Gandhi Rap
From Gandhi Talks · 2026
- Lyricist
- K J Ayyanar
- Singers
- Anbugurudass, K J Ayyanar
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Gandhi Talks2026
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pakkala unna south africa boatula | We didn't see you on the South Africa boat, |
| Pakkala unna barrister coatula | We didn't see you in the barrister's coat, |
| Pakkala unna kadhar veshitiyila kooda | We didn't see you even in the khadi veshti, |
| Naanga paathadhilla unna pachaiyaana note-ula | We've only ever seen you on the green currency note! |
| Chorus | |
| Hare ram hare | Hare Ram Hare |
| Ram ram ram | Ram Ram Ram |
| Hare hare hare ram | Hare Hare Hare Ram |
| Hare ram ram ram | Hare Ram Ram Ram |
| Hare hare hare | Hare Hare Hare |
| Ram hare ram | Ram Hare Ram |
| Ram ram hare | Ram Ram Hare |
| Hare hare ram | Hare Hare Ram |
| Hey ram | Hey Ram |
| Hey ram…. | Hey Ram… |
| Male | |
| Engalukku solla vena | You don't need to explain to us, |
| Artham enna eswar allaah | What the true meaning of Ishwar and Allah is; |
| Ellar manadhaiyum aadhikkam seiyum | The ones dominating everyone's minds now, |
| Pandit mullah | Are the Pandit and the Mullah! |
| Marandhu vitta namadhu vazhi paadhai | The path and values we forgot, |
| Ellaam gyaani | Everyone acts like a wise sage, |
| Mattravarin valiyai unaravillai yaarum | Yet nobody truly feels the pain of others. |
| Chorus | |
| Hare ram hare | Hare Ram Hare |
| Ram ram ram | Ram Ram Ram |
| Hare hare hare ram | Hare Hare Hare Ram |
| Hare ram ram ram | Hare Ram Ram Ram |
| Hare hare hare | Hare Hare Hare |
| Ram hare ram | Ram Hare Ram |
| Ram ram hare | Ram Ram Hare |
| Hare hare ram | Hare Hare Ram |
| Hey ram | Hey Ram |
| Hey ram…. | Hey Ram… |
| Male | |
| Naalum eppoludhum koottam | Every single day, there is always a huge crowd, |
| Tascu markula | Standing outside the TASMAC liquor outlets; |
| Dhoosiyaala jam-uh aachu | Clogged and jammed completely with dust, |
| Sakkara wheel- uh la | Is the spinning wheel of your Charkha! |
| Sathiyavarthai irudhi sadangil | Words of truth are now used, |
| Use-uh aagudhu | Only during the final funeral rites; |
| Palagina manavargal agimsai vaadhi | The students who learned here claim to be non-violent protestors! |
| Chorus | |
| Hare ram hare | Hare Ram Hare |
| Ram ram ram | Ram Ram Ram |
| Hare hare hare ram | Hare Hare Hare Ram |
| Hare ram ram ram | Hare Ram Ram Ram |
| Hare hare hare | Hare Hare Hare |
| Ram hare ram | Ram Hare Ram |
| Ram ram hare | Ram Ram Hare |
| Hare hare ram | Hare Hare Ram |
| Hey ram | Hey Ram |
| Hey ram…. | Hey Ram… |
| Male | |
| Arasaangathu sevuthil unna | On the government office wall, |
| Thonga vida poraan | They will hang your framed portrait; |
| Table-ukku keezha kooda | And even underneath the table, |
| Unna kekka poraan | They are going to ask for you (money with your face)! |
| Kurudan oomai sevudu | Blind, mute, and deaf, |
| Unna adaiyaalam katta | To symbolize your three monkeys; |
| Unna thedi aadhavanum | Even the sun searching for you, |
| Unna namba poraan | Is going to place its trust in you. |
| Chorus | |
| Hare ram hare | Hare Ram Hare |
| Ram ram ram | Ram Ram Ram |
| Hare hare hare ram | Hare Hare Hare Ram |
| Hare ram ram ram | Hare Ram Ram Ram |
| Hare hare hare | Hare Hare Hare |
| Ram hare ram | Ram Hare Ram |
| Ram ram hare | Ram Ram Hare |
| Hare hare ram | Hare Hare Ram |
| Hey ram | Hey Ram |
| Hey ram…. | Hey Ram… |
| Male | |
| Unnaviradha porattam | Staging a hunger strike protest, |
| Seidhittu …..yaera | Just to climb the ladder of power; |
| Sathyagraham ippo athigaarathin | Satyagraha has now become the authority's, |
| Valiya maara | Convenient tool to suit their motives; |
| Amaidhi kakka venum | Peace must be maintained, |
| Konjam purinji irunga | Try to understand this a little bit; |
| Pesunakka unna thirumbhi | If you dare to speak up, |
| Poga solvanga | They will tell you to turn back and leave! |
| Chorus | |
| Hare ram hare | Hare Ram Hare |
| Ram ram ram | Ram Ram Ram |
| Hare hare hare ram | Hare Hare Hare Ram |
| Hare ram ram ram | Hare Ram Ram Ram |
| Hare hare hare | Hare Hare Hare |
| Ram hare ram | Ram Hare Ram |
| Ram ram hare | Ram Ram Hare |
| Hare hare ram | Hare Hare Ram |
| Hey ram | Hey Ram |
| Hey ram…. | Hey Ram… |
பாக்கல உன்ன சவுத் ஆப்பிரிக்கா போட்டுல
பாக்கல உன்ன பாரிஸ்டர்க்கு கூட்டுல
பாக்கல உன்ன கதர் வேஷ்டியில கூட
நாங்க பாத்ததெல்லாம் உன்ன பச்சையான நோட்டுல
We didn't see you on the South Africa boat,
We didn't see you in the barrister's coat,
We didn't see you even in the khadi veshti,
We've only ever seen you on the green currency note!
ஹரே ராம் ஹரே
ராம் ராம் ராம்
ஹரே ஹரே ஹரே ராம்
ஹரே ராம் ராம் ராம்
ஹரே ஹரே ஹரே
ராம் ஹரே ராம்
ராம் ராம் ஹரே
ஹரே ஹரே ராம்
ஹே ராம்
ஹே ராம்......
Hare Ram Hare
Ram Ram Ram
Hare Hare Hare Ram
Hare Ram Ram Ram
Hare Hare Hare
Ram Hare Ram
Ram Ram Hare
Hare Hare Ram
Hey Ram
Hey Ram…
எங்களுக்கு சொல்ல வேணா
அர்த்தம் என்ன ஈஸ்வர் அல்லாஹ்
எல்லார் மனதையும் ஆதிக்கம் செய்யும்
பண்டிட் முல்லாஹ்
மறந்து விட்ட நம் வழி பாதை
எல்லாம் ஞானி
மற்றவரின் வழியை உணரவில்லை யாரும்
You don't need to explain to us,
What the true meaning of Ishwar and Allah is;
The ones dominating everyone's minds now,
Are the Pandit and the Mullah!
The path and values we forgot,
Everyone acts like a wise sage,
Yet nobody truly feels the pain of others.
ஹரே ராம் ஹரே
ராம் ராம் ராம்
ஹரே ஹரே ஹரே ராம்
ஹரே ராம் ராம் ராம்
ஹரே ஹரே ஹரே
ராம் ஹரே ராம்
ராம் ராம் ஹரே
ஹரே ஹரே ராம்
ஹே ராம்
ஹே ராம்......
Hare Ram Hare
Ram Ram Ram
Hare Hare Hare Ram
Hare Ram Ram Ram
Hare Hare Hare
Ram Hare Ram
Ram Ram Hare
Hare Hare Ram
Hey Ram
Hey Ram…
நாளும் எப்பொழுதும் கூட்டம்
டாஸ்ஸு மார்க்குலா
தூசியால ஜாம்மு ஆச்சு
சக்கர வீல்லுல
சத்தியவார்த்தை இறுதி சடங்கில்
யூஸ்ஸு ஆகுது
பழகின மாணவர் பேர் அகிம்சை வாதி
Every single day, there is always a huge crowd,
Standing outside the TASMAC liquor outlets;
Clogged and jammed completely with dust,
Is the spinning wheel of your Charkha!
Words of truth are now used,
Only during the final funeral rites;
The students who learned here claim to be non-violent protestors!
ஹரே ராம் ஹரே
ராம் ராம் ராம்
ஹரே ஹரே ஹரே ராம்
ஹரே ராம் ராம் ராம்
ஹரே ஹரே ஹரே
ராம் ஹரே ராம்
ராம் ராம் ஹரே
ஹரே ஹரே ராம்
ஹே ராம்
ஹே ராம்......
Hare Ram Hare
Ram Ram Ram
Hare Hare Hare Ram
Hare Ram Ram Ram
Hare Hare Hare
Ram Hare Ram
Ram Ram Hare
Hare Hare Ram
Hey Ram
Hey Ram…
அரசாங்கத்து செவுத்தில் உன்ன
தொங்க விட போறான்
டேபிளுக்கு கீழ கூட
உன்ன கேக்க போறான்
குருடன் ஊமை செவுடு
உன்ன அடையாலம் கட்ட
உன்ன தெரியாதவனும்
உன்ன நம்ப போறான்
On the government office wall,
They will hang your framed portrait;
And even underneath the table,
They are going to ask for you (money with your face)!
Blind, mute, and deaf,
To symbolize your three monkeys;
Even the sun searching for you,
Is going to place its trust in you.
ஹரே ராம் ஹரே
ராம் ராம் ராம்
ஹரே ஹரே ஹரே ராம்
ஹரே ராம் ராம் ராம்
ஹரே ஹரே ஹரே
ராம் ஹரே ராம்
ராம் ராம் ஹரே
ஹரே ஹரே ராம்
ஹே ராம்
ஹே ராம்......
Hare Ram Hare
Ram Ram Ram
Hare Hare Hare Ram
Hare Ram Ram Ram
Hare Hare Hare
Ram Hare Ram
Ram Ram Hare
Hare Hare Ram
Hey Ram
Hey Ram…
உண்ணாவிரத போராட்டம்
செய்திட்டு ...யாத்தி ஏற
சத்தியாகிரகம் இப்போ அதிகாரத்தின்
வலியா மாற
அமைதி காக்க வேணும்
கொஞ்சம் புரிஞ்சி இருங்க
பேசுனாக்கா உன்ன திரும்பி
போக சொல்லுவாங்க
Staging a hunger strike protest,
Just to climb the ladder of power;
Satyagraha has now become the authority's,
Convenient tool to suit their motives;
Peace must be maintained,
Try to understand this a little bit;
If you dare to speak up,
They will tell you to turn back and leave!
ஹரே ராம் ஹரே
ராம் ராம் ராம்
ஹரே ஹரே ஹரே ராம்
ஹரே ராம் ராம் ராம்
ஹரே ஹரே ஹரே
ராம் ஹரே ராம்
ராம் ராம் ஹரே
ஹரே ஹரே ராம்
ஹே ராம்
ஹே ராம்......
Hare Ram Hare
Ram Ram Ram
Hare Hare Hare Ram
Hare Ram Ram Ram
Hare Hare Hare
Ram Hare Ram
Ram Ram Hare
Hare Hare Ram
Hey Ram
Hey Ram…
Pakkala unna south africa boatula
We didn't see you on the South Africa boat,
Pakkala unna barrister coatula
We didn't see you in the barrister's coat,
Pakkala unna kadhar veshitiyila kooda
We didn't see you even in the khadi veshti,
Naanga paathadhilla unna pachaiyaana note-ula
We've only ever seen you on the green currency note!
Hare ram hare
Hare Ram Hare
Ram ram ram
Ram Ram Ram
Hare hare hare ram
Hare Hare Hare Ram
Hare ram ram ram
Hare Ram Ram Ram
Hare hare hare
Hare Hare Hare
Ram hare ram
Ram Hare Ram
Ram ram hare
Ram Ram Hare
Hare hare ram
Hare Hare Ram
Hey ram
Hey Ram
Hey ram….
Hey Ram…
Engalukku solla vena
You don't need to explain to us,
Artham enna eswar allaah
What the true meaning of Ishwar and Allah is;
Ellar manadhaiyum aadhikkam seiyum
The ones dominating everyone's minds now,
Pandit mullah
Are the Pandit and the Mullah!
Marandhu vitta namadhu vazhi paadhai
The path and values we forgot,
Ellaam gyaani
Everyone acts like a wise sage,
Mattravarin valiyai unaravillai yaarum
Yet nobody truly feels the pain of others.
Hare ram hare
Hare Ram Hare
Ram ram ram
Ram Ram Ram
Hare hare hare ram
Hare Hare Hare Ram
Hare ram ram ram
Hare Ram Ram Ram
Hare hare hare
Hare Hare Hare
Ram hare ram
Ram Hare Ram
Ram ram hare
Ram Ram Hare
Hare hare ram
Hare Hare Ram
Hey ram
Hey Ram
Hey ram….
Hey Ram…
Naalum eppoludhum koottam
Every single day, there is always a huge crowd,
Tascu markula
Standing outside the TASMAC liquor outlets;
Dhoosiyaala jam-uh aachu
Clogged and jammed completely with dust,
Sakkara wheel- uh la
Is the spinning wheel of your Charkha!
Sathiyavarthai irudhi sadangil
Words of truth are now used,
Use-uh aagudhu
Only during the final funeral rites;
Palagina manavargal agimsai vaadhi
The students who learned here claim to be non-violent protestors!
Hare ram hare
Hare Ram Hare
Ram ram ram
Ram Ram Ram
Hare hare hare ram
Hare Hare Hare Ram
Hare ram ram ram
Hare Ram Ram Ram
Hare hare hare
Hare Hare Hare
Ram hare ram
Ram Hare Ram
Ram ram hare
Ram Ram Hare
Hare hare ram
Hare Hare Ram
Hey ram
Hey Ram
Hey ram….
Hey Ram…
Arasaangathu sevuthil unna
On the government office wall,
Thonga vida poraan
They will hang your framed portrait;
Table-ukku keezha kooda
And even underneath the table,
Unna kekka poraan
They are going to ask for you (money with your face)!
Kurudan oomai sevudu
Blind, mute, and deaf,
Unna adaiyaalam katta
To symbolize your three monkeys;
Unna thedi aadhavanum
Even the sun searching for you,
Unna namba poraan
Is going to place its trust in you.
Hare ram hare
Hare Ram Hare
Ram ram ram
Ram Ram Ram
Hare hare hare ram
Hare Hare Hare Ram
Hare ram ram ram
Hare Ram Ram Ram
Hare hare hare
Hare Hare Hare
Ram hare ram
Ram Hare Ram
Ram ram hare
Ram Ram Hare
Hare hare ram
Hare Hare Ram
Hey ram
Hey Ram
Hey ram….
Hey Ram…
Unnaviradha porattam
Staging a hunger strike protest,
Seidhittu …..yaera
Just to climb the ladder of power;
Sathyagraham ippo athigaarathin
Satyagraha has now become the authority's,
Valiya maara
Convenient tool to suit their motives;
Amaidhi kakka venum
Peace must be maintained,
Konjam purinji irunga
Try to understand this a little bit;
Pesunakka unna thirumbhi
If you dare to speak up,
Poga solvanga
They will tell you to turn back and leave!
Hare ram hare
Hare Ram Hare
Ram ram ram
Ram Ram Ram
Hare hare hare ram
Hare Hare Hare Ram
Hare ram ram ram
Hare Ram Ram Ram
Hare hare hare
Hare Hare Hare
Ram hare ram
Ram Hare Ram
Ram ram hare
Ram Ram Hare
Hare hare ram
Hare Hare Ram
Hey ram
Hey Ram
Hey ram….
Hey Ram…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Gandhi Talks' serves as a biting socio-political satire on how Mahatma Gandhi's core philosophies—such as Ahimsa (non-violence), Satyagraha, communal unity, and self-reliance—have been distorted or forgotten in modern India. The lyrics highlight the stark contrast between Gandhi's historical legacy as a freedom fighter and his current reduction to merely a face printed on paper currency used for political exploitation and illegal bribery under government tables.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Irony / Satire
“Table-ukku keezha kooda / Unna kekka poraan”
Highlights the dark irony of how Gandhi, the symbol of absolute honesty and truth, has his image used on cash notes demanded as illegal bribes under tables.
Metaphor
“Dhoosiyaala jam-uh aachu / Sakkara wheel-uh la”
The dust-choked spinning wheel (Charkha) metaphorically represents the decline and stagnation of Gandhi's ideals of self-reliance and moral simplicity in present times.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Pakkala unna south africa boatula / Pakkala unna barrister coatula”
The second consonant sound 'kk' matches across consecutive lines, creating traditional Tamil rhythmic rhyming.
Allusion
“Kurudan oomai sevudu / Unna adaiyaalam katta”
Alludes directly to Gandhi's famous three wise monkeys representing 'see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Gandhi Talks' is a silent dark comedy film starring Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swamy, and Aditi Rao Hydari. Because the film features no spoken dialogue, A. R. Rahman's musical score and lyrics play a critical narrative role in communicating the storyline, character motivations, and social commentary.
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