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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ungal Kaigal

From Kadavulai Kanden · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
J. P. Chandrababu, P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kadavulai Kanden
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
14 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ungal kaigal uyarattum
Ulagam adhilae urulattum
Singam pola veeram niraindha
Theerargalae thozhargalae …thozhargalae
Ungal kaigal uyarattum
Ulagam adhilae urulattum
Singam pola veeram niraindha
Theerargalae thozhargalae ….thozhargalae
Ungal kaigal uyarattum
Ulagam adhilae urulattum
Ahaan ahaan haa
Aiyaa kaiyila kaasirukku
Adhu aadudhu paaduthu pesuthuda
Aiyaa kaiyila kaasirukku
Adhu aadudhu paaduthu pesuthuda
Arinja therinja aththanai peraiyum
Adimai aakka paarkkudhuda
Arinja therinja aththanai peraiyum
Adimai aakka paarkkudhuda…paarkudhada
Ungal kaigal uyarattum
Ulagam adhilae urulattum
Ahaan ahaan haa
Aalaiyin sangum kozhiyin kuralum
Azhaithathai enni parantherae
Aalaiyin sangum kozhiyin kuralum
Azhaithathai enni parantherae
Paadupatteerae netri vervai vitterae
Paadupattu netri vervaivittu
Adhan palanai oorukku kodutheerae
Ungal kaigal uyarattum
Ulagam adhilae urulattum
Ahaan ahaan haa
Naalaiya ulagam namadhena enni
Naamum vilakkai yettri veithom
Naalaiya ulagam namadhena enni
Naamum vilakkai yettri veithom
Theeyinil andha theeyavar ullam
Theeyinil andha theeyavar ullam
Thirunthattum yena yettri veithom
Ungal kaigal uyarattum
Ulagam adhilae urulattum
Singam pola veeram niraindha
Theerargalae thozhargalae ….
Both :Thozhargalae
Ungal kaigal uyarattum
Ulagam adhilae urulattum
Male :Ahaan ahaan haa
Male :Ahaan ahaan haa
Male :Ahaan ahaan haa
Let your hands rise high!
Let the world turn in them!
Filled with courage like lions,
O brave ones, O comrades... comrades!
Let your hands rise high!
Let the world turn in them!
Filled with courage like lions,
O brave ones, O comrades... comrades!
Let your hands rise high!
Let the world turn in them!
Ahaan, ahaan, haa!
The boss has money in his hands,
and it dances, sings, and talks!
The boss has money in his hands,
and it dances, sings, and talks!
Every wise and knowledgeable person,
it tries to turn into a slave!
Every wise and knowledgeable person,
it tries to turn into a slave... yes, into a slave!
Let your hands rise high!
Let the world turn in them!
Ahaan, ahaan, haa!
The factory whistle and the rooster's crow,
you heard their call and rushed to work!
The factory whistle and the rooster's crow,
you heard their call and rushed to work!
You toiled hard and sweated from your brow,
Toiling hard and sweating from your brow,
you gave the fruits of your labor to the town!
Let your hands rise high!
Let the world turn in them!
Ahaan, ahaan, haa!
Believing tomorrow's world belongs to us,
we too lit a lamp!
Believing tomorrow's world belongs to us,
we too lit a lamp!
In that flame, may the hearts of evil men,
in that flame, may the hearts of evil men,
learn to reform—that is why we lit it!
Let your hands rise high!
Let the world turn in them!
Filled with courage like lions,
O brave ones, O comrades...
Both: Comrades!
Let your hands rise high!
Let the world turn in them!
Male: Ahaan, ahaan, haa!
Male: Ahaan, ahaan, haa!
Male: Ahaan, ahaan, haa!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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').

Did you know?

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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