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Lyrics & meaning

Nattukulla Enakkoru

From Billa (1980 Film) · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, L. R. Anjali
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Billa (1980 Film)1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kovillae saamikkumTo the God inside the temple,
Kootathu manusanukkum….. aahaaAnd to the people in the crowd... aahaa,
Vaayulla aatkalukkumTo the people with a loud voice,
Vasathi ulla pergalukkum…. ohoAnd to the wealthy people... oho,
Vanakkam ayya vanakkam sonnenI said greetings sir, greetings,
Female
Vanakkam ayya vanakkam sonnenI said greetings sir, greetings.
Male
Naatukkullae ennakoru oorunduIn this country, I have a town of my own,
Oorukkullae enakkoru perunduIn that town, I have a name of my own.
Haan naatukkullae ennakoru oorunduHaan, in this country, I have a town of my own,
Oorukkullae enakkoru perunduIn that town, I have a name of my own.
Ennai paththi aayiram peruA thousand people spoke ill/gossip about me,
Ennaenna sonaanga ippenna seivaangaWhatever they said back then, what can they do now?
Male
Aahaaa….ennai paththi aayiram peruAahaaa... a thousand people spoke about me,
Ennaenna sonaanga ippenna seivaangaWhatever they said back then, what can they do now?
Female
Naatukkullae unnakoru oorunduIn this country, you have a town of your own,
Oorukkullae unakkoru perunduIn that town, you have a name of your own.
Both :Thaamtha nakka thakku mukku thikku thaalamBoth: Rhythm beat sounds (Thaamtha nakka thakku mukku thikku thaalam),
Theemtha nakka thikku mukku thikku thaalamRhythm beat sounds (Theemtha nakka thikku mukku thikku thaalam).
Male
Naalu padi melae ponaaIf you rise four steps higher,
Nallavanai uda maataangaThey will not spare even a good person.
Mmmm mmmm mmm mmmmMmmm mmmm mmm mmmm,
Hmm mm mm mm mmmHmm mm mm mm mmm.
Paadu pattu paer serthaaIf you work hard and gain fame,
Pala kathaigal solluvaangaThey will make up many stories about you.
Male
Naalu padi melae ponaaIf you rise four steps higher,
Nallavanai uda maataangaThey will not spare even a good person.
Paadu pattu paer serthaaIf you work hard and gain fame,
Pala kathaigal solluvaangaThey will make up many stories about you.
Yaaru solli enna pannaaWhoever said whatever, what does it matter?
Naanum ippo nallaa irrukenI am doing very well right now.
Ungalukkum ippo sonnenI tell this to you all now as well:
Pinaalae paarkaatha munneru munneruDon't look back, keep moving forward, move forward!
Male
Naatukkullae ennakoru oorunduIn this country, I have a town of my own,
Oorukkullae enakkoru perunduIn that town, I have a name of my own.
Ennai paththi aayiram peruA thousand people spoke about me,
Ennaenna sonaanga ippenna seivaangaWhatever they said back then, what can they do now?
Male
Aalukkoru naeram unduEveryone has their own time,
Avugaavuga kaalam unduEvery individual has their own season.
Mmmm mmmm mmm mmmmMmmm mmmm mmm mmmm,
Hmm mm mm mm mm mmHmm mm mm mm mm mm.
Aayiram thaan senjaa koodaEven if you try a thousand things,
Aagum pothu aagum annaeThings happen only when the time is right, brother.
Male
Aalukkoru naeram unduEveryone has their own time,
Avugaavuga kaalam unduEvery individual has their own season.
Aayiram thaan senjaa koodaEven if you try a thousand things,
Aagum pothu aagum annaeThings happen only when the time is right, brother.
Moodanukkum yogam vanthaaIf fortune smiles even upon a fool,
Moovulagam vanakkam podumThe entire three worlds will bow to him.
Nambikkaiyai manasilae vaichchuKeep confidence in your heart,
Pinaalae paarkaama munneru munneruWithout looking back, keep moving forward, move forward!
Male
Naatukkullae ennakoru oorunduIn this country, I have a town of my own,
Oorukkullae enakkoru perunduIn that town, I have a name of my own.
Ennai paththi aayiram peruA thousand people spoke about me,
Ennaenna sonaanga ippenna seivaangaWhatever they said back then, what can they do now?
Male
Ahaa haa haa haan haan haaAhaa haa haa haan haan haa,
Naatukkullae ennakoru oorunduIn this country, I have a town of my own,
Oorukkullae enakkoru perunduIn that town, I have a name of my own.
Both :Thaamtha nakka thakku mukku thikku thaalamBoth: Rhythm beat sounds (Thaamtha nakka thakku mukku thikku thaalam),
Theemtha nakka thikku mukku thikku thaalamRhythm beat sounds (Theemtha nakka thikku mukku thikku thaalam),
Thaamtha nakka thakku mukku thikku thaalamRhythm beat sounds (Thaamtha nakka thikku mukku thikku thaalam),
Theemtha nakka thikku mukku thikku thaalamRhythm beat sounds (Theemtha nakka thikku mukku thikku thaalam).

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naatukkullae Ennakoru Oorundu is an upbeat, street-smart philosophical song from the 1980 Rajinikanth blockbuster Billa. Authored by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan, the song carries a buoyant message of resilience, perseverance, and practical life wisdom. The protagonist addresses the society around him—gods, wealthy elites, and common crowds—reaffirming his own place and identity in the world despite malicious gossip or envy from critics.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal / Alliteration (Moo- / Moo-)

Moodanukkum yogam vanthaa / Moovulagam vanakkam podum

Matching initial consonant sounds across words in the line for phonetic impact.

Refrain / Anaphora

Naatukkullae ennakoru oorundu / Oorukkullae enakkoru perundu

Repetition of key lines throughout the song to emphasize identity and pride.

Hyperbole

Ennai paththi aayiram peru / Ennaenna sonaanga ippenna seivaanga

Exaggeration ('a thousand people') used to signify the overwhelming nature of societal gossip.

Etukai / Second letter rhyming

Naalu padi melae ponaa / Paadu pattu paer serthaa

The second letter in adjacent lines ('lu' in Naalu, 'du' in Paadu / 'yiram' in Aayiram, 'gum' in Aagum) creates rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Billa (1980) was the official Tamil remake of the 1978 Hindi hit Don. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) with lyrics by Kannadasan, this track serves as a key moment in the movie showcasing the innocent lookalike character (Suriya) displaying his carefree street wisdom and survival instinct.

Keep listening

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