Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Ungalai Ketkindren

From Selviyin Selvan · 1968

Lyricist
Trichy Thiyagarajan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
T. Pugazhenthi
Movie name
Selviyin Selvan
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
2 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
Ezhai urimaiyai kaakka
Varumaiyai neekka
Urimaiyai kaakka varumaiyai neekka
Ullavar sollum bathilenna
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
{Poiyai nambi pizhaippavan veetil
Neiyum paalum manappadha
Kaiyai nambi uzhaippavan veetil
Kanji kalayam uruluvadha} (2)
Azhuvadhai maatri sirippadhai kaatta
Azhuvadhai maatri sirippadhai kaatta
Arindhavar sollum bathilenna
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
{Silandhi valaiyai pinni vaithu
Siru siru poochiyai pidikkuthaiyaa
Palarai sila per paniya vaikka
Panam thaan valaiyaai udhavudhaiyaa} (2)
Pattini theerkkum
Thittangal theetta
Pattini theerkkum thittangal theetta
Padithavar sollum bathilenna
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
Ethanai kaalam indha kelvi
Ezhaikku yeno indha needhi
Buthanum yesuvum uthaman gaandhiyum
Boomiyilae pirandhadhu veen thaana
Puratchiyil thondrum
Pudhumaiyai kaana
Puratchiyil thondrum pudhumaiyai kaana
Purindhavar sollum bathilenna
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
Ezhai urimaiyai kaakka
Varumaiyai neekka
Ullavar sollum bathilenna
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
I am asking you
I am asking you
I am asking you
To protect the rights of the poor,
to wipe out poverty,
to protect rights and wipe out poverty,
what answer do the wealthy give?
I am asking you...
In the home of one who lives on lies,
does the rich aroma of milk and ghee fill the air?
While in the home of one who toils with his hands,
does an empty porridge pot just roll on the floor?
To turn their crying into smiles,
to turn their crying into smiles,
what answer do the wise give?
I am asking you
A spider weaves a web
and catches tiny insects;
for the few to make the many bow down,
money serves as the web!
To end starvation,
to draw up schemes,
to draw up schemes to end starvation,
what answer do the educated give?
I am asking you
How long must this question remain?
Why is this the only justice for the poor?
Did the Buddha, Jesus, and noble Gandhi
take birth upon this earth in vain?
To see the new dawn
born of revolution,
to see the new dawn born of revolution,
what answer do those who understand give?...
I am asking you
To protect the rights of the poor,
to wipe out poverty,
what answer do the wealthy give?
I am asking you...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This social reform song from the 1968 film Selviyin Selvan, written by Trichy Thiyagarajan, is a passionate confrontation against economic inequality and social injustice. The speaker repeatedly questions society's privileged elites—the wealthy, the educated, and the wise—demanding answers for why dishonest exploiters enjoy luxury while honest, hardworking laborers suffer in deep poverty. Through sharp imagery, such as capital acting as a spider's web designed to trap the masses, the lyricist highlights systemic oppression. The song invokes spiritual and revolutionary icons like Buddha, Jesus, and Mahatma Gandhi, asking if their births and sacrifices were in vain if hunger and inequality continue unabated. Ultimately, it calls upon the enlightened to devise solutions and foresees revolution as the necessary path to true social change.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaaphora (Refrain)

“Naan ungalai ketkkindren”

The repetition of 'Naan ungalai ketkkindren' across the song emphasizes the speaker's uncompromising demand for social accountability.

Contrast / Antithesis

“Poiyai nambi pizhaippavan veetil / Kaiyai nambi uzhaippavan veetil”

Directly contrasts the dishonest person living in rich comfort with the honest worker whose pot remains empty.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Panam thaan valaiyaai udhavudhaiyaa”

Compares money to a spider's web used by a powerful few to entangle and dominate the masses.

Rhetorical Question

“Boomiyilae pirandhadhu veen thaana”

Questions whether the births of great moral leaders were pointless, stirring conscience regarding unresolved social suffering.

Did you know?

Trivia

Selviyin Selvan (1968) is a Tamil film featuring lyrical work by Trichy Thiyagarajan. The song reflects the socio-political reform ethos common in late 1960s Tamil cinema, blending socialist critiques of wealth with references to global icons of peace and revolution.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Hey Onna Rendaa1981
Kanni TheevuSocial JusticeDefiant
Nalla Kalam Poranthida1996
Katta PanchayathuSocial JusticeRebellion
Ada Rajangam Un Athigaram1982
Oorukku Oru PillaiSocial JusticeDefiant
Ennachu Namma Desam1992
Thaali Kattiya RaasaSocial JusticePoverty
Poruththadhu Podhum2020
ThamezharasanSocial JusticeDefiant
Vetri Varuthu1994
Amaidhi PadaiSocial JusticeDefiant

From the same album

More songs from Selviyin Selvan

View album
Vanthal Indha Neram1968
Selviyin SelvanRomantic
Konja Vaa Konjam Neram1968
Selviyin SelvanRomantic
Penukku Pennae Ennadi1968
Selviyin SelvanPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.