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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oh En Nanbane

From Thappu Kanakku · 1988

Lyricist
Kamakodiyan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Mano
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thappu Kanakku1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oo….en nanbanae….Oh... my friend...
Vaa vaa en anbanae….thaarararaCome, come, my dear one... thaararara
Oo….en nanbanae….Oh... my friend...
Vaa vaa en anbanae….Come, come, my dear one...
Male
Nadaththu nadaththu kaariyaththa nadaththuCarry on, carry on, carry out your work
Hae hae hae haeHae hae hae hae
Nallathu kettathu namakkullae irukkuGood and bad lie within us
Ho ho hoHo ho ho
Un vazhi unakku en vazhi enakkuYour path is yours, my path is mine
Pinnaal theriyum thappukkanakkuLater we will realize the wrong calculation
Thappukkanakku….Wrong calculation...
Male
Oo….en nanbanae….Oh... my friend...
Vaa vaa en anbanae…Come, come, my dear one...
Male
Nadaththu nadaththu kaariyaththa nadaththuCarry on, carry on, carry out your work
Hae hae hae haeHae hae hae hae
Nallathu kettathu namakkullae irukkuGood and bad lie within us
Ho ho hoHo ho ho
Un vazhi unakku en vazhi enakkuYour path is yours, my path is mine
Pinnaal theriyum thappukkanakkuLater we will realize the wrong calculation
Thappukkanakku….Wrong calculation...
Male
Aththanai perum gandhi endraalIf everyone were like Gandhi
Kaaval thuraikku velai illaiThe police department would have no work
Aththanai perum gandhi endraalIf everyone were like Gandhi
Kaaval thuraikku velai illaiThe police department would have no work
Male
Uththaman polae vaazhvath yaendaaWhy live like a righteous man?
Podaa unakku moolai illaiGet lost, you have no brains
Uththaman polae vaazhvath yaendaaWhy live like a righteous man?
Podaa unakku moolai illaiGet lost, you have no brains
Male
Unakkum enakkum thevaiyillai vazhakkuThere is no need for a dispute between you and me
Tharumam jeyikkum tholviyillai adharkkuRighteousness will win, it knows no defeat
Ho unakkum enakkum thevaiyillai vazhakkuHo, there is no need for a dispute between you and me
Tharumam jeyikkum tholviyillai adharkkuRighteousness will win, it knows no defeat
Male
Saththiyam oru naal sariththiram padaikkumTruth will create history one day
Mann vizhum vidhaithaan marubadi mulaikkumOnly the seed that falls into the soil sprouts again
Male
Oo….en nanbanae….Oh... my friend...
Vaa vaa en anbanae…Come, come, my dear one...
Male
Nallavan vaazhvaan naan sollavillai"The good person will thrive" — I did not say this
Kaalam vaguththa needhiyadaaIt is the justice ordained by time, my man
Nanbanin pechai nee konjam keluListen a little to your friend's words
Naanthaan unathu paadhiyadaaI am your other half, my man
Nanbanin pechai nee konjam keluListen a little to your friend's words
Naanthaan unathu paadhiyadaaI am your other half, my man
Male
Thiruttum purattum naattilulla nadappuTheft and deception are the order of the day in this land
Unmai edharkkum oorillai madhippuTruth has no value anywhere in town
Thiruttum purattum naattilulla nadappuTheft and deception are the order of the day in this land
Unmai edharkkum oorillai madhippuTruth has no value anywhere in town
Male
Makkalai yaeiththaal mandhiri padhaviIf you fool the people, you get a minister's post
Oozhalgalthaandaa adhukkullae thaguthiCorruption alone is the qualification for it
Male
Ooo….en nanbanae….Oh... my friend...
Vaa vaa en anbanae…Come, come, my dear one...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a philosophical dialogue between friends reflecting on morality, societal hypocrisy, and the true consequences of one's actions. It acknowledges that both good and evil exist within human nature, and while people are free to pursue their own paths, any moral miscalculation ('Thappu Kanakku') will eventually catch up with them over time.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muran (Antithesis)

Nallathu kettathu namakkullae irukku

Contrasts opposing concepts 'Nallathu' (good) and 'Kettathu' (bad) in the same line.

Metaphor

Mann vizhum vidhaithaan marubadi mulaikkum

Compares truth to a seed buried in soil, implying that though suppressed, it will inevitably rise and flourish again.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Saththiyam oru naal sariththiram padaikkum / Mann vizhum vidhaithaan marubadi mulaikkum

The second letters of 'Saththiyam' and 'Mann' (though cross-line) or internal structural beats share rhythmic resonance in traditional Tamil prosody.

Irony / Satire

Makkalai yaeiththaal mandhiri padhavi / Oozhalgalthaandaa adhukkullae thaguthi

Uses cynical irony to critique societal politics, stating that cheating people and corruption are the required qualifications for high public office.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by prominent lyricist Kamakodiyan, the song serves as a central thematic commentary for the 1988 movie 'Thappu Kanakku' (which literally translates to 'Wrong Calculation'). The lyrics heavily reflect late 1980s socio-political cynicism balanced with classic moral optimism.

Keep listening

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