Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Kabali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ulagam Oruvanukka

From Kabali · 2016

Lyricist
Kabilan
Singers
Ananthu, Santhosh Narayanan
Music director
Santhosh Narayanan
Movie name
Kabali
Movie release year
2016
Lyrics added on
9 Sept 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaa vaa ….
Nee vaa ….
Thozha….
Ulagam oruvanukka
Uzhaipavan yaar
Vidai tharuvaan kabali thaan
Kalagam seidhu aandayarin
Kathai mudippaan
Ulagam oruvanukka
Uzhaipavan yaar
Vidai tharuvaan kabali thaan
Kalagam seidhu aandayarin
Kathai mudippaan
Nee neeyai vanthaai
Theeyin karuvaai
Chorus :Kangal uranginaalum
kanavugal urangaathae
Poovin nizhalaai
Pullanguzhalaai
Unai veliyidu thulir vidu
Baliyaadaai yennathae…
Vithaiyaaga vaazhum namaku
Kathaigal irukku
Nalai namakkae vidiyum
Vizhithu poraadu
Vaanam unadhae
Paadhi vazhiyil
Paravai parakka marakkadhae
Ye ennathil nooru thittamittu
Kabali varaan kaiya thattu
Pambaram pola suththi kittu
Parayisai adithu nee paatu kattu..
Ye ithana naala koottukulla
Inimae vaaran naatukkulla
Ethiri koottam aadi pochae
Kuruthiyila neruppu thaan
Koodi pochae..
King of time
In the concrete
Jungle watching over my pride
Naanga enga porantha
Ada unakenna poda
Tamizhanukkaga vandhu
Ninnavan tamizhandaa
I am stalking my prey
Wont let-em get away
With the things that they do
Bad moves that they make
Vandhavana ponavana
Vaazha vachavan
Ini vaazhndu kaatta poren
Vaaya moodi gavani
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
Verum poovum verillai
Karumegam polae neerillai
Alai kadal adangumo
Athigaara kuralukku
Eppodum neerin veezhchi
Neethaanae
Unai neendhi kadakka mudiyadhae
Oru…. panithulli
Adhu erimalai anaithidumo..
Mettukudiyin koopaadu
Ini naattukkulla kekkadhu
Ina mugavari adhu ini
Vizhi thirandhidumae
Mettukudiyin koopaadu
Ini naattukkulla kekkadhu
Male :Ina mugavari adhu ini
Vizhi thirandhidumae
Vithaiyaaga vaazhum namaku
Kathaigal irukku
Nalai namakkae vidiyum
Vizhithu poraadu
Vaanam unadhae
Paadhi vazhiyil
Paravai parakka marakkadhae
Ye ennathil nooru thittamittu
Kabali varaan kaiya thattu
Pambaram pola suththi kittu
Parayisai adithu nee paatu kattu..
Ye ithana naala koottukulla
Inimae vaaran naatukkulla
Ethiri koottam aadi pochae
Kuruthiyila neruppu thaan
Koodi pochae..
Come, come...
You come...
My comrade...
Does the world belong to just one man?
Who is the one who toils?
Kabali will give the answer!
By rebelling against the masters,
he will put an end to their reign!
Does the world belong to just one man?
Who is the one who toils?
Kabali will give the answer!
By rebelling against the masters,
he will put an end to their reign!
You came as your true self,
as the very spark of fire.
Chorus: Even if the eyes sleep,
dreams never sleep.
Like the shadow of a flower,
like a soothing flute,
express yourself and sprout into life!
Do not think of yourself as a sacrificial lamb...
For us who live like buried seeds,
there are stories to tell.
Tomorrow will dawn for us,
wake up and fight!
The sky is yours,
halfway through,
bird, do not forget to fly!
Hey, with a hundred plans in mind,
Kabali is coming, clap your hands!
Spinning around like a top,
beat the parai (traditional drum) and sing a song!
Hey, caged inside all these days,
now he steps out into the country!
The enemy gang is trembling,
and the fire in our blood
has surged high!
King of time,
in the concrete
jungle, watching over my pride.
Wherever we might be born,
what is it to you? Get lost!
The one who came and stood up
for the Tamils, is a true Tamil!
I am stalking my prey,
won't let them get away
with the things that they do,
bad moves that they make.
Whoever came and went,
I helped them thrive;
now I'll show how to truly live,
shut your mouth and watch!
Dressed to kill,
call it #KabaliSwag.
Come and get some,
like the K-Town clan.
It ain't about the size of the dog
in the fight,
but the spirit of the fight
in the dog... that's right!
A simple flower is not without roots,
nor is a dark cloud without rain.
Will the surging ocean quiet down
for a voice of authority?
You are always like a roaring waterfall,
aren't you?
No one can swim across you!
Can a single... drop of dew
ever put out a volcano?
The haughty shouting of the elite
will no longer be heard across this land!
The identity of our people
will open its eyes from now on!
The haughty shouting of the elite
will no longer be heard across this land!
Male: The identity of our people
will open its eyes from now on!
For us who live like buried seeds,
there are stories to tell.
Tomorrow will dawn for us,
wake up and fight!
The sky is yours,
halfway through,
bird, do not forget to fly!
Hey, with a hundred plans in mind,
Kabali is coming, clap your hands!
Spinning around like a top,
beat the parai (traditional drum) and sing a song!
Hey, caged inside all these days,
now he steps out into the country!
The enemy gang is trembling,
and the fire in our blood
has surged high!
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Kabali

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.