Vaagadai Veedu
From Aandavan Kattalai · 2016
- Lyricist
- Vivek Velmurugan
- Music directors
- Not listed
- Details
- Aandavan Kattalai2016
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Night patthu manikkulla | By ten o'clock at night, |
| Light-a amathipadukkanum | We must turn off the lights and go to sleep. |
| Vaasa thelichi kolam poda | To sprinkle water out front and draw a Rangoli, |
| Vattikku vaanganum} (2) | We have to borrow money on high interest. |
| Male | |
| Thinga thinga aasa vandhaa | By ten o'clock at night, |
| Veetta gaali pannanum | We must turn off the lights and go to sleep. |
| Guest-tu vandhu thangidamaa | To sprinkle water out front and draw a Rangoli, |
| Ghostaa naamum maaranum | We have to borrow money on high interest. |
| Male | |
| Thuniaya thuvachi kaayapoda | If we desire to eat continuously, |
| Soranga paadha thondanum | We have to vacate the house. |
| Motta maadi suththi paarka | To stop guests from coming and staying, |
| Visa vaanganum | We must turn into ghosts ourselves. |
| Male | |
| Veetu owner curent-u billu | To wash clothes and hang them to dry, |
| Naama serthu kattanum | We must dig a secret tunnel path. |
| A/c pottu avinga thoonga | Just to walk around on the rooftop terrace, |
| Naama pulingi saaganum | We need to get a visa. |
| Male | |
| Thavicha vaaiku thanni ketka | The house owner's electricity bill, |
| Ration card-ai kaatanum | We are forced to pay along with ours. |
| Yera eranga verichi paartha | While they sleep comfortably with the AC on, |
| Idatha maathanum…. | We must sweat profusely and suffocate. |
| Male | |
| Kuruvi pola siruga siruga | To ask for water for a parched throat, |
| Serthu veetta katturaan | We have to produce our Ration Card. |
| Aruvi pola peruga peruga | If they glare at us up and down, |
| Advance vaangi kumikkiraan | We must pack up and change places. |
| Male | |
| Aaspardaasu veeta kaati | Like a bird, bit by bit, |
| Tajmahal-aa peethuvaan | He saves up and builds a house. |
| Adhukum serthu billa pottu | Like an overflowing waterfall, |
| Rent-a yethuvaan | He collects huge amounts of advance money. |
| Male | |
| Aeri iruntha idatha vazhachi | Showing an asbestos-roofed shed, |
| Veeta katti vaazhuvaan | He boasts about it as if it were the Taj Mahal. |
| Veettu variya kattidaama | Adding a heavy bill for that as well, |
| Dimmiki kuduthu suththuvaan | He keeps hiking the rent. |
| Male | |
| Kaarmegam kaarmegam | Encroaching upon drained lake beds, |
| Poththukittu oothunaa | He builds houses and makes a living. |
| Veetu kulla aeri ooda | Without paying property tax to the government, |
| Neendha solluvaan | He cleverly dodges and wanders around. |
| Male | |
| Night patthu manikkulla | Dark rain clouds, dark rain clouds, |
| Light-a amathipadukkanum | If the sky bursts open and pours, |
| Vaasa thelichi kolam poda | When water floods inside the house, |
| Vattikku vaanganum | He calmly tells us to swim! |
| Male | |
| Alanthu kodukum thaniyila | By ten o'clock at night, |
| Ambuttum kaluvi mudikanum | We must turn off the lights and go to sleep. |
| Vaadagai veetu rules ellam | To sprinkle water out front and draw a Rangoli, |
| Vanagi kodukanum…… | We have to borrow money on high interest. |
{ நைட் பத்து
மணிக்குள்ள லைட்ட
அமத்தி படுக்கணும்
வாச தெளிச்சி கோலம்
போட வட்டிக்கு வாங்கணும் } (2)
By ten o'clock at night,
We must turn off the lights and go to sleep.
To sprinkle water out front and draw a Rangoli,
We have to borrow money on high interest.
திங்க திங்க
ஆச வந்தா வீட்ட காலி
பண்ணனும் கெஸ்ட்டு
வந்து தங்கிடாம கோஸ்டா
நாமும் மாறனும்
By ten o'clock at night,
We must turn off the lights and go to sleep.
To sprinkle water out front and draw a Rangoli,
We have to borrow money on high interest.
துணிய துவைச்சி
காய போட சொரங்க பாத
தோண்டனும் மொட்டை
மாடி சுத்தி பார்க்க விசா
வாங்கணும்
If we desire to eat continuously,
We have to vacate the house.
To stop guests from coming and staying,
We must turn into ghosts ourselves.
வீட்டு ஓனர்
கரண்டு பில்லு நாம
சேர்த்து கட்டணும்
ஏ/சி போட்டு அவிங்க
தூங்க நாம புளிங்கி
சாகணும்
To wash clothes and hang them to dry,
We must dig a secret tunnel path.
Just to walk around on the rooftop terrace,
We need to get a visa.
தவிச்ச வாய்க்கு
தண்ணி கேட்க ரேஷன்
கார்டை காட்டணும் ஏற
இறங்க வெறிச்சு பார்த்தா
இடத்தை மாத்தணும்
The house owner's electricity bill,
We are forced to pay along with ours.
While they sleep comfortably with the AC on,
We must sweat profusely and suffocate.
குருவி போல
சிறுக சிறுக சேர்த்து
வீட்ட கட்டுறான் அருவி
போல பெறுக பெறுக
அட்வான்ஸ் வாங்கி
குமிக்கிறான்
To ask for water for a parched throat,
We have to produce our Ration Card.
If they glare at us up and down,
We must pack up and change places.
ஆஸ்பராடாசு
வீட்ட கட்டி தாஜ்மஹாலா
பீத்துவான் அதுக்கும் சேர்த்து
பில்ல போட்டு ரெண்ட
ஏத்துவான்
Like a bird, bit by bit,
He saves up and builds a house.
Like an overflowing waterfall,
He collects huge amounts of advance money.
ஏறி இருந்த
இடத்தை வளைச்சி
வீட்ட கட்டி வாழுவான்
வீட்டு வரிய கட்டிடாம
டிமிக்கி குடுத்து சுத்துவான்
Showing an asbestos-roofed shed,
He boasts about it as if it were the Taj Mahal.
Adding a heavy bill for that as well,
He keeps hiking the rent.
கார்மேகம்
கார்மேகம் பொத்துக்கிட்டு
ஊத்துனா வீட்டு குள்ள ஏரி
ஓட நீந்த சொல்லுவான்
Encroaching upon drained lake beds,
He builds houses and makes a living.
Without paying property tax to the government,
He cleverly dodges and wanders around.
நைட் பத்து
மணிக்குள்ள லைட்ட
அமத்தி படுக்கணும்
வாச தெளிச்சி கோலம்
போட வட்டிக்கு வாங்கணும்
Dark rain clouds, dark rain clouds,
If the sky bursts open and pours,
When water floods inside the house,
He calmly tells us to swim!
அளந்து கொடுக்கும்
தண்ணியில அம்புட்டும்
கழுவி முடிக்கணும் வாடகை
வீட்டு ரூல்ஸ் எல்லாம்
வணங்கி கொடுக்கணும்
By ten o'clock at night,
We must turn off the lights and go to sleep.
To sprinkle water out front and draw a Rangoli,
We have to borrow money on high interest.
{Night patthu manikkulla
By ten o'clock at night,
Light-a amathipadukkanum
We must turn off the lights and go to sleep.
Vaasa thelichi kolam poda
To sprinkle water out front and draw a Rangoli,
Vattikku vaanganum} (2)
We have to borrow money on high interest.
Thinga thinga aasa vandhaa
By ten o'clock at night,
Veetta gaali pannanum
We must turn off the lights and go to sleep.
Guest-tu vandhu thangidamaa
To sprinkle water out front and draw a Rangoli,
Ghostaa naamum maaranum
We have to borrow money on high interest.
Thuniaya thuvachi kaayapoda
If we desire to eat continuously,
Soranga paadha thondanum
We have to vacate the house.
Motta maadi suththi paarka
To stop guests from coming and staying,
Visa vaanganum
We must turn into ghosts ourselves.
Veetu owner curent-u billu
To wash clothes and hang them to dry,
Naama serthu kattanum
We must dig a secret tunnel path.
A/c pottu avinga thoonga
Just to walk around on the rooftop terrace,
Naama pulingi saaganum
We need to get a visa.
Thavicha vaaiku thanni ketka
The house owner's electricity bill,
Ration card-ai kaatanum
We are forced to pay along with ours.
Yera eranga verichi paartha
While they sleep comfortably with the AC on,
Idatha maathanum….
We must sweat profusely and suffocate.
Kuruvi pola siruga siruga
To ask for water for a parched throat,
Serthu veetta katturaan
We have to produce our Ration Card.
Aruvi pola peruga peruga
If they glare at us up and down,
Advance vaangi kumikkiraan
We must pack up and change places.
Aaspardaasu veeta kaati
Like a bird, bit by bit,
Tajmahal-aa peethuvaan
He saves up and builds a house.
Adhukum serthu billa pottu
Like an overflowing waterfall,
Rent-a yethuvaan
He collects huge amounts of advance money.
Aeri iruntha idatha vazhachi
Showing an asbestos-roofed shed,
Veeta katti vaazhuvaan
He boasts about it as if it were the Taj Mahal.
Veettu variya kattidaama
Adding a heavy bill for that as well,
Dimmiki kuduthu suththuvaan
He keeps hiking the rent.
Kaarmegam kaarmegam
Encroaching upon drained lake beds,
Poththukittu oothunaa
He builds houses and makes a living.
Veetu kulla aeri ooda
Without paying property tax to the government,
Neendha solluvaan
He cleverly dodges and wanders around.
Night patthu manikkulla
Dark rain clouds, dark rain clouds,
Light-a amathipadukkanum
If the sky bursts open and pours,
Vaasa thelichi kolam poda
When water floods inside the house,
Vattikku vaanganum
He calmly tells us to swim!
Alanthu kodukum thaniyila
By ten o'clock at night,
Ambuttum kaluvi mudikanum
We must turn off the lights and go to sleep.
Vaadagai veetu rules ellam
To sprinkle water out front and draw a Rangoli,
Vanagi kodukanum……
We have to borrow money on high interest.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This satirical track highlights the daily struggles and absurd rules imposed on middle-class tenants living in rented houses in Tamil Nadu. Through humor and hyperbolic metaphors, the song portrays how demanding landlords set strict curfews, restrict access to basic amenities like the terrace, pass on their personal utility bills to tenants, and hike rents greedily while neglecting property maintenance and tax obligations. The narrative captures the sheer helplessness of tenants who are forced to comply with unreasonable demands or face eviction. The contrast between the landlord's exploitative behavior and the tenant's constant struggle to survive creates a poignant yet hilarious commentary on urban middle-class housing realities.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Kuruvi pola siruga siruga”
Compares the landlord's slow, bit-by-bit saving to a bird building a nest twig by twig.
Simile (Upamai)
“Aruvi pola peruga peruga”
Compares the massive influx of advance money collected by the landlord to a flowing waterfall.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Visa vaanganum”
Exaggerates the strict restrictions on visiting the roof terrace by comparing it to needing an international visa.
Irony / Satire
“A/c pottu avinga thoonga / Naama pulingi saaganum”
Contrasts the landlord's luxury of sleeping under AC with the tenant paying for it while sweltering in heat.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Aandavan Kattalai' (2016), directed by M. Manikandan and starring Vijay Sethupathi, revolves around socio-economic hurdles, document forging, and housing issues in Chennai. The soundtrack was composed by K, with lyrics penned by Vivek Velmurugan using sharp, colloquial Chennai Tamil to portray tenant life.
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