Naana Vambukku Varamatten
From Yemaatrathe Yemaarathe · 1985
- Lyricist
- Mu. Metha
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Yemaatrathe Yemaarathe1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| …………………… | |
| Male | |
| Naana vambukku varamatten | I will not look for trouble on my own |
| Naana vambukku varamattenda | I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend |
| Adhudhaan panpaadu adhu | That is true culture |
| Adhu thana vandhaa vidamaatenda | But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily |
| Appuram unpaadu | Then it will be your funeral! |
| Naana vambukku varamattenda | I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend |
| Adhudhaan panpaadu adhu | That is true culture |
| Adhu thana vandhaa vidamaatenda | But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily |
| Appuram unpaadu | Then it will be your funeral! |
| Paarthaakka appaavi paanjakka sippaayi | To look at, an innocent man; but if I pounce, a ferocious soldier! |
| Male | |
| Naana vambukku varamattenda | I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend |
| Adhudhaan panpaadu adhu | That is true culture |
| Adhu thana vandhaa vidamaatenda | But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily |
| Appuram unpaadu | Then it will be your funeral! |
| Chorus | |
| ……………… | |
| Male | |
| {Nandhigal ethanai thaduthaalenna | No matter how many obstacles block the way |
| Nandhan ullae varuvaanda | Nandan will surely enter inside! |
| Unga chidambara ragasiyam vetta velicham | Your Chidambaram secret will be brought into plain light |
| Veliyae solli viduvaanda} (2) | And exposed for everyone to hear! |
| Male | |
| {Edhirneechal poda theriyum | I know how to swim against the current |
| Edhirpaattu paada theriyum }(2) | I know how to sing in response! |
| Yemaali vargam endru ennaadhae | Do not consider us an easily fooled class |
| Ittadhu thaan sattam endru pannadhae | Do not act as if whatever you dictate is the law |
| Male | |
| Naana vambukku varamattenda | I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend |
| Adhudhaan panpaadu adhu | That is true culture |
| Adhu thana vandhaa vidamaatenda | But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily |
| Appuram unpaadu | Then it will be your funeral! |
| Chorus | |
| ………………… | |
| Male | |
| Kaiyila paiyila kaasu irundha | Just because you have money in your hand and pocket |
| Koottam attam podathae | Don't let your crowd make arrogant moves |
| Ada poikkaal kudhirai pootiya vandi | A cart tied to a dummy wooden horse |
| Pathadi koda oodathae | Cannot even cover ten steps! |
| Male | |
| {Polaanghu solluradhu rombha sulabam | Speaking ill of others is very easy |
| Pallaandu paadurathu rombha siramam} (2) | Wishing long life and praising someone is very difficult |
| Nallaarai ennaalum naiyandi seiyaamae | Without ever mocking good people |
| Vaazhura oruthan unmaiyil manushan | The one who lives with respect is a true human being |
| Male | |
| Naana vambukku varamattenda | I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend |
| Adhudhaan panpaadu adhu | That is true culture |
| Adhu thana vandhaa vidamaatenda | But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily |
| Appuram unpaadu | Then it will be your funeral! |
| Paarthaakka appaavi paanjakka sippaayi | To look at, an innocent man; but if I pounce, a ferocious soldier! |
.................
நானா வம்புக்கு வரமாட்டேன்
நானா வம்புக்கு வரமாட்டேன்டா
அதுதான் பண்பாடு அது
தானா வந்தா விடமாட்டேன்டா
அப்புறம் உன்பாடு
நானா வம்புக்கு வரமாட்டேன்டா
அதுதான் பண்பாடு அது
தானா வந்தா விடமாட்டேன்டா
அப்புறம் உன்பாடு
பார்த்தாக்க அப்பாவி பாஞ்சாக்கா சிப்பாயி
I will not look for trouble on my own
I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend
That is true culture
But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily
Then it will be your funeral!
I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend
That is true culture
But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily
Then it will be your funeral!
To look at, an innocent man; but if I pounce, a ferocious soldier!
நானா வம்புக்கு வரமாட்டேன்டா
அதுதான் பண்பாடு அது
தானா வந்தா விடமாட்டேன்டா
அப்புறம் உன்பாடு
I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend
That is true culture
But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily
Then it will be your funeral!
...........................
{நந்திகள் எத்தனை தடுத்தாலென்ன
நந்தன் உள்ளே வருவான்டா உங்க
சிதம்பர ரகசியம் வெட்ட வெளிச்சம்
வெளியே சொல்லி விடுவான்டா} (2)
No matter how many obstacles block the way
Nandan will surely enter inside!
Your Chidambaram secret will be brought into plain light
And exposed for everyone to hear!
{எதிர்நீச்சல் போடத் தெரியும்
எதிர்ப்பாட்டு பாடத் தெரியும்} (2)
ஏமாளி வர்க்கம் என்று எண்ணாதே
இட்டதுதான் சட்டம் என்று பண்ணாதே
I know how to swim against the current
I know how to sing in response!
Do not consider us an easily fooled class
Do not act as if whatever you dictate is the law
நானா வம்புக்கு வரமாட்டேன்டா
அதுதான் பண்பாடு அது
தானா வந்தா விடமாட்டேன்டா
அப்புறம் உன்பாடு
I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend
That is true culture
But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily
Then it will be your funeral!
.
.......................
கையில பையில காசு இருந்தா
கூட்டம் ஆட்டம் போடாதே
அட பொய்க்கால் குதிரை பூட்டிய வண்டி
பத்தடி கூட ஓடாதே
Just because you have money in your hand and pocket
Don't let your crowd make arrogant moves
A cart tied to a dummy wooden horse
Cannot even cover ten steps!
{பொல்லாங்கு சொல்லுறது ரொம்ப சுலபம்
பல்லாண்டு பாடுறது ரொம்ப சிரமம்} (2)
நல்லாரை எந்நாளும் நையாண்டி செய்யாமே
வாழுற ஒருத்தன் உண்மையில் மனுஷன்
Speaking ill of others is very easy
Wishing long life and praising someone is very difficult
Without ever mocking good people
The one who lives with respect is a true human being
நானா வம்புக்கு வரமாட்டேன்டா
அதுதான் பண்பாடு அது
தானா வந்தா விடமாட்டேன்டா
அப்புறம் உன்பாடு
பார்த்தாக்க அப்பாவி பாஞ்சாக்கா சிப்பாயி
I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend
That is true culture
But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily
Then it will be your funeral!
To look at, an innocent man; but if I pounce, a ferocious soldier!
……………………
Naana vambukku varamatten
I will not look for trouble on my own
Naana vambukku varamattenda
I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend
Adhudhaan panpaadu adhu
That is true culture
Adhu thana vandhaa vidamaatenda
But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily
Appuram unpaadu
Then it will be your funeral!
Naana vambukku varamattenda
I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend
Adhudhaan panpaadu adhu
That is true culture
Adhu thana vandhaa vidamaatenda
But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily
Appuram unpaadu
Then it will be your funeral!
Paarthaakka appaavi paanjakka sippaayi
To look at, an innocent man; but if I pounce, a ferocious soldier!
Naana vambukku varamattenda
I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend
Adhudhaan panpaadu adhu
That is true culture
Adhu thana vandhaa vidamaatenda
But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily
Appuram unpaadu
Then it will be your funeral!
………………
{Nandhigal ethanai thaduthaalenna
No matter how many obstacles block the way
Nandhan ullae varuvaanda
Nandan will surely enter inside!
Unga chidambara ragasiyam vetta velicham
Your Chidambaram secret will be brought into plain light
Veliyae solli viduvaanda} (2)
And exposed for everyone to hear!
{Edhirneechal poda theriyum
I know how to swim against the current
Edhirpaattu paada theriyum }(2)
I know how to sing in response!
Yemaali vargam endru ennaadhae
Do not consider us an easily fooled class
Ittadhu thaan sattam endru pannadhae
Do not act as if whatever you dictate is the law
Naana vambukku varamattenda
I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend
Adhudhaan panpaadu adhu
That is true culture
Adhu thana vandhaa vidamaatenda
But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily
Appuram unpaadu
Then it will be your funeral!
…………………
Kaiyila paiyila kaasu irundha
Just because you have money in your hand and pocket
Koottam attam podathae
Don't let your crowd make arrogant moves
Ada poikkaal kudhirai pootiya vandi
A cart tied to a dummy wooden horse
Pathadi koda oodathae
Cannot even cover ten steps!
{Polaanghu solluradhu rombha sulabam
Speaking ill of others is very easy
Pallaandu paadurathu rombha siramam} (2)
Wishing long life and praising someone is very difficult
Nallaarai ennaalum naiyandi seiyaamae
Without ever mocking good people
Vaazhura oruthan unmaiyil manushan
The one who lives with respect is a true human being
Naana vambukku varamattenda
I will not look for trouble on my own, my friend
Adhudhaan panpaadu adhu
That is true culture
Adhu thana vandhaa vidamaatenda
But if trouble comes looking for me, I won't let it off easily
Appuram unpaadu
Then it will be your funeral!
Paarthaakka appaavi paanjakka sippaayi
To look at, an innocent man; but if I pounce, a ferocious soldier!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Naana Vambukku Varamatten' expresses a high moral stance on self-respect, restraint, and social justice. The protagonist asserts that avoiding unnecessary conflict is a mark of true culture and dignity. However, he warns that his quiet nature should not be mistaken for weakness; if provoked or oppressed, he will fight back fiercely like a trained soldier.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaayi (Alliteration)
“Polaanghu solluradhu rombha sulabam / Pallaandu paadurathu rombha siramam”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in the same line, such as 'Polaanghu' and 'Pallaandu'.
Edhugai (Rhyming)
“Edhirneechal poda theriyum / Edhirpaattu paada theriyum”
Second letter rhyming in consecutive lines, seen in 'Edhirneechal' and 'Edhirpaattu'.
Metaphor
“Ada poikkaal kudhirai pootiya vandi / Pathadi koda oodathae”
Comparing a fake persona or wealth-driven arrogance to a cart tied to a dummy wooden horse that cannot move forward.
Mythological / Historical Allusion
“Nandhigal ethanai thaduthaalenna / Nandhan ullae varuvaanda”
Refers to the story of Nandanar (a Dalit saint blocked by the Nandi statue at Chidambaram temple) to symbolize overcoming social oppression and exposing hidden corrupt secrets.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song features iconic vocal rendition by T. M. Soundararajan, famous for singing high-energy socio-political hero anthems in Tamil cinema. The lyrics written by poet Mu. Metha blend folk philosophy with philosophical commentary on integrity and human character.
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