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Suthanthira Nattin Adimaigal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naadu Kettu Ponathale

From Suthanthira Nattin Adimaigal · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Suthanthira Nattin Adimaigal
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
23 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naadu kettu ponathaalae…ae…ae…ae…
Naadu kettu ponathaalae…
Naan kudikkiraen
Intha kedu ketta manushangala
Thiruththa pogiraen….
Naadu kettu ponathaalae…
Naan kudikkiraen
Intha kedu ketta manushangala
Thiruththa pogiraen….
Buththi solli paarththaen
Ada entha paya kettaan
Kaththi kaththi thonda thanni
Vaththi pochchu podaa dei
Buththi solli paarththaen
Ada entha paya kettaan
Kaththi kaththi thonda thanni
Vaththi pochchu podaa dei
Buththi solli paarththaen
Ada entha paya kettaan
Kaththi kaththi thonda thanni
Vaththi pochchu podaa dei…..
Naadu kettu ponathaalae…
Naan kudikkiraen
Intha kedu ketta manushangala
Thiruththa pogiraen….
Thanthaniyaa oru kanni ponnu
Theruvila nadakka mudiyala
Thanthaniyaa oru kanni ponnu
Theruvila nadakka mudiyala….aah…
Thaayum magalum inga veettukulla
Bayamindri irukka vazhiyillae….aaah…
Oru thaayum magalum inga veettukulla
Bayamindri irukka vazhiyillae….
Idhu sudhanthira naadaa
Onnum puriyala podaa
Nenaikka nenaikka
Namma manasu thaangala
Kodhippa adakka konjam
Theerththam ooththuraen
Naadu kettu ponathaalae…
Naan kudikkiraen
Intha kedu ketta manushangala
Thiruththa pogiraen….
Haah maangaa madaiyan
Ivan puththi kettu manushana
Kadavul aakkinaen…aa…
Maangaa madaiyan
Ivan puththi kettu manushana
Kadavul aakkinaen…aaah…
Pakkaath thirudan hoi
Arulvaakku endru poiyaa solli
Oorai yaeikkiraan….aah….
Pakkaath thirudan hoi
Arulvaakku endru poiyaa solli
Oorai yaeikkiraan….
Ada pagalilae nyaani
Aan iravilae thaenee
Padichchu padichhu solli evanum thirunthala
Kudiya maranthu vittu urakkam pidikkala
Naadu kettu ponathaalae…
Naan kudikkiraen
Intha kedu ketta manushangala
Thiruththa pogiraen….
Buththi solli paarththaen
Ada entha paya kettaan
Kaththi kaththi thonda thanni
Vaththi pochchu podaa dei
Kaththi kaththi thonda thanni
Vaththi pochchu podaa dei
Hoi hoi ho…..
Because this country has gone to ruin... oh...
Because this country has gone to ruin...
I am drinking,
And these corrupt, hopeless people,
I am going to reform them...
Because this country has gone to ruin...
I am drinking,
And these corrupt, hopeless people,
I am going to reform them...
I tried talking sense to them,
Hey, which fellow even listened?
Shouting and shouting, the moisture in my throat
Has dried up completely, get lost, man!
I tried talking sense to them,
Hey, which fellow even listened?
Shouting and shouting, the moisture in my throat
Has dried up completely, get lost, man!
I tried talking sense to them,
Hey, which fellow even listened?
Shouting and shouting, the moisture in my throat
Has dried up completely, get lost, man!...
Because this country has gone to ruin...
I am drinking,
And these corrupt, hopeless people,
I am going to reform them...
A young girl all on her own
Cannot even walk down the street.
A young girl all on her own
Cannot even walk down the street... ah...
Even a mother and daughter inside their home
Have no way to live without fear... ah...
Even a mother and daughter inside their home
Have no way to live without fear...
Is this really a free country?
I just can't understand it at all, man!
The more I think about it,
My heart just cannot bear it.
To cool down this burning rage,
I am pouring myself a drink.
Because this country has gone to ruin...
I am drinking,
And these corrupt, hopeless people,
I am going to reform them...
Ha! What total fools,
Losing their sense, a mere human
They turned into a god... ah...
What total fools,
Losing their sense, a mere human
They turned into a god... ah...
He is a complete fraud, hey!
Falsely claiming divine prophecy,
He cheats the whole town... ah...
He is a complete fraud, hey!
Falsely claiming divine prophecy,
He cheats the whole town...
Hey, he acts like a wise sage by day,
Ah, and turns into a busy bee at night!
No matter how much I warned them, nobody reformed.
Without drinking, I can't even fall asleep.
Because this country has gone to ruin...
I am drinking,
And these corrupt, hopeless people,
I am going to reform them...
I tried talking sense to them,
Hey, which fellow even listened?
Shouting and shouting, the moisture in my throat
Has dried up completely, get lost, man!
Shouting and shouting, the moisture in my throat
Has dried up completely, get lost, man!
Hoy hoy ho.....
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Suthanthira Nattin Adimaigal' is a biting social satire delivered through the persona of a frustrated protagonist who turns to alcohol as a coping mechanism. He laments the moral decay of society, highlighting how women and girls cannot walk safely outside or even stay inside their homes without fear. Questioning the true meaning of independence in a corrupt nation, he uses cynical humor to vent his anger at fake godmen, hypocrites who behave like saints by day and gluttonous tricksters by night, and citizens who refuse to learn from good advice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Irony / Sarcasm (Ninthai)

Kodhippa adakka konjam Theerththam ooththuraen

Referring to alcohol as 'Theerththam' (holy temple water) to ironically justify drinking to cool down moral rage.

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Kaththi kaththi thonda thanni

Repeated words like 'Kaththi kaththi' (shouting and shouting) and 'Nenaikka nenaikka' (thinking and thinking) emphasize emotional distress and continuous action.

Metaphor (Uruvagak Kurippu)

Ada pagalilae nyaani Aan iravilae thaenee

Comparing hypocritical men to 'nyaani' (sage) during the day and 'thaenee' (bee) at night to illustrate their double lives.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Gangai Amaran, 'Suthanthira Nattin Adimaigal' (1988) features heavy political commentary and philosophical cynicism typical of late 1980s Tamil cinema commentary songs, echoing themes of social reform popularized by classical Tamil poet Bharathiyar.

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