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Ezhai Jaathi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Koduthalum Koduthanda

From Ezhai Jaathi · 1993

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ezhai Jaathi
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
15 Feb 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Koduthaalum koduthaandaa
Nalla edam paathu koduthaanda
Koduthaalum koduthaandaa
Nalla edam paathu koduthaanda
Koduppaanda innum koduppaanda
Evaraanaalum koduppaandaa
Ooril oozhalgala seivorukkum
Onna pathaaga solvorukum
Koduthaalum koduthaandaa
Nalla edam paathu koduthaanda
Koduppaanda innum koduppaanda
Evaraanaalum koduppaandaa..haa
Dhesam kaakka vandha sattam thittam
Kaasa vitterinjaa etta nikkum
Veli pottu vecha seemaangalum
Vedham oadhugira saathaangal thaan
Engeyum eppodhum
Chorus :Lanjam iruku
Male :Oi vaangaadha kaigalum thaan
Chorus :Konjam iruku
Ellarumae kallaattamaa
Ninnaakkaa ennaagum nam naadu
Vakkaalathu vaangidavae
Vandhaaru annachi adhapaadu
Adikkaama sila maadu adhuvaa medhuvaa padiyaathu
Koduthaalum koduthaandaa
Nalla edam paathu koduthaanda
Haan koduppaanda innum koduppaanda
Evaraanaalum koduppaandaa..haa
Ooril oozhalgala seivorukkum
Onna pathaaga solvorukum
Koduthaalum koduthaandaa
Nalla edam paathu koduthaanda
Thoguthi makkaluku thunbamunnaa
Varanum satta sabai member annaa
Panatha surutturatha ennamunnaa haa
Paadam sollidanum meendum ninnaa
M L A nammaala vandha padhavi
Hoi endraalum yaaruku enna udhavi
Ellaathukum nottu vaikkathaan
Ezhaikkum paazhaikkum aagaadhu
Vekkaa vittaal makkalukkellaam
Undaana thunbangal theeraadhu
Idhai kekka thuninjaakkaa
Idhu pola thavaru nadakkaadhu
Koduthaalum koduthaandaa
Nalla edam paathu koduthaanda
Hahaa koduppaanda innum koduppaanda
Evaraanaalum koduppaandaa..haa
Ooril oozhalgala seivorukkum
Onna pathaaga solvorukum
Koduthaalum koduthaandaa
Nalla edam paathu koduthaanda
Hahaa koduppaanda innum koduppaanda
Evaraanaalum koduppaandaa..
Male :Haa haa haa
When he gives, he really gives!
He picked the right spot and gave it!
When he gives, he really gives!
He picked the right spot and gave it!
He will give, he will give even more!
No matter who it is, he will give it!
To those who commit corruption in town,
and to those who stand united and speak the truth,
When he gives, he really gives!
He picked the right spot and gave it!
He will give, he will give even more!
No matter who it is, he will give it... ha!
The laws and schemes meant to protect our land,
stand far away if you throw money at them.
The rich men who build fences around themselves
are nothing but devils reciting scriptures.
Everywhere and at all times,
Chorus: There is bribery!
Male: Hey, the hands that do not take bribes,
Chorus: are very few!
If everyone like stone statues
stands still, what will happen to our country?
To stand up and fight for our rights,
our brother has arrived, so sing about it!
Without a beating, some bulls will never tame down on their own!
When he gives, he really gives!
He picked the right spot and gave it!
Haan, he will give, he will give even more!
No matter who it is, he will give it... ha!
To those who commit corruption in town,
and to those who stand united and speak the truth,
When he gives, he really gives!
He picked the right spot and gave it!
If the people of the constituency are in pain,
the assembly member brother ought to come.
But if their only goal is to pocket the cash, ha!
We must teach them a lesson if they stand for election again!
The post of MLA came to them only because of us,
Hoy, but even so, who ever gets any help?
To pay cash under the table for everything,
the poor and destitute just cannot manage.
If they do not pay up, for all the common people,
the troubles they suffer will never be solved.
If we dare to question this openly,
wrongs like these will never happen again!
When he gives, he really gives!
He picked the right spot and gave it!
Ha ha, he will give, he will give even more!
No matter who it is, he will give it... ha!
To those who commit corruption in town,
and to those who stand united and speak the truth,
When he gives, he really gives!
He picked the right spot and gave it!
Ha ha, he will give, he will give even more!
No matter who it is, he will give it...
Male: Ha ha ha!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Koduthaalum Koduthaandaa from the 1993 movie Ezhai Jaathi is a socio-political satire song. It critically addresses systemic corruption, bribery, and political apathy toward the working class and the poor. The protagonist sarcastically warns corrupt politicians, deceitful authorities, and greedy hoarders that retribution and justice will reach everyone regardless of their power. The song uses vivid metaphors—comparing hypocritical corrupt elites to scripture-reciting demons and highlighting how laws bend for money—while calling upon citizens to question corrupt elected representatives to demand accountability and true democracy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satirical Allusion / Parody

“Koduthaalum koduthaandaa / Nalla edam paathu koduthaanda”

The title refrain parodies the iconic benevolent MGR song 'Koduthaallam Koduthaan' from Padagotti (1964), twisting the theme of divine giving into a sarcastic warning of retribution against corrupt politicians.

Metaphor

“Vedham oadhugira saathaangal thaan”

Compares wealthy hypocritical oppressors to devils reciting holy scriptures.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Veli pottu vecha seemaangalum / Vedham oadhugira saathaangal thaan”

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines ('-ll-')

Moonaal / Alliteration

“Koduthaalum koduthaandaa / Nalla edam paathu koduthaanda”

Repetition of initial consonants ('K')

Did you know?

Trivia

The track borrows its opening phrase from the famous 1964 MGR song 'Koduthaallam Koduthaan' (composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, lyrics by Vaali). While the original praised divine generosity, lyricist Gangai Amaran and composer Ilaiyaraaja repurposed it as a sharp political critique on corruption in 1990s Tamil Nadu politics.

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