Naan Ungalai Ketkindren
From Selviyin Selvan · 1968
- Lyricist
- Trichy Thiyagarajan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- T. Pugazhenthi
- Details
- Selviyin Selvan1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naan ungalai ketkkindren | I am asking you |
| Male | |
| Naan ungalai ketkkindren | I am asking you |
| Naan ungalai ketkkindren | I am asking you |
| Ezhai urimaiyai kaakka | To protect the rights of the poor |
| Varumaiyai neekka | To eradicate poverty |
| Urimaiyai kaakka varumaiyai neekka | To protect rights and eradicate poverty |
| Ullavar sollum bathilenna | What is the response from those who have wealth? |
| Naan ungalai ketkkindren | I am asking you |
| Male | |
| {Poiyai nambi pizhaippavan veetil | In the house of one who thrives on lies |
| Neiyum paalum manappadha | Does the aroma of ghee and milk linger? |
| Kaiyai nambi uzhaippavan veetil | In the house of one who relies on hard labor |
| Kanji kalayam uruluvadha} (2) | Does the pot of rice porridge roll empty? |
| Male | |
| Azhuvadhai maatri sirippadhai kaatta | To turn tears into smiles |
| Azhuvadhai maatri sirippadhai kaatta | To turn tears into smiles |
| Arindhavar sollum bathilenna | What is the response from the knowledgeable? |
| Male | |
| Naan ungalai ketkkindren | I am asking you |
| Male | |
| {Silandhi valaiyai pinni vaithu | Weaving a spider's web |
| Siru siru poochiyai pidikkuthaiyaa | It catches tiny insects, sir |
| Palarai sila per paniya vaikka | To subjugate many under a few people |
| Panam thaan valaiyaai udhavudhaiyaa} (2) | Is money serving as that web? |
| Male | |
| Pattini theerkkum | To eradicate hunger |
| Thittangal theetta | To devise schemes |
| Pattini theerkkum thittangal theetta | To devise schemes that eradicate hunger |
| Padithavar sollum bathilenna | What is the response from the educated? |
| Male | |
| Naan ungalai ketkkindren | I am asking you |
| Male | |
| Ethanai kaalam indha kelvi | How long will this question persist? |
| Ezhaikku yeno indha needhi | Why is there such justice for the poor? |
| Buthanum yesuvum uthaman gaandhiyum | Buddha, Jesus, and noble Gandhi |
| Boomiyilae pirandhadhu veen thaana | Were their births on this earth in vain? |
| Male | |
| Puratchiyil thondrum | Emerging in revolution |
| Pudhumaiyai kaana | To witness the novelty |
| Puratchiyil thondrum pudhumaiyai kaana | To witness the novelty born of revolution |
| Purindhavar sollum bathilenna | What is the response from those who understand? |
| Male | |
| Naan ungalai ketkkindren | I am asking you |
| Ezhai urimaiyai kaakka | To protect the rights of the poor |
| Varumaiyai neekka | To eradicate poverty |
| Ullavar sollum bathilenna | What is the response from those who have wealth? |
| Naan ungalai ketkkindren | I am asking you |
நான் உங்களை கேட்கின்றேன்
I am asking you
நான் உங்களை கேட்கின்றேன்
நான் உங்களை கேட்கின்றேன்
ஏழை உரிமையைக் காக்க
வறுமையை நீக்க
உரிமையைக் காக்க வறுமையை நீக்க
உள்ளவர் சொல்லும் பதிலென்ன
நான் உங்களை கேட்கின்றேன்......
I am asking you
I am asking you
To protect the rights of the poor
To eradicate poverty
To protect rights and eradicate poverty
What is the response from those who have wealth?
I am asking you
{பொய்யை நம்பிப் பிழைப்பவன் வீட்டில்
நெய்யும் பாலும் மணப்பதா
கையை நம்பி உழைப்பவன் வீட்டில்
கஞ்சி கலயம் உருளுவதா} (2)
In the house of one who thrives on lies
Does the aroma of ghee and milk linger?
In the house of one who relies on hard labor
Does the pot of rice porridge roll empty?
அழுவதை மாற்றி சிரிப்பதைக் காட்ட
அழுவதை மாற்றி சிரிப்பதைக் காட்ட
அறிந்தவர் சொல்லும் பதிலென்ன
To turn tears into smiles
To turn tears into smiles
What is the response from the knowledgeable?
நான் உங்களை கேட்கின்றேன்
I am asking you
{சிலந்தி வலையைப் பின்னி வைத்து
சிறுசிறு பூச்சியை பிடிக்குதய்யா
பலரை சில பேர் பணிய வைக்க
பணம்தான் வலையாய் உதவுதய்யா} (2)
Weaving a spider's web
It catches tiny insects, sir
To subjugate many under a few people
Is money serving as that web?
பட்டினி தீர்க்கும்
திட்டங்கள் தீட்ட
பட்டினி தீர்க்கும் திட்டங்கள் தீட்ட
படித்தவர் சொல்லும் பதிலென்ன
To eradicate hunger
To devise schemes
To devise schemes that eradicate hunger
What is the response from the educated?
நான் உங்களை கேட்கின்றேன்
I am asking you
எத்தனை காலம் இந்தக் கேள்வி
ஏழைக்கு ஏனோ இந்த நீதி
புத்தனும் ஏசுவும் உத்தமன் காந்தியும்
பூமியிலே பிறந்தது வீண்தானா
How long will this question persist?
Why is there such justice for the poor?
Buddha, Jesus, and noble Gandhi
Were their births on this earth in vain?
புரட்சியில் தோன்றும்
புதுமையைக் காண
புரட்சியில் தோன்றும் புதுமையைக் காண
புரிந்தவர் சொல்லும் பதிலென்ன...
Emerging in revolution
To witness the novelty
To witness the novelty born of revolution
What is the response from those who understand?
நான் உங்களை கேட்கின்றேன்
ஏழை உரிமையைக் காக்க
வறுமையை நீக்க
உள்ளவர் சொல்லும் பதிலென்ன
நான் உங்களை கேட்கின்றேன்......
I am asking you
To protect the rights of the poor
To eradicate poverty
What is the response from those who have wealth?
I am asking you
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
I am asking you
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
I am asking you
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
I am asking you
Ezhai urimaiyai kaakka
To protect the rights of the poor
Varumaiyai neekka
To eradicate poverty
Urimaiyai kaakka varumaiyai neekka
To protect rights and eradicate poverty
Ullavar sollum bathilenna
What is the response from those who have wealth?
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
I am asking you
{Poiyai nambi pizhaippavan veetil
In the house of one who thrives on lies
Neiyum paalum manappadha
Does the aroma of ghee and milk linger?
Kaiyai nambi uzhaippavan veetil
In the house of one who relies on hard labor
Kanji kalayam uruluvadha} (2)
Does the pot of rice porridge roll empty?
Azhuvadhai maatri sirippadhai kaatta
To turn tears into smiles
Azhuvadhai maatri sirippadhai kaatta
To turn tears into smiles
Arindhavar sollum bathilenna
What is the response from the knowledgeable?
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
I am asking you
{Silandhi valaiyai pinni vaithu
Weaving a spider's web
Siru siru poochiyai pidikkuthaiyaa
It catches tiny insects, sir
Palarai sila per paniya vaikka
To subjugate many under a few people
Panam thaan valaiyaai udhavudhaiyaa} (2)
Is money serving as that web?
Pattini theerkkum
To eradicate hunger
Thittangal theetta
To devise schemes
Pattini theerkkum thittangal theetta
To devise schemes that eradicate hunger
Padithavar sollum bathilenna
What is the response from the educated?
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
I am asking you
Ethanai kaalam indha kelvi
How long will this question persist?
Ezhaikku yeno indha needhi
Why is there such justice for the poor?
Buthanum yesuvum uthaman gaandhiyum
Buddha, Jesus, and noble Gandhi
Boomiyilae pirandhadhu veen thaana
Were their births on this earth in vain?
Puratchiyil thondrum
Emerging in revolution
Pudhumaiyai kaana
To witness the novelty
Puratchiyil thondrum pudhumaiyai kaana
To witness the novelty born of revolution
Purindhavar sollum bathilenna
What is the response from those who understand?
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
I am asking you
Ezhai urimaiyai kaakka
To protect the rights of the poor
Varumaiyai neekka
To eradicate poverty
Ullavar sollum bathilenna
What is the response from those who have wealth?
Naan ungalai ketkkindren
I am asking you
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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