- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- R. D. Burman
- Movie name
- Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga
- Movie release year
- 1990
- Lyrics added on
- 19 Jan 2021
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ada govinthaiyyaa paerai sonnaa
Kozhi kuttiyidum
Kondaich seval ivarai kandaa
Kuninju muttaiyidum
Chennaiyila saithaappettai
Selaththula sevvaappettai
Maduraiyila aiyyan pettai
Aththanaiyum aiyaa kottai
Angangae aiyaavukku aalirukkaaga
Govinthaiyaa kural koduththaa
Kurukku pettai varum
Ivaru visil adichchaa central rayil-lu
Eggmore-ru oodivarum yae….yae….yaehae
Thanni vandi thanni vandi
Thanni vandi thanni vandi theruvil vanthaendaa
Naan paettaikkulla ellaarukkum marumagan thaandaa
Neppoliyan eppothumae kayiluruppaandaa daa daa daa
Aiyyaa yaaru
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ru
Male :Haa aiyyaa yaaru
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ru
Hoi maadikku vaera sattam saerikku vaera sattam
Inimae adakkaathu yaetta thiruththipputtom
Chorus :Maadikku vaera sattam
Male :Ha
Chorus :Saerikku vaera sattam
Male :Ho
Chorus :Inimae nadakkaathu
Male :Ha
Chorus :Yaetta thiruththipputtom
Evandaa buththan ingae
Evandaa suppan ingae
Velakka anaichchupputtaa
Evandaa raaman ingae
Chorus :Velakka anaichchupputtaa
Evandaa raaman ingae
Periya manusan thirudipputta oo oo oo
Periya manusan thirudipputtaa kai thatturaanga
Chinna pasanga thirudipputtaa kaiya vetturaanga
Aaraainju sonnaen paaru annan paeru kettu paaru
Aiyyaa yaaru
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ru
Male :Haa aiyyaa yaaru
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ru
………………
Male :………………
Oi padippu padikkavilla adhanaal kuraiyumilla
Panamum saerkkavillai adhanaal variyumilla
Chorus :Padippu padikkavilla
Male :Ha
Chorus :Adhanaal kuraiyumilla
Male :Ha
Chorus :Panamum saerkkavillai
Male :Ha
Chorus :Adhanaal variyumilla
Madiyila kanamum illa
Adhanaala payamum illa
Paduththaa urakkam varum
Maaththirai thevai illa
Chorus :Paduththaa urakkam varum
Maaththirai thevai illa
Kadavulukkum irukkuthadaa….aa….aa…
Kadavulukkum irukkuthadaa aayiram thollai
Ennaippola sudhanthiramaa kadavulum illa
Annanukku aayul nooru santhegaminnaa kaiya paaru
Aiyyaa yaaru
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ru
Male :Hoi hoi aiyyaa yaaru
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ru
Thanni vandi thanni vandi
Thanni vandi thanni vandi theruvil vanthaendaa
Naan paettaikkulla ellaarukkum marumagan thaandaa
Neppoliyan eppothumae kayiluruppaandaa daa daa daa
{Aiyyaa yaaru
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ru
Male :Haa aiyyaa yaaru
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ru} (3)
Hey, if you just say Govindhayya's name,
a hen will give birth to puppies!
If the crested rooster catches sight of him,
it will bow down and lay eggs!
Saidapet in Chennai,
Shevapet in Salem,
Ayyampettai in Madurai,
every single one is the master's fortress!
Everywhere, the master has got his own men!
If Govindhayya calls out,
the whole neighborhood comes running!
If he blows a whistle, the train from Central Station
will come rushing straight to Egmore! Hey hey hey!
The drunk wagon, the drunk wagon!
Here comes the drunk wagon rolling into the street, man!
In this neighborhood, I am everyone's son-in-law, man!
Napoleon (brandy) is always right here in my hand, man!
Who is the boss?
Chorus: Quarter Govindan, sir!
Male: Ha, who is the boss?
Chorus: Quarter Govindan, sir!
Hey, one law for the mansions and another for the slums,
that won't work anymore, we have rewritten the rulebook!
Chorus: One law for the mansions,
Male: Ha!
Chorus: Another law for the slums,
Male: Ho!
Chorus: Won't work anymore,
Male: Ha!
Chorus: We have rewritten the rulebook!
Who is an enlightened Buddha here, man?
Who is just a simple nobody here, man?
Once the lights are turned off,
who is a virtuous Rama here?
Chorus: Once the lights are turned off,
who is a virtuous Rama here?
If a big shot steals, oh oh oh...
If a big shot steals, people applaud him!
If poor young kids steal, they chop off their hands!
I thought it through before saying this, go ask around about your big brother!
Who is the boss?
Chorus: Quarter Govindan, sir!
Male: Ha, who is the boss?
Chorus: Quarter Govindan, sir!
...
Male: ...
Hey, I never got an education, but that is no drawback!
I never saved up wealth, so I have no taxes to pay!
Chorus: Never got an education,
Male: Ha!
Chorus: So that is no drawback!
Male: Ha!
Chorus: Never saved up wealth,
Male: Ha!
Chorus: So there are no taxes to pay!
I carry no heavy stash in my lap (no secret guilt),
and because of that, I have no fear at all!
The moment I lie down, sleep comes easily,
no sleeping pills are needed!
Chorus: The moment I lie down, sleep comes easily,
no sleeping pills are needed!
Even God has them, man... ah... ah...
Even God has a thousand troubles of His own!
Not even God is as carefree and free as I am!
Your big brother will live a hundred years; if in doubt, read my palm!
Who is the boss?
Chorus: Quarter Govindan, sir!
Male: Hoy hoy, who is the boss?
Chorus: Quarter Govindan, sir!
The drunk wagon, the drunk wagon!
Here comes the drunk wagon rolling into the street, man!
In this neighborhood, I am everyone's son-in-law, man!
Napoleon is always right here in my hand, man!
{Who is the boss?
Chorus: Quarter Govindan, sir!
Male: Ha, who is the boss?
Chorus: Quarter Govindan, sir!} (3)
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This energetic folk song celebrates the local Robin Hood-like character, Quarter Govinthan (also referred to as Napoleon / Thanni Vandi). Through playful exaggeration and satire, the song establishes his dominant reputation across various towns in Tamil Nadu and his fearless, carefree lifestyle.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Chennaiyila saithaappettai”
Matching second consonants across lines like Chennaiyila / Selaththula / Maduraiyila.
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
“Kondaich seval ivarai kandaa / Kuninju muttaiyidum”
Exaggerated humorous claim that roosters lay eggs and trains run towards his whistle.
Social Satire / Irony
“Periya manusan thirudipputtaa kai thatturaanga / Chinna pasanga thirudipputtaa kaiya vetturaanga”
Highlighting societal hypocrisy where crimes by rich people are cheered while poor youths face severe punishment.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1990 Tamil movie 'Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga' starring Sathyaraj in a double role. The lyrics were penned by Vairamuthu and feature classic late-80s/early-90s Gana/folk humor elements.
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Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.