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Lyrics & meaning

Ungal Kaigal

From Kadavulai Kanden · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
J. P. Chandrababu, P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kadavulai Kanden1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ungal kaigal uyarattumLet your hands be raised
Ulagam adhilae urulattumLet the world revolve within them
Singam pola veeram niraindhaFilled with bravery like a lion
Theerargalae thozhargalae …thozhargalaeO brave ones, O comrades... O comrades
Male
Ungal kaigal uyarattumLet your hands be raised
Ulagam adhilae urulattumLet the world revolve within them
Singam pola veeram niraindhaFilled with bravery like a lion
Theerargalae thozhargalae ….thozhargalaeO brave ones, O comrades... O comrades
Male
Ungal kaigal uyarattumLet your hands be raised
Ulagam adhilae urulattumLet the world revolve within them
Ahaan ahaan haaAhaan ahaan haa
Male
Aiyaa kaiyila kaasirukkuSir, there is money in hand
Adhu aadudhu paaduthu pesuthudaIt dances, sings, and speaks, my friend
Aiyaa kaiyila kaasirukkuSir, there is money in hand
Adhu aadudhu paaduthu pesuthudaIt dances, sings, and speaks, my friend
Arinja therinja aththanai peraiyumEveryone known and familiar
Adimai aakka paarkkudhudaIt tries to make them slaves, my friend
Arinja therinja aththanai peraiyumEveryone known and familiar
Adimai aakka paarkkudhuda…paarkudhadaIt tries to make them slaves, my friend... tries to make
Male
Ungal kaigal uyarattumLet your hands be raised
Ulagam adhilae urulattumLet the world revolve within them
Ahaan ahaan haaAhaan ahaan haa
Male
Aalaiyin sangum kozhiyin kuralumThe factory siren and the rooster's call
Azhaithathai enni parantheraeThinking they called, you flew to work
Male
Aalaiyin sangum kozhiyin kuralumThe factory siren and the rooster's call
Azhaithathai enni parantheraeThinking they called, you flew to work
Male
Paadupatteerae netri vervai vitteraeYou labored hard, shedding sweat from your forehead
Paadupattu netri vervaivittuLaboring hard and shedding sweat from your forehead
Adhan palanai oorukku kodutheeraeYou gave the fruits of that labor to the town
Male
Ungal kaigal uyarattumLet your hands be raised
Ulagam adhilae urulattumLet the world revolve within them
Ahaan ahaan haaAhaan ahaan haa
Male
Naalaiya ulagam namadhena enniThinking that tomorrow's world is ours
Naamum vilakkai yettri veithomWe too lit the lamp
Naalaiya ulagam namadhena enniThinking that tomorrow's world is ours
Naamum vilakkai yettri veithomWe too lit the lamp
Male
Theeyinil andha theeyavar ullamIn the fire, the heart of those wicked ones
Theeyinil andha theeyavar ullamIn the fire, the heart of those wicked ones
Thirunthattum yena yettri veithomMay it be reformed, so we lit the lamp
Male
Ungal kaigal uyarattumLet your hands be raised
Ulagam adhilae urulattumLet the world revolve within them
Singam pola veeram niraindhaFilled with bravery like a lion
Theerargalae thozhargalae ….O brave ones, O comrades...
Both :ThozhargalaeBoth : Comrades
Ungal kaigal uyarattumLet your hands be raised
Ulagam adhilae urulattumLet the world revolve within them
Male :Ahaan ahaan haaMale : Ahaan ahaan haa
Male :Ahaan ahaan haaMale : Ahaan ahaan haa
Male :Ahaan ahaan haaMale : Ahaan ahaan haa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ungal Kaigal Uyarattum is an uplifting and socio-political anthem from the 1963 film Kadavulai Kanden. The song serves as a call to action for the working class and brave comrades to rise, take control of their destiny, and shape the world. It sharply criticizes the power of money, personifying it as an insidious force that seeks to enslave people and bend moral standards. At the same time, the lyrics honor the dedication of daily laborers who wake at the call of the factory siren or rooster, toil endlessly, and give the fruits of their sweat to society. Kannadasan's lyrics instill hope for a brighter future where unity, hard work, and moral fortitude reform the wicked and empower the righteous.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Singam pola veeram niraindha

Compares the courage of the workers directly to that of a lion using the comparative marker 'pola'.

Personification

Adhu aadudhu paaduthu pesuthuda

Money ('kaasu') is personified as a human being that can dance, sing, speak, and enslave people.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Aalaiyin sangum kozhiyin kuralum

The second consonant sound 'la' matches across consecutive lines ('Aalaiyin' / 'Azhaithathai').

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Theeyinil andha theeyavar ullam

Repetition of the initial 'Th' sound across words in the line ('Theeyinil', 'theeyavar').

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Trivia

This song from Kadavulai Kanden (1963) features a dynamic vocal duet between iconic singer-actor J. P. Chandrababu and the legendary P. B. Sreenivas. Set to music by K. V. Mahadevan, Chandrababu brought his trademark energetic ad-libs ('Ahaan ahaan haa') and theatrical flair to this revolutionary-style social commentary track.

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Ungal Kaigal Lyrics | English Translation | Meaning | Isaimozhi