Nammooru Kazhuthaikku
From Kali Kovil Kabali · 1979
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- R. Rajesh
- Details
- Kali Kovil Kabali1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Thanantha thantha thaanae…..thanthaanaenaa…. | Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa... |
| Thanantha thantha thaanae…..thanthaanaenaa…. | Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa... |
| Thanantha thantha thaanae…..thanthaanaenaa…. | Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa... |
| Thanantha thantha thaanae…..thanthaanaenaa…. | Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa... |
| Male | |
| Hoi namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku | Hey, the donkey of our town has a white nose! |
| Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum | It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them. |
| Hae….hae….haa…haa….hae….hae… | Hae... hae... haa... haa... hae... hae... |
| Chorus | |
| Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku | The donkey of our town has a white nose, |
| Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum | It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them. |
| Male | |
| Singaaram panni kaattu athukku | Show yourself decked up nicely to it, |
| Jillunnu thanni kaattu | Offer it cool, refreshing water. |
| Kelu kazhuthae nalla kelu kazhuthae | Listen donkey, listen well, donkey! |
| Adha kelaathaa koottaththukku sollu kazhuthae | Tell that to the crowd that doesn't listen, donkey! |
| Male | |
| Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku | The donkey of our town has a white nose, |
| Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum hai | It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them, hai! |
| Chorus | |
| : Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku | The donkey of our town has a white nose, |
| Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum | It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them. |
| Male | |
| Kai thookki ninnaaththaan naadu | Only if you surrender and raise your hands, the country... |
| Chorus :Naadu | The country... |
| Male :Naadu kaikaatti Ninnaakkaa kedu | If the country points fingers at you, it leads to ruin! |
| Chorus :Kedu | Ruin! |
| Male :Karpoora vaasanaiyo unakkum illae | You don't know the fragrance of camphor (you lack refinement), |
| Nalla kalvi ennum vaasanaiy enakkum illai | And I lack the aroma of good education. |
| Male | |
| Appaavi kazhuthaikku aayiram thollai | An innocent donkey faces a thousand troubles, |
| Adaa athukkunnu naan onnum salaichchathillae | Ah, but I am in no way inferior or backing down! |
| Theriyuthaa…..puriyuthaa….dingi dingi kannae donkey | Do you get it... do you understand... dingi dingi my sweet donkey? |
| Male | |
| Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku | The donkey of our town has a white nose, |
| Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum podu | It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them, hit it! |
| Chorus | |
| Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku | The donkey of our town has a white nose, |
| Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum | It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them. |
| Dumdumdum thadakthaa dumdumdum thadakthaa | Rhythmic percussion sounds: Dumdumdum thadakthaa dumdumdum thadakthaa... |
| Male | |
| Yaezhezhu jenmaththukkum naanga | For seven whole lifetimes, we... |
| Chorus :Naanga | We... |
| Male :Ellorum muttaalgal thaanga | We are all absolute fools! |
| Chorus :Thaanga | Fools! |
| Male :Pasiyunnu kettaakka yaaru koduppaa kaiya | If you ask out of hunger, who will give you food? People just... |
| Paiyila vittu konjam mella nadappaa | Slip their hands into their pockets and slowly walk away. |
| Male | |
| Payanthavana ulagaththula yaaru madhippaa chummaa | Who in this world respects a person who is afraid? Just like that, |
| Pattunnu vittaakkaa kaala pudippaa | If you act tough, they will catch your feet and plead! |
| Theriyuthaa puriyuthaa dingi dingi kannae dongey | Do you get it... do you understand... dingi dingi my sweet donkey? |
| Male | |
| Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku | The donkey of our town has a white nose, |
| Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum podu | It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them, hit it! |
| Chorus | |
| Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku | The donkey of our town has a white nose, |
| Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum | It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them. |
| Male | |
| Singaaram panni kaattu athukku | Show yourself decked up nicely to it, |
| Jillunnu thanni kaattu | Offer it cool, refreshing water. |
| Kelu kazhuthae nalla kelu kazhuthae | Listen donkey, listen well, donkey! |
| Adha kelaathaa koottaththukku sollu kazhuthae | Tell that to the crowd that doesn't listen, donkey! |
| Male | |
| Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku | The donkey of our town has a white nose, |
| Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum | It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them. |
| Chorus | |
| Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku | The donkey of our town has a white nose, |
| Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum | It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them. |
தனந்த தந்த தானே.....தந்தானேனா....
தனந்த தந்த தானே.....தந்தானேனா....
தனந்த தந்த தானே.....தந்தானேனா....
தனந்த தந்த தானே.....தந்தானேனா....
Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa...
Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa...
Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa...
Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa...
ஹோய் நம்ம ஊரு கழுதைக்கு வெள்ள மூக்கு
நல்லவரைக் கண்டாலே மெல்ல பார்க்கும்
ஹே.....ஹே.....ஹா.....ஹா......ஹே.....ஹே
Hey, the donkey of our town has a white nose!
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
Hae... hae... haa... haa... hae... hae...
நம்ம ஊரு கழுதைக்கு வெள்ள மூக்கு
நல்லவரைக் கண்டாலே மெல்ல பார்க்கும்
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
சிங்காரம் பண்ணிக் காட்டு அதுக்கு
ஜில்லுன்னு தண்ணிக் காட்டு
கேளு கழுதே நல்ல கேளு கழுதே
அத கேளாத கூட்டத்துக்கு சொல்லு கழுதே...
Show yourself decked up nicely to it,
Offer it cool, refreshing water.
Listen donkey, listen well, donkey!
Tell that to the crowd that doesn't listen, donkey!
நம்ம ஊரு கழுதைக்கு வெள்ள மூக்கு
நல்லவரைக் கண்டாலே மெல்ல பார்க்கும் ஹாய்
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them, hai!
நம்ம ஊரு கழுதைக்கு வெள்ள மூக்கு
நல்லவரைக் கண்டாலே மெல்ல பார்க்கும்
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
கை தூக்கி நின்னாத்தான் நாடு
குழு :
நாடு
நாடு கைக்கட்டி நின்னாக்கா கேடு....
குழு :
கேடு...
கற்பூர வாசனையோ உனக்கும் இல்லே
நல்ல கல்வி என்னும் வாசனையோ எனக்கும் இல்லை
Only if you surrender and raise your hands, the country...
The country...
If the country points fingers at you, it leads to ruin!
Ruin!
You don't know the fragrance of camphor (you lack refinement),
And I lack the aroma of good education.
அப்பாவி கழுதைக்கு ஆயிரம் தொல்லை
அடா அதுக்குன்னு நான் ஒண்ணும் சளைச்சதில்லே
தெரியுதா...புரியுதா....டிங்கி...டிங்கி..கண்ணே டாங்கி....
An innocent donkey faces a thousand troubles,
Ah, but I am in no way inferior or backing down!
Do you get it... do you understand... dingi dingi my sweet donkey?
நம்ம ஊரு கழுதைக்கு வெள்ள மூக்கு
நல்லவரைக் கண்டாலே மெல்ல பார்க்கும் போடு
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them, hit it!
நம்ம ஊரு கழுதைக்கு வெள்ள மூக்கு
நல்லவரைக் கண்டாலே மெல்ல பார்க்கும்
டும்டும்டும் தடக்தா டும்டும்டும் தடக்தா...
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
Rhythmic percussion sounds: Dumdumdum thadakthaa dumdumdum thadakthaa...
ஏழேழு ஜென்மத்துக்கும் நாங்க...
குழு :
நாங்க....
எல்லோரும் முட்டாள்கள் தாங்க
குழு :
தாங்க....
பசியுன்னு கேட்டாக்கா யாரு கொடுப்பா கைய
பையில விட்டு கொஞ்சம் மெல்ல நடப்பா
For seven whole lifetimes, we...
We...
We are all absolute fools!
Fools!
If you ask out of hunger, who will give you food? People just...
Slip their hands into their pockets and slowly walk away.
பயந்தவன உலகத்துல யாரு மதிப்பா –சும்மா
பட்டுன்னு விட்டாக்கா கால புடிப்பா
தெரியுதா...புரியுதா....டிங்கி...டிங்கி..கண்ணே டாங்கி....
Who in this world respects a person who is afraid? Just like that,
If you act tough, they will catch your feet and plead!
Do you get it... do you understand... dingi dingi my sweet donkey?
நம்ம ஊரு கழுதைக்கு வெள்ள மூக்கு
நல்லவரைக் கண்டாலே மெல்ல பார்க்கும் போடு
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them, hit it!
நம்ம ஊரு கழுதைக்கு வெள்ள மூக்கு
நல்லவரைக் கண்டாலே மெல்ல பார்க்கும்
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
சிங்காரம் பண்ணிக் காட்டு அதுக்கு
ஜில்லுன்னு தண்ணிக் காட்டு
கேளு கழுதே நல்ல கேளு கழுதே
அத கேளாத கூட்டத்துக்கு சொல்லு கழுதே...
Show yourself decked up nicely to it,
Offer it cool, refreshing water.
Listen donkey, listen well, donkey!
Tell that to the crowd that doesn't listen, donkey!
நம்ம ஊரு கழுதைக்கு வெள்ள மூக்கு
நல்லவரைக் கண்டாலே மெல்ல பார்க்கும்
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
நம்ம ஊரு கழுதைக்கு வெள்ள மூக்கு
நல்லவரைக் கண்டாலே மெல்ல பார்க்கும்
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
Thanantha thantha thaanae…..thanthaanaenaa….
Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa...
Thanantha thantha thaanae…..thanthaanaenaa….
Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa...
Thanantha thantha thaanae…..thanthaanaenaa….
Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa...
Thanantha thantha thaanae…..thanthaanaenaa….
Rhythmic vocal rhythm: Thanantha thantha thaanae... thanthaanaenaa...
Hoi namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku
Hey, the donkey of our town has a white nose!
Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
Hae….hae….haa…haa….hae….hae…
Hae... hae... haa... haa... hae... hae...
Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
Singaaram panni kaattu athukku
Show yourself decked up nicely to it,
Jillunnu thanni kaattu
Offer it cool, refreshing water.
Kelu kazhuthae nalla kelu kazhuthae
Listen donkey, listen well, donkey!
Adha kelaathaa koottaththukku sollu kazhuthae
Tell that to the crowd that doesn't listen, donkey!
Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum hai
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them, hai!
: Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
Kai thookki ninnaaththaan naadu
Only if you surrender and raise your hands, the country...
Chorus :Naadu
The country...
Male :Naadu kaikaatti Ninnaakkaa kedu
If the country points fingers at you, it leads to ruin!
Chorus :Kedu
Ruin!
Male :Karpoora vaasanaiyo unakkum illae
You don't know the fragrance of camphor (you lack refinement),
Nalla kalvi ennum vaasanaiy enakkum illai
And I lack the aroma of good education.
Appaavi kazhuthaikku aayiram thollai
An innocent donkey faces a thousand troubles,
Adaa athukkunnu naan onnum salaichchathillae
Ah, but I am in no way inferior or backing down!
Theriyuthaa…..puriyuthaa….dingi dingi kannae donkey
Do you get it... do you understand... dingi dingi my sweet donkey?
Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum podu
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them, hit it!
Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
Dumdumdum thadakthaa dumdumdum thadakthaa
Rhythmic percussion sounds: Dumdumdum thadakthaa dumdumdum thadakthaa...
Yaezhezhu jenmaththukkum naanga
For seven whole lifetimes, we...
Chorus :Naanga
We...
Male :Ellorum muttaalgal thaanga
We are all absolute fools!
Chorus :Thaanga
Fools!
Male :Pasiyunnu kettaakka yaaru koduppaa kaiya
If you ask out of hunger, who will give you food? People just...
Paiyila vittu konjam mella nadappaa
Slip their hands into their pockets and slowly walk away.
Payanthavana ulagaththula yaaru madhippaa chummaa
Who in this world respects a person who is afraid? Just like that,
Pattunnu vittaakkaa kaala pudippaa
If you act tough, they will catch your feet and plead!
Theriyuthaa puriyuthaa dingi dingi kannae dongey
Do you get it... do you understand... dingi dingi my sweet donkey?
Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum podu
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them, hit it!
Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
Singaaram panni kaattu athukku
Show yourself decked up nicely to it,
Jillunnu thanni kaattu
Offer it cool, refreshing water.
Kelu kazhuthae nalla kelu kazhuthae
Listen donkey, listen well, donkey!
Adha kelaathaa koottaththukku sollu kazhuthae
Tell that to the crowd that doesn't listen, donkey!
Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku
The donkey of our town has a white nose,
Nallavarai kandaalae mella paarkkum
It gently looks at good people whenever it sees them.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Namma Ooru Kazhuthaikku Vella Mookku' from Kali Kovil Kabali (1979) uses metaphorical and satirical lyrics to address social hypocrisies and harsh reality through the lens of a common man talking to a donkey. Lyricist Kannadasan employs the proverb 'Karpoora vaasanai' (camphor fragrance, derived from the Tamil idiom about a donkey not knowing the value of camphor) to highlight the lack of formal education and status among the working class, while critiquing society's indifference to hunger and fear.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Satire)
“Namma ooru kazhuthaikku vella mookku”
Compares society and innocent working-class people to a donkey ('kazhuthae') to critique societal foolishness and apathy.
Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)
“Karpoora vaasanaiyo unakkum illae”
Refers to the famous Tamil proverb 'Kazhuthaikku theriyuma karpoora vaasanai' (Does a donkey know the smell of camphor?).
Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Pasiyunnu kettaakka yaaru koduppaa kaiya”
Matching initial consonant/vowel sound patterns in words across adjacent lines ('Pasiyunnu' / 'Paiyila' / 'Payanthavana' / 'Pattunnu').
Did you know?
Trivia
This satirical track features music composed by R. Rajesh and rendered by veteran singer Malaysia Vasudevan, whose robust voice perfectly captured the raw, folk-pop flavor needed for Rajinikanth's streetwise, unpretentious character portrayal in the movie.
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