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Lyrics & meaning

Uttradheenga Yeppov

From Karnan (2021 Film) · 2021

Lyricist
Mari Selvaraj
Singers
Dhee, Santhosh Narayanan
Music director
Santhosh Narayanan
Details
Karnan (2021 Film)2021

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Uttradheenga yeppovDon't let go, father!
Uttradheenga yemmovDon't let go, mother!
Uttradheenga yeppovDon't let go, father!
Uttradheenga yemmovDon't let go, mother!
Female
Uttradheenga yeppovDon't let go, father!
Uttradheenga yemmov…ovvDon't let go, mother!
Uttradheenga yeppovDon't let go, father!
Yemmov…..Mother...
Female
Ho ooo oo oo oo oo ooHo ooo oo oo oo oo oo
UttradheengaDon't let go
UttradheengaDon't let go
UttradheengaDon't let go
UttradheengaDon't let go
Female
Thathaikka puthaikka thavalaisoruRice cooked with frog broth and coarse grains
Ettu erumai eruma paaluMilk from eight buffaloes
Thookku marathula thuniyakattiTying a cloth to the gallows tree
Thoppi potta peyi vanthuA ghost wearing a hat comes
Kooppiduthu kulaviduthuIt calls out and shrieks aloud
Thanga mavanae bayappadathaeGolden son, do not be afraid
Chella mavalae bayappadathaeDear daughter, do not be afraid
Aadhi kodiyae bayappadathaeAncient lineage, do not be afraid
Female
Uttradheenga yeppovDon't let go, father!
Uttradheenga yemmov…ovvDon't let go, mother!
Uttradheenga thathovDon't let go, grandfather!
Uttradheenga yachovDon't let go, grandmother!
Female
Naan kattupechi paadurenI am singing like a wild spirit
Unga kaathukulla kekkuthaDoes it reach your ears?
Andha uchchimalaiyil vaadurenI am languishing on that high peak
Unga ullangaiyil theriyuthaIs it visible in the palm of your hand?
Female
Hey uttradheenga yeppovHey, don't let go, father!
Uttradheenga yemmovDon't let go, mother!
Uttradheenga yannovDon't let go, brother!
Uttradheenga yakkovDon't let go, sister!
Male
Uttradheenga uttradheengaDon't let go, don't let go
Uttradheenga…Don't let go...
Female
Hoo oo oo oo oo oooHoo oo oo oo oo ooo
UttradheengaDon't let go
UttradheengaDon't let go
UttradheengaDon't let go
UttradheengaDon't let go
Female
Anna varaan inna varanLook there he comes, here he comes
Kaakki sattai kaanjan varanThe cruel one in khaki uniform comes
Katteruthu mela varanRiding atop a wild bull he comes
Kandavana adikka varanHe comes to beat anyone he sees
Female
Kanavaiyellam posukka varaanHe comes to burn down all our dreams
Thanga mavanae bayappadathaeGolden son, do not be afraid
Chella mavalae bayappadathaeDear daughter, do not be afraid
Aadhi kodiyae bayappadathaeAncient lineage, do not be afraid
Female
Vaanga thera marichi aaduvomCome, let us block the chariot and dance
Yerum paithaavellam niruthungaStop all the oppressive madness
Oor ulagam suththa povvuromWe are going to travel across the wide world
Enga rekkai yenga kelungaAsk them where our wings are!
Female
Uttradheenga yeppovDon't let go, father!
Uttradheenga yemmovDon't let go, mother!
Uttradheenga thathovDon't let go, grandfather!
Uttradheenga yachovDon't let go, grandmother!
Uttradheenga yannovDon't let go, brother!
Uttradheenga yakkovDon't let go, sister!
Male
Uttradheenga uttradheengaDon't let go, don't let go
Uttradheenga…Don't let go...
Female
Uttradheenga yeppovDon't let go, father!
Uttradheenga yemmov..ovvDon't let go, mother!
Uttradheenga thathovDon't let go, grandfather!
Uttradheenga yachov..ovvDon't let go, grandmother!
Male
Hey ..hey…Hey.. hey...
Male
Hoo oo ooo ooHoo oo ooo oo
Ho oo hooHo oo hoo
Hoo oo hooHoo oo hoo
Ho ho ho ho hoooHo ho ho ho hooo
Male
Hoo oo ooo ooHoo oo ooo oo
Ho oo hooHo oo hoo
Hoo oo hooHoo oo hoo
Ho ho ho ho hoooHo ho ho ho hooo
Male
Uttradheenga uttradheengaDon't let go, don't let go
Uttradheenga…Don't let go...
Uttradheenga uttradheengaDon't let go, don't let go
Uttradheenga…Don't let go...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Uttradheenga Yeppov' from the film Karnan (2021) is a raw, intense folk anthem of resistance, unity, and communal resilience against systemic authority and state violence. Written by director Mari Selvaraj himself, the song serves as a clarion call to the oppressed community, invoking family kin (father, mother, elders, siblings) never to give up or relinquish their land, rights, and dignity. It contrasts the comforting words given to children with the chilling reality of brutal authority figure oppression.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Adukkuthodar (Repetition)

Uttradheenga yeppov / Uttradheenga yemmov

The core phrase 'Uttradheenga' (Don't let go / Don't give up) is repeated persistently throughout the song to create rhythmic urgency and an uncompromising emotional plea.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kaakki sattai kaanjan varan / Katteruthu mela varan

The police uniform and state violence are metaphorically described as a hat-wearing ghost ('thoppi potta peyi') and a cruel figure riding a wild bull ('katteruthu mela varan') that burns dreams.

Monai (Initial Rhyming / Alliteration)

Katteruthu mela varan / Kandavana adikka varan / Kanavaiyellam posukka varaan

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across consecutive lines creates an incantatory folk cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is deeply rooted in Southern Tamil Nadu oppari and folk traditions. Karnan's director Mari Selvaraj wrote the lyrics himself to capture the authentic dialect and pain inspired by historical events like the 1995 Kodiyankulam violence.

Keep listening

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