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Lyrics & meaning

Viswanathan Velai Vendum

From Kadhalikka Neramillai · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Kadhalikka Neramillai1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maadi mela maadi kattiO rich man who built storeys upon storeys,
Kodikodi serthuvitta seemanaeAnd accumulated crores and crores of wealth,
Hallo hallo come onHello, hello, come on,
Come out seemanaeCome out, rich man!
Male
Aalu ambu senai vechchuWith men, weapons, and an army,
Caru vechchu boreadikkum komanaeAnd cars, you are a bored lord!
Hallo hallo come onHello, hello, come on,
Come out komanaeCome out, lord!
Chorus
Doo…dooo…doo..doo doodooDoo…dooo…doo..doo doodoo
Doo…dooo…doo..doo doodooDoo…dooo…doo..doo doodoo
Male
Maadi mela maadi kattiO rich man who built storeys upon storeys,
Kodikodi serthuvitta seemanaeAnd accumulated crores and crores of wealth,
Hallo hallo come onHello, hello, come on,
Come out seemanaeCome out, rich man!
Male
Aalu ambu senai vechchuWith men, weapons, and an army,
Caru vechchu boreadikkum komanaeAnd cars, you are a bored lord!
Hallo hallo come onHello, hello, come on,
Come out komanaeCome out, lord!
Chorus
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Male
{Ponnunga pechukku bhuthiyai maathikkumYou who change your mind at the words of women,
MoolaiilathavaraeO brainless man!
Veetiya maathikka selaya kattikaSwap your veshti and wear a saree instead,
Vetkamillathavare} (2)You shameless man!
Male
{Velai indri pogathuWe will not leave without a job,
Veru velai thedathuNor look for any other job,
Paatu paadi koochal potuBy singing songs and making a racket,
Velai vaanguvom} (2)We will get our job!
Chorus
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Viswanathan (come out) velai vendumViswanathan (come out), we want a job!
Male
{Raathiri nerathil thookathil naanoruIn the dark of the night while you sleep,
Raakshasan pol varuvenI will come like a demon,
Nalaikku velaikku vaavendruUntil the day you say 'come to work tomorrow',
Nee sollum naal varai poriduven} (2)I will continue to fight!
Male
{Vaanam vanthu saainthalumEven if the sky comes leaning down,
Megam vanthu veezhnthalumEven if the clouds crash and fall,
Vengai pola paiynthuvanthuPouncing forward like a tiger,
Velai vaanguvom } (2)We will get our job!
Chorus
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Viswanathan (come out) velai vendumViswanathan (come out), we want a job!
Male
Maadi mela maadi kattiO rich man who built storeys upon storeys,
Kodikodi serthuvitta seemanaeAnd accumulated crores and crores of wealth,
Hallo hallo come onHello, hello, come on,
Come out seemanaeCome out, rich man!
Male
Aalu ambu senai vechchuWith men, weapons, and an army,
Caru vechchu boreadikkum komanaeAnd cars, you are a bored lord!
Hallo hallo come onHello, hello, come on,
Come out komanaeCome out, lord!
Chorus
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Viswanathan (come out) velai vendumViswanathan (come out), we want a job!
Chorus
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!
Viswanathan velai vendumViswanathan, we want a job!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the classic 1964 Tamil comedy 'Kadhalikka Neramillai' is a playful protest song where young job seekers demand employment from a wealthy businessman named Viswanathan (played by T. S. Balaiah). Through humorous taunts, bold threats, and lively rhythmic chanting, they demand he come out of his mansion and hire them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyming)

Maadi mela maadi katti / Kodikodi serthuvitta seemanae

Matching second consonants in successive lines creates rhythmic harmony in Tamil poetry, seen here with 'Maadi' and 'Kodi'.

Simile (Upamai)

Vengai pola paiynthuvanthu

The speaker compares themselves to a demon ('Raakshasan') and a tiger ('Vengai') to convey fierce determination.

Repetition / Chorus (Adukku Thodar)

Viswanathan velai vendum

Repetition of the slogan 'Viswanathan velai vendum' emphasizes urgency and collective demand in a protest context.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy duo, 'Viswanathan Velai Vendum' humorously shares the name of composer M. S. Viswanathan himself. Sung by P. Susheela and L. R. Eswari, the song remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous comedic protest tracks.

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