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Thunivu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Gangstaa

From Thunivu · 2022

Lyricist
Viveka
Singers
Shabir Sulthan, Ghibran
Music director
Ghibran
Movie name
Thunivu
Movie release year
2022
Lyrics added on
4 Nov 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
No guts
No glory
Seenduna siripavan
Suyavazhi nadappavan
Sarithiram padaippavan
He’s like a Gangstaa
He’s a Gangstaa
Pagaivanukku irakkapattu
Paninju pora thunivukondu
Payanam seiyum gunam kondavan
He’s like a Gangstaa
He’s a Gangstaa
Needhi kaakkum nermai kondavan
He’s a Gangstaa
Aneedhi kandu pongi ezhubavan
He’s a Gangstaa
Peththa ponna kaakum appanum
Kooda Gangstaa
Thaalattum thaai seerum poluthum
Who da who da Gangstaa?
Who da Gangstaa?
Haa ..haa….tell me
Who da Gangstaa?
Nambikkai izhakaamal por thoduppavan
It’s him..
It’s him…Gangstaa
Kadaisi Nimidam varai karam koduppavan
It’s him…
It’s him…I said Who da Gangstaa?
Vanmurai therinthum
Kannil amaithi kondavan
It’s him ..
It’s him…I said Who da Gangstaa?
Vanga kadalin aazham
Therindhum iranginaa
He’s a Gangstaa..
Gangstaa..
………………
{Thuninja vettri namathae
Chorus :Nana nana naananey} (2)
Vaa badhiladidhaan theriyumadaa
Unakku sambhavam irukku paar
Mudivila yaar adhiradi thaan
Inimey pirachanai edhukku
Achatha vilakkai uchatha pidichu
Thadaya udachu bhayatha sedhachu
Oorukulla ulla motha payapulla
Ethirthu nikkatum
I’m a Gangstaa..
Needhi kaakkum nermai kondavan
He’s a Gangstaa..
Aneedhi kandu pongi ezhupavan
He’s a Gangstaa..
Peththa ponna kaakum appanum
Kooda Gangstaa..
Thaalattum thaai seerum poluthum
Who da who da Gangstaa?…
No guts
No glory
Now tell me …
Who da who da Gangstaa?
Tell me …
Who da Gangstaa?
Gangstaa….
No guts
No glory
The one who smiles when provoked,
The one who walks his own path,
The one who creates history,
He's like a gangstaa,
He's a gangstaa!
Taking pity on his enemy,
Having the courage to step down and yield,
He walks through life with that grace.
He's like a gangstaa,
He's a gangstaa!
He has the honesty to uphold justice,
He's a gangstaa!
He rises up when he sees injustice,
He's a gangstaa!
Even a father protecting his daughter
is a gangstaa!
And when a sweet lullaby-singing mother turns fierce,
Who is the gangstaa, who is the gangstaa?
Who is the gangstaa?
Ha.. ha... tell me,
Who is the gangstaa?
The one who fights without ever losing faith,
It's him..
It's him... gangstaa!
The one who lends a helping hand until the very last moment,
It's him...
It's him... I said, who is the gangstaa?
Though he knows violence,
he holds peace in his eyes.
It's him..
It's him... I said, who is the gangstaa?
Even knowing the depths of the ocean,
if a man dives right in,
He's a gangstaa..
Gangstaa..
...............
{If you dare, victory is ours
Chorus: Naana naana naanane} (2)
Come on, you will taste the payback!
Just wait and see the reckoning coming for you!
In the end, who will dominate with power?
Why invite trouble anymore?
Casting away fear and seizing the peak,
Breaking barriers and shattering terror,
Let every single fellow in this town
stand up and face me!
I'm a gangstaa..
He has the honesty to uphold justice,
He's a gangstaa..
He rises up when he sees injustice,
He's a gangstaa..
Even a father protecting his daughter
is a gangstaa..
And when a sweet lullaby-singing mother turns fierce,
Who is the gangstaa, who is the gangstaa?...
No guts
No glory
Now tell me...
Who is the gangstaa, who is the gangstaa?
Tell me...
Who is the gangstaa?
Gangstaa....
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Gangstaa' from Thunivu redefines the conventional concept of a 'gangster.' Rather than portraying a standard criminal or villain, the song reinterprets a gangster as a heroic figure who stands up against systemic corruption and injustice. A true 'gangstaa' is defined as someone driven by courage, integrity, family protection, and moral duty—whether it is a father protecting his child, a mother fighting fiercely, or a hero battling till the last moment without losing hope. Narratively, the lyrics celebrate Ajith Kumar's character in the film—a calm, collected, yet deadly vigilante who steps into high-risk situations (symbolized by diving into the deep ocean) and delivers explosive retaliation ('sambhavam') against wrongdoers. It acts as an empowering anthem about fearlessness and moral resolve.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Seenduna siripavan / Suyavazhi nadappavan / Sarithiram padaippavan”

The lines end with similar sounding words ending in '-pavan', creating a rhythmic cadence in the introduction.

Muran (Oxymoron / Contrast)

“Vanmurai therinthum / Kannil amaithi kondavan”

Contrasts the knowledge of extreme violence ('Vanmurai') with carrying peace in one's eyes ('amaithi'), highlighting the hero's restrained demeanor.

Metaphor

“Vanga kadalin aazham / Therindhum iranginaa”

The 'depth of the Bay of Bengal' serves as a metaphor for immense danger or an insurmountable challenge that the protagonist fearlessly plunges into.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Needhi kaakkum nermai kondavan / Aneedhi kandu pongi ezhubavan”

The second letters of 'Needhi' and 'Aneedhi' share the 'di' (தீ) sound structure, creating internal Tamil poetic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Gangstaa' served as the third high-octane single from the 2023 Pongal blockbuster 'Thunivu', starring Ajith Kumar and directed by H. Vinoth. Composed by Ghibran, the song features vocals by Singaporean-Tamil musician Shabir Sulthan alongside Ghibran himself. The track gained immense popularity on social media for its energetic beat drop and lyrics that redefined the urban 'gangster' trope into an anthem about righteous courage.

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