Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ungalai Onnum Seiyamaattom

From Ninaive Oru Sangeetham · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ninaive Oru Sangeetham1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………….....
Male
Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomWe will not do anything to you
Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattom haanWe will not do anything wrong, haan
Chorus :Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomChorus: We will not do anything to you
Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattomWe will not do anything wrong
Male
Amma vaanga akka vaangaCome, mother; come, sister
Ayiththa vaanga sister vaangaCome, aunt; come, sister
Male
Neenga adakkamaana ponnu polaIf you behave like a modest girl
Ozhukkaamaaga nadanthukittaaAnd act with proper discipline
Chorus
Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomWe will not do anything to you
Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattomWe will not do anything wrong
Male :AththaiMale: Aunt!
Chorus :Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomChorus: We will not do anything to you
Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattomWe will not do anything wrong
Male :AdadatdadaMale: Oh dear!
Male
Yaezhainga koorai veeduThe thatched houses of the poor
Izhikkuthu kaaththulathaanAre peeling away in the wind
Rendupakkam oduthu paaruLook, running on both sides
Enga ooru saakkadaithaanIs our village open sewer drain
Male
Yaezhainga koorai veeduThe thatched houses of the poor
Izhikkuthu kaaththulathaanAre peeling away in the wind
Rendupakkam oduthu paaruLook, running on both sides
Enga ooru saakkadaithaanIs our village open sewer drain
Male
Adhukkoru oosiya kuththiGive an injection for that
Illaama seiyyungalaenAnd eradicate the suffering completely
Otti pona yaezhaiya konjamHelp these skin-and-bones poor people a little
Uppa vazhi panungalaenTo find a way to prosper
Male
Neththu potta roadThe road laid yesterday
Male :Innaikku ammammaaMale: Today, oh my!
Male :Innaikku podum roadMale: The road laid today
Male :Naalaikku amammamaaMale: Tomorrow, oh my!
Male
Idhu oorukku ooru irukku paaruLook, this happens in town after town
Adhai thaduththaaIf you stop that...
Chorus :Akka akkaChorus: Sister, sister
Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomWe will not do anything to you
Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattomWe will not do anything wrong
Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomWe will not do anything to you
Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattomWe will not do anything wrong
Male
Amma vaanga akka vaangaCome, mother; come, sister
Ayiththa vaanga sister vaangaCome, aunt; come, sister
Male
Neenga adakkamaana ponnu polaIf you behave like a modest girl
Ozhukkamaaga nadanthukittaaAnd act with proper discipline
Chorus
Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomWe will not do anything to you
Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattomWe will not do anything wrong
Male :HaanMale: Haan
Chorus :Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomChorus: We will not do anything to you
Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattomWe will not do anything wrong
Male
Cholera vaanthi pedhiCholera, vomiting, and diarrhea
Enga ooru kandathillaiOur village has never seen
Kanda kanda jaadhi ellaamAll kinds of random castes
Intha pakkam vanthathillaiHave never come to this side
Chorus
Cholera vaanthi pedhiCholera, vomiting, and diarrhea
Enga ooru kandathillaiOur village has never seen
Kanda kanda jaadhi ellaamAll kinds of random castes
Intha pakkam vanthathillaiHave never come to this side
Male
Enga ooru saamikkuTo our village deity
Naanga ponga vachchu kumbiduvomWe offer sweet pongal and worship
Oru kurai engalukkillaiWe have no shortcomings
Saththiyamaa nambiduvomWe truly believe this
Male
Vera oora paaththuLooking toward another town...
Chorus :Nadaiya kattammaaChorus: Start walking away, woman!
Male :In pottiya thookki neeyumMale: Pack up your luggage box and you...
Chorus :Kodaiya kattammaaChorus: Fold your umbrella, woman!
Male
Naanga nalla padiyaa sonnaa keluListen when we tell you nicely
Kuththam sollaathaDo not find fault with us
Chorus :Akka akkaChorus: Sister, sister
Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomWe will not do anything to you
Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattomWe will not do anything wrong
Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomWe will not do anything to you
Male :AththaiMale: Aunt!
Chorus :Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattomChorus: We will not do anything wrong
Male
Amma vaanga vaanga akka vaangaCome come, mother; come come, sister
Ayiththa vaanga vaanga sister vaangaCome come, aunt; come come, sister
Chorus
Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomWe will not do anything to you
Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattomWe will not do anything wrong
Male :HaanMale: Haan
Chorus :Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattomChorus: We will not do anything to you
Male :AththaiMale: Aunt!
Chorus :Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattomChorus: We will not do anything wrong
Male
Adadattdaa……Oh dear!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song from Ninaive Oru Sangeetham (1987) presents local villagers addressing an outsider (such as a social worker or official) with a mix of satire, rustic humor, and caution. The villagers highlight the severe poverty of their village, including frail thatched homes, open sewers, and poor public infrastructure like roads that disintegrate instantly due to corruption. At the same time, the locals express pride in their self-sustained lifestyle, spiritual faith, and traditional harmony, warning the visitor to respect local norms or leave peacefully rather than patronizing or lecturing them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)

Yaezhainga koorai veedu / Izhikkuthu kaaththulathaan

Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines for rhythmic flow, e.g., 'Yaezhai' and 'Izhikkuthu'.

Refrain / Anaphora

Ungalai onnum seiyyamaattom / Naanga thappu edhum pannamaattom

Repetition of core chorus lines throughout the song to emphasize reassurance with underlying irony.

Social Satire & Humor

Neththu potta road / Innaikku ammammaa / Innaikku podum road / Naalaikku amammamaa

Use of humorous exaggeration to criticize flawed civic works and corrupt local infrastructure.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ninaive Oru Sangeetham (1987) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran. Performed by Mano and chorus, the song captures the distinctive folk-pop satirical style popular in 1980s Tamil cinema, blending social commentary with rustic rhythm.

Keep listening

More from Ninaive Oru Sangeetham