Renga Rengaiya
From Makkal Kural · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Makkal Kural1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Haei dingiri dappaa….. | Hey, dingiri dappaa... |
| Female | |
| Rengaa rangaiyaa porathu engaiyaa | Renga Rangaiya, where are you going? |
| Rengaa rangaiyaa porathu engaiyaa | Renga Rangaiya, where are you going? |
| Ilangaikku poreengalaa | Are you going to Sri Lanka? |
| Female | |
| Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae | He gave you two legs, |
| Oru vaalai vaichchaanae | And he gave you a tail! |
| Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae | He gave you two legs, |
| Oru vaalai vaichchaanae | And he gave you a tail! |
| Padaichchavanai ketteengalaa | Did you ask the Creator about it? |
| Female | |
| Rengaa rangaiyaa porathu engaiyaa | Renga Rangaiya, where are you going? |
| Ilangaikku poreengalaa | Are you going to Sri Lanka? |
| Female | |
| Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae | He gave you two legs, |
| Oru vaalai vaichchaanae | And he gave you a tail! |
| Padaichchavanai ketteengalaa | Did you ask the Creator about it? |
| Female | |
| Kaagithaththai thookkittu | Carrying papers and documents, |
| Oorai suththumpothu | While roaming around the town, |
| Kaththirikkaai koodaikullae | Into the eggplant basket, |
| Puththi ponathu | Your mind got distracted! |
| Hae hae hai hai hae | Hae hae hai hai hae |
| Female | |
| Kaagithaththai thookkittu | Carrying papers, |
| Oorai suththumpothu | While roaming around the town, |
| Kaththirikkaai koodaikullae | Into the eggplant basket, |
| Puththi ponathu | Your mind got lost! |
| Female | |
| Puli pidikka vantheenga | You came to catch a tiger, |
| Kili pidikalamaa | Is it right to catch a parrot instead? |
| Por puriya vantheenga | You came to wage a war, |
| Podavai kattalaama | Can you wear a saree instead? |
| Female | |
| Ponaa pogaattum | Let it go, let it be, |
| Puththi thaanaa maaraattum | Let wisdom change on its own, |
| Ponaa pogattum | Let it go, let it be, |
| Puththi thaanaa maaraattum | Let wisdom change on its own, |
| Yemaantha dingiri dappaa | You fooled dingiri dappaa! |
| Female | |
| Rengaa rangaiyaa porathu engaiyaa | Renga Rangaiya, where are you going? |
| Ilangaikku poreengalaa | Are you going to Sri Lanka? |
| Female | |
| Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae | He gave you two legs, |
| Oru vaalai vaichchaanae | And he gave you a tail! |
| Padaichchavanai ketteengalaa | Did you ask the Creator? |
| Female | |
| Aiyyaa unga rajangam | Sir, your kingdom, |
| Kizhinji pona panjaangam | Is like a torn almanac! |
| Ippo unga selvaakku | Now your influence, |
| Ennei illaa punnaakku | Is like oil-extracted oil cake! |
| Hae hae hai hae hai durrrrrr…. | Hae hae hai hae hai durrrrrr…. |
| Female | |
| Kaakki udaiya pottathaalae | Just because you wear a khaki uniform, |
| Kaavalkaaran nenaippaa | Do you think you are a guard? |
| Kaditham kondu pogaiyilae | While carrying letters, |
| Naduvil intha kozhuppaa | Do you need this arrogance in between? |
| Female | |
| Kaaiyai thotteenga pinnae | First you touched the vegetable, |
| Kaiyai thotteenga | Then you touched the hand! |
| Kaaiyai thotteenga pinnae | First you touched the vegetable, |
| Kaiyai thotteenga | Then you touched the hand! |
| Yaemaantha dingiri dappaa | Foolish dingiri dappaa! |
| Female | |
| Rengaa rangaiyaa porathu engaiyaa | Renga Rangaiya, where are you going? |
| Ilangaikku poreengalaa | Are you going to Sri Lanka? |
| Female | |
| Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae | He gave you two legs, |
| Oru vaalai vaichchaanae | And he gave you a tail! |
| Padaichchavanai ketteengalaa | Did you ask the Creator? |
| Hae hae hai hae hai hae hai hae….. | Hae hae hai hae hai hae hai hae….. |
ஹேய்.....டிங்கிரி டப்பா....
Hey, dingiri dappaa...
ரெங்கா ரங்கையா போறது எங்கய்யா
ரெங்கா ரங்கையா போறது எங்கய்யா
லங்கைக்கு போறீங்களா
Renga Rangaiya, where are you going?
Renga Rangaiya, where are you going?
Are you going to Sri Lanka?
ரெண்டு காலை வைச்சானே
ஒரு வாலை வைச்சானா....
ரெண்டு காலை வைச்சானே
ஒரு வாலை வைச்சானா....
படைச்சவனைக் கேட்டீங்களா...
He gave you two legs,
And he gave you a tail!
He gave you two legs,
And he gave you a tail!
Did you ask the Creator about it?
ரெங்கா ரங்கையா போறது எங்கய்யா
லங்கைக்கு போறீங்களா
Renga Rangaiya, where are you going?
Are you going to Sri Lanka?
ரெண்டு காலை வைச்சானே
ஒரு வாலை வைச்சானா....
படைச்சவனைக் கேட்டீங்களா...
He gave you two legs,
And he gave you a tail!
Did you ask the Creator about it?
காகிதத்தைத் தூக்கிகிட்டு
ஊரைச் சுத்தும் போது
கத்திரிக்காய் கூடைக்குள்ளே
புத்தி போனது
ஹே ஹே ஹை ஹை ஹே
Carrying papers and documents,
While roaming around the town,
Into the eggplant basket,
Your mind got distracted!
Hae hae hai hai hae
காகிதத்தைத் தூக்கிகிட்டு
ஊரைச் சுத்தும் போது
கத்திரிக்காய் கூடைக்குள்ளே
புத்தி போனது
Carrying papers,
While roaming around the town,
Into the eggplant basket,
Your mind got lost!
புலி பிடிக்க வந்தீங்க
கிளி பிடிக்கலாமா
போர் புரிய வந்தீங்க
பொடவை கட்டலாமா
You came to catch a tiger,
Is it right to catch a parrot instead?
You came to wage a war,
Can you wear a saree instead?
போனா போகட்டும்
புத்தி தானா மாறட்டும்
போனா போகட்டும்
புத்தி தானா மாறட்டும்
ஏமாந்த டிங்கிரி டப்பா.............
Let it go, let it be,
Let wisdom change on its own,
Let it go, let it be,
Let wisdom change on its own,
You fooled dingiri dappaa!
ரெங்கா ரங்கையா போறது எங்கய்யா
லங்கைக்கு போறீங்களா
Renga Rangaiya, where are you going?
Are you going to Sri Lanka?
ரெண்டு காலை வைச்சானே
ஒரு வாலை வைச்சானா....
படைச்சவனைக் கேட்டீங்களா...
He gave you two legs,
And he gave you a tail!
Did you ask the Creator?
அய்யா உங்க ராஜாங்கம்
கிழிஞ்சி போன பஞ்சாங்கம்
இப்போ உங்க செல்வாக்கு
எண்ணெய் இல்லா புண்ணாக்கு
ஹே ஹே ஹை ஹே ஹை டுர்ர்ர்ர்......
Sir, your kingdom,
Is like a torn almanac!
Now your influence,
Is like oil-extracted oil cake!
Hae hae hai hae hai durrrrrr….
காக்கி உடைய போட்டதாலே
காவல்காரன் நெனைப்பா
கடிதம் கொண்டு போகையிலே
நடுவில் இந்த கொழுப்பா
Just because you wear a khaki uniform,
Do you think you are a guard?
While carrying letters,
Do you need this arrogance in between?
காயைத் தொட்டீங்க பின்னே
கையைத் தொட்டீங்க
காயைத் தொட்டீங்க பின்னே
கையைத் தொட்டீங்க
ஏமாந்த டிங்கிரி டப்பா.....
First you touched the vegetable,
Then you touched the hand!
First you touched the vegetable,
Then you touched the hand!
Foolish dingiri dappaa!
ரெங்கா ரங்கையா போறது எங்கய்யா
லங்கைக்கு போறீங்களா
Renga Rangaiya, where are you going?
Are you going to Sri Lanka?
ரெண்டு காலை வைச்சானே
ஒரு வாலை வைச்சானா....
படைச்சவனைக் கேட்டீங்களா...
ஹே ஹே ஹை ஹே ஹை ஹே ஹை ஹே......
He gave you two legs,
And he gave you a tail!
Did you ask the Creator?
Hae hae hai hae hai hae hai hae…..
Haei dingiri dappaa…..
Hey, dingiri dappaa...
Rengaa rangaiyaa porathu engaiyaa
Renga Rangaiya, where are you going?
Rengaa rangaiyaa porathu engaiyaa
Renga Rangaiya, where are you going?
Ilangaikku poreengalaa
Are you going to Sri Lanka?
Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae
He gave you two legs,
Oru vaalai vaichchaanae
And he gave you a tail!
Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae
He gave you two legs,
Oru vaalai vaichchaanae
And he gave you a tail!
Padaichchavanai ketteengalaa
Did you ask the Creator about it?
Rengaa rangaiyaa porathu engaiyaa
Renga Rangaiya, where are you going?
Ilangaikku poreengalaa
Are you going to Sri Lanka?
Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae
He gave you two legs,
Oru vaalai vaichchaanae
And he gave you a tail!
Padaichchavanai ketteengalaa
Did you ask the Creator about it?
Kaagithaththai thookkittu
Carrying papers and documents,
Oorai suththumpothu
While roaming around the town,
Kaththirikkaai koodaikullae
Into the eggplant basket,
Puththi ponathu
Your mind got distracted!
Hae hae hai hai hae
Hae hae hai hai hae
Kaagithaththai thookkittu
Carrying papers,
Oorai suththumpothu
While roaming around the town,
Kaththirikkaai koodaikullae
Into the eggplant basket,
Puththi ponathu
Your mind got lost!
Puli pidikka vantheenga
You came to catch a tiger,
Kili pidikalamaa
Is it right to catch a parrot instead?
Por puriya vantheenga
You came to wage a war,
Podavai kattalaama
Can you wear a saree instead?
Ponaa pogaattum
Let it go, let it be,
Puththi thaanaa maaraattum
Let wisdom change on its own,
Ponaa pogattum
Let it go, let it be,
Puththi thaanaa maaraattum
Let wisdom change on its own,
Yemaantha dingiri dappaa
You fooled dingiri dappaa!
Rengaa rangaiyaa porathu engaiyaa
Renga Rangaiya, where are you going?
Ilangaikku poreengalaa
Are you going to Sri Lanka?
Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae
He gave you two legs,
Oru vaalai vaichchaanae
And he gave you a tail!
Padaichchavanai ketteengalaa
Did you ask the Creator?
Aiyyaa unga rajangam
Sir, your kingdom,
Kizhinji pona panjaangam
Is like a torn almanac!
Ippo unga selvaakku
Now your influence,
Ennei illaa punnaakku
Is like oil-extracted oil cake!
Hae hae hai hae hai durrrrrr….
Hae hae hai hae hai durrrrrr….
Kaakki udaiya pottathaalae
Just because you wear a khaki uniform,
Kaavalkaaran nenaippaa
Do you think you are a guard?
Kaditham kondu pogaiyilae
While carrying letters,
Naduvil intha kozhuppaa
Do you need this arrogance in between?
Kaaiyai thotteenga pinnae
First you touched the vegetable,
Kaiyai thotteenga
Then you touched the hand!
Kaaiyai thotteenga pinnae
First you touched the vegetable,
Kaiyai thotteenga
Then you touched the hand!
Yaemaantha dingiri dappaa
Foolish dingiri dappaa!
Rengaa rangaiyaa porathu engaiyaa
Renga Rangaiya, where are you going?
Ilangaikku poreengalaa
Are you going to Sri Lanka?
Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae
He gave you two legs,
Oru vaalai vaichchaanae
And he gave you a tail!
Padaichchavanai ketteengalaa
Did you ask the Creator?
Hae hae hai hae hai hae hai hae…..
Hae hae hai hae hai hae hai hae…..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This lighthearted and teasing song 'Rengaa Rangaiyaa' from the 1976 film 'Makkal Kural' (composed by V. Kumar, rendered by S. Janaki, and penned by Kannadasan) is a humorous folk-style track. The narrator playfully mocks a messenger who gets distracted by love and vegetable vendors while on duty delivering official letters. Through sharp, witty metaphors, she reprimands him for taking advantage of his uniform and losing sight of his original purpose.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Aiyyaa unga rajangam / Kizhinji pona panjaangam”
Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'rajangam' and 'panjaangam', establishing rhythmic harmony.
Moonaai (Initial alliteration)
“Kaakki udaiya pottathaalae / Kaavalkaaran nenaippaa”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Ka' in consecutive lines 'Kaakki udaiya' and 'Kaavalkaaran'.
Mythological Allusion
“Ilangaikku poreengalaa / Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae / Oru vaalai vaichchaanae”
Comparing the messenger's movement to Hanuman traveling to Lanka with a tail.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Ippo unga selvaakku / Ennei illaa punnaakku”
Comparing the lost prestige of the man to a torn almanac ('kizhinji pona panjaangam') and oil cake without oil ('ennei illaa punnaakku').
Did you know?
Trivia
The track showcases Kannadasan's versatility in writing colloquial Tamil folk songs packed with witty social commentary, complemented by S. Janaki's expressive and energetic vocal nuances.
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