Neengal Athanai Perum
From En Magan · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- En Magan1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Neengal aththanai perum | All of you gathered here, |
| Uththamarthaanaa sollungal | Tell me, are you truly righteous? |
| Neengal aththanai perum | All of you gathered here, |
| Uththamarthaanaa sollungal | Tell me, are you truly righteous? |
| Ungal aasai nenjai thottu | Touch your desiring heart |
| Paarththu kollungal haehae….. | And examine yourself, ha-ha! |
| Male | |
| Ullavarellaam nallavaraavaar | All those who have wealth are deemed good, |
| Illaathavare pollaathavaraam bhoomiyilae | While those who have nothing are branded bad on this earth. |
| Pinnae nanmai theemai enbathu enna | What then is good and evil? |
| Paava punniyam enbathu enna paathaiyilae | What is sin and virtue on this path of life? |
| Male | |
| Neengal aththanai perum | All of you gathered here, |
| Uththamarthaanaa sollungal | Tell me, are you truly righteous? |
| Ungal aasai nenjai thottu | Touch your desiring heart |
| Paarththu kollungal haehae….. | And examine yourself, ha-ha! |
| Male | |
| Azhagaaga thondrum | Appearing beautiful, |
| Oru karunaagam kandaen | I saw a black cobra. |
| Aniyaayam seipavarakku | For those who commit injustice, |
| Mariyaathai kandaen | I saw respect given. |
| Male | |
| Sathikaara koottam ondru | A treacherous crowd, |
| Sabayaera kandaen | I saw entering the court assembly. |
| Thvarendru ennai sollum | Calling me a wrongdoer, |
| Parithaabam kandaen | I saw a pitiful sight. |
| Male | |
| Kollaiyadippon vallalai polae | The one who loots lives like a philanthropist, |
| Kovilaiidippon saamiyai polae vaazhgindraan | The one who destroys temples lives like a deity. |
| Oozhal seipavan yokkiyan polae | The corrupt person acts like an honest man, |
| Oorai yaeippavan uththaman polae kaangindraan | The one who deceives the town appears like a noble soul. |
| Male | |
| Neengal aththanai perum | All of you gathered here, |
| Uththamarthaanaa sollungal | Tell me, are you truly righteous? |
| Ungal aasai nenjai thottu | Touch your desiring heart |
| Paarththu kollungal haehae….. | And examine yourself, ha-ha! |
| Male | |
| Sattaththin pinnaal nindru sathiraadum koottam | A crowd dancing stealthily behind the law, |
| Thalaimaari aadum indru adhigaara aattam | Authority plays its arrogant game today. |
| Endraikkum melidaththil ivar meethu nottam | The higher authority keeps a watchful eye on them at all times, |
| Ippothu puriyaathu edhirkaalam kaattum | You may not understand it now, but the future will show. |
| Male | |
| Naadaga vesham kooda varaathu | Dramatic disguises will not last forever, |
| Naalaiya ulgam | Tomorrow's world |
| Ivarai vidaathu solgindrean | Will not spare them, I tell you. |
| Pala naal thirudan oru naal siraiyil | A thief of many days lands in prison one day, |
| Paavaam seithavan | The one who commits sins, |
| Thalaimurai varaiyil paarkkindrean | Will see consequences across generations, I observe. |
| Male | |
| Neengal aththanai perum | All of you gathered here, |
| Uththamarthaanaa sollungal | Tell me, are you truly righteous? |
| Neengal aththanai perum | All of you gathered here, |
| Uththamarthaanaa sollungal | Tell me, are you truly righteous? |
| Ungal aasai nenjai thottu | Touch your desiring heart |
| Paarththu kollungal….. | And examine yourself... |
நீங்கள் அத்தனை பேரும்
உத்தமர் தானா சொல்லுங்கள்
நீங்கள் அத்தனை பேரும்
உத்தமர் தானா சொல்லுங்கள்
உங்கள் ஆசை நெஞ்சைத் தொட்டுப்
பார்த்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள் ஹேஹே...
All of you gathered here,
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
All of you gathered here,
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
Touch your desiring heart
And examine yourself, ha-ha!
உள்ளவரெல்லாம் நல்லவராவார்
இல்லாதவரே பொல்லாதவராம் பூமியிலே
பின்னே நன்மை தீமை என்பது என்ன
பாவ புண்ணியம் என்பது என்ன பாதையிலே
All those who have wealth are deemed good,
While those who have nothing are branded bad on this earth.
What then is good and evil?
What is sin and virtue on this path of life?
நீங்கள் அத்தனை பேரும்
உத்தமர் தானா சொல்லுங்கள்
உங்கள் ஆசை நெஞ்சைத் தொட்டுப்
பார்த்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள் ஹேஹே...
All of you gathered here,
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
Touch your desiring heart
And examine yourself, ha-ha!
அழகாகத் தோன்றும்
ஒரு கருநாகம் கண்டேன்
அநியாயம் செய்பவர்க்கும்
மரியாதை கண்டேன்
Appearing beautiful,
I saw a black cobra.
For those who commit injustice,
I saw respect given.
சதிகாரக் கூட்டம் ஒன்று
சபையேறக் கண்டேன்
தவறென்று என்னைச் சொல்லும்
பரிதாபம் கண்டேன்
A treacherous crowd,
I saw entering the court assembly.
Calling me a wrongdoer,
I saw a pitiful sight.
கொள்ளையடிப்போன் வள்ளலைப் போலே
கோவிலை இடிப்போன் சாமியைப் போலே வாழ்கின்றான்
ஊழல் செய்பவன் யோக்கியன் போலே
ஊரை ஏய்ப்பவன் உத்தமன்
போலே காண்கின்றான்
The one who loots lives like a philanthropist,
The one who destroys temples lives like a deity.
The corrupt person acts like an honest man,
The one who deceives the town appears like a noble soul.
நீங்கள் அத்தனை பேரும்
உத்தமர் தானா சொல்லுங்கள்
உங்கள் ஆசை நெஞ்சைத் தொட்டுப்
பார்த்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள்........
All of you gathered here,
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
Touch your desiring heart
And examine yourself, ha-ha!
சட்டத்தின் பின்னால் நின்று சதிராடும் கூட்டம்
தலைமாறி ஆடும் இன்று அதிகார ஆட்டம்
என்றைக்கும் மேலிடத்தில் இவர் மீது நோட்டம்
இப்போது புரியாது எதிர்காலம் காட்டும்
A crowd dancing stealthily behind the law,
Authority plays its arrogant game today.
The higher authority keeps a watchful eye on them at all times,
You may not understand it now, but the future will show.
நாடக வேஷம் கூட வராது
நாளைய உலகம்
இவரை விடாது சொல்கின்றேன்
பல நாள் திருடன் ஒரு நாள் சிறையில்
பாவம் செய்தவன்
தலைமுறை வரையில் பார்க்கின்றேன்
Dramatic disguises will not last forever,
Tomorrow's world
Will not spare them, I tell you.
A thief of many days lands in prison one day,
The one who commits sins,
Will see consequences across generations, I observe.
நீங்கள் அத்தனை பேரும்
உத்தமர் தானா சொல்லுங்கள்
நீங்கள் அத்தனை பேரும்
உத்தமர் தானா சொல்லுங்கள்
உங்கள் ஆசை நெஞ்சைத் தொட்டுப்
பார்த்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள்........
All of you gathered here,
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
All of you gathered here,
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
Touch your desiring heart
And examine yourself...
Neengal aththanai perum
All of you gathered here,
Uththamarthaanaa sollungal
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
Neengal aththanai perum
All of you gathered here,
Uththamarthaanaa sollungal
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
Ungal aasai nenjai thottu
Touch your desiring heart
Paarththu kollungal haehae…..
And examine yourself, ha-ha!
Ullavarellaam nallavaraavaar
All those who have wealth are deemed good,
Illaathavare pollaathavaraam bhoomiyilae
While those who have nothing are branded bad on this earth.
Pinnae nanmai theemai enbathu enna
What then is good and evil?
Paava punniyam enbathu enna paathaiyilae
What is sin and virtue on this path of life?
Neengal aththanai perum
All of you gathered here,
Uththamarthaanaa sollungal
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
Ungal aasai nenjai thottu
Touch your desiring heart
Paarththu kollungal haehae…..
And examine yourself, ha-ha!
Azhagaaga thondrum
Appearing beautiful,
Oru karunaagam kandaen
I saw a black cobra.
Aniyaayam seipavarakku
For those who commit injustice,
Mariyaathai kandaen
I saw respect given.
Sathikaara koottam ondru
A treacherous crowd,
Sabayaera kandaen
I saw entering the court assembly.
Thvarendru ennai sollum
Calling me a wrongdoer,
Parithaabam kandaen
I saw a pitiful sight.
Kollaiyadippon vallalai polae
The one who loots lives like a philanthropist,
Kovilaiidippon saamiyai polae vaazhgindraan
The one who destroys temples lives like a deity.
Oozhal seipavan yokkiyan polae
The corrupt person acts like an honest man,
Oorai yaeippavan uththaman polae kaangindraan
The one who deceives the town appears like a noble soul.
Neengal aththanai perum
All of you gathered here,
Uththamarthaanaa sollungal
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
Ungal aasai nenjai thottu
Touch your desiring heart
Paarththu kollungal haehae…..
And examine yourself, ha-ha!
Sattaththin pinnaal nindru sathiraadum koottam
A crowd dancing stealthily behind the law,
Thalaimaari aadum indru adhigaara aattam
Authority plays its arrogant game today.
Endraikkum melidaththil ivar meethu nottam
The higher authority keeps a watchful eye on them at all times,
Ippothu puriyaathu edhirkaalam kaattum
You may not understand it now, but the future will show.
Naadaga vesham kooda varaathu
Dramatic disguises will not last forever,
Naalaiya ulgam
Tomorrow's world
Ivarai vidaathu solgindrean
Will not spare them, I tell you.
Pala naal thirudan oru naal siraiyil
A thief of many days lands in prison one day,
Paavaam seithavan
The one who commits sins,
Thalaimurai varaiyil paarkkindrean
Will see consequences across generations, I observe.
Neengal aththanai perum
All of you gathered here,
Uththamarthaanaa sollungal
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
Neengal aththanai perum
All of you gathered here,
Uththamarthaanaa sollungal
Tell me, are you truly righteous?
Ungal aasai nenjai thottu
Touch your desiring heart
Paarththu kollungal…..
And examine yourself...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Neengal Aththanai Perum Uththamarthaanaa from the 1974 film En Magan is a powerful satirical song challenging societal hypocrisy and moral corruption. Written by Kannadasan and sung forcefully by T. M. Soundararajan, the song directly confronts the audience, urging them to examine their own conscience before sitting in judgment of others. It sharply criticizes how contemporary society measures goodness purely through financial stature—revering the rich while villainizing the poor regardless of true virtue. The verses vividly describe societal ironies where corrupt looters and deceivers hide behind facades of righteousness and power. However, the protagonist warns that karma and ultimate justice are inescapable; masks will slip, and those who exploit others will inevitably face retribution that echoes through future generations.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Ullavarellaam nallavaraavaar / Illaathavare pollaathavaraam”
Matching second consonants in successive lines (ll / l) creating rhythmic flow.
Simile (Upamai)
“Kollaiyadippon vallalai polae / Kovilaiidippon saamiyai polae”
Comparing corrupt individuals to noble roles using the comparison word 'polae' (like).
Antithesis / Irony (Edhirnilai)
“Oozhal seipavan yokkiyan polae / Oorai yaeippavan uththaman polae”
Juxtaposing criminal actions with revered societal positions to highlight moral corruption.
Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)
“Pala naal thirudan oru naal siraiyil”
Adaptation of the famous Tamil proverb 'Pala naal thirudan oru naal agappaduvan' (A thief caught on one day).
Did you know?
Trivia
En Magan (1974) features legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song serve as a scathing philosophical commentary on political power and societal double standards, paired with M. S. Viswanathan's dramatic orchestration and T. M. Soundararajan's booming theatrical vocal performance.
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