Koovungal Sevalgale
From Thanikattu Raja · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thanikattu Raja1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Koovungal saevalgalae | Crow, oh roosters! |
| Sennira kondaigalae | Oh red-crested roosters! |
| Koovungal saevalgalae | Crow, oh roosters! |
| Sennira kondaigalae | Oh red-crested roosters! |
| Bharadha desathilae | In the nation of Bharat, |
| Cherikkullae sooriyan vandhadhillae | The sun has never entered the slums. |
| Pudhu sooriyanai katti kondu vara | To capture and bring back a new dawn, |
| Indha kaigalukku andha thembu vara | For these hands to gain that strength, |
| Koovungal saevalgalae …. | Crow, oh roosters... |
| Chorus :Koovungal saevalgalae | Chorus: Crow, oh roosters! |
| Male | |
| Nanjaigal punjaigal selikka | Though they made wetlands and drylands flourish, |
| Seidha panjaigal vaazhavillai | The poor workers who tilled them never truly lived. |
| Thinnaikkum pannaikkum alaindhu | Wandering endlessly between porches and farmlands, |
| Thalai ennaikkum vakku illai | They lack even the means to oil their hair. |
| Male | |
| Nanjaigal punjaigal selikka | Though they made wetlands and drylands flourish, |
| Seidha panjaigal vaazhavillai | The poor workers who tilled them never truly lived. |
| Thinnaikkum pannaikkum alaindhu | Wandering endlessly between porches and farmlands, |
| Thalai ennaikkum vakku illai | They lack even the means to oil their hair. |
| Male | |
| Uzhippavan viyarvaiyil pizhaippavan | The laborer who survives by the sweat of his brow, |
| Kadan pattadhum kattiya vattigalum | The debts he took and the interest accrued, |
| Nidham othaikku rettaiyaai kuttiyidum | Multiply daily, doubling like offspring. |
| Chorus | |
| Kadan pattadhum kattiya vattigalum | The debts he took and the interest accrued, |
| Nidham othaikku rettaiyaai kuttiyidum | Multiply daily, doubling like offspring. |
| Male | |
| Inimel avan | From now on, for him, |
| Maanamum pizhaikka | To save his honor, |
| Vaanamum velukka | And for the sky to brighten, |
| Male | |
| Koovungal saevalgalae | Crow, oh roosters! |
| Sennira kondaigalae | Oh red-crested roosters! |
| Bharadha desathilae | In the nation of Bharat, |
| Cherikkullae sooriyan vandhadhillae | The sun has never entered the slums. |
| Pudhu sooriyanai katti kondu vara | To capture and bring back a new dawn, |
| Indha kaigalukku andha thembu vara | For these hands to gain that strength, |
| Koovungal saevalgalae | Crow, oh roosters! |
| Chorus :Koovungal saevalgalae | Chorus: Crow, oh roosters! |
| Male | |
| Thattungal thattungal thirakkum | Knock and it shall open, |
| Enum thaththuvam thaevaiyillai | We do not need such passive philosophy. |
| Muttungal muttungal vedikkum | Strike hard and it will burst, |
| Enum vaarthaikku mosamillai | There is no deceit in those bold words. |
| Male | |
| Thattungal thattungal thirakkum | Knock and it shall open, |
| Enum thaththuvam thaevaiyillai | We do not need such passive philosophy. |
| Muttungal muttungal vedikkum | Strike hard and it will burst, |
| Enum vaarthaikku mosamillai | There is no deceit in those bold words. |
| Male | |
| Thadaigalai madaigalai udaikka vaa | Come to break down barriers and floodgates! |
| Nalla pudhdhigal eththanai solli vittom | How much good counsel have we offered, |
| Solli kettavar kaigalil kuttu pattom | Only to get hit by the hands of those who heard us! |
| Chorus | |
| Nalla pudhdhigal | Good counsel, |
| Eththanai solli vittom | How much have we offered, |
| Solli kettavar kaigalil kuttu pattom | Only to get hit by the hands of those who heard us! |
| Male | |
| Ezhundhom | Yet we have risen! |
| Nalla kaariyam mudikka | To complete a noble cause, |
| Neramum pirakka | And for a new era to be born, |
| Male | |
| Koovungal saevalgalae | Crow, oh roosters! |
| Sennira kondaigalae | Oh red-crested roosters! |
| Bharadha desathilae | In the nation of Bharat, |
| Cherikkullae sooriyan vandhadhillae | The sun has never entered the slums. |
| Pudhu sooriyanai katti kondu vara | To capture and bring back a new dawn, |
| Indha kaigalukku andha thembu vara | For these hands to gain that strength, |
| Koovungal saevalgalae … | Crow, oh roosters... |
| Chorus :Koovungal saevalgalae | Chorus: Crow, oh roosters! |
கூவுங்கள் சேவல்களே
செந்நிற கொண்டைகளே
கூவுங்கள் சேவல்களே
செந்நிற கொண்டைகளே
பாரத தேசத்திலே
சேரிக்குள்ளே சூரியன் வந்ததில்லே
புது சூரியனை கட்டி கொண்டு வர
இந்த கைகளுக்கு அந்த தெம்பு வர
கூவுங்கள் சேவல்களே
குழு :
கூவுங்கள் சேவல்களே
Crow, oh roosters!
Oh red-crested roosters!
Crow, oh roosters!
Oh red-crested roosters!
In the nation of Bharat,
The sun has never entered the slums.
To capture and bring back a new dawn,
For these hands to gain that strength,
Crow, oh roosters...
Chorus: Crow, oh roosters!
நஞ்சைகள் புஞ்சைகள்
செழிக்க செய்த
பஞ்சைகள் வாழவில்லை
திண்ணைக்கும் பண்ணைக்கும் அலைந்து
தலை என்னைக்கும் வக்கு இல்லை
Though they made wetlands and drylands flourish,
The poor workers who tilled them never truly lived.
Wandering endlessly between porches and farmlands,
They lack even the means to oil their hair.
நஞ்சைகள் புஞ்சைகள்
செழிக்க செய்த
பஞ்சைகள் வாழவில்லை
திண்ணைக்கும் பண்ணைக்கும் அலைந்து
தலை என்னைக்கும் வக்கு இல்லை
Though they made wetlands and drylands flourish,
The poor workers who tilled them never truly lived.
Wandering endlessly between porches and farmlands,
They lack even the means to oil their hair.
உழைப்பவன் வியர்வையில்
பிழைப்பவன்
கடன் பட்டதும் கட்டிய வட்டிகளும்
நிதம் ஒத்தைக்கு ரெட்டையாய் குட்டியிடும்
The laborer who survives by the sweat of his brow,
The debts he took and the interest accrued,
Multiply daily, doubling like offspring.
கடன் பட்டதும் கட்டிய வட்டிகளும்
நிதம் ஒத்தைக்கு ரெட்டையாய் குட்டியிடும்
The debts he took and the interest accrued,
Multiply daily, doubling like offspring.
இனிமேல் அவன்
மானமும் பிழைக்க
வானமும் வெளுக்க
From now on, for him,
To save his honor,
And for the sky to brighten,
கூவுங்கள் சேவல்களே
செந்நிற கொண்டைகளே
பாரத தேசத்திலே
சேரிக்குள்ளே சூரியன் வந்ததில்லே
புது சூரியனை கட்டி கொண்டு வர
இந்த கைகளுக்கு அந்த தெம்பு வர
கூவுங்கள் சேவல்களே
குழு :
கூவுங்கள் சேவல்களே
Crow, oh roosters!
Oh red-crested roosters!
In the nation of Bharat,
The sun has never entered the slums.
To capture and bring back a new dawn,
For these hands to gain that strength,
Crow, oh roosters!
Chorus: Crow, oh roosters!
தட்டுங்கள் தட்டுங்கள் திறக்கும்
எனும் தத்துவம் தேவையில்லை
முட்டுங்கள் முட்டுங்கள் வெடிக்கும்
எனும் வார்த்தைக்கு மோசமில்லை
Knock and it shall open,
We do not need such passive philosophy.
Strike hard and it will burst,
There is no deceit in those bold words.
தட்டுங்கள் தட்டுங்கள் திறக்கும்
எனும் தத்துவம் தேவையில்லை
முட்டுங்கள் முட்டுங்கள் வெடிக்கும்
எனும் வார்த்தைக்கு மோசமில்லை
Knock and it shall open,
We do not need such passive philosophy.
Strike hard and it will burst,
There is no deceit in those bold words.
தடைகளை மடைகளை
உடைக்க வா
நல்ல புத்திகள்
எத்தனை சொல்லி விட்டோம்
சொல்லி கெட்டவர்
கைகளில் குட்டு பட்டோம்
Come to break down barriers and floodgates!
How much good counsel have we offered,
Only to get hit by the hands of those who heard us!
நல்ல புத்திகள்
எத்தனை சொல்லி விட்டோம்
சொல்லி கெட்டவர்
கைகளில் குட்டு பட்டோம்
Good counsel,
How much have we offered,
Only to get hit by the hands of those who heard us!
எழுந்தோம்
நல்ல காரியம் முடிக்க
நேரமும் பிறக்க
Yet we have risen!
To complete a noble cause,
And for a new era to be born,
கூவுங்கள் சேவல்களே
செந்நிற கொண்டைகளே
பாரத தேசத்திலே
சேரிக்குள்ளே சூரியன் வந்ததில்லே
புது சூரியனை கட்டி கொண்டு வர
இந்த கைகளுக்கு அந்த தெம்பு வர
கூவுங்கள் சேவல்களே
குழு :
கூவுங்கள் சேவல்களே
Crow, oh roosters!
Oh red-crested roosters!
In the nation of Bharat,
The sun has never entered the slums.
To capture and bring back a new dawn,
For these hands to gain that strength,
Crow, oh roosters...
Chorus: Crow, oh roosters!
Koovungal saevalgalae
Crow, oh roosters!
Sennira kondaigalae
Oh red-crested roosters!
Koovungal saevalgalae
Crow, oh roosters!
Sennira kondaigalae
Oh red-crested roosters!
Bharadha desathilae
In the nation of Bharat,
Cherikkullae sooriyan vandhadhillae
The sun has never entered the slums.
Pudhu sooriyanai katti kondu vara
To capture and bring back a new dawn,
Indha kaigalukku andha thembu vara
For these hands to gain that strength,
Koovungal saevalgalae ….
Crow, oh roosters...
Chorus :Koovungal saevalgalae
Chorus: Crow, oh roosters!
Nanjaigal punjaigal selikka
Though they made wetlands and drylands flourish,
Seidha panjaigal vaazhavillai
The poor workers who tilled them never truly lived.
Thinnaikkum pannaikkum alaindhu
Wandering endlessly between porches and farmlands,
Thalai ennaikkum vakku illai
They lack even the means to oil their hair.
Nanjaigal punjaigal selikka
Though they made wetlands and drylands flourish,
Seidha panjaigal vaazhavillai
The poor workers who tilled them never truly lived.
Thinnaikkum pannaikkum alaindhu
Wandering endlessly between porches and farmlands,
Thalai ennaikkum vakku illai
They lack even the means to oil their hair.
Uzhippavan viyarvaiyil pizhaippavan
The laborer who survives by the sweat of his brow,
Kadan pattadhum kattiya vattigalum
The debts he took and the interest accrued,
Nidham othaikku rettaiyaai kuttiyidum
Multiply daily, doubling like offspring.
Kadan pattadhum kattiya vattigalum
The debts he took and the interest accrued,
Nidham othaikku rettaiyaai kuttiyidum
Multiply daily, doubling like offspring.
Inimel avan
From now on, for him,
Maanamum pizhaikka
To save his honor,
Vaanamum velukka
And for the sky to brighten,
Koovungal saevalgalae
Crow, oh roosters!
Sennira kondaigalae
Oh red-crested roosters!
Bharadha desathilae
In the nation of Bharat,
Cherikkullae sooriyan vandhadhillae
The sun has never entered the slums.
Pudhu sooriyanai katti kondu vara
To capture and bring back a new dawn,
Indha kaigalukku andha thembu vara
For these hands to gain that strength,
Koovungal saevalgalae
Crow, oh roosters!
Chorus :Koovungal saevalgalae
Chorus: Crow, oh roosters!
Thattungal thattungal thirakkum
Knock and it shall open,
Enum thaththuvam thaevaiyillai
We do not need such passive philosophy.
Muttungal muttungal vedikkum
Strike hard and it will burst,
Enum vaarthaikku mosamillai
There is no deceit in those bold words.
Thattungal thattungal thirakkum
Knock and it shall open,
Enum thaththuvam thaevaiyillai
We do not need such passive philosophy.
Muttungal muttungal vedikkum
Strike hard and it will burst,
Enum vaarthaikku mosamillai
There is no deceit in those bold words.
Thadaigalai madaigalai udaikka vaa
Come to break down barriers and floodgates!
Nalla pudhdhigal eththanai solli vittom
How much good counsel have we offered,
Solli kettavar kaigalil kuttu pattom
Only to get hit by the hands of those who heard us!
Nalla pudhdhigal
Good counsel,
Eththanai solli vittom
How much have we offered,
Solli kettavar kaigalil kuttu pattom
Only to get hit by the hands of those who heard us!
Ezhundhom
Yet we have risen!
Nalla kaariyam mudikka
To complete a noble cause,
Neramum pirakka
And for a new era to be born,
Koovungal saevalgalae
Crow, oh roosters!
Sennira kondaigalae
Oh red-crested roosters!
Bharadha desathilae
In the nation of Bharat,
Cherikkullae sooriyan vandhadhillae
The sun has never entered the slums.
Pudhu sooriyanai katti kondu vara
To capture and bring back a new dawn,
Indha kaigalukku andha thembu vara
For these hands to gain that strength,
Koovungal saevalgalae …
Crow, oh roosters...
Chorus :Koovungal saevalgalae
Chorus: Crow, oh roosters!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Koovungal Saevalgalae' from Thanikattu Raja (1982) serves as a fiery revolutionary anthem urging the oppressed working class to awaken and demand social justice. Vaali uses the rooster as a metaphor for awakening and a catalyst for a new morning, emphasizing that despite the hard work of farmers and laborers in feeding the country, light and prosperity (symbolized by the sun) have never truly reached the impoverished slums.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamm)
“Cherikkullae sooriyan vandhadhillae”
The rooster (Saeval) symbolizes awakening and revolutionary consciousness, while 'Sooriyan' (Sun) represents social justice, dignity, and economic prosperity.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Nanjaigal punjaigal selikka”
Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds in consecutive words across lines, creating a rhythmic cadence.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Thattungal thattungal thirakkum / Muttungal muttungal vedikkum”
Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines ('tt' sound in Thattungal and Muttungal).
Did you know?
Trivia
Music for Thanikattu Raja was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, starring Rajinikanth, Sridevi, and Jaishankar. The song is notable for its socio-political themes popular in 1980s Tamil cinema hero-introduction tracks.
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