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Lyrics & meaning

Pathala Pathala

From Vikram-2022 · 2022

Lyricist
Kamal Haasan
Singers
Kamal Haasan, Anirudh Ravichander
Music director
Anirudh Ravichander
Details
Vikram-20222022

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………………....
Male
Pathala PathalaNot enough, not enough!
Kuttiyum pathalaEven a small peg is not enough!
Buttiyum pathalaEven the bottle is not enough!
Mathalam adra deiBeat the drum, hey man!
Sutha mathalam adra dei…Beat the folk drum properly, hey man!
Male
AdraHit it!
Male
Andavare ne yethi paaduAndavare (Kamal), raise your voice and sing!
Male
Dho paaruLook there!
Kuthura gummang kuthula gommaI am going to punch hard!
Petha pulla nee sethuruva da deiMy dear child, you will get hurt and die!
Nee udhaar udathaeDon't show off or flex!
MavanaeSon!
Male
Ivan utthalakadi johnuHe is Utthalakadi John (a cunning trickster)
Idhu mudichamikki premuThis is Mudichavikki Prem (a pickpocket)
Onna number sokka thirudiThe number one shirt thief
Blade-u pakkari maameBlade Pakkiri, my friend
Male
Adhu sarakku adikkum somuThat is liquor-drinking Somu
Ivan sundi soru seenuThis is Sundi Soru Seenu
Nalla powder koadu pottuSnorting lines of powder (drugs)
Mookurinjum teamuThe drug-snorting squad
Male
Dei..Hey..
Patti tinkering seiyaadhaDon't alter or compromise your character
Ketta pombalaiya nambiBy trusting a bad woman
Yemaandhu pudaadhaDon't get deceived
Dhaaraandhu pudaadhaDon't give away everything
Idha nakkinu kudra deiLick and drink this, hey!
Adha thottunu thundra deiTouch and eat that side dish, hey!
Nee ethini kudichaalumNo matter how much you drink,
Inga pattini koodathaeStarvation should not increase here!
Male
Dei ena enna aada vuttu pakkuringhlaHey, are you all just watching me dance?
Che aade …Ah, keep dancing...
BassBass
Chorus :…………………….Chorus :...
Male
Gajanaale kaasillaeThere is no money in the state treasury
Kallalaiyum kaasillaeThere is no money in the cash box either
Kaaichal joram neraiya varudhuFever and sickness are spreading in abundance
Thillalangadi thillalaeDeceitful tricks and games!
Male
Ondriyathin thapaalaeBecause of the Union government's mistakes
Onniyum illa ippaalaeThere is nothing left on this side
Saavi ippo thirudan kailaThe key is now in the thief's hands
Thillangadi thillalaeDeceitful tricks and games!
Male
Yeri kolam nadhiya koodaLakes, ponds, and even rivers
Plotu pottu vithaakaIf you convert them into real estate plots and sell them
Naari poodum ooru janamThe whole town's people will stink and suffer
Chinna mazha vandhaakaEven if a small rain falls!
Male
Oiyaarama thalukaElegantly and gracefully
Odhungi pora kannalaO person stepping aside while just watching
Erangi vandhu vela paaruGet down and do the hard work
Naadu maarum thannaalaThe country will automatically change for the better
Male
Kulla nari maamuFoxy cunning uncle
Male
Kedupadhu ivan gameuRuining things is his game
Kulam irundhum valaithalathilaDespite being educated, on social media
Jaadhi pesum memeuMemes promoting caste discrimination are posted
Male
Oosi podu maameGet vaccinated, my friend
Veengikidha bum-uDid your rear end swell up?
Balla bale balla balleBalla bale balla balle
Balla bale bomb-uBalla bale bomb!
Male
Dei adha vuttu ozhi da deiHey, give up on that bad stuff!
Oru kuththu udu da deiGive a hard punch, hey!
Patta evan ethithaalumWhoever opposes you
Gethaa etti midhidaa deiKick them down with pride!
Male
Idha nakkinu kudra deiLick and drink this, hey!
Adha thottunu thundra deiTouch and eat that side dish, hey!
Nee ethini kudichaalumNo matter how much you drink,
Inga pattini koodathaeStarvation should not increase here!
Male
BassBass
Va ma janaki koovuCome on Janaki, crow/sing!
Male
Pathala pathalaNot enough, not enough
Kuttiyum pathala pathala…….Even a small peg is not enough, not enough...
Male
Kuthura gummang kuthula gommaI am going to punch hard!
Petha pulla nee sethuruva da deiMy dear child, you will get hurt and die!
Nee udhaar udathaeDon't show off!
Male
Mavanae…..Son...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pathala Pathala is an energetic Tamil kuthu song written and performed by Kamal Haasan for the blockbuster film Vikram (2022), composed by Anirudh Ravichander. Written in local Chennai dialect (Madras Baashai), the song uses a lively celebratory dance rhythm to deliver sharp political satire and social commentary.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Madras Baashai (Local Dialect)

Ivan utthalakadi johnu / Idhu mudichamikki premu

The lyrics extensively feature Chennai street slang terms like 'Utthalakadi', 'Mudichamikki', 'Udhaar', 'Sundi soru', and 'Gummang kuthu' to establish an authentic local persona.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Gajanaale kaasillae / Kallalaiyum kaasillae

Classic Tamil poetic meter where the second letter of consecutive lines rhyme, creating a rhythmic flow.

Social Satire / Irony

Yeri kolam nadhiya kooda / Plotu pottu vithaaka

The song contrasts upbeat dance beats with heavy social critiques regarding governance, real estate encroachments on water bodies causing floods, drug abuse, and online casteism.

Monnai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Pathala Pathala / Kuttiyum pathala

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words and lines for musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kamal Haasan wrote the lyrics for Pathala Pathala in raw Chennai slang and sang the track himself. The song's viral dance video featured popular choreography by Sandy Master and achieved massive success across streaming platforms prior to the film's release.

Keep listening

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