Kavalukku Kettikaran
From Kavalukku Kettikaran · 1990
- Lyricist
- M. Karunanidhi
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kavalukku Kettikaran1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaavalukku kettikkaaran | He is a master of security and protection, |
| Indha kaakki chattakkaran haei | This man wearing the khaki uniform, hey! |
| Kaavalukku kettikkaaran | He is a master of security, |
| Indha kaakki chattakkaran | This man wearing the khaki uniform. |
| Male | |
| Thanjaavooru jillaakkaaran | He belongs to the Thanjavur district, |
| Avan anjaa nenjam padaicha veeran | He is a hero blessed with a fearless heart. |
| Hae thanjaavooru jillaakkaaran | Hey, he belongs to the Thanjavur district, |
| Avan anjaa nenjam padaicha | He has a heart that knows no fear, |
| Veeran veeran | A true warrior, a warrior! |
| Male | |
| Kaavalukku kettikkaaran | He is a master of security, |
| Indha kaakki chattakkaran hoi | This man wearing the khaki uniform, hoi! |
| Male | |
| Sonnadha cheivom enbaan | He says, 'We will do what we promise', |
| Appadi cheivadhaiyae solvom enbaan | He says, 'We only proclaim what we actually practice.' |
| Ae hae hae | Ae hae hae! |
| Nambikkaiyaa nadandhukkuvaan | He conducts himself with deep trustworthiness, |
| Namma naattukkaaga ozhachiduvaan | He tirelessly works hard for our nation. |
| Male | |
| Maamoolu vaanga maattaan | He will never accept bribes, |
| Nalla manushangala verukka maattaan | He will never harbor hatred toward good people. |
| Maamoolu vaanga maattaan | He will never accept bribes, |
| Nalla manushangala verukka maattaan | He will never harbor hatred toward good people. |
| Manasaatchi kadavulumbaan | He declares that conscience itself is God, |
| Namma makkalukku thondu seivaan | He dedicates himself to serving our people. |
| Male | |
| Haei kaavalukku kettikkaaran | Hey, he is a master of security, |
| Indha kaakki chattakkaran | This man wearing the khaki uniform. |
| Kaavalukku kettikkaaran | He is a master of security, |
| Indha kaakki chattakkaran hoi | This man wearing the khaki uniform, hoi! |
| Male | |
| Vaeliyae payira meiyum | When the protective fence itself devours the crop, |
| Andha vedhanaiya porukka maattaan | He cannot tolerate that kind of agony. |
| Vellaattum mela paayum | He will never act like a ferocious tiger |
| Oru vengaiyaaga irukka maattaan | That pounces upon innocent white goats. |
| Male | |
| Saaraayam kaaichum koottam | If the illicit liquor brewing crowd |
| Ivana support kettadhunnaa | Approaches him seeking protection or support, |
| Sathiyamaa pudichiduvaan | He will surely apprehend them, |
| Savukkaala adichiduvaan | And punish them heavily with a whip! |
| Padhukkalaiyum kadathalaiyum | Acts of hoarding and smuggling, |
| Panju panjaa pichu pouduvaan | He will tear them apart into shredded cotton! |
| Male | |
| Haei kaavalukku kettikkaaran | Hey, he is a master of security, |
| Indha kaakki chattakkaran | This man wearing the khaki uniform. |
| Thanjaavooru jillaakkaaran | He belongs to the Thanjavur district, |
| Avan anjaa nenjam padaicha | He has a heart that knows no fear, |
| Veeran veeran | A true warrior, a warrior! |
| Kaavalukku kettikkaaran | He is a master of security, |
| Indha kaakki chattakkaran hoi | This man wearing the khaki uniform, hoi! |
காவலுக்கு கெட்டிக்காரன்
இந்த காக்கிச் சட்டைக்காரன்
ஹேய் காவலுக்கு கெட்டிக்காரன்
இந்த காக்கிச் சட்டைக்காரன்
He is a master of security and protection,
This man wearing the khaki uniform, hey!
He is a master of security,
This man wearing the khaki uniform.
தஞ்சாவூரு
ஜில்லாக்காரன்
அவன் அஞ்சா நெஞ்சம்
படைச்ச வீரன் வீரன்
He belongs to the Thanjavur district,
He is a hero blessed with a fearless heart.
Hey, he belongs to the Thanjavur district,
He has a heart that knows no fear,
A true warrior, a warrior!
ஹே தஞ்சாவூரு
ஜில்லாக்காரன்
அவன் அஞ்சா நெஞ்சம்
படைச்ச வீரன் வீரன்
He is a master of security,
This man wearing the khaki uniform, hoi!
ஹேய் காவலுக்கு கெட்டிக்காரன்
இந்த காக்கிச் சட்டைக்காரன்
He says, 'We will do what we promise',
He says, 'We only proclaim what we actually practice.'
Ae hae hae!
He conducts himself with deep trustworthiness,
He tirelessly works hard for our nation.
சொன்னதச் செய்வோம் என்பான்
அப்படிச் செய்வதையே
சொல்வோம் என்பான்
ஏஹேஹே நம்பிக்கையா
நடந்துக்குவான்
நம்ம நாட்டுக்காக ஒழச்சிடுவான்
He will never accept bribes,
He will never harbor hatred toward good people.
He will never accept bribes,
He will never harbor hatred toward good people.
He declares that conscience itself is God,
He dedicates himself to serving our people.
மாமூலு வாங்க மாட்டான்
நல்ல மனுஷங்கள வெறுக்க மாட்டான்
மாமூலு வாங்க மாட்டான்
நல்ல மனுஷங்கள வெறுக்க மாட்டான்
Hey, he is a master of security,
This man wearing the khaki uniform.
He is a master of security,
This man wearing the khaki uniform, hoi!
மனசாட்சி கடவுளும்பான்
நம்ம மக்களுக்கு தொண்டு செய்வான்
When the protective fence itself devours the crop,
He cannot tolerate that kind of agony.
He will never act like a ferocious tiger
That pounces upon innocent white goats.
ஹேய் காவலுக்கு கெட்டிக்காரன்
இந்த காக்கிச் சட்டைக்காரன்
காவலுக்கு கெட்டிக்காரன்
இந்த காக்கிச் சட்டைக்காரன் ஹோய்
If the illicit liquor brewing crowd
Approaches him seeking protection or support,
He will surely apprehend them,
And punish them heavily with a whip!
Acts of hoarding and smuggling,
He will tear them apart into shredded cotton!
வேலியே பயிரை மேயும்
அந்த வேதனைய பொறுக்கமாட்டான்
வெள்ளாட்டு மேல பாயும்
ஒரு வேங்கையாக இருக்கமாட்டான்
Hey, he is a master of security,
This man wearing the khaki uniform.
He belongs to the Thanjavur district,
He has a heart that knows no fear,
A true warrior, a warrior!
He is a master of security,
This man wearing the khaki uniform, hoi!
சாராயம் காய்ச்சும் கூட்டம்
இவன சப்போட்டு கேட்டதுன்னா
சத்தியமா புடிச்சிடுவான்
சவுக்கால அடிச்சிடுவான்
பதுக்கலையும் கடத்தலையும்
பஞ்சு பஞ்சா பிச்சுப்புடுவான்
ஹேய் காவலுக்கு கெட்டிக்காரன்
இந்த காக்கிச் சட்டைக்காரன்
தஞ்சாவூரு
ஜில்லாக்காரன்
அவன் அஞ்சா நெஞ்சம்
படைச்ச வீரன் வீரன்
காவலுக்கு கெட்டிக்காரன்
இந்த காக்கிச் சட்டைக்காரன் ஹேய்
Kaavalukku kettikkaaran
He is a master of security and protection,
Indha kaakki chattakkaran haei
This man wearing the khaki uniform, hey!
Kaavalukku kettikkaaran
He is a master of security,
Indha kaakki chattakkaran
This man wearing the khaki uniform.
Thanjaavooru jillaakkaaran
He belongs to the Thanjavur district,
Avan anjaa nenjam padaicha veeran
He is a hero blessed with a fearless heart.
Hae thanjaavooru jillaakkaaran
Hey, he belongs to the Thanjavur district,
Avan anjaa nenjam padaicha
He has a heart that knows no fear,
Veeran veeran
A true warrior, a warrior!
Kaavalukku kettikkaaran
He is a master of security,
Indha kaakki chattakkaran hoi
This man wearing the khaki uniform, hoi!
Sonnadha cheivom enbaan
He says, 'We will do what we promise',
Appadi cheivadhaiyae solvom enbaan
He says, 'We only proclaim what we actually practice.'
Ae hae hae
Ae hae hae!
Nambikkaiyaa nadandhukkuvaan
He conducts himself with deep trustworthiness,
Namma naattukkaaga ozhachiduvaan
He tirelessly works hard for our nation.
Maamoolu vaanga maattaan
He will never accept bribes,
Nalla manushangala verukka maattaan
He will never harbor hatred toward good people.
Maamoolu vaanga maattaan
He will never accept bribes,
Nalla manushangala verukka maattaan
He will never harbor hatred toward good people.
Manasaatchi kadavulumbaan
He declares that conscience itself is God,
Namma makkalukku thondu seivaan
He dedicates himself to serving our people.
Haei kaavalukku kettikkaaran
Hey, he is a master of security,
Indha kaakki chattakkaran
This man wearing the khaki uniform.
Kaavalukku kettikkaaran
He is a master of security,
Indha kaakki chattakkaran hoi
This man wearing the khaki uniform, hoi!
Vaeliyae payira meiyum
When the protective fence itself devours the crop,
Andha vedhanaiya porukka maattaan
He cannot tolerate that kind of agony.
Vellaattum mela paayum
He will never act like a ferocious tiger
Oru vengaiyaaga irukka maattaan
That pounces upon innocent white goats.
Saaraayam kaaichum koottam
If the illicit liquor brewing crowd
Ivana support kettadhunnaa
Approaches him seeking protection or support,
Sathiyamaa pudichiduvaan
He will surely apprehend them,
Savukkaala adichiduvaan
And punish them heavily with a whip!
Padhukkalaiyum kadathalaiyum
Acts of hoarding and smuggling,
Panju panjaa pichu pouduvaan
He will tear them apart into shredded cotton!
Haei kaavalukku kettikkaaran
Hey, he is a master of security,
Indha kaakki chattakkaran
This man wearing the khaki uniform.
Thanjaavooru jillaakkaaran
He belongs to the Thanjavur district,
Avan anjaa nenjam padaicha
He has a heart that knows no fear,
Veeran veeran
A true warrior, a warrior!
Kaavalukku kettikkaaran
He is a master of security,
Indha kaakki chattakkaran hoi
This man wearing the khaki uniform, hoi!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a hero-praise anthem celebrating an upright, brave, and incorruptible police officer. Hailing from Thanjavur, the hero embodies ideal qualities of public service—he refuses to take bribes, respects good citizens, acts strictly according to his conscience, and fulfills every promise he makes. He stands up against corruption and tyranny, ensuring he protects the weak rather than preying on them like a predator, while mercilessly crushing illegal activities like illicit liquor brewing, hoarding, and smuggling.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Kaavalukku kettikkaaran / Indha kaakki chattakkaran”
Matching of the second consonant sound in adjacent lines, such as 'Kaavalukku' and 'Thanjaavooru' (matching 'va'/'ja' placement) or 'Sonnadha' and 'Appadi' / 'Nambikkaiyaa'.
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Padhukkalaiyum kadathalaiyum / Panju panjaa pichu pouduvaan”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Pa' across consecutive words in line 35 and 36.
Metaphor / Idiomatic Proverb
“Vaeliyae payira meiyum / Andha vedhanaiya porukka maattaan”
Uses the famous Tamil proverb 'Vaeliye payira meiyum' (the fence itself grazing the crop) to illustrate internal corruption in law enforcement.
Metaphor
“Vellaattum mela paayum / Oru vengaiyaaga irukka maattaan”
Compares oppressors or corrupt officials to a tiger preying on weak goats, asserting the hero's refusal to act in such a predatory manner.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics were written by former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and veteran DMK leader M. Karunanidhi. The film 'Kavalukku Kettikaran' (1990) starring Prabhu and Nirosha features police duty themes and political commentary characteristic of Karunanidhi's screenwriting.
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