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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ungal Ottu Endrum

From Boom Boom Madu · 1982

Lyricist
Poonguyilan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Manorama
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Boom Boom Madu1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ungal vote-tu endrum engalukkaeYour vote is always for us
Naanga uzhaikka kaaththirukkom ungalukkaeWe are waiting to work for you
Ungal vote-tu endrum engalukkaeYour vote is always for us
Naanga uzhaikka kaaththirukkom ungalukkaeWe are waiting to work for you
Female
Anbin uruvaana udanpirapaeOh siblings born of love
Ungal vote-tu thaanae engal uyirthudipaeYour vote alone is our heart's pulse
Anbin uruvaana udanpirapaeOh siblings born of love
Ungal vote-tu thaanae engal uyirthudipaeYour vote alone is our heart's pulse
Female
Kazhuthai chinnaththukku vaakkalingaVote for the donkey symbol
Antha kaakkaa chinnaththa thorkadingaDefeat that crow symbol
Kazhuthai chinnaththukku vaakkalingaVote for the donkey symbol
Male
Ungal vote-tu endrum engalukkaeYour vote is always for us
Naanga uzhaikka kaaththirukkom ungalukkaeWe are waiting to work for you
Ungal vote-tu endrum engalukkaeYour vote is always for us
Naanga uzhaikka kaaththirukkom ungalukkaeWe are waiting to work for you
Male
Thanga thirunaattin thaaikulamaeMothers of this golden sacred land
Thanga thirunaattin thaaikulamaeMothers of this golden sacred land
Unga thayavirunthaal vettri vaaiththidumaeIf we have your grace, victory will be granted
Male
Kaakkai chinnaththukku vaakkalingaVote for the crow symbol
Antha kazhuthai chinnaththa thorkadingaDefeat that donkey symbol
Kaakkai chinnaththukku vaakkalingaVote for the crow symbol
Antha kazhuthai chinnaththa thorkadingaDefeat that donkey symbol
Female
Kaakkaa koottam aatchikku vanthaaIf the crowd of crows comes to power
Kettu pogumunga naadu kettu pogumungaThe country will be ruined, sir, ruined
Kaakkaa koottam aatchikku vanthaaIf the crowd of crows comes to power
Kettu pogumunga naadu kettu pogumungaThe country will be ruined, sir, ruined
Female
Podhu makkal panaththaiyae masaalvadaiyai polPublic money, like a masala vada
Koththi thinnumunga oora suththi thinnumungaThey will peck and eat it, roaming around the town
Podhu makkal panaththaiyae masaalvadaiyai polPublic money, like a masala vada
Koththi thinnumunga oora suththi thinnumungaThey will peck and eat it, roaming around the town
Male
Kazhuthaingalellaam padhavikku vanthaaIf all the donkeys come to power
Kutti suvaraagumae kotta kutti suvaraagumaeIt will turn into a ruined wall, a completely ruined wall
Adhu kaariyamaanathum yaarai kandaalumOnce its work is done, no matter who it sees
Kaalaalae udhaichchidumaeIt will kick them with its leg
Etti kaalaalae udhaichchidumaeReach out and kick them with its leg
Male
Iththana vaatti election-yil jeyichchuWinning the election so many times
Enna panninaaru una thalaivaru mannaruWhat did he do, your leader, the king?
Iththana vaatti election-yil jeyichchuWinning the election so many times
Enna panninaaru una thalaivaru mannaruWhat did he do, your leader, the king?
Intha oora adichchu olaiyila pottuExploiting this town and putting it in distress
Oozhala valarththaaru than odambaiyum valarththaruHe grew corruption and grew his own body
Female
Ada sarithaan poeyyaa unga thalaivaruOh go away sir, your leader
Sangathi theriyaathaa avaru sarakkenna puriyaathaaDon't we know the story, don't we understand his true caliber?
Female
Nee purudaa vittaa puththiyillaathaWhen you blather lies, the senseless
Kooattam thalaiyaattum boom boom maadaattamCrowd nods its head like a boom boom ox
Nee purudaa vittaa puththiyillaathaWhen you blather lies, the senseless
Kooattam thalaiyaattum boom boom maadaattamCrowd nods its head like a boom boom ox
Male
Vaaraa vaaram katchi maaridumChanging parties every week
Veeraru unga mannaaruYour king is a great hero
Female :Attaiyai polae oraey katchiyilFemale: Like a leech clinging to a single party
Ottinathunga bangaaruIs Bangaaru sticking around
Male
Vota vaanga onbathu poiyayaiTo get votes, telling nine lies
Onnaa sonnathu mannaaruAll at once was Mannaaru
Female :Arichanthiranin perana polaeFemale: Like Harishchandra's grandson
Alattikkuvaaru bangaaruBangaaru shows off
Male
Haang…..bangaaru pera edukkaathaeHey... don't take Bangaaru's name
Female :Nee mannaaru pera kedukkaathaeFemale: Don't you ruin Mannaaru's name
Male :Makkal enga pakkamthaanMale: The people are on our side
Female :Ada veliyil sonnaa vetkkamthaanFemale: Saying that out loud is shameful
Male :Aang paarppamoMale: Ah, shall we see?
Female :Aang….paarpomaeFemale: Ah... let us see!
Female :Adi taeppaFemale: Hey tap it
Female :Nee vudu dooppaFemale: You drop the bluff

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This political satire song features two opposing campaign factions trading insults and making empty promises during an election drive. Each side urges voters to vote for their symbol (represented humorously as a donkey and a crow) while disparaging the rival candidate as corrupt, dishonest, and opportunistic. They accuse each other of looting public funds like snacks, changing political parties habitually, and deceiving gullible voters who blindly nod along like trained fortune-telling oxen ('boom boom maadu'). Through witty repartee and playful banter, the lyricist highlights common political absurdities, empty election rhetoric, and party-hopping trends. The song ends in a direct showdown where both sides foolishly claim public support while daring each other to see the actual election outcome.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Podhu makkal panaththaiyae masaalvadaiyai pol

Compares public money being eaten greedily to pecking at a masala vada ('Podhu makkal panaththaiyae masaalvadaiyai pol').

Metaphor / Analogy (Uruvam)

Kooattam thalaiyaattum boom boom maadaattam

Compares senseless followers blindly agreeing with lies to the nodding of a 'boom boom' fortune ox ('thalaiyaattum boom boom maadaattam').

Metaphor / Irony

Arichanthiranin perana polae

Ironical comparison of Bangaaru to Harishchandra's grandson ('Arichanthiranin perana polae') to mock his false pretenses of absolute truthfulness.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Ethirai)

Ottinathunga bangaaru / Onnaa sonnathu mannaaru

Use of matching sound patterns such as 'Mannaaru' and 'Bangaaru', as well as rhythmic repetition in 'Kaakkai chinnaththukku' / 'Kazhuthai chinnaththukku'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The term 'Boom Boom Maadu' refers to a traditional fortune-teller's ox in Tamil Nadu trained to nod its head in response to its master's drum rhythm and prompts. In modern Tamil political discourse, it is frequently used as a metaphor for gullible citizens or party sycophants who blindly approve whatever political leaders say.

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