Naanga
From Aruvadai Naal · 1986
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, Gangai Amaran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Aruvadai Naal1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naanga seiyiradhellaam | Everything we do, |
| Neenga poruthukkanum | You must tolerate, |
| Konjam poruthukkanum | Please tolerate a little. |
| Male | |
| Naanga seiyiradhellaam | Everything we do, |
| Neenga poruthukkanum | You must tolerate, |
| Konjam poruthukkanum | Please tolerate a little. |
| Male | |
| Adhula nalladha mattum | Only the good things in it, |
| Neenga eduthukkanum | You should accept, |
| Ammaa eduthukkanum | Oh dear, you should accept. |
| Male | |
| Chinna pasanga naanga | We are young kids, |
| Thappu romba seivom | We make a lot of mistakes. |
| Male | |
| Naanga seiyiradhellaam | Everything we do, |
| Neenga poruthukkanum | You must tolerate, |
| Konjam poruthukkanum ammaa | Please tolerate a little, mother. |
| Male | |
| Kallaaga irundhaalum | Even if it is a stone, |
| Thanniyila thookki pottu | Throwing it in water, |
| Oora vechu naaru urippom | Soaking it, we will peel its fiber. |
| Aathu manal eduthu kayiru thirippom | Taking river sand, we will twist a rope out of it. |
| Male | |
| Paadangalum yeravilla | Lessons did not enter our head, |
| Pallikkoodam pogavilla | We did not go to school, |
| Thathuvatha alli viduvom | Yet we spew philosophy endlessly, |
| Vaazhum vithaigala kathu kuduppom | We teach the tricks of living. |
| Male | |
| Ethanaiyo buthimadhi kettupputtom | We listened to so much good advice, |
| Athanaiyum kuppaiyila pottupputtom | And tossed all of it into the trash! |
| Ada kaanikkaiya undiyalil nerachupputtom | Ah, we filled the donation box with offerings, |
| Kashtam vandhaa undiyala odachupputtom | But when hardship hit, we broke open the donation box! |
| Male | |
| Kaasu pesum idhu kali kaalam | This is the Kali Yuga where money talks, |
| Ezha vaazhvu ada paridhaapam | Ah, a poor person's life is pityful! |
| Male | |
| Naanga seiyiradhellaam | Everything we do, |
| Neenga poruthukkanum | You must tolerate, |
| Konjam poruthukkanum | Please tolerate a little. |
| Male | |
| Adhula nalladha mattum | Only the good things in it, |
| Neenga eduthukkanum | You should accept, |
| Ammaa eduthukkanum hae | Oh dear, you should accept, hae! |
| Female | |
| {Yaendaa samooga saeva | {Hey guys, talking about social service, |
| Samooga saevannu sollikkittu | Saying social service, social service, |
| Oorellaam suthikkittu irukkeengalae | You are roaming all around the town, |
| Appadi innaadaa panreenga | What on earth are you actually doing? |
| Male | |
| Ae kezhavi vevaram puriyaama pesaadhae | Hey old lady, do not talk without knowing facts! |
| Dei ennadaa pesaama irukkeenga | Hey boys, why are you staying quiet? |
| Eduthu udungadaa | Tell her clearly! |
| Chorus | |
| Vaaliba paiyana vayasu ponnaiyum | We tell young boys and girls of age |
| Kaadhal panna cholvom | To fall in love, |
| Kaadhal pannina jodigalukkellaam | And for all the couples who fall in love, |
| Kalyaanam panni veppom | We perform their marriage! |
| Kalyaanam pannina annaikku raathiri | On the night of their wedding, |
| Saaviyum senju veppom | We even duplicate key for them! |
| Ivanga kanda padi pethu kashta padaama | So they do not suffer by having children mindlessly, |
| Kattuppaadum pannuvom | We also practice birth control, |
| Kudumba kattuppaadum pannuvom} (Dialogue) | We promote family planning!} (Dialogue) |
| Female | |
| Enna maari kezhavikku | For an old woman like me, |
| Ennaadaa pannuveenga | What will you guys do? |
| Male | |
| Naangalellaam gandhi illa | None of us are Gandhi, |
| Oruthan kooda buthan illa | Not a single one is Buddha. |
| Naadugala kooru pirichom | We partitioned countries into pieces, |
| Vandha sudhandhiratha naara adichom | We ruined the freedom we gained! |
| Male | |
| Modhalaali thozhilaali | Capitalists, workers, |
| Vevasaayi nesavaali | Farmers, weavers, |
| Athanaiyum namba inam thaan | All of them belong to our human race, |
| Adhula vithiyaasam indha panam thaan | The only distinction between them is money. |
| Male | |
| Kaal vayiru kooda innum neraiyavilla | Even a quarter of a stomach is not filled yet, |
| Cinema theatrela koottam mattum kuraiyavilla | But the crowd in cinema theaters never reduces! |
| Male | |
| Urpathiya perukkida cholluraangadaa | They tell people to increase production, |
| Adha kettupputtu pulla kutti pethuttaangadaa | Hearing that, people ended up giving birth to kids! |
| Male | |
| Neeyaa maaru ada thoongaadhae | Change yourself, oh do not sleep! |
| Neram idhu thaan ini yengaadhae | This is the time, do not yearn anymore! |
| Male | |
| Naanga seiyiradhellaam | Everything we do, |
| Neenga poruthukkanum | You must tolerate, |
| Konjam poruthukkanum | Please tolerate a little. |
| Male | |
| Adhula nalladha mattum | Only the good things in it, |
| Neenga eduthukkanum | You should accept, |
| Ammaa eduthukkanum | Oh dear, you should accept. |
| Male | |
| Aiyoo chinna pasanga naanga | Oh, we are young kids, |
| Male :Thappu romba seivom | Male: We make a lot of mistakes. |
| Male | |
| Saeva seiyiradhellaam | Whatever service we perform, |
| Neenga poruthukkanum | You must tolerate, |
| Konjam poruthukkanum ammaa | Please tolerate a little, mother. |
| Male | |
| Adhula nalladha mattum | Only the good things in it, |
| Neenga eduthukkanum | You should accept, |
| Ammaa eduthukkanum | Oh dear, you should accept. |
நாங்க செய்யிறதெல்லாம்
நீங்க பொறுத்துக்கணும்
கொஞ்சம் பொறுத்துக்கணும்
Everything we do,
You must tolerate,
Please tolerate a little.
நாங்க செய்யிறதெல்லாம்
நீங்க பொறுத்துக்கணும்
கொஞ்சம் பொறுத்துக்கணும்
Everything we do,
You must tolerate,
Please tolerate a little.
அதுல நல்லத மட்டும்
நீங்க எடுத்துக்கணும்
அம்மா எடுத்துக்கணும்
Only the good things in it,
You should accept,
Oh dear, you should accept.
சின்னப் பசங்க நாங்க
தப்பு ரொம்ப செய்வோம்
We are young kids,
We make a lot of mistakes.
சின்னப் பசங்க நாங்க
தப்பு ரொம்ப செய்வோம்
மன்னிக்கணும் நீங்க
Everything we do,
You must tolerate,
Please tolerate a little, mother.
நாங்க செய்யிறதெல்லாம்
நீங்க பொறுத்துக்கணும்
கொஞ்சம் பொறுத்துக்கணும் அம்மா
Even if it is a stone,
Throwing it in water,
Soaking it, we will peel its fiber.
Taking river sand, we will twist a rope out of it.
கல்லாக இருந்தாலும் தண்ணியில
தூக்கிப் போட்டு
ஊற வெச்சு நாரு உரிப்போம்
ஆத்து மணல் எடுத்து கயிறு திரிப்போம்
Lessons did not enter our head,
We did not go to school,
Yet we spew philosophy endlessly,
We teach the tricks of living.
பாடங்களும் ஏறவில்ல
பள்ளிக்கூடம் போகவில்ல
தத்துவத்த அள்ளி விடுவோம்
வாழும் வித்தைகள கத்துக் குடுப்போம்
We listened to so much good advice,
And tossed all of it into the trash!
Ah, we filled the donation box with offerings,
But when hardship hit, we broke open the donation box!
எத்தனையோ புத்திமதி கேட்டுப்புட்டோம்
அத்தனையும் குப்பையில போட்டுப்புட்டோம்
அட காணிக்கைய உண்டியலில் நெறச்சுப்புட்டோம்
கஷ்டம் வந்தா உண்டியல ஒடச்சுப்புட்டோம்
This is the Kali Yuga where money talks,
Ah, a poor person's life is pityful!
காசு பேசும் இது கலிகாலம்
ஏழ வாழ்வு அட பரிதாபம்
Everything we do,
You must tolerate,
Please tolerate a little.
சுத்திச் சுத்தி வாரோம்
புத்தி சொல்லித் தாரோம்
பாதைகள மாத்தி விடுவோம் ஹுஹ்ஹூ
Only the good things in it,
You should accept,
Oh dear, you should accept, hae!
நாங்க செய்யிறதெல்லாம்
நீங்க பொறுத்துக்கணும்
கொஞ்சம் பொறுத்துக்கணும்
{Hey guys, talking about social service,
Saying social service, social service,
You are roaming all around the town,
What on earth are you actually doing?
அதுல நல்லத மட்டும்
நீங்க எடுத்துக்கணும்
அம்மா எடுத்துக்கணும் ஹே
Hey old lady, do not talk without knowing facts!
Hey boys, why are you staying quiet?
Tell her clearly!
{ஏண்டா சமூக சேவை
சமூக சேவைன்னு சொல்லிக்கிட்டு
ஊரெல்லாம் சுத்திக்கிட்டு இருக்கீங்களே
அப்படி இன்னாடா பண்றீங்க
We tell young boys and girls of age
To fall in love,
And for all the couples who fall in love,
We perform their marriage!
On the night of their wedding,
We even duplicate key for them!
So they do not suffer by having children mindlessly,
We also practice birth control,
We promote family planning!} (Dialogue)
ஏ கெழவி வெவரம் புரியாம பேசாதே
டேய் என்னடா பேசாம இருக்கீங்க
எடுத்து உடுங்கடா
For an old woman like me,
What will you guys do?
வாலிபப் பையன வயசுப் பொண்ணையும்
காதல் பண்ணச் சொல்வோம்
காதல் பண்ணின ஜோடிகளுக்கெல்லாம்
கல்யாணம் பண்ணி வெப்போம்
கல்யாணம் பண்ணின அன்னைக்கு ராத்திரி
சாவியும் செஞ்சு வெப்போம்
இவங்க கண்ட படி பெத்து கஷ்டப் படாம
கட்டுப்பாடும் பண்ணுவோம்
குடும்பக் கட்டுப்பாடும் பண்ணுவோம்
None of us are Gandhi,
Not a single one is Buddha.
We partitioned countries into pieces,
We ruined the freedom we gained!
என்ன மாரி கெழவிக்கு
என்னாடா பண்ணுவீங்க} (வசனம்)
Capitalists, workers,
Farmers, weavers,
All of them belong to our human race,
The only distinction between them is money.
நாங்களெல்லாம் காந்தி இல்ல
ஒருத்தன் கூட புத்தன் இல்ல
நாடுகள கூறு பிரிச்சோம்
வந்த சுதந்திரத்த நார அடிச்சோம்
Even a quarter of a stomach is not filled yet,
But the crowd in cinema theaters never reduces!
மொதலாளி தொழிலாளி
வெவசாயி நெசவாளி
அத்தனையும் நம்ப இனம் தான்
அதுல வித்தியாசம் இந்த பணம்தான்
They tell people to increase production,
Hearing that, people ended up giving birth to kids!
கால் வயிறு கூட இன்னும் நெறையவில்ல
சினிமா தியேட்டருல கூட்டம் மட்டும் குறையவில்ல
Change yourself, oh do not sleep!
This is the time, do not yearn anymore!
உற்பத்திய பெருக்கிடச் சொல்லுறாங்கடா
அத கேட்டுப்புட்டு புள்ளக் குட்டி பெத்துட்டாங்கடா
Everything we do,
You must tolerate,
Please tolerate a little.
நீயா மாறு அட தூங்காதே
நேரம் இது தான் இனி ஏங்காதே
Only the good things in it,
You should accept,
Oh dear, you should accept.
பட்டதினி போதும் சொல்லுறதக் கேளு
நாட்ட இனி மாத்திப்புடுவோம்
Oh, we are young kids,
Male: We make a lot of mistakes.
நாங்க செய்யிறதெல்லாம்
நீங்க பொறுத்துக்கணும்
கொஞ்சம் பொறுத்துக்கணும்
Whatever service we perform,
You must tolerate,
Please tolerate a little, mother.
அதுல நல்லத மட்டும் நீங்க
எடுத்துக்கணும் அம்மா எடுத்துக்கணும்
Only the good things in it,
You should accept,
Oh dear, you should accept.
அய்யோ சின்னப் பசங்க நாங்க
தப்பு ரொம்ப செய்வோம்
சின்னப் பசங்க நாங்க
தப்பு ரொம்ப செய்வோம்
மன்னிக்கணும் நீங்க
சேவை செய்யிறதெல்லாம்
நீங்க பொறுத்துக்கணும்
கொஞ்சம் பொறுத்துக்கணும் அம்மா
அதுல நல்லத மட்டும்
நீங்க எடுத்துக்கணும்
அம்மா எடுத்துக்கணும்
Naanga seiyiradhellaam
Everything we do,
Neenga poruthukkanum
You must tolerate,
Konjam poruthukkanum
Please tolerate a little.
Naanga seiyiradhellaam
Everything we do,
Neenga poruthukkanum
You must tolerate,
Konjam poruthukkanum
Please tolerate a little.
Adhula nalladha mattum
Only the good things in it,
Neenga eduthukkanum
You should accept,
Ammaa eduthukkanum
Oh dear, you should accept.
Chinna pasanga naanga
We are young kids,
Thappu romba seivom
We make a lot of mistakes.
Naanga seiyiradhellaam
Everything we do,
Neenga poruthukkanum
You must tolerate,
Konjam poruthukkanum ammaa
Please tolerate a little, mother.
Kallaaga irundhaalum
Even if it is a stone,
Thanniyila thookki pottu
Throwing it in water,
Oora vechu naaru urippom
Soaking it, we will peel its fiber.
Aathu manal eduthu kayiru thirippom
Taking river sand, we will twist a rope out of it.
Paadangalum yeravilla
Lessons did not enter our head,
Pallikkoodam pogavilla
We did not go to school,
Thathuvatha alli viduvom
Yet we spew philosophy endlessly,
Vaazhum vithaigala kathu kuduppom
We teach the tricks of living.
Ethanaiyo buthimadhi kettupputtom
We listened to so much good advice,
Athanaiyum kuppaiyila pottupputtom
And tossed all of it into the trash!
Ada kaanikkaiya undiyalil nerachupputtom
Ah, we filled the donation box with offerings,
Kashtam vandhaa undiyala odachupputtom
But when hardship hit, we broke open the donation box!
Kaasu pesum idhu kali kaalam
This is the Kali Yuga where money talks,
Ezha vaazhvu ada paridhaapam
Ah, a poor person's life is pityful!
Naanga seiyiradhellaam
Everything we do,
Neenga poruthukkanum
You must tolerate,
Konjam poruthukkanum
Please tolerate a little.
Adhula nalladha mattum
Only the good things in it,
Neenga eduthukkanum
You should accept,
Ammaa eduthukkanum hae
Oh dear, you should accept, hae!
{Yaendaa samooga saeva
{Hey guys, talking about social service,
Samooga saevannu sollikkittu
Saying social service, social service,
Oorellaam suthikkittu irukkeengalae
You are roaming all around the town,
Appadi innaadaa panreenga
What on earth are you actually doing?
Ae kezhavi vevaram puriyaama pesaadhae
Hey old lady, do not talk without knowing facts!
Dei ennadaa pesaama irukkeenga
Hey boys, why are you staying quiet?
Eduthu udungadaa
Tell her clearly!
Vaaliba paiyana vayasu ponnaiyum
We tell young boys and girls of age
Kaadhal panna cholvom
To fall in love,
Kaadhal pannina jodigalukkellaam
And for all the couples who fall in love,
Kalyaanam panni veppom
We perform their marriage!
Kalyaanam pannina annaikku raathiri
On the night of their wedding,
Saaviyum senju veppom
We even duplicate key for them!
Ivanga kanda padi pethu kashta padaama
So they do not suffer by having children mindlessly,
Kattuppaadum pannuvom
We also practice birth control,
Kudumba kattuppaadum pannuvom} (Dialogue)
We promote family planning!} (Dialogue)
Enna maari kezhavikku
For an old woman like me,
Ennaadaa pannuveenga
What will you guys do?
Naangalellaam gandhi illa
None of us are Gandhi,
Oruthan kooda buthan illa
Not a single one is Buddha.
Naadugala kooru pirichom
We partitioned countries into pieces,
Vandha sudhandhiratha naara adichom
We ruined the freedom we gained!
Modhalaali thozhilaali
Capitalists, workers,
Vevasaayi nesavaali
Farmers, weavers,
Athanaiyum namba inam thaan
All of them belong to our human race,
Adhula vithiyaasam indha panam thaan
The only distinction between them is money.
Kaal vayiru kooda innum neraiyavilla
Even a quarter of a stomach is not filled yet,
Cinema theatrela koottam mattum kuraiyavilla
But the crowd in cinema theaters never reduces!
Urpathiya perukkida cholluraangadaa
They tell people to increase production,
Adha kettupputtu pulla kutti pethuttaangadaa
Hearing that, people ended up giving birth to kids!
Neeyaa maaru ada thoongaadhae
Change yourself, oh do not sleep!
Neram idhu thaan ini yengaadhae
This is the time, do not yearn anymore!
Naanga seiyiradhellaam
Everything we do,
Neenga poruthukkanum
You must tolerate,
Konjam poruthukkanum
Please tolerate a little.
Adhula nalladha mattum
Only the good things in it,
Neenga eduthukkanum
You should accept,
Ammaa eduthukkanum
Oh dear, you should accept.
Aiyoo chinna pasanga naanga
Oh, we are young kids,
Male :Thappu romba seivom
Male: We make a lot of mistakes.
Saeva seiyiradhellaam
Whatever service we perform,
Neenga poruthukkanum
You must tolerate,
Konjam poruthukkanum ammaa
Please tolerate a little, mother.
Adhula nalladha mattum
Only the good things in it,
Neenga eduthukkanum
You should accept,
Ammaa eduthukkanum
Oh dear, you should accept.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Naanga Seiyiradhellaam' is a satirical, social-commentary song from the 1986 Tamil film Aruvadai Naal. The song features young men addressing an old woman and society at large, asking for forgiveness for their youthful foolishness while requesting people to accept only the constructive aspects of their social service. Through lively dialogue and rhythmic verses, the youth address social problems such as poverty, population growth, social service hypocrisy, and economic divides. The lyrics use self-deprecating humor and sharp satire to critique modern society—highlighting how independence was misused, how economic poverty coexists with high entertainment consumption, and how monetary status creates unnatural artificial divides among working-class people. Ultimately, the song serves as a call for self-awakening and active social change.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edugai & Monai (Tamil Rhyme & Alliteration)
“Paadangalum yeravilla / Pallikkoodam pogavilla”
The pairing of 'Paadangalum yeravilla' and 'Pallikkoodam pogavilla' employs initial letter alliteration (Monai) and middle syllable rhyming (Edugai), creating a rhythmic street-play beat.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)
“Aathu manal eduthu kayiru thirippom”
Making a rope out of river sand ('Aathu manal eduthu kayiru thirippom') is an exaggerated metaphor representing extreme ingenuity, wit, or clever exaggeration.
Allusion
“Naangalellaam gandhi illa / Oruthan kooda buthan illa”
Direct reference to Mahatma Gandhi and Gautama Buddha to highlight human flaws and acknowledge that ordinary people fall short of ideal moral perfection.
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Trivia
Aruvadai Naal (1986) was directed by G. M. Kumar and produced by Sivaji Productions, starring Prabhu and Ramya Krishnan. The film's musical score was composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran. The song uniquely blends theatrical street-play dialogues with rhythmic folk tunes.
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