Mic Testing
From Mandela · 2021
- Lyricist
- Arivu
- Singers
- Mano Eswaran, Dhanush
- Music director
- Bharath Sankar
- Details
- Mandela2021
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hmm mm… | Hmm mm... |
| Hmm mm… | Hmm mm... |
| Hmm mm… | Hmm mm... |
| Hmm mm… mm mm | Hmm mm... mm mm |
| {Para para para para para para | {Para para para para para para |
| Pap pap paa ra | Pap pap paa ra |
| Para para para para para para | Para para para para para para |
| Pap pap paa} (4) | Pap pap paa} (4) |
| Male | |
| Mic testing | Mic testing |
| Onnu rendu moonu | One, two, three |
| Set-ah pottu solla poren naanu | I am going to set the stage and speak out |
| Nadakkuthu de kedaikkuthu de | It's happening, girl! We are getting it, girl! |
| Nenachathellaam ippo palikkuthu de | Everything we dreamed of is coming true now, girl! |
| Kai thatti kumbala thaan kootti | Clapping hands, gathering a big crowd |
| Onnu serndhu weight-ah konjam kaatti | Uniting together to show off our power and strength |
| Adaikkanum de mudikkanum de | We must capture it and finish it, girl! |
| Thadukka vandha etti othaikkanum de | If anyone comes to obstruct, we must kick them away, girl! |
| Kandukkaama thalli nikkathae | Don't stay indifferent and stand away! |
| Sindhikkaama maiyum vaikkathae | Don't cast your vote without thinking deeply! |
| Nadathanume ranagalamae | We must create a commotion and revolution! |
| Thirunthanumae illai thiruthanumae | They must reform themselves, or we must correct them! |
| Chorus | |
| Oruthan vote-ukku thaan thaalae thillaalae | Swaying and celebrating for just one man's vote |
| Nadakkum aattathukku podu thillaalae | Dance to the ongoing drama playing out |
| Kedutha koottathukku thaalae thillaalae | Sing a mocking tune for the corrupt group that ruined things |
| Izhuthu gate-ah podu udanae udanae | Shut the gates on them immediately, right now! |
| Male | |
| {Para para para para para para | {Para para para para para para |
| Pap pap paa ra | Pap pap paa ra |
| Para para para para para para | Para para para para para para |
| Pap pap paa} (4) | Pap pap paa} (4) |
| Male | |
| Ilasaana pattalamum pakkuvama onnaachu | The young brigade has united maturely |
| Pazhasana thathuvamum thappunnu thaan aayachu | And the old regressive ideologies have been proven wrong |
| Hey hey hey hey… | Hey hey hey hey... |
| Anju varusham kenji kedappom | We lie begging for five long years |
| Nenja nimithi eppo kanji kudippom | When will we hold our heads high and drink our daily meal? |
| Enni paaru ellarukkaaga | Count and think for the sake of everyone |
| Sandai podu un sandhathikkaaga | Fight for the sake of your future generations |
| Male | |
| Nelaikkanum de thazhaikkanum de | We must sustain and flourish, girl! |
| Thadukka vandha etti odhaikkanum de | If anyone comes to stop us, kick them away, girl! |
| Chorus | |
| Oruthan vote-ukku thaan thaalae thillaalae | Swaying and celebrating for just one man's vote |
| Nadakkum aattathukku podu thillaalae | Dance to the ongoing drama playing out |
| Kedutha koottathukku thaalae thillaalae | Sing a mocking tune for the corrupt group that ruined things |
| Izhuthu gate-ah podu udanae udanae udanae | Shut the gates on them immediately, right away! |
| Male | |
| {Para para para para para para | {Para para para para para para |
| Pap pap paa ra | Pap pap paa ra |
| Para para para para para para | Para para para para para para |
| Pap pap paa} (4) | Pap pap paa} (4) |
ஹ்ம்ம்.. ம்ம்..
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்..
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்..
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்.. ம்ம் ம்ம்
{பற பற பற பற பற பற
பப் பப் பா ரா
பற பற பற பற பற பற
பப் பப் பா} (4)
Hmm mm...
Hmm mm...
Hmm mm...
Hmm mm... mm mm
{Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa ra
Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa} (4)
மைக் டெஸ்டிங்
ஒன்னு ரெண்டு மூணு
செட்ட போட்டு சொல்ல போறேன் நானு
நடக்குது டி கெடைக்குது டி
நெனச்சதெல்லாம் இப்போ பலிக்குது டி
கை தட்டி கும்பல தான் கூட்டி
ஒன்னு சேர்ந்து வெயிட்ட கொஞ்சம் காட்டி
அடைக்கணும் டி முடிக்கணும் டி
தடுக்க வந்தா எட்டி ஒதைக்கணும் டி
கண்டுக்காம தள்ளி நிக்காதே
சிந்திக்காம மையும் வைக்காதே
நடத்தனுமே ரணகலமே
திருந்தணுமே இல்லை திருத்தணுமே
Mic testing
One, two, three
I am going to set the stage and speak out
It's happening, girl! We are getting it, girl!
Everything we dreamed of is coming true now, girl!
Clapping hands, gathering a big crowd
Uniting together to show off our power and strength
We must capture it and finish it, girl!
If anyone comes to obstruct, we must kick them away, girl!
Don't stay indifferent and stand away!
Don't cast your vote without thinking deeply!
We must create a commotion and revolution!
They must reform themselves, or we must correct them!
ஒருத்தன் வோட்டுக்கு தான் தாலே தில்லாலே
நடக்கும் ஆட்டத்துக்கு போடு தில்லாலே
கெடுத்த கூட்டத்துக்கு தாலே தில்லாலே
இழுத்து கேட்ட போடு உடனே உடனே
Swaying and celebrating for just one man's vote
Dance to the ongoing drama playing out
Sing a mocking tune for the corrupt group that ruined things
Shut the gates on them immediately, right now!
{பற பற பற பற பற பற
பப் பப் பா ரா
பற பற பற பற பற பற
பப் பப் பா} (4)
{Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa ra
Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa} (4)
இளசான பட்டாளமும் பக்குவமா ஒண்ணாச்சு
பழசான தத்துவமும் தப்புன்னு தான் ஆயாச்சு
ஹே ஹே ஹே ஹே...
அஞ்சு வருஷம் கெஞ்சி கெடப்போம்
நெஞ்ச நிமித்தி எப்போ கஞ்சி குடிப்போம்
எண்ணி பாரு எல்லாருக்காக
சண்டை போடு உன் சந்ததிக்காக
The young brigade has united maturely
And the old regressive ideologies have been proven wrong
Hey hey hey hey...
We lie begging for five long years
When will we hold our heads high and drink our daily meal?
Count and think for the sake of everyone
Fight for the sake of your future generations
நெலைக்கணும் டி தழைக்கனும் டி
தடுக்க வந்தா எட்டி ஒதைக்கணும் டி
We must sustain and flourish, girl!
If anyone comes to stop us, kick them away, girl!
ஒருத்தன் வோட்டுக்கு தான் தாலே தில்லாலே
நடக்கும் ஆட்டத்துக்கு போடு தில்லாலே
கெடுத்த கூட்டத்துக்கு தாலே தில்லாலே
இழுத்து கேட்ட போடு உடனே உடனே உடனே
Swaying and celebrating for just one man's vote
Dance to the ongoing drama playing out
Sing a mocking tune for the corrupt group that ruined things
Shut the gates on them immediately, right away!
{பற பற பற பற பற பற
பப் பப் பா ரா
பற பற பற பற பற பற
பப் பப் பா} (4)
{Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa ra
Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa} (4)
Hmm mm…
Hmm mm...
Hmm mm…
Hmm mm...
Hmm mm…
Hmm mm...
Hmm mm… mm mm
Hmm mm... mm mm
{Para para para para para para
{Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa ra
Pap pap paa ra
Para para para para para para
Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa} (4)
Pap pap paa} (4)
Mic testing
Mic testing
Onnu rendu moonu
One, two, three
Set-ah pottu solla poren naanu
I am going to set the stage and speak out
Nadakkuthu de kedaikkuthu de
It's happening, girl! We are getting it, girl!
Nenachathellaam ippo palikkuthu de
Everything we dreamed of is coming true now, girl!
Kai thatti kumbala thaan kootti
Clapping hands, gathering a big crowd
Onnu serndhu weight-ah konjam kaatti
Uniting together to show off our power and strength
Adaikkanum de mudikkanum de
We must capture it and finish it, girl!
Thadukka vandha etti othaikkanum de
If anyone comes to obstruct, we must kick them away, girl!
Kandukkaama thalli nikkathae
Don't stay indifferent and stand away!
Sindhikkaama maiyum vaikkathae
Don't cast your vote without thinking deeply!
Nadathanume ranagalamae
We must create a commotion and revolution!
Thirunthanumae illai thiruthanumae
They must reform themselves, or we must correct them!
Oruthan vote-ukku thaan thaalae thillaalae
Swaying and celebrating for just one man's vote
Nadakkum aattathukku podu thillaalae
Dance to the ongoing drama playing out
Kedutha koottathukku thaalae thillaalae
Sing a mocking tune for the corrupt group that ruined things
Izhuthu gate-ah podu udanae udanae
Shut the gates on them immediately, right now!
{Para para para para para para
{Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa ra
Pap pap paa ra
Para para para para para para
Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa} (4)
Pap pap paa} (4)
Ilasaana pattalamum pakkuvama onnaachu
The young brigade has united maturely
Pazhasana thathuvamum thappunnu thaan aayachu
And the old regressive ideologies have been proven wrong
Hey hey hey hey…
Hey hey hey hey...
Anju varusham kenji kedappom
We lie begging for five long years
Nenja nimithi eppo kanji kudippom
When will we hold our heads high and drink our daily meal?
Enni paaru ellarukkaaga
Count and think for the sake of everyone
Sandai podu un sandhathikkaaga
Fight for the sake of your future generations
Nelaikkanum de thazhaikkanum de
We must sustain and flourish, girl!
Thadukka vandha etti odhaikkanum de
If anyone comes to stop us, kick them away, girl!
Oruthan vote-ukku thaan thaalae thillaalae
Swaying and celebrating for just one man's vote
Nadakkum aattathukku podu thillaalae
Dance to the ongoing drama playing out
Kedutha koottathukku thaalae thillaalae
Sing a mocking tune for the corrupt group that ruined things
Izhuthu gate-ah podu udanae udanae udanae
Shut the gates on them immediately, right away!
{Para para para para para para
{Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa ra
Pap pap paa ra
Para para para para para para
Para para para para para para
Pap pap paa} (4)
Pap pap paa} (4)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This energetic political satire track from the movie Mandela (2021) captures the power of a single vote in a democratic society. The lyrics, written by Arivu, highlight how ordinary citizens are often neglected for five years between elections, begging for basic rights, while political elites suddenly bow down when they desperately need every single vote. The song calls for social awareness, unity among the youth, and righteous anger against corrupt politicians. It urges voters to think critically before casting their vote and to fight for the dignity and future of coming generations rather than succumbing to false promises.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Anju varusham kenji kedappom / Nenja nimithi eppo kanji kudippom”
Rhyming of the second letter ('n-ja' and 'n-ji') across consecutive lines to create a punchy rhythmic cadence.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Nadakkuthu de kedaikkuthu de / Nenachathellaam ippo palikkuthu de”
Repetition of the colloquial ending 'de' across multiple lines to give a conversational, street-style musicality.
Adukkuthodar & Onomatopoeia
“Para para para para para para / Pap pap paa ra”
Fast-paced rhythmic vocalizations that set an energetic folk beat and street-play tone.
Political Metaphor
“Izhuthu gate-ah podu udanae udanae”
Using the expression of pulling down gates to metaphorically lock out corrupt political leaders from entering power.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song features in the critically acclaimed political satire Mandela (2021), directed by Madonne Ashwin and starring Yogi Babu. The movie's plot revolves around a neutral villager whose single vote becomes the sole tie-breaker in a local election, leading politicians to absurdly pamper him. Lyricist Arivu and composer Bharath Sankar used traditional folk rhythms combined with modern brass arrangements to highlight the absurdity and power of democratic franchise.
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