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Lyrics & meaning

Vanthanam Vanthanam

From Thalaivasal · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Chandrabose
Music director
Bala Bharathi
Details
Thalaivasal1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hae vandhanam vandhanamHey, welcome, welcome!
Vandha janam kundhanamThe people who arrived are like precious gold!
Adaei thambhi santhaanamHey younger brother Santhanam,
Alli kududaa sandhanamScoop and give sandalwood paste generously!
Male
Sandhanathai poosi kollungaApply the sandalwood paste onto yourselves,
Sabaiyorae vandhu ninnuOh audience members, come and stand,
Shenoy nagar gaana baabuThis is Shenoy Nagar's Gaana Baabu,
Patta kelunga hoiiiListen to the song, hoiii!
Chorus :Thalakku…hei..thalakku hei thalakkuChorus: Thalakku... hei.. thalakku hei thalakku
Thalakku…thalakku thalakku thalakkuThalakku... thalakku thalakku thalakku
Male
Mani enna aachuWhat time is it now?
Naan poren beachuI am heading off to the beach.
Beachunna kadaluBeach means the sea,
Inga aambalaikkum pombalaikkumHere, for both men and women,
Padaithaanae udaluA body has been created.
Andha odalukkullae kodaluInside that body lies the intestine,
Andha kodalu mela medaluAbove that intestine is a medal,
Male
Medullunna thangamMedal means gold,
En guru peru singamMy master's name is Singam!
Ithanaiyum naan sonnenaaeEven though I recited all of this,
Indha paazhaai pona suthap paiyanThis wretched, clean boy,
Mukkaa roobaa kooli koduthaanaeGave me a wage of just three-quarters of a rupee!
Chorus
Thalakku thalakkuThalakku thalakku
Thalakku thalakku thalakku thalakku thomThalakku thalakku thalakku thalakku thom

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a lively, traditional North Chennai 'Gaana' folk track performed by a street artist calling himself 'Shenoy Nagar Gaana Baabu'. He begins with welcoming hospitality, inviting the gathering to apply sandalwood paste and listen to his song. He then engages in a fast-paced, humorous associative word chain—linking time, beach, body, intestines, medal, gold, and his master's name—a hallmark style of local freestyle singers. The song humorously concludes with him complaining about getting paid a meager three-quarter rupee (75 paise) wage despite his energetic performance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Chain Rhyming (Anaphora / Verbal Concatenation)

Beachunna kadalu / Inga aambalaikkum pombalaikkum / Padaithaanae udalu

A traditional Gaana technique where the concept or ending sound of one line links directly to the start of the next (beach -> kadalu -> udalu -> kodalu -> medalu -> thangam -> singam).

Rhyme (Edhugai and Monai)

Hae vandhanam vandhanam / Vandha janam kundhanam / Adaei thambhi santhaanam / Alli kududaa sandhanam

Strong internal rhyming with the repeating '-ndha-' sound scheme across adjacent lines creating a rhythmic beat.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from 'Thalaivasal' (1992) is an early cinematic representation of North Chennai Gaana music in 90s Tamil cinema. Sung energetically by veteran singer-composer Chandrabose with music by Bala Bharathi, it helped popularize street gaana rhythms in mainstream film soundtracks.

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