Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vettuna Thappu Illa

From Ullathil Nalla Ullam · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Ullathil Nalla Ullam
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
28 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla
Ippathaan vekkamilla paappa
Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla
Ippathaan vekkamilla paappa
Naan yokkiyana vaazhnthirunthu laabam illa
Siru pillaiyidhu sirichirukku thappu senja paavamilla
Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla
Ippathaan vekkamilla paappa hae
Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla
Ippathaan vekkamilla paappa
………………………..
Padichu padichu puthiya sonnalum
Ketta yaarum thirunthavillai
Adichu adichu potta pinnala
Adangi pogum nilamai ingae
Thavaru seiyaadha aalunga illai
Thappu seiyaadha oorumillai hahaan
Vazhiya sonnalum povadhum illai
Kaadhil veredhum yeravilali
Idu maarama ponakka aa aa
Idhu maarama ponakka
Ooredhu per yedhu neeyum naanum yedhu
Yarumilla hoi
Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla
Ippathaan vekkamilla paappa
Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla
Ippathaan vekkamilla paappa
Naan yokkiyana vaazhnthirunthu laabam illa
Siru pillaiyidhu sirichirukku thappu senja paavamilla
Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla
Ippathaan vekkamilla paappa
Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla
Ippathaan vekkamilla paappa papa pa pa papa
……………………..
Gaandhi sonna buthiyaiyum kettom
Kettu ahimsaiyai pudichoma
Sathiya sodhanai puthagatha vaangi
Sathiyama yaarum padichoma
Uyiru pala thandhu suthanthiram vaangi
Oorukkullara koduthomaa
Vayiru kaayama ezhainga veeta
Varumai illama thaduthoma
Idhu aagathappa…aaa…
Idhu aagathappa kelu aaraichi venamappa
Kaiya melae thookku paavamilla aaaan
Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla
Ippathaan vekkamilla paappa
Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla
Ippathaan vekkamilla paappa
Naan yokkiyana vaazhnthirunthu laabam illa
Siru pillaiyidhu sirichirukku thappu senja paavamilla
Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla
Ippathaan vekkamilla paappa haan
Male & Chorus :……………………….
There is no wrong in slashing, no crime in stabbing,
Nobody has any shame these days, child!
There is no wrong in slashing, no crime in stabbing,
Nobody has any shame these days, child!
There is no use in living as an honest man.
This little child is smiling, free from the sin of doing wrong.
There is no wrong in slashing, no crime in stabbing,
Nobody has any shame these days, child, hey!
There is no wrong in slashing, no crime in stabbing,
Nobody has any shame these days, child!
...
Even if you repeatedly give wise advice,
No one who heard it has ever reformed.
Only after getting thoroughly beaten up,
Do people here calm down and submit.
There is no person who makes no mistakes,
And there is no town without wrongdoing, haha!
Even if you show the right way, no one walks on it,
Nothing else gets into their ears!
If this does not change, ah ah...
If this does not change,
What town will remain, what reputation, where will you and I be?
No one will be left, hey!
There is no wrong in slashing, no crime in stabbing,
Nobody has any shame these days, child!
There is no wrong in slashing, no crime in stabbing,
Nobody has any shame these days, child!
There is no use in living as an honest man.
This little child is smiling, free from the sin of doing wrong.
There is no wrong in slashing, no crime in stabbing,
Nobody has any shame these days, child!
There is no wrong in slashing, no crime in stabbing,
Nobody has any shame these days, child, pa-pa pa pa pa-pa!
...
We listened to the wisdom Gandhi taught,
Having heard it, did we ever follow non-violence?
We bought the book 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth',
Did anyone honestly ever read it?
Giving up many lives, we won our freedom,
Did we truly deliver it to all the people?
Without letting their bellies go hungry,
Did we protect the homes of the poor from poverty?
This will not work, my friend... ah...
This will not work, listen! No need for deep analysis, friend!
Raise your hands up, there is no sin in it, ah!
There is no wrong in slashing, no crime in stabbing,
Nobody has any shame these days, child!
There is no wrong in slashing, no crime in stabbing,
Nobody has any shame these days, child!
There is no use in living as an honest man.
This little child is smiling, free from the sin of doing wrong.
There is no wrong in slashing, no crime in stabbing,
Nobody has any shame these days, child, han!
Male & Chorus: ...
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Ullathil Nalla Ullam' (1988) presents a cynical and satirical commentary on society's moral degradation and hypocrisy. The protagonist sarcastically argues that in a world where corruption and dishonesty thrive without consequence, remaining righteous yields no practical benefit. The lyrics lament that moral advice is ignored until force is applied, and that societal ideals like Gandhian non-violence and equality are preached far more than practiced.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Padichu padichu puthiya sonnalum / Adichu adichu potta pinnala

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Vettuna' and 'Ippathaan' or 'Padichu' and 'Adichu'.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Sathiya sodhanai puthagatha vaangi / Sathiyama yaarum padichoma

Repetition of initial consonant sounds within the same line, such as 'Sathiya' and 'Sathiyama'.

Irony and Satire

Vettuna thappu illa kuthuna kuthamilla

The lyrics use reverse psychology and sarcasm ('no fault to cut, no crime to stab') to criticize real-world moral collapse.

Rhetorical Questioning

Uyiru pala thandhu suthanthiram vaangi / Oorukkullara koduthomaa

Asking questions to expose societal failures rather than seeking direct answers.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ullathil Nalla Ullam' (1988) features music composed by Gangai Amaran, who also penned the lyrics for this track. Sung energetically by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, the song shares its title with the classic song from the 1964 epic movie 'Karnan', though this 1988 song is a contemporary social satire.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Ullathil Nalla Ullam

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.