Madras Nalla Madras
From Anubavi Raja Anubavi · 1967
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Anubavi Raja Anubavi1967
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aathadi…. | Oh my mother! |
| Male | |
| Madras nalla madras | Madras, good old Madras. |
| Madras nalla madras | Madras, good old Madras. |
| Methuva poravuga yaarumille | Nobody walks slowly here. |
| Ingae sariya thamizh pesa aalumille | There is no one here who speaks proper Tamil. |
| Methuva poravuga yaarumille | Nobody walks slowly here. |
| Ingae sariya thamizh pesa aalumille | There is no one here who speaks proper Tamil. |
| Male | |
| Aambalaikkum pombalaikkum | Between men and women, |
| Vithyasam thonalle | No distinction is visible. |
| Aambalaikkum pombalaikkum | Between men and women, |
| Vithyasam thonalle | No distinction is visible. |
| Aniyayam Aathadiyo……. | Oh dear, what an injustice! |
| Male | |
| Madras nalla madras | Madras, good old Madras. |
| Madras nalla madras | Madras, good old Madras. |
| Male | |
| Seetukattu kanakkaga | Like a fragile house of cards, |
| Inga veeta katti irukkaga | They have built houses here. |
| Veeta katti irunthalum | Even though houses are built, |
| Silar roadtumela padukkaga | Some people sleep right on the road. |
| Male | |
| Pattanath therukkalile | In the streets of this city, |
| Aalu nikka oru nizhalillaye | There isn't even shade for a person to stand under. |
| Vettaveli nilamillaye | There are no open, vast fields, |
| Nellu kotta oru idamillaye | There is no space even to spread out paddy grains. |
| Adi sakke….. | Oh wow! |
| Male | |
| {Vaikelalae kannukkutti | {A calf made of straw, |
| Maadu eppo pottuthu | When did the cow give birth to it? |
| Kakkathula thooki vaichcha | Carried tucked under the arm, |
| Kathalaye ennathu} (2) | What happened to the transistor radio?} |
| Male | |
| Rokkathukku mathip illaye….. | Cash holds no real value here... |
| Inga vekkathukku vilai illaye….. | Here, modesty commands no price... |
| Male | |
| Madras nalla madras | Madras, good old Madras. |
| Madras nalla madras | Madras, good old Madras. |
| Male | |
| Ooru kettu ponathukku | The decline of the village |
| Mooru maaruketu adaiyaalam | Is marked by adulterated buttermilk. |
| Naadu kettu ponathukku | The decline of the nation |
| Madrasu naagareegam adayaalam | Is marked by city culture. |
| Male | |
| Thaerattam carinile | Riding in a car that looks like a chariot, |
| Romba thimirodu poravare | Oh person traveling with so much arrogance! |
| Enga yerottam ninnu pona | If our plowing of fields comes to a halt, |
| Unga carottam ennavaagum | What will happen to your car rides? |
| Yae hae hae | Yeah, ha, ha! |
| Male | |
| {Kaathu vaanga beachu pakkam | {To catch a breath of air near the beach, |
| Kaathu nikkum kootame | A massive crowd stands waiting. |
| Naethu vaangi pona kaathu | The air you took home yesterday, |
| Enna aachu vootilae} (2) | What happened to it inside your house?} |
| Male | |
| Kettu pona pulligalaa | Oh you spoiled folk, |
| Vaazha patanathil vantheegala | Did you come to the city just to make a living? |
| Male | |
| Madras nalla madras | Madras, good old Madras. |
| Madras nalla madras | Madras, good old Madras. |
| Methuva poravuga yaarumille | Nobody walks slowly here. |
| Ingae sariya thamizh pesa aalumille | There is no one here who speaks proper Tamil. |
| Male | |
| Aambalaikkum pombalaikkum | Between men and women, |
| Vithyasam thonalle | No distinction is visible. |
| Aambalaikkum pombalaikkum | Between men and women, |
| Vithyasam thonalle | No distinction is visible. |
| Aniyayam Aathadiyo……. | Oh dear, what an injustice! |
| Male | |
| Madras nalla madras | Madras, good old Madras. |
| Madras nalla madras | Madras, good old Madras. |
| Adi aaththadiyae……. | Oh my mother! |
ஆத்தாடி......
Oh my mother!
மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்
மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்
மெதுவாப் போறவுக யாருமில்லே
இங்கே சரியாத் தமிழ் பேச ஆளுமில்லே
மெதுவாப் போறவுக யாருமில்லே
இங்கே சரியாத் தமிழ் பேச ஆளுமில்லே
Madras, good old Madras.
Madras, good old Madras.
Nobody walks slowly here.
There is no one here who speaks proper Tamil.
Nobody walks slowly here.
There is no one here who speaks proper Tamil.
ஆம்பிள்ளைக்கும் பொம்பிள்ளைக்கும்
வித்யாசம் தோணல்லே
ஆம்பிள்ளைக்கும் பொம்பிள்ளைக்கும்
வித்யாசம் தோணல்லே
அநியாயம் ஆத்தாடியோ.........
Between men and women,
No distinction is visible.
Between men and women,
No distinction is visible.
Oh dear, what an injustice!
மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்
மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்
Madras, good old Madras.
Madras, good old Madras.
சீட்டுக்கட்டுக் கணக்காக
இங்கே வீட்டக் கட்டி இருக்காக
வீட்டக் கட்டி இருந்தாலும்
சிலர் ரோட்டு மேலே படுக்காக
Like a fragile house of cards,
They have built houses here.
Even though houses are built,
Some people sleep right on the road.
பட்டணத்துத் தெருக்களிலே
ஆளு நிக்க ஒரு நிழலில்லையே
வெட்டவெளி நிலமில்லையே
நெல்லுக் கொட்ட ஒரு இடமில்லையே
அடி சக்கே.....
In the streets of this city,
There isn't even shade for a person to stand under.
There are no open, vast fields,
There is no space even to spread out paddy grains.
Oh wow!
{வைக்கேலாலே கன்னுக் குட்டி
மாடு எப்போ போட்டுது
கக்கத்திலே தூக்கி வச்சாக்
கத்தலையே என்னது} (2)
{A calf made of straw,
When did the cow give birth to it?
Carried tucked under the arm,
What happened to the transistor radio?}
ரொக்கத்துக்கு மதிப்பில்லையே....
இங்கு வெக்கத்துக்கு விலையில்லையே.....
Cash holds no real value here...
Here, modesty commands no price...
மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்
மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்
Madras, good old Madras.
Madras, good old Madras.
ஊரு கெட்டுப் போனதுக்கு
மூரு மாருக்கெட்டு அடையாளம்
நாடு கெட்டுப் போனதுக்கு
மெட்ராஸு நாகரிகம் அடையாளம்
The decline of the village
Is marked by adulterated buttermilk.
The decline of the nation
Is marked by city culture.
தேராட்டம் காரினிலே
ரொம்பத் திமிரோடு போறவரே
எங்க ஏரோட்டம் நின்னு போனா
உங்க காரு ஓட்டம் என்னவாகும்
ஏஹேஹே
Riding in a car that looks like a chariot,
Oh person traveling with so much arrogance!
If our plowing of fields comes to a halt,
What will happen to your car rides?
Yeah, ha, ha!
{காத்து வாங்க பீச்சுப் பக்கம்
காத்து நிக்கும் கூட்டமே
நேத்து வாங்கிப் போன காத்து
என்ன ஆச்சு வூட்டிலே} (2)
{To catch a breath of air near the beach,
A massive crowd stands waiting.
The air you took home yesterday,
What happened to it inside your house?}
கெட்டுப்போன புள்ளிகளா
வாழப் பட்டணத்தில் வந்தீகளா
Oh you spoiled folk,
Did you come to the city just to make a living?
மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்
மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்
மெதுவாப் போறவுக யாருமில்லே
இங்கே சரியாத் தமிழ் பேச ஆளுமில்லே
Madras, good old Madras.
Madras, good old Madras.
Nobody walks slowly here.
There is no one here who speaks proper Tamil.
ஆம்பிள்ளைக்கும் பொம்பிள்ளைக்கும்
வித்யாசம் தோணல்லே
ஆம்பிள்ளைக்கும் பொம்பிள்ளைக்கும்
வித்யாசம் தோணல்லே
அநியாயம் ஆத்தாடியோ
Between men and women,
No distinction is visible.
Between men and women,
No distinction is visible.
Oh dear, what an injustice!
மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்
மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்
அடி ஆத்தாடியே......
Madras, good old Madras.
Madras, good old Madras.
Oh my mother!
Aathadi….
Oh my mother!
Madras nalla madras
Madras, good old Madras.
Madras nalla madras
Madras, good old Madras.
Methuva poravuga yaarumille
Nobody walks slowly here.
Ingae sariya thamizh pesa aalumille
There is no one here who speaks proper Tamil.
Methuva poravuga yaarumille
Nobody walks slowly here.
Ingae sariya thamizh pesa aalumille
There is no one here who speaks proper Tamil.
Aambalaikkum pombalaikkum
Between men and women,
Vithyasam thonalle
No distinction is visible.
Aambalaikkum pombalaikkum
Between men and women,
Vithyasam thonalle
No distinction is visible.
Aniyayam Aathadiyo…….
Oh dear, what an injustice!
Madras nalla madras
Madras, good old Madras.
Madras nalla madras
Madras, good old Madras.
Seetukattu kanakkaga
Like a fragile house of cards,
Inga veeta katti irukkaga
They have built houses here.
Veeta katti irunthalum
Even though houses are built,
Silar roadtumela padukkaga
Some people sleep right on the road.
Pattanath therukkalile
In the streets of this city,
Aalu nikka oru nizhalillaye
There isn't even shade for a person to stand under.
Vettaveli nilamillaye
There are no open, vast fields,
Nellu kotta oru idamillaye
There is no space even to spread out paddy grains.
Adi sakke…..
Oh wow!
{Vaikelalae kannukkutti
{A calf made of straw,
Maadu eppo pottuthu
When did the cow give birth to it?
Kakkathula thooki vaichcha
Carried tucked under the arm,
Kathalaye ennathu} (2)
What happened to the transistor radio?}
Rokkathukku mathip illaye…..
Cash holds no real value here...
Inga vekkathukku vilai illaye…..
Here, modesty commands no price...
Madras nalla madras
Madras, good old Madras.
Madras nalla madras
Madras, good old Madras.
Ooru kettu ponathukku
The decline of the village
Mooru maaruketu adaiyaalam
Is marked by adulterated buttermilk.
Naadu kettu ponathukku
The decline of the nation
Madrasu naagareegam adayaalam
Is marked by city culture.
Thaerattam carinile
Riding in a car that looks like a chariot,
Romba thimirodu poravare
Oh person traveling with so much arrogance!
Enga yerottam ninnu pona
If our plowing of fields comes to a halt,
Unga carottam ennavaagum
What will happen to your car rides?
Yae hae hae
Yeah, ha, ha!
{Kaathu vaanga beachu pakkam
{To catch a breath of air near the beach,
Kaathu nikkum kootame
A massive crowd stands waiting.
Naethu vaangi pona kaathu
The air you took home yesterday,
Enna aachu vootilae} (2)
What happened to it inside your house?}
Kettu pona pulligalaa
Oh you spoiled folk,
Vaazha patanathil vantheegala
Did you come to the city just to make a living?
Madras nalla madras
Madras, good old Madras.
Madras nalla madras
Madras, good old Madras.
Methuva poravuga yaarumille
Nobody walks slowly here.
Ingae sariya thamizh pesa aalumille
There is no one here who speaks proper Tamil.
Aambalaikkum pombalaikkum
Between men and women,
Vithyasam thonalle
No distinction is visible.
Aambalaikkum pombalaikkum
Between men and women,
Vithyasam thonalle
No distinction is visible.
Aniyayam Aathadiyo…….
Oh dear, what an injustice!
Madras nalla madras
Madras, good old Madras.
Madras nalla madras
Madras, good old Madras.
Adi aaththadiyae…….
Oh my mother!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic satirical track from the 1967 film 'Anubavi Raja Anubavi' captures a rural villager's humorous yet sharp observations upon visiting the bustling metropolis of Madras. Through clever imagery, the lyricist Kannadasan contrasts the authenticity and simplicity of village life with the superficiality, cramped living conditions, and rapid Westernization of urban society. The song highlights social commentary ranging from high-rise overcrowding and loss of traditional etiquette to the vanity of modern luxuries. It features a famous rhetorical question reminding urban elites that without the hard work of rural farmers plowing the land, city prosperity and luxury cars would mean nothing.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Satire and Social Commentary
“Enga yerottam ninnu pona / Unga carottam ennavaagum”
Kannadasan uses sharp humor to critique urban social changes, pointing out how city dwellers value superficial luxuries while losing essential values like modesty and community.
Simile (Upamai)
“Seetukattu kanakkaga Inga veeta katti irukkaga”
Comparing city housing structures to a house of cards ('Seetukattu'), emphasizing their cramped, fragile, and dense nature.
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Enga yerottam ninnu pona / Unga carottam ennavaagum”
Classic Tamil poetic meter technique where the second consonant of consecutive lines matches (e.g., 'yerottam' and 'carottam').
Irony
“Kaathu vaanga beachu pakkam / Kaathu nikkum kootame”
Highlighting the absurd paradox of crowds going to the beach just to 'buy air' (breathe fresh air) because city houses lack ventilation.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by M.S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this classic song was sung by T.M. Soundararajan and picturized on legendary comedian Nagesh. The song became a cultural landmark in Tamil cinema for defining the identity and rapid urbanization of 1960s Madras (now Chennai).
Keep listening
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