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Lyrics & meaning

Mathalam Thattikadaa

From Thangarasu · 1992

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Thangarasu
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
25 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maththalam thattikkadaa mannaarkudi mama
Ini namma kaalam vaammaa
Kuththudaa kuththikadaa dappaankuththu paattu
Oru kummaalanthaan pottu
Nenjukkoru needhiyundu nermaikkoru kaalamundu
Vanhjanaigal jeyichchathaaga varalaaru engae undu
Anbukkoru jaadhiyilla adimaigal yaarumilla
Anji anji vaazhntha kaalam inimael illa
Mayangi iruntha moola ippa thelinja vantha vela
Poruththu iruntha veeram adhu pongi ezhum neram
Hae maththalam thattikkadaa mannaarkudi mama
Ini namma kaalam vaammaa
Kuththudaa kuththikadaa dappaankuththu paattu
Oru kummaalanthaan pottu
Yaezhaigal namma inam kozhaigal Illaiyaendru
Yamaaththum manitharkaluku solvom vaangadaa
Ellorum onnu pattaa illaamai illaiyadaa
Naamellam oru thaayin pillaithaanadaa
Amma koduththa udambu idhu
Azhuththamaana irumbu
Yappaa neeyum thirunthu illa
Vaippaen dinamum virunthu
Edhirkaalam ini yaezhaigal pakkamadaa
Maththalamthattikkadaa mannaarkudi mama
Ini namma kaalam vaammaa
Kuththudaa kuththikadaa dappaankuththu paattu
Oru kummaalanthaan pottu hae haeo
Oor vaazha sevai senjaa
Nooraandu vaazhnthidalaam
Naan pogum paadhai ithu nallaa kettukka
Aarodu oodi varum neer polae vaazhnthidanum
Aanavaththa iniyaachchum neyum maaththikka
Therkkae adichcha kaaththu adhu thirumbi pochchu nerththu
Thaththi nadakkum vaaththu un thalukku minukka maaththu
Inimaelum ingu venaamdi un kooththu
Maththalam thattikkadaa mannaarkudi mama
Ini namma kaalam vaammaa
Hai kuththudaa kuththikadaa dappaankuththu paattu
Oru kummaalanthaan pottu
Nenjukkoru needhiyundu nermaikkoru kaalamundu
Vanjanaigal jeyichchathaaga varalaaru engae undu
Anbukkoru jaadhiyilla adimaigal yaarumilla
Anji anji vaazhntha kaalam inimael illa
Mayangi iruntha moola ippa thelinja vantha vela
Poruththu iruntha veeram adhu pongi ezhum neram
Maththalam thattikkadaa mannaarkudi mama
Ini namma kaalam vaammaa
Kuththudaa kuththikadaa dappaankuththu paattu
Oru kummaalanthaan pottu
Beat the drum, Mannargudi uncle!
Come on, it is our time now!
Strike up a fast dappankuthu (folk dance) song!
Let us celebrate with pure joy!
The heart has its justice, and honesty has its time.
Where in history has treachery ever won?
Love has no caste, and no one is a slave.
The days of living in fear are over now.
The mind that was confused has cleared up at last.
The courage held back for so long is rising up now!
Hey, beat the drum, Mannargudi uncle!
Come on, it is our time now!
Strike up a fast dappankuthu (folk dance) song!
Let us celebrate with pure joy!
To prove that we, the poor, are not cowards,
Come on, let us go and tell the deceivers!
If we all stand united, poverty will vanish!
After all, aren't we all children of the same mother?
This body given by my mother
Is made of solid iron!
Hey man, mend your ways, or else
I will give you a daily thrashing!
From now on, the future is on the side of the poor!
Beat the drum, Mannargudi uncle!
Come on, it is our time now!
Strike up a fast dappankuthu (folk dance) song!
Let us celebrate with pure joy, hey hey-oh!
If you serve the town and its people,
You can live for a hundred years.
This is the path I walk, listen well!
We must live like water flowing freely in a river,
At least from now on, give up your arrogance!
The wind that blew from the south turned back yesterday.
You waddling duck, drop your vain swagger and attitude!
No more of your drama around here!
Beat the drum, Mannargudi uncle!
Come on, it is our time now!
Hey, strike up a fast dappankuthu (folk dance) song!
Let us celebrate with pure joy!
The heart has its justice, and honesty has its time.
Where in history has treachery ever won?
Love has no caste, and no one is a slave.
The days of living in fear are over now.
The mind that was confused has cleared up at last.
The courage held back for so long is rising up now!
Beat the drum, Mannargudi uncle!
Come on, it is our time now!
Strike up a fast dappankuthu (folk dance) song!
Let us celebrate with pure joy!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic song is an uplifting social celebration and call to unity from the movie Thangarasu (1992). Set to a lively 'Dappaankuththu' beat, the protagonist calls upon his community to celebrate because the era of oppression, deceit, and fear has come to an end. The lyrics emphasize social equality, standing up against exploiters, and recognizing that justice and honesty will always prevail over treachery. The speaker challenges corrupt and arrogant figures, warning them that the working poor are not cowards and that unity makes them unbreakable. By asserting that humanity shares a common bond and that true strength comes from righteousness and community service, the song serves as a powerful anthem of empowerment for the underprivileged.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Maththalam thattikkadaa / Kuththudaa kuththikadaa

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Maththalam' and 'Kuththudaa'.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Maththalam thattikkadaa mannaarkudi mama

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Ma' in 'Maththalam' and 'Mannaarkudi'.

Rhetorical Question

Vanhjanaigal jeyichchathaaga varalaaru engae undu

Asking a question to assert a strong moral truth where no answer is needed.

Simile (Upamai)

Aarodu oodi varum neer polae vaazhnthidanum

Comparing a natural, frictionless life to water flowing along a river path ('neer polae').

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Amma koduththa udambu idhu / Azhuththamaana irumbu

Describing the human body given by the mother as solid iron to convey physical and moral resilience.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thangarasu is a 1992 rural Tamil action-drama film. The song features traditional Tamil folk rhythm elements (Dappaankuththu) and prominent lyricist Kalidasan's signature punchy, socially conscious rhyming style that was immensely popular in early 1990s Tamil cinema.

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