Katravai Patravai
From Kaala · 2018
- Lyricist
- Kabilan
- Singers
- Yogi B, Arunraja Kamaraj
- Music director
- Santhosh Narayanan
- Details
- Kaala2018
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Haaa…yeah | Haaa…yeah |
| Kaala | Kaala |
| Male | |
| Oththa thalai raavana | Single-headed Ravana |
| Paththu thalai avudaa | He is worth ten heads! |
| Male | |
| Oththaiyila nikkura vengai da | A tiger standing all alone! |
| Dhillirundha moththama vaangada | If you have the guts, come face it all! |
| Male | |
| Eluchigalai puratchiyaaka vaa | Come, turn uprisings into a revolution! |
| Varappugalai vayalgal aaka vaa | Come, make boundary ridges into flourishing fields! |
| Varumai enum noyai theerka vaa | Come, cure the disease called poverty! |
| Adimaithanam neeyum poka vaa | Come, cast away slavery from within you! |
| Male | |
| Vaa… | Come… |
| Puzhuthu pona manasula inga | In minds here that are rusted with dirt, |
| Hey… | Hey… |
| Pudichi pona azhukunga thanga | Favorite impurities continue to stay. |
| Thee… | Fire… |
| Veluthu vaangum manushanga enga | Where are the people who can thrash and clean it? |
| Nee… | You… |
| Onu serndhu nerikkanum sanga | Must join together and wring their throat! |
| Vaa… | Come… |
| Chorus | |
| Yeah… | Yeah… |
| We coming calculating | We are coming, calculating |
| Every single moment | Every single moment |
| Male | |
| Unnidam ullathellaam | All that resides within you, |
| Thedi thelindhidu | Seek out and gain clarity on! |
| Chorus | |
| Pack of wolves on the loose | Pack of wolves on the loose |
| And we howling at the moon | And we howling at the moon |
| Male | |
| Ullathil ottrumaiyai | With unity in your heart, |
| Koodi thirindhidu | Move together as one! |
| Chorus | |
| Check mate | Checkmate |
| White facade | White facade |
| Yo mama should have told you | Your mother should have told you |
| Not to mess with my chawl | Not to mess with my chawl |
| Male | |
| Unnai veliyidu | Bring yourself out! |
| Irulai baliyidu | Sacrifice the darkness! |
| Male | |
| Go… | Go… |
| Vaa… | Come… |
| Unnaiyum mannaiyum vendru vaa | Win over yourself and the land, come! |
| Thee ratha or thevaiyai kondu vaa | Bring forth a fiery passion or necessity! |
| Noor aayiram aandugal podhumae | A hundred thousand years are enough! |
| On draagave maaruvaai seeruvaai | Transform as one and surge forward! |
| Male | |
| Kaala…thee | Kaala… fire! |
| Thee | Fire |
| Chorus | |
| Oththa thalai raavana | Single-headed Ravana |
| Male :Kya re? | Male: What man? |
| Setting ah? | Is it a setup? |
| Chorus :Oththaiyila nikkura vengai da | Chorus: A tiger standing all alone! |
| Dhilluruntha mothamaa vaangalae | If you have the guts, come face it all! |
| Male | |
| Hey.. | Hey.. |
| Try-na bring me down for nothing | Trying to bring me down for nothing |
| Hey.. | Hey.. |
| Let me tell you something | Let me tell you something |
| Hey… | Hey… |
| That I ain’t going down without a fight | That I ain't going down without a fight |
| Be afraid of the dark black night | Be afraid of the dark black night |
| Male | |
| Ei ei | Ei ei |
| I’m the definition of great | I'm the definition of great |
| Wait.. | Wait.. |
| Gotta stay humble | Gotta stay humble |
| But I am victorious in every single way.. | But I am victorious in every single way.. |
| Hey saet… | Hey Seth… |
| Male | |
| Ethiri yaarum norungi poga | So that every enemy gets crushed to dust, |
| Adithu norukku nodiyil | Smash and break them in a second! |
| Kathari pathari sethari oda | Screaming, panicking, scattering away, |
| Siru narigalai oda vidu ini | Let those sly little foxes run now! |
| Male | |
| Vaa | Come |
| Unnaiyum mannaiyum vendru vaa | Win over yourself and the land, come! |
| Thee ratha or thevaiyai kondu vaa | Bring forth a fiery passion or necessity! |
| Noor aayiram aandugal podhume | A hundred thousand years are enough! |
| On draagave maaruvaai seeruvaai | Transform as one and surge forward! |
| Kaala | Kaala |
| Male | |
| Katravai patravai | Learn and hold fast (to your rights)! |
| Oththa thalai raavana | Single-headed Ravana |
| Oththaiyila nikkura vengai da | A tiger standing all alone! |
| Heyyyy….. | Heyyyy….. |
ஹா
யே காலா
Haaa…yeah
Kaala
விஷ்லிங் :
....................
Single-headed Ravana
He is worth ten heads!
ஒத்த தலை
ராவணா பத்துதலை
ஆவுடா
A tiger standing all alone!
If you have the guts, come face it all!
விஷ்லிங் :
....................
Come, turn uprisings into a revolution!
Come, make boundary ridges into flourishing fields!
Come, cure the disease called poverty!
Come, cast away slavery from within you!
ஒத்தையில
நிக்குற வேங்கைடா
தில் இருந்தா
மொத்தமா வாங்கடா
Come…
In minds here that are rusted with dirt,
Hey…
Favorite impurities continue to stay.
Fire…
Where are the people who can thrash and clean it?
You…
Must join together and wring their throat!
Come…
விஷ்லிங் :
....................
Yeah…
We are coming, calculating
Every single moment
எழுச்சிகளை
புரட்சியாக்கவா
வரப்புகளை வயல்கள்
ஆக்கவா வறுமை என்னும்
நோயை தீர்க்கவா
அடிமைத்தனம் நீயும்
போக்கவா
All that resides within you,
Seek out and gain clarity on!
வா புழுத்து
போன மனசுல இங்க
ஹே புடிச்சு போன
அழுக்குங்க தங்க தீ
வெளுத்து வாங்கும்
மனுசன்க எங்க நீ
ஒண்ணு சோ்ந்து
நெறிக்கணும் சங்க
வா
Pack of wolves on the loose
And we howling at the moon
யே வி கம்மிங்
கால்குலேட்டிங் எவ்ரி
சிங்கிள் மொமென்ட்
With unity in your heart,
Move together as one!
உன்னிடம்
உள்ளதெல்லாம்
தேடி தெளிந்திடு
Checkmate
White facade
Your mother should have told you
Not to mess with my chawl
பேக் ஆப்
வோல்வ்ஸ் ஆன்
தி லூஸ் அண்ட்
வி ஹவ்லிங் அட்
தி மூன்
Bring yourself out!
Sacrifice the darkness!
உள்ளத்தில்
ஒற்றுமையாய் கூடி
திரிந்திடு
Go…
Come…
Win over yourself and the land, come!
Bring forth a fiery passion or necessity!
A hundred thousand years are enough!
Transform as one and surge forward!
செக் மேட்
ஒயிட் பேசட் யோ
மாமா ஷூட் ஹவ்
டோல்ட் யூ நாட் டு
மெஸ் வித் மை சால்
உன்னை
வெளியிடு இருளை
பலியிடு
Kaala… fire!
Fire
கோ வா
உன்னையும்
மண்ணையும்
வென்று வா
தீராத ஓர் தேவையை
கொண்டு வா நூறாயிரம்
ஆண்டுகள் போதுமே
ஒன்றாகவே மாறுவாய்
சீறுவாய்
Single-headed Ravana
Male: What man?
Is it a setup?
Chorus: A tiger standing all alone!
If you have the guts, come face it all!
காலா தீ தீ
Hey..
Trying to bring me down for nothing
Hey..
Let me tell you something
Hey…
That I ain't going down without a fight
Be afraid of the dark black night
ஒத்த தலை
ராவணா
க்யா ரே
செட்டிங்கா
குழு :
ஒத்தையில
நிக்குற வேங்கைடா
தில் இருந்தா
மொத்தமா வாங்கலே
Ei ei
I'm the definition of great
Wait..
Gotta stay humble
But I am victorious in every single way..
Hey Seth…
.....................
So that every enemy gets crushed to dust,
Smash and break them in a second!
Screaming, panicking, scattering away,
Let those sly little foxes run now!
.....................
Come
Win over yourself and the land, come!
Bring forth a fiery passion or necessity!
A hundred thousand years are enough!
Transform as one and surge forward!
Kaala
எதிரி யாரும்
நொறுங்கி போக அடித்து
நொறுக்கு நொடியில்
கதறி பதறி சிதறி ஓட
சிறு நரிகளை ஓட
விடு இனி
Learn and hold fast (to your rights)!
Single-headed Ravana
A tiger standing all alone!
Heyyyy…..
வா உன்னையும்
மண்ணையும் வென்று
வா தீராத ஓர் தேவையை
கொண்டு வா நூறாயிரம்
ஆண்டுகள் போதுமே
ஒன்றாகவே மாறுவாய்
சீறுவாய் காலா
கற்றவை பற்றவை
ஒத்த தலை ராவணா
ஒத்தையில நிக்குற
வேங்கைடா ஹே
Haaa…yeah
Haaa…yeah
Kaala
Kaala
Oththa thalai raavana
Single-headed Ravana
Paththu thalai avudaa
He is worth ten heads!
Oththaiyila nikkura vengai da
A tiger standing all alone!
Dhillirundha moththama vaangada
If you have the guts, come face it all!
Eluchigalai puratchiyaaka vaa
Come, turn uprisings into a revolution!
Varappugalai vayalgal aaka vaa
Come, make boundary ridges into flourishing fields!
Varumai enum noyai theerka vaa
Come, cure the disease called poverty!
Adimaithanam neeyum poka vaa
Come, cast away slavery from within you!
Vaa…
Come…
Puzhuthu pona manasula inga
In minds here that are rusted with dirt,
Hey…
Hey…
Pudichi pona azhukunga thanga
Favorite impurities continue to stay.
Thee…
Fire…
Veluthu vaangum manushanga enga
Where are the people who can thrash and clean it?
Nee…
You…
Onu serndhu nerikkanum sanga
Must join together and wring their throat!
Vaa…
Come…
Yeah…
Yeah…
We coming calculating
We are coming, calculating
Every single moment
Every single moment
Unnidam ullathellaam
All that resides within you,
Thedi thelindhidu
Seek out and gain clarity on!
Pack of wolves on the loose
Pack of wolves on the loose
And we howling at the moon
And we howling at the moon
Ullathil ottrumaiyai
With unity in your heart,
Koodi thirindhidu
Move together as one!
Check mate
Checkmate
White facade
White facade
Yo mama should have told you
Your mother should have told you
Not to mess with my chawl
Not to mess with my chawl
Unnai veliyidu
Bring yourself out!
Irulai baliyidu
Sacrifice the darkness!
Go…
Go…
Vaa…
Come…
Unnaiyum mannaiyum vendru vaa
Win over yourself and the land, come!
Thee ratha or thevaiyai kondu vaa
Bring forth a fiery passion or necessity!
Noor aayiram aandugal podhumae
A hundred thousand years are enough!
On draagave maaruvaai seeruvaai
Transform as one and surge forward!
Kaala…thee
Kaala… fire!
Thee
Fire
Oththa thalai raavana
Single-headed Ravana
Male :Kya re?
Male: What man?
Setting ah?
Is it a setup?
Chorus :Oththaiyila nikkura vengai da
Chorus: A tiger standing all alone!
Dhilluruntha mothamaa vaangalae
If you have the guts, come face it all!
Hey..
Hey..
Try-na bring me down for nothing
Trying to bring me down for nothing
Hey..
Hey..
Let me tell you something
Let me tell you something
Hey…
Hey…
That I ain’t going down without a fight
That I ain't going down without a fight
Be afraid of the dark black night
Be afraid of the dark black night
Ei ei
Ei ei
I’m the definition of great
I'm the definition of great
Wait..
Wait..
Gotta stay humble
Gotta stay humble
But I am victorious in every single way..
But I am victorious in every single way..
Hey saet…
Hey Seth…
Ethiri yaarum norungi poga
So that every enemy gets crushed to dust,
Adithu norukku nodiyil
Smash and break them in a second!
Kathari pathari sethari oda
Screaming, panicking, scattering away,
Siru narigalai oda vidu ini
Let those sly little foxes run now!
Vaa
Come
Unnaiyum mannaiyum vendru vaa
Win over yourself and the land, come!
Thee ratha or thevaiyai kondu vaa
Bring forth a fiery passion or necessity!
Noor aayiram aandugal podhume
A hundred thousand years are enough!
On draagave maaruvaai seeruvaai
Transform as one and surge forward!
Kaala
Kaala
Katravai patravai
Learn and hold fast (to your rights)!
Oththa thalai raavana
Single-headed Ravana
Oththaiyila nikkura vengai da
A tiger standing all alone!
Heyyyy…..
Heyyyy…..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Katravai Patravai' (also known as the Kaala Rap/Theme) from the film Kaala is a fiery anthem of revolution, resistance, and self-empowerment. It subverts traditional mythology by celebrating 'Oththa thalai Raavana' (a single-headed Ravana) as a symbol of subaltern pride and defiance standing tall against oppressive forces. The lyrics call upon the oppressed masses living in urban slums (chawls) to cast off centuries of slavery and poverty, unite as a powerful movement, and claim their rightful ownership over their land and dignity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Oththa thalai raavana”
Comparing the protagonist to a single-headed Ravana ('Oththa thalai raavana') and a solitary tiger ('Oththaiyila nikkura vengai da') to depict fearless strength.
Metaphor
“Varumai enum noyai theerka vaa”
Comparing poverty to a disease ('Varumai enum noyai') that needs to be cured.
Edhugai (Tamil Rhyme / Second-letter Rhyming)
“Eluchigalai puratchiyaaka vaa”
Rhyming of second letters across parallel action lines: 'puratchiyaaka' / 'vayalgal aaka' / 'noyai theerka'.
Alliteration & Assonance
“Kathari pathari sethari oda”
Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds in imperative slogans like 'Katravai patravai' and 'Kathari pathari sethari oda'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The famous slogan 'Katravai Patravai' (Learn, Empower/Ignite) used throughout the song and movie is derived from Ambedkarite philosophy of 'Educate, Agitate, Organize'. The song features vocals by Santhosh Narayanan, Yogi B, and Arunraja Kamaraj, blending Tamil folk-dappankuthu with hip-hop and rap.
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