- Lyricist
- Puratchi Dasan
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Naan Potta Savaal
- Movie release year
- 1980
- Lyrics added on
- 14 Jun 2022
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naattukkullae sila narigal irukkuthu
Rompa naanayamaana sila puligal irukkuthu
Naattukkullae sila narigal irukkuthu
Rompa naanayamaana sila puligal irukkuthu
Nottam paaththukka thambi
En paattai kettkka thambi
Intha nainaa puligal vesaththil mayangi
Nallathu kettathai unara thayangi
Nambi vidaathae vembi vidaathae
Thambi thambi thambi
Naattukkullae sila narigal irukkuthu
Rompa naanayamaana sila puligal irukkuthu
Panjamaa paadhagar anju peru
Athai pangittu kondavar naalu peru
Kolai kalavu poi kuru ninthaigal
Vanjaga sirippu vaarththaiyil inippu
Nenjilae kasappu irandu peru
Thanjamadainthavar thannai thodarnthavar
Minjuvathilai oor peru
Pattam pidiththaar sila peru
Paarththu thudiththaar pala peru
Vattam pottu adhil thittam theettiyingu
Kokku thalai pottu vennai poosivitta
Komaali kooththaadi komberi kaaththaadi yaaryaar
Naattukkullae sila narigal irukkuthu
Rompa naanayamaana sila puligal irukkuthu
Nottam paaththukka thambi
En paattai kettkka thambi
Intha nainaa puligal vesaththil mayangi
Nallathu kettathai unara thayangi
Nambi vidaathae vembi vidaathae
Thambi thambi thambi
Naattukkullae sila narigal irukkuthu
Katti kaaththavar pala peru
Kaatti koduththavar sila peru
Ottikkondu nindru osao ennavendru
Etti paarththavargal naalu peru
Patta pagal kollai paaigalin thollai
Vittu vaippathillai ooru peru
Annan thambi rendu peru
Athai pirinthavar naalu peru
Vambil maattivittu vazhakkil pogavittu
Nambikkaiyum kettu naanayamum kettu
Santhi siriththaenae saavaal viduththaanae kelu kelu
Naattukkullae sila narigal irukkuthu
Rompa naanayamaana sila puligal irukkuthu
Nottam paaththukka thambi
En paattai kettkka thambi
Intha nainaa puligal vesaththil mayangi
Nallathu kettathai unara thayangi
Nambi vidaathae vembi vidaathae
Thambi thambi thambi
Naattukkullae sila narigal irukkuthu
Rompa naanayamaana sila puligal irukkuthu
Naattukkullae sila narigal irukkuthu
Rompa naanayamaana sila puligal irukkuthu
There are some foxes in this land,
and there are some very honorable tigers.
There are some foxes in this land,
and there are some very honorable tigers...
Keep your eyes open, brother,
listen to my song, brother.
Fooled by the disguise of these fake tigers,
hesitating to tell right from wrong,
do not trust them blindly and suffer in regret,
brother, brother, brother...
There are some foxes in this land,
and there are some very honorable tigers.
The worst sinners are five,
and four people shared the sins among themselves.
Murder, theft, lies, and insulting teachers;
a deceitful smile, sweet words,
and bitterness in the heart—there are two like that.
Those who sought refuge and those who followed along,
no good name or hometown remains for them.
A few grabbed titles and glory,
while many watched and suffered in pain.
Drawing circles and hatching schemes here,
trying silly tricks to fool everyone—
who are these clowns, performers, and opportunists?
There are some foxes in this land,
and there are some very honorable tigers.
Keep your eyes open, brother,
listen to my song, brother.
Fooled by the disguise of these fake tigers,
hesitating to tell right from wrong,
do not trust them blindly and suffer in regret,
brother, brother, brother...
There are some foxes in this land...
Many protected and preserved what they built,
while a few betrayed it.
Sticking close to eavesdrop on every sound,
four people peeked in from the outside.
Broad daylight robbery and the harassment of wicked men
leave neither one's reputation nor hometown spared.
There were two, an elder and a younger brother,
and four people split them apart.
Trapping them in trouble and dragging them to court,
losing all trust and integrity,
he became a public laughingstock and threw a challenge, listen, listen!
There are some foxes in this land,
and there are some very honorable tigers.
Keep your eyes open, brother,
listen to my song, brother.
Fooled by the disguise of these fake tigers,
hesitating to tell right from wrong,
do not trust them blindly and suffer in regret,
brother, brother, brother...
There are some foxes in this land,
and there are some very honorable tigers.
There are some foxes in this land,
and there are some very honorable tigers.
Male
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Male
Male
Male
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Male
Male
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Male
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Naattukkullae Sila Narigal from the 1980 Rajinikanth starrer 'Naan Potta Savaal' is a social commentary song framed as a moral warning. Sung in Malaysia Vasudevan's energetic voice with Ilaiyaraaja's rustic, folk-infused orchestration, the song addresses the prevalence of treacherous, hypocritical people in society who pretend to be noble while secretly plotting evil.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Naattukkullae sila narigal irukkuthu”
Comparing untrustworthy, deceptive people to wild animals like foxes (narigal) and tigers in disguise (puligal).
Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Nambi vidaathae vembi vidaathae”
Matching second consonants across lines to create rhythmic flow ('Nambi' and 'Vembi').
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Patta pagal kollai paaigalin thollai”
Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Pa' across the line.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Naan Potta Savaal' was a notable action film directed by Puratchi Dasan, who also penned the lyrics for this track. Malaysia Vasudevan was Rajinikanth's primary playback voice during this era, and this song perfectly captures Rajinikanth's signature swagger and mass appeal.
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