- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Nenjukku Neethi(1979)
- Movie release year
- 1979
- Lyrics added on
- 12 Jan 2024
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru thavarum senjariyaa uththamara maththavara
Koththi pazhi vaanga vantha kuttu paambae
Un kottaththa naan adakka poren
Kodumaigala mudikka poren
Keezhirangi vanthidappa naagapaambae
Mugamoodiya naan kizhikka poren ketta paambae
Paambae neeyaadu paambae
Aadumvarai aadu paambae
Pagal vesham pottu vantha
Potti paambae
Adhigaaram konda paambae
Agangaaram neranja paambae
Keezhirangi vaa vaa ketta paambae
Paambae neeyaadu paambae
Aadumvarai aadu paambae
Pagal vesham pottu vantha
Potti paambae
Koozhukkum velaiyindri
Kudilukkum olaiyindri
Yaezhainga thudikkaiyilae
Paalundu neeyindru pazhamendru nee kandu
Paththiramaa neeyingu nadikkiriyae
Yaezhainga vayirunga izhukkuthu pudikkuthu
Irukkira edaththaiyum silathunga idikkuthu
Kovilirunthoru kodumaigal nadaththura
Kutti paambae
Paambae neeyaadu paambae
Aadumvarai aadu paambae
Pagal vesham pottu vantha
Potti paambae
Beedaththil yaerikondu
Pidivaatham pannikkondu
Aattangal podaathe
Paavaththa saerkkaathae pazhigala vaangaathae
Panjaigalin vaazhvai theendaathae
Paavamum pazhigalum kooduthu yaeruthu
Pasiyila irukkura vayirunga eriyuthu
Kaaranamellaam needhaan kalla paambae
Paambae neeyaadu paambae
Aadumvarai aadu paambae
Pagal vesham pottu vantha
Potti paambae
Oorukkul vanjam vaththu
Ullukkul nanjum vaithu
Ulavura nalla paambae
Nallorai vaataathae
Naakkai nee neettaathae
Nalinthavar vaazhvai vathaikkaathae
Veshamum kalaigira neramum nerunguthu
Vedhanai theeyila vilangugal norunguthu
Naasamum moshamum naalaikku mudiyuthu
Nanju paambae
: Paambae neeyaadu paambae
Aadumvarai aadu paambae
Pagal vesham pottu vantha
Potti paambae
Targeting righteous people and others who have done no wrong,
You little snake that came to bite and seek revenge,
I am going to crush your arrogance,
I am going to put an end to your cruelties,
Come down now, you cobra,
I am going to tear off your mask, you evil snake!
Dance, snake, go on and dance!
Dance as long as you can, snake!
You who arrived in a deceitful disguise,
You snake in a basket!
You snake wielding power,
You snake full of arrogance,
Come down, come right down, you evil snake!
Dance, snake, go on and dance!
Dance as long as you can, snake!
You who arrived in a deceitful disguise,
You snake in a basket!
With no work even to earn daily porridge,
With no palm thatch for their huts,
While the poor suffer in agony,
Feasting on milk and relishing fruits today,
You put on a safe act of innocence here!
The bellies of the poor are cramping with hunger,
While some even destroy their remaining shelters!
Sitting inside a temple and committing atrocities,
You little snake!
Dance, snake, go on and dance!
Dance as long as you can, snake!
You who arrived in a deceitful disguise,
You snake in a basket!
Sitting up on a pedestal,
Stubbornly persisting in your ways,
Do not put on your arrogant show!
Do not pile up sins or earn curses,
Do not strike at the lives of the destitute!
Sins and blame are mounting high,
The bellies of the starving are burning,
You are the reason for it all, you deceitful snake!
Dance, snake, go on and dance!
Dance as long as you can, snake!
You who arrived in a deceitful disguise,
You snake in a basket!
Harboring hatred against the people,
Keeping poison hidden deep inside,
You cobra roaming around,
Do not torment good people,
Do not flick your threatening tongue,
Do not torture the lives of the weak!
The time for your disguise to fall apart is near,
In the fire of pain, chains are breaking,
All your ruin and deceit will end tomorrow,
You venomous snake!
Dance, snake, go on and dance!
Dance as long as you can, snake!
You who arrived in a deceitful disguise,
You snake in a basket!
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
In 'Paambae Neeyaadu', the protagonist addresses corrupt, oppressive, and hypocritical authority figures by metaphorically calling them poisonous snakes. The lyrics condemn those who hide behind pious disguises while exploiting the poor, stripping away their basic necessities like food and shelter, and misusing power for selfish gains.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Koththi pazhi vaanga vantha kuttu paambae”
The oppressor/villain is repeatedly metaphorized as a 'Paambu' (snake), highlighting stealth, deceitfulness, and lethality.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Koozhukkum velaiyindri / Kudilukkum olaiyindri”
Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across words in lines like 'Koozhukkum' and 'Kudilukkum'.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Paambae neeyaadu paambae”
The line 'Paambae neeyaadu paambae' serves as a rhythmic, repeated call-out throughout the song.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kannadasan uses traditional Tamil snake-charmer song motifs ('Siththar Paadal' style) to deliver a sharp political and social critique against systemic oppression.
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