Ettana Iruntha
From Ellame En Rasathan · 1995
- Lyricist
- Ponnadiyan
- Singer
- Vadivelu
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ellame En Rasathan1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ettanaa irundhaa | If there is eight annas, |
| Ettoorum enpaatta kekkum | Eight towns will hear my song! |
| Paththanaa irundhaa | If there is ten annas, |
| Paththoorum enpaatta paadum | Ten towns will sing my song! |
| Male | |
| Mottaiyo kattaiyo | Whether bald or short, |
| Nettaiyo kuttaiyo | Whether tall or small, |
| Moththamaa oththaiyaa | All together or all alone, |
| Paththu rooba irundhaaa | If there are ten rupees... |
| Oorae rendu pattu pogum | The entire town will split in two! |
| Indha naadae rendu kettaan aagum | This whole nation will turn into chaos! |
| Oorae rendu pattu pogum | The entire town will split in two! |
| Indha naadae rendu kettaan aagum | This whole nation will turn into chaos! |
| Male | |
| Ettanaa irundhaa | If there is eight annas, |
| Ettoorum enpaatta kekkum | Eight towns will hear my song! |
| Paththanaa irundhaa | If there is ten annas, |
| Paththoorum enpaatta paadum | Ten towns will sing my song! |
| Male | |
| Kaarasaaramaaga paesi | By speaking colorfully and persuasively, |
| Oora kaiyil podudaa ooo | Put the whole town in your pocket! |
| Kodu pottu road pottu | Draw boundaries, lay down roads, |
| Veedu katti aadudaaa ooo | Build a house and dance with joy! |
| Male | |
| Eliya pudichchu neeyum | Even if you catch a simple rat, |
| Vesham pottu kaattu | Dress it up in a disguise and display it; |
| Adhaiyum paakka | Even to watch that nonsense, |
| Paththu paeru kooduvaan | Ten people will gather around! |
| Naeram paaththu kaalaa vaarivittu joraa | Watching for the right opportunity to trip someone up, |
| Kaalu maela kaalu thookki poduvaan | They will sit back cross-legged in grand style! |
| Male | |
| Muthuraasu muthuraasu | Oh Muthuraasu, Muthuraasu, |
| Poiyya unmai pola kooruda | Tell a lie as if it were the ultimate truth! |
| Thanga kaasa alli veesu | Throw gold coins around generously, |
| Nambi vaangi pogum oorudaa | This town will blindly believe and take it! |
| Idhu kalikaalam kalikaalamda | This is the modern age of Kali Yuga! |
| Male | |
| Ettanaa irundhaa | If there is eight annas, |
| Ettoorum enpaatta kekkum | Eight towns will hear my song! |
| Paththanaa irundhaa | If there is ten annas, |
| Paththoorum enpaatta paadum | Ten towns will sing my song! |
| Male | |
| Kaal vayiththu kanjikkaaga | Just for a quarter stomach of porridge, |
| Kadala kooda thaanduven ooo | I will even cross the ocean! |
| Vaanavila vaanga baeram | To buy a rainbow, |
| Kadavuloda paesuvaen ooo | I will bargain with God Himself! |
| Male | |
| Indhiranum kooda ennooda friend | Even Lord Indra is my friend— |
| Endru solla enna thavira yaaruda | Who else besides me can boast that? |
| Andha logam vaazhum sundarigal kooda | Even the celestial beauties living in that heavenly world, |
| Vandhenakku kaal amukkum paerudaa | Are the ones who come to press my feet! |
| Male | |
| Chinnaraasu ponnuraasu | Oh Chinnaraasu, Oh Ponnuraasu, |
| Kaaththu namma pakkam veesunaa | If the wind blows in our favor, |
| Muttakosu muttakosu | Cabbage or whatever comes, |
| Endrum vaazhkkaiyila passu da | Life will always be green and successful! |
| Nalla poondhu vilaiyaadudaa | Jump right in and play your game well! |
| Male | |
| Ettanaa irundhaa | If there is eight annas, |
| Ettoorum enpaatta kekkum | Eight towns will hear my song! |
| Paththanaa irundhaa | If there is ten annas, |
| Paththoorum enpaatta paadum | Ten towns will sing my song! |
| Male | |
| Mottaiyo kattaiyo | Whether bald or short, |
| Nettaiyo kuttaiyo | Whether tall or small, |
| Moththamaa oththaiyaa | All together or all alone, |
| Paththu rooba irundhaaa | If there are ten rupees... |
| Oorae rendu pattu pogum | The entire town will split in two! |
| Indha naadae rendu kettaan aagum | This whole nation will turn into chaos! |
| Oorae rendu pattu pogum | The entire town will split in two! |
| Indha naadae rendu kettaan aagum | This whole nation will turn into chaos! |
| Male | |
| Ettanaa irundhaa | If there is eight annas, |
| Ettoorum enpaatta kekkum | Eight towns will hear my song! |
| Paththanaa irundhaa | If there is ten annas, |
| Paththoorum enpaatta paadum | Ten towns will sing my song! |
எட்டணா இருந்தா
எட்டூரும் எம்பாட்ட கேட்கும்
பத்தணா இருந்தா
பத்தூரும் எம்பாட்ட பாடும்
If there is eight annas,
Eight towns will hear my song!
If there is ten annas,
Ten towns will sing my song!
மொட்டையோ கட்டையோ
நெட்டையோ குட்டையோ
மொத்தமா ஒத்தையா
பத்து ரூபா இருந்தா
ஊரே ரெண்டு பட்டு போகும்
இந்த நாடே ரெண்டுங்கெட்டான் ஆகும்
ஊரே ரெண்டு பட்டு போகும்
இந்த நாடே ரெண்டுங்கெட்டான் ஆகும்
Whether bald or short,
Whether tall or small,
All together or all alone,
If there are ten rupees...
The entire town will split in two!
This whole nation will turn into chaos!
The entire town will split in two!
This whole nation will turn into chaos!
எட்டணா இருந்தா
எட்டூரும் எம்பாட்ட கேட்கும்
பத்தணா இருந்தா
பத்தூரும் எம்பாட்ட பாடும்
If there is eight annas,
Eight towns will hear my song!
If there is ten annas,
Ten towns will sing my song!
காரசாரமாக பேசி
ஊரை கையில் போடுடா
கோடு போட்டு ரோடு போட்டு
வீடு கட்டி ஆடுடா ஓஒ
By speaking colorfully and persuasively,
Put the whole town in your pocket!
Draw boundaries, lay down roads,
Build a house and dance with joy!
எலியப் புடிச்சி நீயும்
வேஷம் போட்டுக் காட்டு
அதையும் பார்க்க
பத்து பேரு கூடுவான்
நேரம் பார்த்து கால வாரி விட்டு ஜோரா
காலு மேல கால தூக்கி போடுவான்
Even if you catch a simple rat,
Dress it up in a disguise and display it;
Even to watch that nonsense,
Ten people will gather around!
Watching for the right opportunity to trip someone up,
They will sit back cross-legged in grand style!
முத்துராசு முத்துராசு
பொய்ய உண்மை போல கூறுடா
தங்க காசு அள்ளி வீசு
நம்பி வாங்கிப் போகும் ஊருடா
இது கலிகாலம் கலி காலம்டா......
Oh Muthuraasu, Muthuraasu,
Tell a lie as if it were the ultimate truth!
Throw gold coins around generously,
This town will blindly believe and take it!
This is the modern age of Kali Yuga!
எட்டணா இருந்தா
எட்டூரும் எம்பாட்ட கேட்கும்
பத்தணா இருந்தா
பத்தூரும் எம்பாட்ட பாடும்
If there is eight annas,
Eight towns will hear my song!
If there is ten annas,
Ten towns will sing my song!
கால் வயித்துக் கஞ்சிக்காக
கடலகூட தாண்டுவேன் ஓஒ.....
வானவில்ல வாங்க பேரம்
கடவுளோட பேசுவேன் ஓஒ.....
Just for a quarter stomach of porridge,
I will even cross the ocean!
To buy a rainbow,
I will bargain with God Himself!
இந்திரனும் கூட என்னோட ப்ரெண்டு
என்று சொல்ல என்ன தவிர யாருடா
அந்த லோகம் வாழும் சுந்தரிகள் கூட
வந்து எனக்கு கால் அமுக்கும் பேருடா
Even Lord Indra is my friend—
Who else besides me can boast that?
Even the celestial beauties living in that heavenly world,
Are the ones who come to press my feet!
சின்னராசு பொன்னுராசு
காத்து நம்ம பக்கம் வீசுனா
முட்டக்கோசு முட்டக்கோசு
என்றும் வாழ்க்கையிலே பாசுடா
நல்லா பூந்து விளையாடுடா
Oh Chinnaraasu, Oh Ponnuraasu,
If the wind blows in our favor,
Cabbage or whatever comes,
Life will always be green and successful!
Jump right in and play your game well!
எட்டணா இருந்தா
எட்டூரும் எம்பாட்ட கேட்கும்
பத்தணா இருந்தா
பத்தூரும் எம்பாட்ட பாடும்
If there is eight annas,
Eight towns will hear my song!
If there is ten annas,
Ten towns will sing my song!
மொட்டையோ கட்டையோ
நெட்டையோ குட்டையோ
மொத்தமா ஒத்தையா
பத்து ரூபா இருந்தா
ஊரே ரெண்டு பட்டு போகும்
இந்த நாடே ரெண்டுங்கெட்டான் ஆகும்
ஊரே ரெண்டு பட்டு போகும்
இந்த நாடே ரெண்டுங்கெட்டான் ஆகும்
Whether bald or short,
Whether tall or small,
All together or all alone,
If there are ten rupees...
The entire town will split in two!
This whole nation will turn into chaos!
The entire town will split in two!
This whole nation will turn into chaos!
எட்டணா இருந்தா
எட்டூரும் எம்பாட்ட கேட்கும்
பத்தணா இருந்தா
பத்தூரும் எம்பாட்ட பாடும்
If there is eight annas,
Eight towns will hear my song!
If there is ten annas,
Ten towns will sing my song!
Ettanaa irundhaa
If there is eight annas,
Ettoorum enpaatta kekkum
Eight towns will hear my song!
Paththanaa irundhaa
If there is ten annas,
Paththoorum enpaatta paadum
Ten towns will sing my song!
Mottaiyo kattaiyo
Whether bald or short,
Nettaiyo kuttaiyo
Whether tall or small,
Moththamaa oththaiyaa
All together or all alone,
Paththu rooba irundhaaa
If there are ten rupees...
Oorae rendu pattu pogum
The entire town will split in two!
Indha naadae rendu kettaan aagum
This whole nation will turn into chaos!
Oorae rendu pattu pogum
The entire town will split in two!
Indha naadae rendu kettaan aagum
This whole nation will turn into chaos!
Ettanaa irundhaa
If there is eight annas,
Ettoorum enpaatta kekkum
Eight towns will hear my song!
Paththanaa irundhaa
If there is ten annas,
Paththoorum enpaatta paadum
Ten towns will sing my song!
Kaarasaaramaaga paesi
By speaking colorfully and persuasively,
Oora kaiyil podudaa ooo
Put the whole town in your pocket!
Kodu pottu road pottu
Draw boundaries, lay down roads,
Veedu katti aadudaaa ooo
Build a house and dance with joy!
Eliya pudichchu neeyum
Even if you catch a simple rat,
Vesham pottu kaattu
Dress it up in a disguise and display it;
Adhaiyum paakka
Even to watch that nonsense,
Paththu paeru kooduvaan
Ten people will gather around!
Naeram paaththu kaalaa vaarivittu joraa
Watching for the right opportunity to trip someone up,
Kaalu maela kaalu thookki poduvaan
They will sit back cross-legged in grand style!
Muthuraasu muthuraasu
Oh Muthuraasu, Muthuraasu,
Poiyya unmai pola kooruda
Tell a lie as if it were the ultimate truth!
Thanga kaasa alli veesu
Throw gold coins around generously,
Nambi vaangi pogum oorudaa
This town will blindly believe and take it!
Idhu kalikaalam kalikaalamda
This is the modern age of Kali Yuga!
Ettanaa irundhaa
If there is eight annas,
Ettoorum enpaatta kekkum
Eight towns will hear my song!
Paththanaa irundhaa
If there is ten annas,
Paththoorum enpaatta paadum
Ten towns will sing my song!
Kaal vayiththu kanjikkaaga
Just for a quarter stomach of porridge,
Kadala kooda thaanduven ooo
I will even cross the ocean!
Vaanavila vaanga baeram
To buy a rainbow,
Kadavuloda paesuvaen ooo
I will bargain with God Himself!
Indhiranum kooda ennooda friend
Even Lord Indra is my friend—
Endru solla enna thavira yaaruda
Who else besides me can boast that?
Andha logam vaazhum sundarigal kooda
Even the celestial beauties living in that heavenly world,
Vandhenakku kaal amukkum paerudaa
Are the ones who come to press my feet!
Chinnaraasu ponnuraasu
Oh Chinnaraasu, Oh Ponnuraasu,
Kaaththu namma pakkam veesunaa
If the wind blows in our favor,
Muttakosu muttakosu
Cabbage or whatever comes,
Endrum vaazhkkaiyila passu da
Life will always be green and successful!
Nalla poondhu vilaiyaadudaa
Jump right in and play your game well!
Ettanaa irundhaa
If there is eight annas,
Ettoorum enpaatta kekkum
Eight towns will hear my song!
Paththanaa irundhaa
If there is ten annas,
Paththoorum enpaatta paadum
Ten towns will sing my song!
Mottaiyo kattaiyo
Whether bald or short,
Nettaiyo kuttaiyo
Whether tall or small,
Moththamaa oththaiyaa
All together or all alone,
Paththu rooba irundhaaa
If there are ten rupees...
Oorae rendu pattu pogum
The entire town will split in two!
Indha naadae rendu kettaan aagum
This whole nation will turn into chaos!
Oorae rendu pattu pogum
The entire town will split in two!
Indha naadae rendu kettaan aagum
This whole nation will turn into chaos!
Ettanaa irundhaa
If there is eight annas,
Ettoorum enpaatta kekkum
Eight towns will hear my song!
Paththanaa irundhaa
If there is ten annas,
Paththoorum enpaatta paadum
Ten towns will sing my song!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This energetic and satirical song reflects on the overwhelming power of money, deception, and status in modern society (Kali Yuga). Through playful street-style lyrics, the singer exposes how money sways public opinion, causes societal divisions, and creates clout out of thin air. With enough coin, even absurd lies are accepted as truth, while without money, people struggle for basic survival. The song encourages navigating this materialistic world with street smarts and confidence, pointing out that when fortune favors someone, even the simplest things turn into grand successes. It mixes philosophical cynicism with lively humor, painting a realistic picture of human opportunism and vanity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Ettanaa irundhaa / Ettoorum enpaatta kekkum”
The initial sound 'E' (எ) is repeated across the beginning words of consecutive lines.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Mottaiyo kattaiyo / Nettaiyo kuttaiyo”
The second consonant sound 'tt' (ட்ட) matches across 'Mottaiyo', 'kattaiyo', 'Nettaiyo', and 'kuttaiyo'.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Mottaiyo kattaiyo / Nettaiyo kuttaiyo”
Lines end with the rhyming suffix '-aiyo'.
Hyperbole (Atisayokthi Ani)
“Vaanavila vaanga baeram Kadavuloda paesuvaen ooo”
Exaggerated imagery of bargaining with God to purchase a rainbow to highlight extreme confidence and audacity.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Ellame En Rasathan' (1995) stars Rajkiran and Sanghavi. Though listed as unknown in some song metadata, the music for this film was composed by the legendary Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Ponnadiyan and energetic vocals delivered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.
Keep listening
More from Ellame En Rasathan
Ellame En Rasathan
Ellame En Rasathan
Ellame En Rasathan
Ellame En Rasathan