- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Leela, C. S. Jayaraman
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Movie name
- Kuravanji
- Movie release year
- 1960
- Lyrics added on
- 5 Sept 2025
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanneeril meenirukkum
Tharaniyil ulla murai
Inghu tharaiyilae meen kidanthu
Thaviyaai thavikkudhu
Puthilae paambirukkum
Boothathil ulla murai
Inghu aranmanaiyil paambhu vandhu
Adhigaaram nadathudhada
Haa…aaa..
Unakkum puriyudhu enakkum puriyudhu
Oorukku puriyaladi singhi
Oorukku puriyaladi singhi
Oorukku puriyaladi
Veliyae kanakku nadakkudhu
Koottam thiraludhu kattaayam puriyumada
Singham kattaayam puriyumada
Singham kattaayam puriyumada
Unakkum puriyudhu enakkum puriyudhu
Oorukku puriyaladi singhi
Oorukku puriyaladi singhi
Oorukku puriyaladi
Veliyae kanakku nadakkudhu
Koottam thiraludhu kattaayam puriyumada
Singham kattaayam puriyumada
Singham kattaayam puriyumada
Kaattai azhikkudhu vaettai nadathudhu
Kann ketta oru koottam
Ingae kann ketta oru koottam
Kaattai azhikkudhu vaettai nadathudhu
Kann ketta oru koottam
Ingae kann ketta oru koottam
Adhu veettai idikkudhu
Poottai udaikkudhu
Aadudhu kurangattam singhaa
Aadudhu kurangattam
Adhu veettai idikkudhu
Poottai udaikkudhu
Aadudhu kurangattam singhaa
Aadudhu kurangattam
Vaanam pozhinjudhu
Boomi velanjadhu
Vaanam pozhinjudhu
Boomi velanjadhu
Aruvadai ennaachu
Singhi aruvadai ennaachu
Boomi velanjadhu
Aruvadai ennaachu
Aruvadai ennaachu
Singhi aruvadai ennaachu
Adhu odi maranjadhu
Padhunghi kidakkudhu
Kudisaigal mannaachu
Singha kudisaigal mannaachu
Adhu odi maranjadhu
Padhunghi kidakkudhu
Kudisaigal mannaachu
Singha kudisaigal mannaachu
Unakkum puriyudhu enakkum puriyudhu
Oorukku puriyaladi singhi
Oorukku puriyaladi singhi
Oorukku puriyaladi
Ilaithavan thalaiyil
Valuthavan adithaal
Ennadi mudivaagum
Singhi ennadi mudivaagum
Ilaithavan thalaiyil
Valuthavan adithaal
Ennadi mudivaagum
Singhi ennadi mudivaagum
Andha valuthavan thalaiyil
Ilaithavan adippathu
Maruppadi uruvaagum
Singha marupapdi uruvaagum
Andha valuthavan thalaiyil
Ilaithavan adippathu
Maruppadi uruvaagum
Singha marupapdi uruvaagum
Kallaiyum pullaiyum
Saapida sonnavan
Kadaisiyil ennaanaan
Singhi kadaisiyil ennaanaan
Kallaiyum pullaiyum
Saapida sonnavan
Kadaisiyil ennaanaan
Singhi kadaisiyil ennaanaan
Andha kallaiyum pullaiyum
Thanae thaniyaai
Saappittu mannaanaan
Singha saappittu mannaanaan
Andha kallaiyum pullaiyum
Thanae thaniyaai
Saappittu mannaanaan
Singha saappittu mannaanaan
Unakkum puriyudhu enakkum puriyudhu
Oorukku puriyaladi singhi
Oorukku puriyaladi singhi
Oorukku puriyaladi
Veliyae kanakku nadakkudhu
Koottam thiraludhu kattaayam puriyumada
Singham kattaayam puriyumada
Singham kattaayam puriyumada
Fish live in water,
that is the way of the world.
But here, fish lie on dry ground,
struggling in agony.
Snakes live in anthills,
that is the law of nature.
But here, a snake enters the palace
and rules with absolute power!
Ha... aa...
You understand it, and I understand it,
but the town doesn't understand, Singi!
The town doesn't understand, Singi!
The town doesn't understand!
Outside, scores are being settled,
crowds are gathering, they will surely understand,
Singam, they will surely understand!
Singam, they will surely understand!
You understand it, and I understand it,
but the town doesn't understand, Singi!
The town doesn't understand, Singi!
The town doesn't understand!
Outside, scores are being settled,
crowds are gathering, they will surely understand,
Singam, they will surely understand!
Singam, they will surely understand!
It destroys the forest and goes on the hunt,
a senseless, blind crowd!
A blind crowd right here!
It destroys the forest and goes on the hunt,
a senseless, blind crowd!
A blind crowd right here!
It tears down houses,
breaks open locks,
and dances like wild monkeys, Singa!
Dancing like wild monkeys!
It tears down houses,
breaks open locks,
and dances like wild monkeys, Singa!
Dancing like wild monkeys!
The skies poured rain,
the earth yielded crops.
The skies poured rain,
the earth yielded crops.
What happened to the harvest?
Singi, what happened to the harvest?
The earth yielded crops,
what happened to the harvest?
What happened to the harvest?
Singi, what happened to the harvest?
It was taken away and hidden,
hoarded in secret.
The huts were turned to dust,
Singa, the huts were turned to dust!
It was taken away and hidden,
hoarded in secret.
The huts were turned to dust,
Singa, the huts were turned to dust!
You understand it, and I understand it,
but the town doesn't understand, Singi!
The town doesn't understand, Singi!
The town doesn't understand!
On the weak man's head,
if the strong man strikes,
what will be the outcome,
Singi, what will be the outcome?
On the weak man's head,
if the strong man strikes,
what will be the outcome,
Singi, what will be the outcome?
On that strong man's head,
the weak man striking back
will surely happen in return,
Singa, it will surely happen in return!
On that strong man's head,
the weak man striking back
will surely happen in return,
Singa, it will surely happen in return!
Stones and wild grass—
the one who told others to eat them,
what became of him in the end,
Singi, what became of him in the end?
Stones and wild grass—
the one who told others to eat them,
what became of him in the end,
Singi, what became of him in the end?
Those very stones and grass,
all by himself,
he ate and turned to dust,
Singa, he ate and turned to dust!
Those very stones and grass,
all by himself,
he ate and turned to dust,
Singa, he ate and turned to dust!
You understand it, and I understand it,
but the town doesn't understand, Singi!
The town doesn't understand, Singi!
The town doesn't understand!
Outside, scores are being settled,
crowds are gathering, they will surely understand,
Singam, they will surely understand!
Singam, they will surely understand!
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from Kuravanji (1960) is structured as a folk dialogue between Singan and Singhi, two nomadic fortune-tellers/gypsies who observe the sociopolitical corruption around them. Through sharp allegories—such as fish suffering on land and snakes ruling in palaces—the duet critiques oppressive rulers, greedy exploiters, and societal injustice. They discuss how the poor are deprived of their harvest, how oppressors act like unruly monkeys destroying homes, and how tyranny inevitably breeds revolution where the oppressed rise up against the strong.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory (Uvamanam)
“Inghu tharaiyilae meen kidanthu thaviyaai thavikkudhu”
The song uses natural elements like fish out of water and snakes in palaces to symbolize citizens suffering under unnatural leadership.
Folk Dialogue Structure (Singan-Singhi Samvaad)
“Oorukku puriyaladi singhi”
A traditional Tamil Kuravanji drama device where characters Singan and Singhi converse in call-and-response verse addressing each other.
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Aadudhu kurangattam singhaa”
Describing oppressive destructiveness as a wild monkey's dance ('kurangattam').
Contrast / Antithesis (Muran)
“Ilaithavan thalaiyil valuthavan adithaal”
Contrasting the actions and fates of the strong ('valuthavan') and the weak ('ilaithavan').
Did you know?
Trivia
Kuravanji (1960) was adapted from the classical Tamil Kuravanji literary format, combining traditional folk art form with contemporary political allegories written by Kannadasan during a period of strong political movement in Tamil Nadu.
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