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Lyrics & meaning

Nandri Ketta Manitharukku

From Irumbu Thirai – (1960) · 1960

Lyricist
Kothamangalam Subbu
Singer
Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Details
Irumbu Thirai – (1960)1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nandri ketta manitharukkuTo ungrateful people
Anji nirkkamaattomWe will not stand in fear
Naavinikka poiyuraikkumThose who speak sweet lies
Perai nambamaattomWe will not trust those people
Endru kooruvomadaa ondru seruvomadaaWe will proclaim this and unite together
Veeru kondu singampolWith courage like a lion
MunneruvomadaaWe will march forward
Male
Eliya makkal thalaiyil kaasuMoney tramples upon the heads
Yaeri mithikkuthu idhaiOf simple poor people; thinking about this
Enni enni thozhilaalarThinking and thinking, the working class
Nenju kothikkuthuHeart is boiling with rage
Male
Eliya makkal thalaiyil kaasuMoney tramples upon the heads
Yaeri mithikkuthu idhaiOf simple poor people; thinking about this
Enni enni thozhilaalarThinking and thinking, the working class
Nenju kothikkuthuHeart is boiling with rage
Chorus
Eliya makkal thalaiyil kaasuMoney tramples upon the heads
Yaeri mithikkuthu idhaiOf simple poor people; thinking about this
Enni enni thozhilaalarThinking and thinking, the working class
Nenju kothikkuthuHeart is boiling with rage
Male
Vanjanaikkum anjidomWe do not fear deceit
Chorus :Vanjanaikkum anjidomChorus: We do not fear deceit
Male :Panjam noikku anjidomMale: We do not fear famine or disease
Pattinikkum anjidomWe do not fear starvation
Chorus :Pattinikkum anjidomChorus: We do not fear starvation
Pattinikkum anjidomWe do not fear starvation
Panjam noikku anjidomWe do not fear famine or disease
Pattinikkum anjidomWe do not fear starvation
Male
Nenjinai pilantha pothumEven if our hearts are ripped apart
Needhi ketka anjidomWe do not fear to demand justice
Chorus :Nenjinai pilantha pothumChorus: Even if our hearts are ripped apart
Needhi ketka anjidomWe do not fear to demand justice
Male
Nermaiyattra pergalinTo dishonest people
Kaalgalai vanangidomWe will never bow down at their feet
Chorus :Nermaiyattra pergalinChorus: To dishonest people
Kaalgalai vanangidomWe will never bow down at their feet
Male
Eliya makkal thalaiyil kaasuMoney tramples upon the heads
Yaeri mithikkuthu idhaiOf simple poor people; thinking about this
Enni enni thozhilaalarThinking and thinking, the working class
Nenju kothikkuthuHeart is boiling with rage
Chorus
Eliya makkal thalaiyil kaasuMoney tramples upon the heads
Yaeri mithikkuthu idhaiOf simple poor people; thinking about this
Enni enni thozhilaalarThinking and thinking, the working class
Nenju kothikkuthuHeart is boiling with rage
Male
Kaali endrum kooli endrumCalling us vagrants and hired laborers
Keli seiyyum koottamaeOh crowd that mocks us!
Kaaththu maari adikkuthu neerThe wind is turning in direction
Edukka venum ottamaeSo you better run away!
Chorus :Edukka venum ottamaeChorus: So you better run away!
Edukka venum ottamaeYou better run away!
Chorus
Kaali endrum kooli endrumCalling us vagrants and hired laborers
Keli seiyyum koottamaeOh crowd that mocks us!
Kaaththu maari adikkuthu neerThe wind is turning in direction
Edukka venum ottamaeSo you better run away!
Male
Thaali katti kondaLike a wedded wife
Manaivi poluazhiththa engalaiWho ruined us like a wedded wife
Chorus :Thaali katti kondaChorus: Like a wedded wife
Manaivi poluazhiththa engalaiWho ruined us like a wedded wife
Male
Thavikka vitta perai enthaThe ones who left us stranded in misery, on any
Naalum marakka maattomaeDay we will never forget!
Chorus :Thavikka vitta perai enthaChorus: The ones who left us stranded in misery, on any
Naalum marakka maattomaeDay we will never forget!
Male
Eliya makkal thalaiyil kaasuMoney tramples upon the heads
Yaeri mithikkuthu idhaiOf simple poor people; thinking about this
Enni enni thozhilaalarThinking and thinking, the working class
Nenju kothikkuthuHeart is boiling with rage
Chorus
Eliya makkal thalaiyil kaasuMoney tramples upon the heads
Yaeri mithikkuthu idhaiOf simple poor people; thinking about this
Enni enni thozhilaalarThinking and thinking, the working class
Nenju kothikkuthuHeart is boiling with rage

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This revolutionary labor movement anthem from the 1960 movie Irumbu Thirai captures the intense anger, resilience, and unity of the working class rising up against capitalist exploitation and deceitful power structures. The song vows that workers will no longer fear hunger, illness, or oppressive masters, choosing instead to stand as brave as lions and demand social justice at all costs. Through sharp rhetoric, it addresses the mocking elites and capitalist masters who tread on the poor, warning them that the political and social tide is turning. It stresses that the working class will never bow to corrupt rulers nor forgive those who betrayed their trust.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Veeru kondu singampol

Compares the brave forward march of united workers to a fearless lion using the marker 'pol'.

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Enni enni thozhilaalar

The word 'enni' (thinking/pondering) is repeated back-to-back to emphasize the continuous agony and brewing rage in the workers' minds.

Rhyme / Assonance (Edhugai)

Kaali endrum kooli endrum

Matching second consonants in 'Kaali' and 'kooli' creates a rhythmic cadence while capturing the derogatory labels used by oppressors.

Metaphor (Uruvakam)

Kaaththu maari adikkuthu neer

The expression 'Kaaththu maari adikkuthu' (the wind is changing direction) serves as a metaphor for the shifting social and political power dynamic.

Did you know?

Trivia

Irumbu Thirai (1960) was a remake of the Hindi hit Paigham (1959), produced and directed by S. S. Vasan under Gemini Studios. The song features Sirkazhi Govindarajan's thunderous vocals set to S. V. Venkatraman's music, written by Kothamangalam Subbu, serving as a powerful labor reform anthem reflecting the socialist film trends of that era.

Keep listening

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