Ulagam Oruvanukka
From Kabali · 2016
- Lyricist
- Kabilan
- Singers
- Ananthu, Santhosh Narayanan
- Music director
- Santhosh Narayanan
- Details
- Kabali2016
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Vaa vaa …. | Come, come... |
| Nee vaa …. | You come... |
| Thozha…. | Friend... |
| Male | |
| Ulagam oruvanukka | Is the world meant for just one person? |
| Uzhaipavan yaar | Who is the one who works hard? |
| Vidai tharuvaan kabali thaan | Kabali himself will give the answer. |
| Kalagam seidhu aandayarin | By rebelling, he will put an end to |
| Kathai mudippaan | the story of the oppressive lords. |
| Chorus | |
| Ulagam oruvanukka | Is the world meant for just one person? |
| Uzhaipavan yaar | Who is the one who works hard? |
| Vidai tharuvaan kabali thaan | Kabali himself will give the answer. |
| Kalagam seidhu aandayarin | By rebelling, he will put an end to |
| Kathai mudippaan | the story of the oppressive lords. |
| Male | |
| Nee neeyai vanthaai | You came as yourself, |
| Theeyin karuvaai | as the embryo of fire. |
| Chorus :Kangal uranginaalum | Chorus: Even if the eyes sleep, |
| kanavugal urangaathae | dreams never sleep. |
| Male | |
| Poovin nizhalaai | As the shadow of a flower, |
| Pullanguzhalaai | as a bamboo flute, |
| Unai veliyidu thulir vidu | express yourself, sprout forth, |
| Baliyaadaai yennathae… | do not consider yourself a sacrificial lamb... |
| Chorus | |
| Vithaiyaaga vaazhum namaku | For us who live as seeds, |
| Kathaigal irukku | there are stories to tell. |
| Nalai namakkae vidiyum | Tomorrow will dawn for us, |
| Vizhithu poraadu | wake up and fight! |
| Chorus | |
| Vaanam unadhae | The sky belongs to you, |
| Paadhi vazhiyil | halfway through, |
| Paravai parakka marakkadhae | let a bird not forget to fly. |
| Chorus | |
| Ye ennathil nooru thittamittu | Hey, with a hundred plans in mind, |
| Kabali varaan kaiya thattu | Kabali is coming, clap your hands! |
| Pambaram pola suththi kittu | Spinning like a top, |
| Parayisai adithu nee paatu kattu.. | beat the Parai drum and compose a song! |
| Chorus | |
| Ye ithana naala koottukulla | Hey, inside a cage all these days, |
| Inimae vaaran naatukkulla | from now on he enters the country! |
| Ethiri koottam aadi pochae | The crowd of enemies was shaken, |
| Kuruthiyila neruppu thaan | the fire in the blood |
| Koodi pochae.. | has intensified.. |
| Chorus | |
| King of time | King of time |
| In the concrete | In the concrete |
| Jungle watching over my pride | Jungle watching over my pride |
| Male | |
| Naanga enga porantha | Where were we born? |
| Ada unakenna poda | Hey, why do you care, go away! |
| Tamizhanukkaga vandhu | He came for the Tamils |
| Ninnavan tamizhandaa | and stood up—he is a true Tamilian, man! |
| Chorus | |
| I am stalking my prey | I am stalking my prey |
| Wont let-em get away | Wont let-em get away |
| With the things that they do | With the things that they do |
| Bad moves that they make | Bad moves that they make |
| Male | |
| Vandhavana ponavana | He who let whoever came and went |
| Vaazha vachavan | make a living, |
| Ini vaazhndu kaatta poren | now I am going to show how to live! |
| Vaaya moodi gavani | Keep your mouth shut and watch! |
| Chorus | |
| Dressed to kill | Dressed to kill |
| Call it #KABALISWAG | Call it #KABALISWAG |
| Come and get some | Come and get some |
| Like the K-town clan | Like the K-town clan |
| It aint about the size of the dog | It aint about the size of the dog |
| In the fight | In the fight |
| But the spirit of the fight | But the spirit of the fight |
| In the dog…that’s right | In the dog…that’s right |
| Male | |
| Verum poovum verillai | A mere flower has no root, |
| Karumegam polae neerillai | like a dark cloud, there is no water. |
| Alai kadal adangumo | Will the wavy ocean be silenced |
| Athigaara kuralukku | by the voice of authority? |
| Male | |
| Eppodum neerin veezhchi | Aren't you always |
| Neethaanae | the waterfall? |
| Unai neendhi kadakka mudiyadhae | No one can swim across you. |
| Oru…. panithulli | Can a single drop of dew |
| Adhu erimalai anaithidumo.. | extinguish a volcano? |
| Chorus | |
| Mettukudiyin koopaadu | The outcry of the elite class |
| Ini naattukkulla kekkadhu | will no longer be heard in this land. |
| Ina mugavari adhu ini | The identity of the race |
| Vizhi thirandhidumae | will now open its eyes. |
| Chorus | |
| Mettukudiyin koopaadu | The outcry of the elite class |
| Ini naattukkulla kekkadhu | will no longer be heard in this land. |
| Male :Ina mugavari adhu ini | Male: The identity of the race |
| Vizhi thirandhidumae | will now open its eyes. |
| Chorus | |
| Vithaiyaaga vaazhum namaku | For us who live as seeds, |
| Kathaigal irukku | there are stories to tell. |
| Nalai namakkae vidiyum | Tomorrow will dawn for us, |
| Vizhithu poraadu | wake up and fight! |
| Chorus | |
| Vaanam unadhae | The sky belongs to you, |
| Paadhi vazhiyil | halfway through, |
| Paravai parakka marakkadhae | let a bird not forget to fly. |
| Chorus | |
| Ye ennathil nooru thittamittu | Hey, with a hundred plans in mind, |
| Kabali varaan kaiya thattu | Kabali is coming, clap your hands! |
| Pambaram pola suththi kittu | Spinning like a top, |
| Parayisai adithu nee paatu kattu.. | beat the Parai drum and compose a song! |
| Chorus | |
| Ye ithana naala koottukulla | Hey, inside a cage all these days, |
| Inimae vaaran naatukkulla | from now on he enters the country! |
| Ethiri koottam aadi pochae | The crowd of enemies was shaken, |
| Kuruthiyila neruppu thaan | the fire in the blood |
| Koodi pochae.. | has intensified.. |
வா வா நீ
வா தோழா
Come, come...
You come...
Friend...
உலகம் ஒருவனுக்கா
உழைப்பவன் யார் விடை
தருவான் கபாலி தான்
கலகம் செய்து ஆண்டயரின்
கதை முடிப்பான்
Is the world meant for just one person?
Who is the one who works hard?
Kabali himself will give the answer.
By rebelling, he will put an end to
the story of the oppressive lords.
உலகம் ஒருவனுக்கா
உழைப்பவன் யார் விடை
தருவான் கபாலி தான்
கலகம் செய்து ஆண்டயரின்
கதை முடிப்பான்
Is the world meant for just one person?
Who is the one who works hard?
Kabali himself will give the answer.
By rebelling, he will put an end to
the story of the oppressive lords.
நீ நீயாய் வந்தாய்
தீயின் கருவாய்
குழு :
கண்கள் உறங்கினாலும்
கனவுகள் உறங்காதே
You came as yourself,
as the embryo of fire.
Chorus: Even if the eyes sleep,
dreams never sleep.
பூவின் நிழலாய்
புல்லாங்குழலாய்
உனை வெளியிடு துளிர்
விடு பலியாடாய்
எண்ணாதே
As the shadow of a flower,
as a bamboo flute,
express yourself, sprout forth,
do not consider yourself a sacrificial lamb...
விதையாக வாழும்
நமக்கு கதைகள் இருக்கு
நாளை நமக்கே விடியும்
விழித்துப் போராடு
For us who live as seeds,
there are stories to tell.
Tomorrow will dawn for us,
wake up and fight!
வானம் உனதே
பாதி வழியில் பறவை
பறக்க மறக்காதே
The sky belongs to you,
halfway through,
let a bird not forget to fly.
யே எண்ணத்தில்
நூறு திட்டமிட்டு கபாலி
வாரான் கையத் தட்டு
பம்பரம் போல சுத்திக்கிட்டு
பறை இசை அடித்து நீ
பாட்டுக் கட்டு
Hey, with a hundred plans in mind,
Kabali is coming, clap your hands!
Spinning like a top,
beat the Parai drum and compose a song!
யே இத்தன நாளா
கூட்டுக்குள்ள இனிமே
வாரான் நாட்டுக்குள்ள
எதிரி கூட்டம் ஆடிப்
போச்சே குருதியில
நெருப்பு தான் கூடிப்
போச்சே
Hey, inside a cage all these days,
from now on he enters the country!
The crowd of enemies was shaken,
the fire in the blood
has intensified..
விஷ்லிங் :
......................
கபாலி
கபாலி
குழு :
இதுக்குப் பேர்
தான் தலைவர் அதிரடி
King of time
In the concrete
Jungle watching over my pride
விஷ்லிங் :
......................
கபாலி
கபாலி
Where were we born?
Hey, why do you care, go away!
He came for the Tamils
and stood up—he is a true Tamilian, man!
கிங் ஆஃப் டைம்
இன் தி கான்கிரீட் ஜங்கிள்
வாச்சிங் ஓவர் மை ப்ரைட்
I am stalking my prey
Wont let-em get away
With the things that they do
Bad moves that they make
நாங்க எங்க பொறந்தா
அட உனக்கென்ன போடா
தமிழனுக்காக வந்து
நின்னவன் தமிழன் டா
He who let whoever came and went
make a living,
now I am going to show how to live!
Keep your mouth shut and watch!
ஐம் ஸ்டாக்கிங் மை
ப்ரே வோன்ட் லெட் ஹிம்
கெட் அவே வித் த திங்ஸ்
தட் தே டூ பேட் மூவிஸ்
தட் தே மேக்
Dressed to kill
Call it #KABALISWAG
Come and get some
Like the K-town clan
It aint about the size of the dog
In the fight
But the spirit of the fight
In the dog…that’s right
வந்தவன போனவன
வாழ வச்சவன் இனி வாழ்ந்து
காட்டப் போறேன் வாய
மூடி கவனி
A mere flower has no root,
like a dark cloud, there is no water.
Will the wavy ocean be silenced
by the voice of authority?
............................
Aren't you always
the waterfall?
No one can swim across you.
Can a single drop of dew
extinguish a volcano?
வேரும் பூவும்
வேறில்லை கருமேகம்
போலே நீரில்லை அலை
கடல் அடங்குமோ அதிகாரக்
குரலுக்கு
The outcry of the elite class
will no longer be heard in this land.
The identity of the race
will now open its eyes.
எப்போதும் நீரின்
வீழ்ச்சி நீ தானே உனை
நீந்திக் கடக்க முடியாதே
ஒரு பனித்துளி அது
எரிமலை அணைத்திடுமோ
The outcry of the elite class
will no longer be heard in this land.
Male: The identity of the race
will now open its eyes.
மேட்டுக்குடியின் கூப்பாடு
இனி நாட்டுக்குள்ள கேக்காது
இன முகவரி அது இனி
விழித் திறந்திடுமே
For us who live as seeds,
there are stories to tell.
Tomorrow will dawn for us,
wake up and fight!
மேட்டுக்குடியின் கூப்பாடு
இனி நாட்டுக்குள்ள கேக்காது
இன முகவரி அது
இனி விழித் திறந்திடுமே
The sky belongs to you,
halfway through,
let a bird not forget to fly.
விதையாக வாழும்
நமக்கு கதைகள் இருக்கு
நாளை நமக்கே விடியும்
விழித்துப் போராடு
Hey, with a hundred plans in mind,
Kabali is coming, clap your hands!
Spinning like a top,
beat the Parai drum and compose a song!
வானம் உனதே
பாதி வழியில் பறவை
பறக்க மறக்காதே
Hey, inside a cage all these days,
from now on he enters the country!
The crowd of enemies was shaken,
the fire in the blood
has intensified..
யே எண்ணத்தில்
நூறு திட்டமிட்டு கபாலி
வாரான் கையத் தட்டு
பம்பரம் போல சுத்திக்கிட்டு
பறை இசை அடித்து நீ
பாட்டுக் கட்டு
யே இத்தன நாளா
கூட்டுக்குள்ள இனிமே
வாரான் நாட்டுக்குள்ள
எதிரி கூட்டம் ஆடிப்
போச்சே குருதியில
நெருப்பு தான் கூடிப்
போச்சே
விஷ்லிங் :
......................
Vaa vaa ….
Come, come...
Nee vaa ….
You come...
Thozha….
Friend...
Ulagam oruvanukka
Is the world meant for just one person?
Uzhaipavan yaar
Who is the one who works hard?
Vidai tharuvaan kabali thaan
Kabali himself will give the answer.
Kalagam seidhu aandayarin
By rebelling, he will put an end to
Kathai mudippaan
the story of the oppressive lords.
Ulagam oruvanukka
Is the world meant for just one person?
Uzhaipavan yaar
Who is the one who works hard?
Vidai tharuvaan kabali thaan
Kabali himself will give the answer.
Kalagam seidhu aandayarin
By rebelling, he will put an end to
Kathai mudippaan
the story of the oppressive lords.
Nee neeyai vanthaai
You came as yourself,
Theeyin karuvaai
as the embryo of fire.
Chorus :Kangal uranginaalum
Chorus: Even if the eyes sleep,
kanavugal urangaathae
dreams never sleep.
Poovin nizhalaai
As the shadow of a flower,
Pullanguzhalaai
as a bamboo flute,
Unai veliyidu thulir vidu
express yourself, sprout forth,
Baliyaadaai yennathae…
do not consider yourself a sacrificial lamb...
Vithaiyaaga vaazhum namaku
For us who live as seeds,
Kathaigal irukku
there are stories to tell.
Nalai namakkae vidiyum
Tomorrow will dawn for us,
Vizhithu poraadu
wake up and fight!
Vaanam unadhae
The sky belongs to you,
Paadhi vazhiyil
halfway through,
Paravai parakka marakkadhae
let a bird not forget to fly.
Ye ennathil nooru thittamittu
Hey, with a hundred plans in mind,
Kabali varaan kaiya thattu
Kabali is coming, clap your hands!
Pambaram pola suththi kittu
Spinning like a top,
Parayisai adithu nee paatu kattu..
beat the Parai drum and compose a song!
Ye ithana naala koottukulla
Hey, inside a cage all these days,
Inimae vaaran naatukkulla
from now on he enters the country!
Ethiri koottam aadi pochae
The crowd of enemies was shaken,
Kuruthiyila neruppu thaan
the fire in the blood
Koodi pochae..
has intensified..
King of time
King of time
In the concrete
In the concrete
Jungle watching over my pride
Jungle watching over my pride
Naanga enga porantha
Where were we born?
Ada unakenna poda
Hey, why do you care, go away!
Tamizhanukkaga vandhu
He came for the Tamils
Ninnavan tamizhandaa
and stood up—he is a true Tamilian, man!
I am stalking my prey
I am stalking my prey
Wont let-em get away
Wont let-em get away
With the things that they do
With the things that they do
Bad moves that they make
Bad moves that they make
Vandhavana ponavana
He who let whoever came and went
Vaazha vachavan
make a living,
Ini vaazhndu kaatta poren
now I am going to show how to live!
Vaaya moodi gavani
Keep your mouth shut and watch!
Dressed to kill
Dressed to kill
Call it #KABALISWAG
Call it #KABALISWAG
Come and get some
Come and get some
Like the K-town clan
Like the K-town clan
It aint about the size of the dog
It aint about the size of the dog
In the fight
In the fight
But the spirit of the fight
But the spirit of the fight
In the dog…that’s right
In the dog…that’s right
Verum poovum verillai
A mere flower has no root,
Karumegam polae neerillai
like a dark cloud, there is no water.
Alai kadal adangumo
Will the wavy ocean be silenced
Athigaara kuralukku
by the voice of authority?
Eppodum neerin veezhchi
Aren't you always
Neethaanae
the waterfall?
Unai neendhi kadakka mudiyadhae
No one can swim across you.
Oru…. panithulli
Can a single drop of dew
Adhu erimalai anaithidumo..
extinguish a volcano?
Mettukudiyin koopaadu
The outcry of the elite class
Ini naattukkulla kekkadhu
will no longer be heard in this land.
Ina mugavari adhu ini
The identity of the race
Vizhi thirandhidumae
will now open its eyes.
Mettukudiyin koopaadu
The outcry of the elite class
Ini naattukkulla kekkadhu
will no longer be heard in this land.
Male :Ina mugavari adhu ini
Male: The identity of the race
Vizhi thirandhidumae
will now open its eyes.
Vithaiyaaga vaazhum namaku
For us who live as seeds,
Kathaigal irukku
there are stories to tell.
Nalai namakkae vidiyum
Tomorrow will dawn for us,
Vizhithu poraadu
wake up and fight!
Vaanam unadhae
The sky belongs to you,
Paadhi vazhiyil
halfway through,
Paravai parakka marakkadhae
let a bird not forget to fly.
Ye ennathil nooru thittamittu
Hey, with a hundred plans in mind,
Kabali varaan kaiya thattu
Kabali is coming, clap your hands!
Pambaram pola suththi kittu
Spinning like a top,
Parayisai adithu nee paatu kattu..
beat the Parai drum and compose a song!
Ye ithana naala koottukulla
Hey, inside a cage all these days,
Inimae vaaran naatukkulla
from now on he enters the country!
Ethiri koottam aadi pochae
The crowd of enemies was shaken,
Kuruthiyila neruppu thaan
the fire in the blood
Koodi pochae..
has intensified..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Ulagam Oruvanukka' serves as an empowering revolutionary anthem that challenges classism, racial discrimination, and social oppression faced by Tamil working-class laborers, particularly migrant workers in Malaysia. The song poses fundamental questions about labor rights and social hierarchy, asserting that the world belongs to the working class rather than a handful of oppressive masters. Through vibrant lyrical metaphors and powerful rap verses, Kabali is framed as a champion of oppressed working-class Tamils who rises up to end tyranny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question
“Ulagam oruvanukka / Uzhaipavan yaar”
Questions like 'Is the world for just one person?' and 'Who works hard?' are used to challenge social hierarchy.
Metaphor
“Vithaiyaaga vaazhum namaku”
Comparing oppressed people to seeds (vithai) that will sprout and grow into stories.
Simile
“Pambaram pola suththi kittu”
Comparing swift and energetic movement to a spinning top ('Pambaram pola').
Contrast / Imagery
“Oru…. panithulli / Adhu erimalai anaithidumo..”
Contrasting a delicate dewdrop with a roaring volcano to illustrate the futility of elite opposition against mass uprising.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Ulagam Oruvanukka' from Rajinikanth's Kabali (2016) was composed by Santhosh Narayanan and featured rap verses by Malaysian Tamil artists Roshan Jamrock and Yogi B, alongside vocals by Ananthu. The song blends traditional Parai percussion with modern hip-hop to symbolize anti-caste and anti-colonial resistance.
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