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Lyrics & meaning

Naanum Rowdy Dhaan

From Naanum Rowdy Dhaan · 2015

Lyricist
Vignesh Shivan
Singer
Benny Dayal
Music director
Anirudh Ravichander
Details
Naanum Rowdy Dhaan2015

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Good boy-um illaHe is not a good boy
Bad boy-um illaHe is not a bad boy either
Rendoda comboA combination of both
Namma pullaIs our boy
Nammaalu weight ahIs our guy heavy or powerful?
Cha cha cha illaNo, no, no, not at all
Dhavlondu fightu koodaEven a tiny little fight
PoattadhillaHe has never fought
Male
Basha pola mass ahMassive like Baasha
Edhuvum senjadhillaHe has done nothing of the sort
Ranga pola wrong ahBad or reckless like Ranga
Onnum kilucha dhillaHe has accomplished nothing
Male
{Kaththi illa ratham illaWithout a knife, without blood
Rowdy dhaanHe is indeed a rowdy
Kaadhalikka neram ullaWho has time to love
Rowdy dhaanHe is indeed a rowdy
Vettu kuthu venam sollumWho advocates against violence and stabbing
Rowdy dhaanHe is indeed a rowdy
Vella ullam konda nallaA good person with a pure white heart
Rowdy dhaan} (2)He is indeed a rowdy (x2)
Male
Naanum rowdy dhaanI am a rowdy too
Thaan thaan naanum rowdy haanIndeed, I am a rowdy, yes
Thaan thaan naanum rowdy dhaanIndeed, I am a rowdy
Thaan thaan naanum rowdy dhaanIndeed, I am a rowdy
Thaan thaanIndeed, indeed
Male
Oru kallula paththu maanga onna adipanaeWill he hit ten mangoes with a single stone?
Female :Namma pullaFemale: Our boy!
Male :Oru vettula nooru thunduMale: Cut into a hundred pieces in one slash
Potu piripanaeAnd separate them?
Female :Nalla pullaFemale: Good boy!
Male
Chinna sanda vandhaIf a small fight occurs
Konjam thalli nippanHe will stand a little away
Periya sanda vandhaIf a big fight occurs
Pesi puriya vaippanHe will talk and resolve it peacefully
Oru unmaiyalaIf because of a truth
Nee nondhuponaaYou become deeply hurt
Oru poiya solliBy telling a harmless lie
Nalla sirikka vaippanHe will make you laugh out loud
Male
Kaththi illa ratham illaWithout a knife, without blood
Rowdy dhaanHe is indeed a rowdy
Kaadhalikka neram ullaWho has time to love
Rowdy dhaanHe is indeed a rowdy
Vettu kuthu venam sollumWho advocates against violence and stabbing
Rowdy dhaanHe is indeed a rowdy
Vella ullam konda nallaA good person with a pure white heart
Rowdy dhaanHe is indeed a rowdy
Male
Naanum rowdy dhaanI am a rowdy too
Thaan thaan naanum rowdy haanIndeed, I am a rowdy, yes
Thaan thaan naanum rowdy dhaanIndeed, I am a rowdy
Thaan thaan naanum rowdy dhaanIndeed, I am a rowdy
Thaan thaanIndeed, indeed

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The title track of 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan' playfully defines the comical identity of the protagonist, Pondy Pandi. Despite his burning desire to be perceived as a feared gangster, he lacks any violent instincts, strength, or criminal record. The lyrics highlight his gentle, harmless, and romantic nature, directly contrasting him with classic cinema rowdies. Rather than engaging in fights, he steps back from conflicts or uses dialogue to negotiate peace. He possesses a pure heart ('vella ullam') and prefers making people happy rather than causing pain, making him a unique, peace-loving 'rowdy'.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Oxymoron / Paradox

Vella ullam konda nalla Rowdy dhaan

Pairing 'Rowdy' (a criminal/gangster) with 'Vella ullam konda nalla' (a good person with a pure white heart) creates an ironic and comedic contrast.

Pop Culture Allusion & Simile

Basha pola mass ah / Ranga pola wrong ah

Compares the protagonist's lack of rowdy credentials to iconic Rajinikanth roles, Baasha and Ranga.

Antithesis

Chinna sanda vandha / Periya sanda vandha

Contrasts small fights ('Chinna sanda') with big fights ('Periya sanda') to illustrate his non-violent strategy of retreating or talking it out.

Anaphora / Repetition

Rowdy dhaan

Repeated refrain 'Rowdy dhaan' reinforces the comical insistence of his gangster status.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan' (2015) was directed by Vignesh Shivan, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander. The song serves as a comical character sketch for Vijay Sethupathi's character, Pondy Pandi, who aspires to be a dangerous rowdy to impress the heroine (played by Nayanthara), despite his completely non-violent nature.

Keep listening

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