Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey
From Nadodi Mannan · 1958
- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Nadodi Mannan1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thoongathae thambi thoongathae | Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep |
| Neeyum somberi endra peyar vaangathae | Don't earn yourself the name of a lazy person |
| Thoongathae thambi thoongathae | Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep |
| Somberi endra peyar vaangathae | Don't earn the name of a lazy person |
| Thoongathae thambi thoongathae | Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep |
| Male | |
| {Nee thaangiya | The clothes and weapons you bore |
| Udaiyum aayuthamum | And the prison door that tells many historical stories |
| Pala sariththira kadhai sollum | Would laugh at you if they had the power |
| Siraikkathavum} (2) | If they had the strength |
| Male | |
| {Sakthi irunthaal | If they had the strength |
| Unaikkandu sirikkum} (2) | They would laugh looking at you |
| Sathiram thaan unaku | Only a roadside inn |
| Idam kodukkum | Will give you shelter |
| Male | |
| Thoongathae thambi thoongathae | Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep |
| Somberi endra peyar vaangathae | Don't earn the name of a lazy person |
| Thoongathae thambi thoongathae | Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep |
| Male | |
| {Nalla pozhuthai ellaam | Those who ruined all good times |
| Thoongi keduththavargal | By sleeping them away |
| Naattai keduthathudan | Ruined the nation |
| Thaanum kettar} (2) | And ruined themselves too |
| Male | |
| Silar allum pagalum | Some people stayed like street stones |
| Theru kallaai irunthu vittu | Day and night |
| Athirshtam illai | And complained |
| Endru alattikkondaar | That they had no luck |
| Allum pagalum | Day and night |
| Theru kallaai irunthu vittu | Remaining like street stones |
| Athirshtam illai | Complained that they had |
| Endru alattikkondaar | No good luck |
| Male | |
| Vizhithu kondorellaam | All those who stayed alert |
| Pizhaithu kondaar | Prospered in life |
| Aah..ahh…aa..aahh..aaah | Aah..ahh…aa..aahh..aaah |
| Aah..aaa.. aahh..aahh.. | Aah..aaa.. aahh..aahh.. |
| Vizhithu kondorellaam | All those who stayed alert |
| Pizhaithu kondaar | Prospered in life |
| Unpol kurattai vittorellaam | Those who snored like you |
| Kottai vittar | Lost their fort |
| Male | |
| Thoongathae thambi thoongathae | Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep |
| Somberi endra peyar vaangathae | Don't earn the name of a lazy person |
| Thoongathae thambi thoongathae | Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep |
| Male | |
| {Por padaithanil thoongiyavan | He who slept in the battle army |
| Vetri izhanthaan} (2) | Lost his victory |
| Uyar palliyil thoongiyavan | He who slept in higher school |
| Kalvi izhanthaan | Lost his education |
| Male | |
| Kadaithanil thoongiyavan | He who slept in the shop |
| Muthal izhanthaan | Lost his capital investment |
| Konda kadamaiyil thoongiyavan | He who slept in his accepted duty |
| Pugazh izhanthaan.. | Lost his fame and honor |
| Male | |
| Innum poruppulla | Even now due to the sleep |
| Manitharin thookathinaal | Of responsible people |
| Palaponaana velaiyellaam | So many wasted tasks |
| Thoonguthappa | Are lying asleep |
| Male | |
| Thoongathae thambi thoongathae | Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep |
| Somberi endra peyar vaangathae | Don't earn the name of a lazy person |
| Thoongathae thambi thoongathae | Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep |
| Thambi thoongathae | Brother, don't sleep |
தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே
நீயும் சோம்பேறி என்ற பெயர் வாங்காதே
தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே
சோம்பேறி என்ற பெயர் வாங்காதே
தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Don't earn yourself the name of a lazy person
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Don't earn the name of a lazy person
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
{நீ தாங்கிய
உடையும் ஆயுதமும்
பல சரித்திர கதை சொல்லும்
சிறைக்கதவும்} (2)
The clothes and weapons you bore
And the prison door that tells many historical stories
Would laugh at you if they had the power
If they had the strength
{சக்தி இருந்தால்
உனைக்கண்டு சிரிக்கும்} (2)
சத்திரம்தான் உனக்கு
இடம் கொடுக்கும்
If they had the strength
They would laugh looking at you
Only a roadside inn
Will give you shelter
தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே
சோம்பேறி என்ற பெயர் வாங்காதே
தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Don't earn the name of a lazy person
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
{நல்ல பொழுதையெல்லாம்
தூங்கி கெடுத்தவர்கள்
நாட்டை கெடுத்ததுடன்
தானும்கெட்டார்} (2)
Those who ruined all good times
By sleeping them away
Ruined the nation
And ruined themselves too
சிலர் அல்லும் பகலும்
தெரு கல்லாய் இருந்து விட்டு
அதிர்ஷ்டம் இல்லை
என்று அலட்டிக்கொண்டார்
அல்லும் பகலும்
தெருக் கல்லாய் இருந்து விட்டு
அதிர்ஷ்டம் இல்லை
என்று அலட்டிக்கொண்டார்
Some people stayed like street stones
Day and night
And complained
That they had no luck
Day and night
Remaining like street stones
Complained that they had
No good luck
விழித்துக் கொண்டோரெல்லாம்
பிழைத்துக் கொண்டார்
ஆ....ஆ... ஆ.ஆ.....ஆ..
ஆ... ஆ.. ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ..
விழித்துக் கொண்டோரெல்லாம்
பிழைத்துக் கொண்டார்
உன்போல்
குறட்டை விட்டோரெல்லாம்
கோட்டைவிட்டார்
All those who stayed alert
Prospered in life
Aah..ahh…aa..aahh..aaah
Aah..aaa.. aahh..aahh..
All those who stayed alert
Prospered in life
Those who snored like you
Lost their fort
தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே
சோம்பேறி என்ற பெயர் வாங்காதே
தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Don't earn the name of a lazy person
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
{போர் படைதனில் தூங்கியவன்
வெற்றி இழந்தான்} (2)
உயர்பள்ளியில் தூங்கியவன்
கல்வி இழந்தான்
He who slept in the battle army
Lost his victory
He who slept in higher school
Lost his education
கடைதனில் தூங்கியவன்
முதலிழந்தான்
கொண்ட கடமையில் தூங்கியவன்
புகழ் இழந்தான்..
He who slept in the shop
Lost his capital investment
He who slept in his accepted duty
Lost his fame and honor
இன்னும் பொறுப்புள்ள
மனிதரின் தூக்கத்தினால்
பலபொன்னான வேலையெல்லாம்
தூங்குதப்பா
Even now due to the sleep
Of responsible people
So many wasted tasks
Are lying asleep
தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே
சோம்பேறி என்ற பெயர் வாங்காதே
தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே
தம்பி தூங்காதே
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Don't earn the name of a lazy person
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Brother, don't sleep
Thoongathae thambi thoongathae
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Neeyum somberi endra peyar vaangathae
Don't earn yourself the name of a lazy person
Thoongathae thambi thoongathae
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Somberi endra peyar vaangathae
Don't earn the name of a lazy person
Thoongathae thambi thoongathae
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
{Nee thaangiya
The clothes and weapons you bore
Udaiyum aayuthamum
And the prison door that tells many historical stories
Pala sariththira kadhai sollum
Would laugh at you if they had the power
Siraikkathavum} (2)
If they had the strength
{Sakthi irunthaal
If they had the strength
Unaikkandu sirikkum} (2)
They would laugh looking at you
Sathiram thaan unaku
Only a roadside inn
Idam kodukkum
Will give you shelter
Thoongathae thambi thoongathae
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Somberi endra peyar vaangathae
Don't earn the name of a lazy person
Thoongathae thambi thoongathae
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
{Nalla pozhuthai ellaam
Those who ruined all good times
Thoongi keduththavargal
By sleeping them away
Naattai keduthathudan
Ruined the nation
Thaanum kettar} (2)
And ruined themselves too
Silar allum pagalum
Some people stayed like street stones
Theru kallaai irunthu vittu
Day and night
Athirshtam illai
And complained
Endru alattikkondaar
That they had no luck
Allum pagalum
Day and night
Theru kallaai irunthu vittu
Remaining like street stones
Athirshtam illai
Complained that they had
Endru alattikkondaar
No good luck
Vizhithu kondorellaam
All those who stayed alert
Pizhaithu kondaar
Prospered in life
Aah..ahh…aa..aahh..aaah
Aah..ahh…aa..aahh..aaah
Aah..aaa.. aahh..aahh..
Aah..aaa.. aahh..aahh..
Vizhithu kondorellaam
All those who stayed alert
Pizhaithu kondaar
Prospered in life
Unpol kurattai vittorellaam
Those who snored like you
Kottai vittar
Lost their fort
Thoongathae thambi thoongathae
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Somberi endra peyar vaangathae
Don't earn the name of a lazy person
Thoongathae thambi thoongathae
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
{Por padaithanil thoongiyavan
He who slept in the battle army
Vetri izhanthaan} (2)
Lost his victory
Uyar palliyil thoongiyavan
He who slept in higher school
Kalvi izhanthaan
Lost his education
Kadaithanil thoongiyavan
He who slept in the shop
Muthal izhanthaan
Lost his capital investment
Konda kadamaiyil thoongiyavan
He who slept in his accepted duty
Pugazh izhanthaan..
Lost his fame and honor
Innum poruppulla
Even now due to the sleep
Manitharin thookathinaal
Of responsible people
Palaponaana velaiyellaam
So many wasted tasks
Thoonguthappa
Are lying asleep
Thoongathae thambi thoongathae
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Somberi endra peyar vaangathae
Don't earn the name of a lazy person
Thoongathae thambi thoongathae
Don't sleep, little brother, don't sleep
Thambi thoongathae
Brother, don't sleep
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Thoongathae Thambi Thoongathae' from the landmark Tamil film Nadodi Mannan (1958) is an inspiring social reform song written by the celebrated poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram. The song acts as a direct call to action, urging the youth to abandon laziness and remain vigilant and hardworking. The lyrics emphasize that inaction and lethargy destroy both individual lives and the progress of a nation. Through practical examples, the poet illustrates how negligence causes defeat on the battlefield, failure in education, loss in business, and ruin of reputation. By contrasting those who work hard with those who merely complain about luck while remaining idle, the song delivers a timeless message on responsibility, ambition, and social duty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaik Chondham (Initial Alliteration)
“Thoongathae thambi thoongathae”
Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Th' creates a strong rhythmic cadence suitable for a rousing motivational song.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Theru kallaai irunthu vittu”
People who waste time in idleness are metaphorically compared to inanimate 'street stones' that lie uselessly on roads.
Pun / Idiomatic Wordplay (Siledaai)
“Unpol kurattai vittorellaam kottai vittar”
A clever pun on 'kurattai vittar' (snored) and 'kottai vittar' (lost the fort / lost opportunity).
Parallelism (Edhir-edukku)
“Por padaithanil thoongiyavan vetri izhanthaan... Uyar palliyil thoongiyavan kalvi izhanthaan”
Structured listing of different roles (soldier, student, merchant, leader) losing their respective goals due to the single flaw of sleeping.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and sung by T. M. Soundararajan for Nadodi Mannan (1958), directed by and starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The song's socio-political themes heavily contributed to building MGR's mass appeal and political image as a champion of the working class.
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