Thandalkaaran Song Lyrics – NGK
From NGK (Nandha Gopalan Kumaran) · 2019
- Lyricist
- Kabilan
- Singers
- K. G. Ranjith, Chorus
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- NGK (Nandha Gopalan Kumaran)2019
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Heyy | Hey! |
| Chorus | |
| Hmm hmm hmm mmm | Hmm... |
| Hmm hmm hmm mmm | Hmm... |
| Hmm hmm hmm mmm…. | Hmm... |
| Male | |
| Hey | Hey! |
| Chorus | |
| Hmm hmm hmm mmm | Hmm... |
| Hmm hmm hmm mmm | Hmm... |
| Hmm hmm hmm mmm…. | Hmm... |
| Male | |
| Hey | Hey! |
| Male | |
| Hey | Hey! |
| Male | |
| Hey thandalkaaran | Hey tax collector |
| Paakkuraan | He is watching |
| Thanda soru kekkuraan | He demands free meals and bribes |
| Podi vechu pesuraan | He speaks with hidden agendas |
| Kandapadi yesuraan | He scolds and abuses recklessly |
| Male :Hey (Overlapping) | [Male] Hey! (overlapping) |
| Male | |
| Pattampoochi ingae | Here, an innocent butterfly |
| Pachonthiya aachi | Has turned into a chameleon |
| Chorus :Heyy | [Chorus] Hey! |
| Male | |
| Naattamaiyin kaiyil | In the hands of the chief headman |
| Naadu kettu pochu | The country has gone to waste |
| Chorus :Heyy | [Chorus] Hey! |
| Chorus | |
| Aahuun…(4) | (Vocal hums) |
| Aahunn..nnn | (Vocal hums) |
| Male | |
| Heyy…(3) | Hey! |
| Male | |
| Thandalkaaran… | The tax collector... |
| Naan ungalkaaran | I am one of your own |
| Naan ungalkaaran | I am one of your own |
| Adadadadaa naan ungalkaaran | Oh wow, I am one of your own |
| Chorus | |
| Aahuun…(4) | (Vocal hums) |
| Aahunn..nnn | (Vocal hums) |
| Chorus | |
| Hey ..(4) | Hey! |
| Male | |
| Indianin panpaatta | The culture of Indians |
| Anniyano vangitaanae | Has been bought by an outsider |
| Aadhar atta illaama | Without even an Aadhaar card |
| Aatchi seiya vanthutaanae | He has come to rule over us |
| Male | |
| Heyy | Hey! |
| Indianin panpaatta | The culture of Indians |
| Anniyano vangitaanae | Has been bought by an outsider |
| Aadhar atta illaama | Without even an Aadhaar card |
| Aatchi seiya vanthutaanae | He has come to rule over us |
| Male | |
| Ooru cheri onna illaiyae | The main town and the outcast colony are not united |
| Namma naattil | In our country |
| Kaadhal senjavana vetturaan | They hack down the person who fell in love |
| Nadu roattil | Right in the middle of the road |
| Setha pinbum nee | Even after death, you are |
| Thalli vacha sudukaattil | Pushed away in segregated burial grounds |
| Pambu kooda kili | Even a parrot and a snake |
| Vaazhumae oru koottil | Can live together in a single nest |
| Male | |
| Hey (Overlapping) | Hey! (overlapping) |
| Chorus | |
| Aahuun…(4) | (Vocal hums) |
| Aahunn..nnn | (Vocal hums) |
| Chorus | |
| Hey ..(4) | Hey! |
| Chorus | |
| Hey thandalkaaran | Hey tax collector |
| Paakkuraan | He is watching |
| Thanda soru kekkuraan | He demands free meals and bribes |
| Podi vechu pesuraan | He speaks with hidden agendas |
| Kandapadi yesuraan | He scolds and abuses recklessly |
| Male :Hey (Overlapping) | [Male] Hey! (overlapping) |
| Chorus | |
| Pattampoochi ingae | Here, an innocent butterfly |
| Pachonthiya aachi | Has turned into a chameleon |
| Naattamaiyin kaiyil | In the hands of the chief headman |
| Naadu kettu pochu | The country has gone to waste |
| Male :Hey (Overlapping) | [Male] Hey! (overlapping) |
| Chorus | |
| Aahuun…(4) | (Vocal hums) |
| Aahunn..nnn | (Vocal hums) |
ஹேய்
Hey!
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்....
Hmm...
Hmm...
Hmm...
ஹேய்
Hey!
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்......
Hmm...
Hmm...
Hmm...
ஹேய்
Hey!
ஹேய்
Hey!
ஹே தண்டல்காரன்
பாக்குறான்
தண்ட சோறு கேக்குறான்
பொடி வச்சு பேசுறான்
கண்டப்படி ஏசுறான்
ஹே.......
Hey tax collector
He is watching
He demands free meals and bribes
He speaks with hidden agendas
He scolds and abuses recklessly
[Male] Hey! (overlapping)
பட்டாம்பூச்சி இங்கே
பச்சோந்தியா ஆச்சு
குழு :
ஹேய்....
Here, an innocent butterfly
Has turned into a chameleon
[Chorus] Hey!
நாட்டமையின் கையில்
நாடு கெட்டு போச்சு
குழு :
ஹேய்....
In the hands of the chief headman
The country has gone to waste
[Chorus] Hey!
ஆஹுன்....(4)
ஆஹுன்...ன்ன்
(Vocal hums)
(Vocal hums)
ஹேய்....(3)
Hey!
தண்டல்காரன்
நான் உங்கள்காரன்
நான் உங்கள்காரன்
அடடடாடா நான் உங்கள்காரன்
The tax collector...
I am one of your own
I am one of your own
Oh wow, I am one of your own
ஆஹுன்....(4)
ஆஹுன்...ன்ன்
(Vocal hums)
(Vocal hums)
ஹேய்....(4)
Hey!
இந்தியனின் பண்பாட்டை
அந்நியனோ வாங்கிட்டானே....
ஆதார் அட்டை இல்லாம
ஆட்சி செய்ய வந்துட்டானே.....
The culture of Indians
Has been bought by an outsider
Without even an Aadhaar card
He has come to rule over us
ஹே இந்தியனின் பண்பாட்டை
அந்நியனோ வாங்கிட்டானே.....
ஆதார் அட்டை இல்லாம
ஆட்சி செய்ய வந்துட்டானே....
Hey!
The culture of Indians
Has been bought by an outsider
Without even an Aadhaar card
He has come to rule over us
ஊரு சேரி ஒன்னா இல்லையே
நம்ம நாட்டில்
காதல் செஞ்சவன வெட்டுறான்
நடு ரோட்டில்
செத்த பின்பும் நீ
தள்ளி வச்ச சுடுகாட்டில்
பாம்பு கூட
கிளி வாழுமே ஒரு கூட்டில்
The main town and the outcast colony are not united
In our country
They hack down the person who fell in love
Right in the middle of the road
Even after death, you are
Pushed away in segregated burial grounds
Even a parrot and a snake
Can live together in a single nest
ஹே......
Hey! (overlapping)
ஆஹுன்....(4)
ஆஹுன்...ன்ன்
(Vocal hums)
(Vocal hums)
ஹேய்....(4)
Hey!
ஹே தண்டல்காரன்
பாக்குறான்
தண்ட சோறு கேக்குறான்
பொடி வச்சு பேசுறான்
கண்டப்படி ஏசுறான்
Hey tax collector
He is watching
He demands free meals and bribes
He speaks with hidden agendas
He scolds and abuses recklessly
[Male] Hey! (overlapping)
ஹே......
Here, an innocent butterfly
Has turned into a chameleon
In the hands of the chief headman
The country has gone to waste
[Male] Hey! (overlapping)
பட்டாம்பூச்சி இங்கே
பச்சோந்தியா ஆச்சு
நாட்டமையின் கையில்
நாடு கெட்டு போச்சு
(Vocal hums)
(Vocal hums)
ஹே.....
ஆஹுன்....(4)
ஆஹுன்...ன்ன்
Heyy
Hey!
Hmm hmm hmm mmm
Hmm...
Hmm hmm hmm mmm
Hmm...
Hmm hmm hmm mmm….
Hmm...
Hey
Hey!
Hmm hmm hmm mmm
Hmm...
Hmm hmm hmm mmm
Hmm...
Hmm hmm hmm mmm….
Hmm...
Hey
Hey!
Hey
Hey!
Hey thandalkaaran
Hey tax collector
Paakkuraan
He is watching
Thanda soru kekkuraan
He demands free meals and bribes
Podi vechu pesuraan
He speaks with hidden agendas
Kandapadi yesuraan
He scolds and abuses recklessly
Male :Hey (Overlapping)
[Male] Hey! (overlapping)
Pattampoochi ingae
Here, an innocent butterfly
Pachonthiya aachi
Has turned into a chameleon
Chorus :Heyy
[Chorus] Hey!
Naattamaiyin kaiyil
In the hands of the chief headman
Naadu kettu pochu
The country has gone to waste
Chorus :Heyy
[Chorus] Hey!
Aahuun…(4)
(Vocal hums)
Aahunn..nnn
(Vocal hums)
Heyy…(3)
Hey!
Thandalkaaran…
The tax collector...
Naan ungalkaaran
I am one of your own
Naan ungalkaaran
I am one of your own
Adadadadaa naan ungalkaaran
Oh wow, I am one of your own
Aahuun…(4)
(Vocal hums)
Aahunn..nnn
(Vocal hums)
Hey ..(4)
Hey!
Indianin panpaatta
The culture of Indians
Anniyano vangitaanae
Has been bought by an outsider
Aadhar atta illaama
Without even an Aadhaar card
Aatchi seiya vanthutaanae
He has come to rule over us
Heyy
Hey!
Indianin panpaatta
The culture of Indians
Anniyano vangitaanae
Has been bought by an outsider
Aadhar atta illaama
Without even an Aadhaar card
Aatchi seiya vanthutaanae
He has come to rule over us
Ooru cheri onna illaiyae
The main town and the outcast colony are not united
Namma naattil
In our country
Kaadhal senjavana vetturaan
They hack down the person who fell in love
Nadu roattil
Right in the middle of the road
Setha pinbum nee
Even after death, you are
Thalli vacha sudukaattil
Pushed away in segregated burial grounds
Pambu kooda kili
Even a parrot and a snake
Vaazhumae oru koottil
Can live together in a single nest
Hey (Overlapping)
Hey! (overlapping)
Aahuun…(4)
(Vocal hums)
Aahunn..nnn
(Vocal hums)
Hey ..(4)
Hey!
Hey thandalkaaran
Hey tax collector
Paakkuraan
He is watching
Thanda soru kekkuraan
He demands free meals and bribes
Podi vechu pesuraan
He speaks with hidden agendas
Kandapadi yesuraan
He scolds and abuses recklessly
Male :Hey (Overlapping)
[Male] Hey! (overlapping)
Pattampoochi ingae
Here, an innocent butterfly
Pachonthiya aachi
Has turned into a chameleon
Naattamaiyin kaiyil
In the hands of the chief headman
Naadu kettu pochu
The country has gone to waste
Male :Hey (Overlapping)
[Male] Hey! (overlapping)
Aahuun…(4)
(Vocal hums)
Aahunn..nnn
(Vocal hums)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thandalkaaran from NGK (2019) is a sharp, satirical political commentary about corrupt leaders and systemic social flaws in contemporary society. The protagonist uses the term 'Thandalkaaran' (historically a tax/tribute collector) to describe greedy politicians who squeeze the working class for personal gain, speak in double meanings, and rule without true accountability. The lyrics lament how an innocent citizen (a 'butterfly') is forced to adapt opportunistically (like a 'chameleon') to survive in political spaces. Additionally, the song addresses pressing socio-political issues in Tamil Nadu, such as honor killings, caste segregation that persists even in cremation grounds, and political irony. It highlights the sharp contrast between nature—where natural enemies like snakes and parrots can coexist in harmony—and human society, which remains deeply divided by caste and prejudice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Pattampoochi ingae / Pachonthiya aachi”
Compares an innocent citizen turning into an opportunistic politician to a butterfly ('Pattampoochi') turning into a chameleon ('Pachonthi').
Iyaibu / End Rhyme (இயைபுத் தொடை)
“Paakkuraan / Thanda soru kekkuraan / Podi vechu pesuraan / Kandapadi yesuraan”
Consecutive lines end with matching rhyming sounds ('Paakkuraan', 'kekkuraan', 'pesuraan', 'yesuraan') creating a rhythmic, chanting pace.
Contrast & Satire (முரண்)
“Setha pinbum nee / Thalli vacha sudukaattil / Pambu kooda kili / Vaazhumae oru koottil”
Contrasts human caste division with animals, noting that even natural adversaries like snakes and parrots can share a nest while humans segregate burial grounds.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Thandalkaaran' was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja with lyrics written by Kabilan and performed by singer Ranjith for Selvaraghavan's political drama NGK starring Suriya. The title 'Thandalkaaran' refers to traditional tax or debt collectors in Tamil villages, repurposed here as a metaphor for modern corrupt politicians who extract 'tribute' from common citizens.
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