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Indru Nee Nalai Naan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaangeyam Kaalaigale

From Indru Nee Nalai Naan · 1983

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Indru Nee Nalai Naan
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
17 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Lalalaa lalalaa lalalaa lalalaa lallaa
Kaangaeyam kaalaigalae
Odungadaa govermentu saalaiyilae
Kaangaeyam kaalaigalae
Odungadaa govermentu saalaiyilae
Kaalu vali theriyaama
Naanum paattu paadikkittu vaaren
Kaalu vali theriyaama
Naanum paattu paadikkittu vaaren
Marudhannanukku kalyaanam panna
Ponna thaedikkittu poren
Onakku enna venum kelu thaaren
Kaangaeyam kaalaigalae
Odungadaa govermentu saalaiyilae
Kaalu vali theriyaama
Naanum paattu paadikkittu vaaren
{Yendaa pazhaniyappaa…
Eruma maadu maadhiri valandhirukkuriyae
Onakku eppa kannaalam
Enakkaa paatti…} (Dialogue)
Vikkum velavaasiyilae
Yedhum illa osiyilae
Vikkum velavaasiyilae
Yedhum illa osiyilae
Vela mattum nallaa seiven
Vendiya mattum nalla thimbaen
Sambalathukkaetha padi
Samsaaratha thaedikkanum
Sambalam illae kimbalam illae
Ponjaadhiyum thaevai illae
Kaangaeyam kaalaigalae
Odungadaa govermentu saalaiyilae
Kaalu vali theriyaama naanum paattu paa….
{Annae annae annae annae annae
Ennannae gattu mooditteenga…
Aei kettu thaanae moodunen
Kena payalae
Kekkaama moodunaa thaandaa thappu
Pesaama vandiya oramaa niruthipputtu
Rayilu varudhu vaedikka paathuttu po
Aamaamaa…
Adhula yedhaavadhu
Ponnu varudhaannu paakkuren} (Dialogue)
Mookku muzhi nallaarukkum
Muthu muthaa pallirukkum
Mookku muzhi nallaarukkum
Muthu muthaa pallirukkum
Pechum kooda halwaa thundaa
Anbaarundhaa nallaarukkum
Kutham yedhum sollaamae
Nitham kora sollaamae
Kannukkazhagaa ponnu kedachaa
Nichayamum panniduven
Kaangaeyam kaalaigalae
Odungadaa govermentu saalaiyilae
Thananat thananat thandhannaanaa
Thanana thananat thanana….
{Annae annae annae annae oo…
Vandiya niruthu…
Enga indha pakkam
Sandhaikku porennae…
Sandhaikku poyi…
Engannanukku ponnu
Paakka poren
Yendaa kirukku payalae…
Sandhaiyila maadu kannu thaan
Vaanguvaanga
Madhaniyumaa vaanguvaanga…
Ongannanukku evandaa ponnu koduppaan
Avan vaela vetti illaama
Katchi katchinnu suthikkittirukkaan
Daei… aachiya pudikkiren
Aachiya pudikkirennu
Karakkudi pakkam poi sollida poraandaa
Pottu adichu puduvaaga…
Ada neenga onnunnae…
Engannanukku enna korachal…} (Dialogue)
Sothu pathu ekkachakkam
Male :Oho
Male :Nanja punja naalu pakkam
Male :Apdiyaa
Sothu pathu ekkachakkam
Nanja punja naalu pakkam
Yelamala kaadugal undu
Veedugal undu ellaam undu
Thaerdhalilae annan ninnaa
Jeyikkiradhu enga katchi
Annan jeyichaa mandhiriyadaa
Aatchi enga kayiladaa
Kaangaeyam kaalaigalae
Odungadaa govermentu saalaiyilae
Kaalu vali theriyaama
Naanum paattu paadikkittu vaaren
Marudhannanukku kalyaanam panna
Ponna thaedikkittu poren
Onakku enna venum kelu thaaren aamaa
Ponna thaedikkittu poren
Onakku enna venum kelu thaaren aamaa
Lalala lalala lalala lalala lalla
Hey, Kangeyam bulls!
Run along on this government road!
Hey, Kangeyam bulls!
Run along on this government road!
So you don't feel the ache in your legs,
I come along singing a song!
So you don't feel the ache in your legs,
I come along singing a song!
To get my elder brother Marudhu married,
I am going in search of a bride!
Tell me what you want, and I will give it to you!
Hey, Kangeyam bulls!
Run along on this government road!
So you don't feel the ache in your legs,
I come along singing a song!
{"Hey Palaniyappa...
You have grown big like a water buffalo!
When is your wedding?"
"For me, Grandma...?"} (Dialogue)
With prices soaring so high,
nothing comes for free!
With prices soaring so high,
nothing comes for free!
I will work hard,
and eat as much as I want!
Only according to one's earnings,
should one look for a wife!
With no salary and no extra income,
I don't need a wife either!
Hey, Kangeyam bulls!
Run along on this government road!
So you don't feel the ache in your legs, I sing a...
{"Brother, brother, brother, brother, brother!
Why did you close the railway gate, brother?"
"Hey, I only closed the gate,
you silly fool!
It's only wrong if I closed it without a reason!
Just park your cart quietly on the side;
a train is coming, watch the fun and go!"
"Oh yes, yes...
Let me see if
any bride is arriving on it!"} (Dialogue)
With lovely eyes and pretty features,
and teeth shining like pearls...
With lovely eyes and pretty features,
and teeth shining like pearls...
If her words are as sweet as halwa,
and filled with love, it would be wonderful!
Finding no faults in others,
never complaining day after day,
if I find a girl pleasing to the eye,
I will surely fix the match!
Hey, Kangeyam bulls!
Run along on this government road!
Thanana thanana thanthan-naana
Thanana thanana thanana...
{"Brother, brother, brother, brother, hey...
Stop the cart!
Where are you heading this way?"
"I'm going to the weekly market, brother..."
"Going to the market...?
"I am going to find a bride
for my elder brother!"
"Hey, you crazy fellow...
At the market, it is cattle and calves
that people buy...
Do people buy a sister-in-law there?
Who on earth would give a bride to your brother?
Without doing any decent work,
he just roams around chasing political parties!
Hey... boasting 'I will capture power,
I will capture power,'
if he goes and talks big around Karaikudi,
they will beat him up!"
"Oh, come on, brother...
What is my elder brother lacking?"} (Dialogue)
He has plenty of lands and wealth!
Male: Oh, is it?
Male: Wet and dry farmlands on all four sides!
Male: Is that so?
He has plenty of lands and wealth,
wet and dry farmlands on all four sides!
He owns cardamom hill forests,
he owns houses, he has everything!
If my brother contests the election,
our party is sure to win!
If my brother wins, he will be a minister!
The government will be in our hands!
Hey, Kangeyam bulls!
Run along on this government road!
So you don't feel the ache in your legs,
I come along singing a song!
To get my elder brother Marudhu married,
I am going in search of a bride!
Tell me what you want, and I will give it to you, yes!
I am going in search of a bride!
Tell me what you want, and I will give it to you, yes!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This lighthearted, narrative folk song from 'Indru Nee Nalai Naan' (1983) follows a cheerful protagonist traveling in a bullock cart pulled by prized Kangayam bulls. He sings joyfully to distract himself from fatigue as he ventures out to find a suitable bride for his elder brother, Marudhu. Along his journey, he engages in humorous, conversational banter with villagers, a railway gatekeeper, and bystanders. The song vividly paints rural Tamil culture, blending comedy, everyday social observations about inflation and politics, and affectionate family loyalty. The singer humorously highlights what ideal traits a bride should possess while boasting grandly about his brother's political ambitions and vast land ownership.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Vikkum velavaasiyilae / Yedhum illa osiyilae

Matching second consonants in successive lines, such as 'Kaangaeyam' and 'Odungadaa' (letter 'nga'/ 'du') or 'Vikkum' / 'Yedhum'.

Monaai (Alliteration / First-letter matching)

Mookku muzhi nallaarukkum / Muthu muthaa pallirukkum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in the line ('Mookku' / 'Muthu').

Metaphor / Simile

Pechum kooda halwaa thundaa

Comparing sweet speech to pieces of halwa ('Pechum kooda halwaa thundaa') and teeth to fine pearls ('Muthu muthaa pallirukkum').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although credited as 'Music: Unknown' in some basic lyric sheets, the soundtrack for 'Indru Nee Nalai Naan' (1983) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran. The movie was directed by legendary actor-director Major Sundarrajan and starred Sivakumar, Lakshmi, and Sulakshana.

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