty promises is his habit,
Adhai marappadhum ivaradhu pazhakkamAnd promptly forgetting them is his routine!
Male
Yevaradhu kaalaiyum pidipparHe will fall at anyone's feet when desperate,
Vidukkena vaariyum viduvaarAnd abruptly trip them up when convenient!
Yevaradhu kaalaiyum pidipparHe will fall at anyone's feet when desperate,
Vidukkena vaariyum viduvaarAnd abruptly trip them up when convenient!
Male
Innum ethanai kaalam thaanFor how much longer
Innum ethanai kaalam thaan..aaanFor how much longer...
Innum ethanai kaalam thaanFor how much longer
Yemaatruvar indha naatilaeWill they deceive people in this country?
Sondha naatilaeIn their own country!
Nam naatilae..ae….In our country!...
Male
{Haa…aa….aaa….(Vocalizing) Haa…aa….aaa….
Haa…aa….aaa….(Vocalizing) Haa…aa….aaa….
Naatilae..thaai naatilaeIn the country... in our motherland!
Haa…aa….aaa….(Vocalizing) Haa…aa….aaa….
Haa…aa….aaa….(Vocalizing) Haa…aa….aaa….
Naatilae..thaai naatilae} (2)In the country... in our motherland!
Male
Panaththinai vaariyae kodupaarHe distributes cash liberally during campaigns,
Kizhaviyai kattiyum pidippaarHugs elderly women for publicity,
Ezhaiyin kudisaikkul pugunthuEnters the humble huts of the poor,
Avar veetinil koozhaiyum kudippaarAnd drinks porridge in their homes,
Male
Naan ungalil oruvan enbaarHe claims, 'I am one among you all,'
Vendradhum yaar nee enbaarYet once he wins, he asks, 'Who on earth are you?'
Naan ungalil oruvan enbaarHe claims, 'I am one among you all,'
Vendradhum yaar nee enbaarYet once he wins, he asks, 'Who on earth are you?'
Male
Ini ethanai kaalam thaanFrom now on, for how much longer
Yemaatruvar indha naatilaeWill they deceive people in this country?
Sondha naatilaeIn their own country!
Nam naatilaeIn our country!
Male
Sathiyam thavaraadhaNever deviating from truth,
Uthaman polavae nadikkiraarHe pretends to be a noble soul!
Samayam paarthu pala vagaiyilumBiding his time, in various ways,
Kollai adikkiraarHe loots and plunders!
Samayam paarthu pala vagaiyilumBiding his time, in various ways,
Kollai adikkiraarHe loots and plunders!
Male
Bakthanai polavaePosing like a devout devotee,
Pagal vesham kaattiPutting on a hypocritical mask,
Pamara makkalaiThe innocent, simple folk,
Valaiyinil mattiHe traps them in his net!
Male
Innum ethanai kaalam thaanFor how much longer
Innum ethanai kaalam thaanFor how much longer
Innum ethanai kaalam thaan..aaa..aanFor how much longer...
Innum ethanai kaalam thaanFor how much longer
Yemaatruvar indha naatilaeWill they deceive people in this country?
Sondha naatilaeIn their own country!
Nam naatilae…ae….In our country!...
Male
Hae…ae…heh ehh(Vocalizing) Hae…ae…heh ehh
Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa
Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa
Thandhana thandhaana thaana thannananaa(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhaana thaana thannananaa
Thannananaanaa thannananaanaa naaa…hoi(Folk vocables) Thannananaanaa thannananaanaa naaa…hoi
Male
Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa..hoi(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa..hoi
Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa…hoi(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhana thandhan na aa…hoi
Thandhana thandhaana thaana thannananaa(Folk vocables) Thandhana thandhaana thaana thannananaa
Thannananaanaa thannananaanaa naaa…naa(Folk vocables) Thannananaanaa thannananaanaa naaa…naa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a sharp political satire calling out corrupt politicians who exploit common citizens through empty promises, theatrical publicity stunts, and hypocrisy. It details the opportunistic antics of political leaders during election season—such as handing out cash for votes, hugging poor grandmothers, eating humble porridge in slum homes, and pretending to be 'one of the common people'—only to completely abandon and disown those voters once power is secured.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyming)

Pechinil matum veeram / Ivar seivathellam verum beram

The second consonant 'ch' in Pechinil rhymes with 'v' in Seivathellam in standard rhyme scheme, and 'veeram' rhymes with 'beram'.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Vaakkugal koduppadhu vazhakkam / Adhai marappadhum ivaradhu pazhakkam

Both consecutive lines end with the rhyming suffix '-akkam' ('vazhakkam' and 'pazhakkam').

Metaphor

Pamara makkalai / Valaiyinil matti

The song metaphorically compares naive voters to fish or birds trapped in a hunter's net ('valaiyinil matti').

Irony / Satire

Naan ungalil oruvan enbaar / Vendradhum yaar nee enbaar

Highlights the dramatic ironic contrast between a politician's pre-election humility ('I am one of you') and post-election arrogance ('Who are you?').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track in *LKG* (2019) is a modern rearrangement and satirical tribute to the iconic 1954 classic song 'Ethanai Kaalam Dhaan Yemaatruvaar' originally composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, and picturized on M. G. Ramachandran in the movie *Malaikkallan*. For *LKG*, a political satire film starring RJ Balaji, the track was re-adapted with modern arrangements by composer Leon James.

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