Yethanai Kaalamthan
From Malaikkallan · 1954
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- Soundararajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Malaikkallan1954
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa…. | Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa…. |
| Aa….aa…..aaa….aaa….aa….aa…. | Aa….aa…..aaa….aaa….aa….aa…. |
| Aa…..aa…..aa…. | Aa…..aa…..aa…. |
| Male | |
| Eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar | How long will they keep deceiving people |
| Intha naattilae | in this country? |
| Innum eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar | How much longer will they keep deceiving people |
| Intha naattilae | in this country? |
| Sontha naatilae nam naatilae | In our own country, in our very own land! |
| Male | |
| Saththiyam thavaraatha | Pretending to be righteous souls |
| Uththaman polaveae nadikkiraar….aa…aa… | who never stray from the truth... |
| Saththiyam thavaraatha | Pretending to be righteous souls |
| Uththaman polaveae nadikkiraar | who never stray from the truth... |
| Samayam paarththu pala vagaiyilim | Biding their time, in various ways, |
| Kollai adikkiraar | they plunder and loot! |
| Samayam paarththu pala vagaiyilim | Biding their time, in various ways, |
| Kollai adikkiraar | they plunder and loot! |
| Bakthanai polavae pagal vesham kaatti | Disguising themselves hypocritically like devout believers, |
| Baamara makkalai valaiyinil maatti | trapping the innocent, common people in their net, |
| Male | |
| Eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar | how long will they keep deceiving people |
| Intha naattilae | in this country? |
| Sontha naatilae nam naatilae | In our own country, in our very own land! |
| Male | |
| Theruvengum palligal kattuvom…mmm…. | We shall build schools in every street... |
| Theruvengum palligal kattuvom… | We shall build schools in every street... |
| Kalvi theriyaatha perkalae illamal seivom | We will ensure there is no uneducated person left! |
| Kalvi theriyaatha perkalae illamal seivom | We will ensure there is no uneducated person left! |
| Karuththaaga pala thozhil payiluvom | We will diligently learn various crafts and trades, |
| Karuththaaga pala thozhil payiluvom | We will diligently learn various crafts and trades, |
| Ooril kanjikillai endra | And eradicate the plight of saying |
| Sollinai pokkuvom | "there is no food to eat in this town!" |
| Ooril kanjikillai endra | And eradicate the plight of saying |
| Sollinai pokkuvom | "there is no food to eat in this town!" |
| Male | |
| Eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar | How long will they keep deceiving people |
| Intha naattilae | in this country? |
| Sontha naatilae nam naatilae | In our own country, in our very own land! |
| Male | |
| Aalukkoru veedu kattuvom…oo….oo… | We will build a house for every single person... |
| Aalukkoru veedu kattuvom… | We will build a house for every single person... |
| Adhil aana kalaigalai seeraaga payilvom | And properly practice noble fine arts inside them! |
| Adhil aana kalaigalai seeraaga payilvom | And properly practice noble fine arts inside them! |
| Kelikkaiyaagavae naalinai pokkida | To spend our days in joy and happiness, |
| Kelviyum gynaamum ondraaga thirattuvom | we will gather both critical inquiry and wisdom together! |
| Male | |
| Innum eththanai kaalamthaan | How much longer, |
| Innum eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar | how much longer will they keep deceiving people |
| Intha naattilae intha naattilae intha naattilae | in this country, in this country, in this country? |
ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ....
ஆ....ஆ.....ஆஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa….
Aa….aa…..aaa….aaa….aa….aa….
Aa…..aa…..aa….
எத்தனை காலம்தான் ஏமாற்றுவார்
இந்த நாட்டிலே
இன்னும் எத்தனை காலம்தான் ஏமாற்றுவார்
இந்த நாட்டிலே
சொந்த நாட்டிலே நம் நாட்டிலே
How long will they keep deceiving people
in this country?
How much longer will they keep deceiving people
in this country?
In our own country, in our very own land!
சத்தியம் தவறாத
உத்தமன் போலவே நடிக்கிறார்...ஆ....ஆ....
சத்தியம் தவறாத
உத்தமன் போலவே நடிக்கிறார்...
சமயம் பார்த்துப் பல வகையிலும்
கொள்ளை அடிக்கிறார்
சமயம் பார்த்துப் பல வகையிலும்
கொள்ளை அடிக்கிறார்
பக்தனைப் போலவே பகல் வேஷம் காட்டிப்
பாமர மக்களை வலையினில் மாட்டி
Pretending to be righteous souls
who never stray from the truth...
Pretending to be righteous souls
who never stray from the truth...
Biding their time, in various ways,
they plunder and loot!
Biding their time, in various ways,
they plunder and loot!
Disguising themselves hypocritically like devout believers,
trapping the innocent, common people in their net,
எத்தனை காலம்தான் ஏமாற்றுவார்
இந்த நாட்டிலே
சொந்த நாட்டிலே நம் நாட்டிலே
how long will they keep deceiving people
in this country?
In our own country, in our very own land!
தெருவெங்கும் பள்ளிகள் கட்டுவோம்.....ம்ம்ம்...
தெருவெங்கும் பள்ளிகள் கட்டுவோம்
கல்வி தெரியாத பேர்களே இல்லாமல் செய்வோம்
கல்வி தெரியாத பேர்களே இல்லாமல் செய்வோம்
கருத்தாகப் பல தொழில் பயிலுவோம்
கருத்தாகப் பல தொழில் பயிலுவோம்
ஊரில் கஞ்சிக்கில்லை என்ற
சொல்லினைப் போக்குவோம்
ஊரில் கஞ்சிக்கில்லை என்ற
சொல்லினைப் போக்குவோம்
We shall build schools in every street...
We shall build schools in every street...
We will ensure there is no uneducated person left!
We will ensure there is no uneducated person left!
We will diligently learn various crafts and trades,
We will diligently learn various crafts and trades,
And eradicate the plight of saying
"there is no food to eat in this town!"
And eradicate the plight of saying
"there is no food to eat in this town!"
எத்தனை காலம்தான் ஏமாற்றுவார்
இந்த நாட்டிலே
சொந்த நாட்டிலே நம் நாட்டிலே
How long will they keep deceiving people
in this country?
In our own country, in our very own land!
ஆளுக்கொரு வீடு கட்டுவோம்.....ஓ.....ஓ....
ஆளுக்கொரு வீடு கட்டுவோம்
அதில் ஆன கலைகளை சீராகப் பயில்வோம்
அதில் ஆன கலைகளை சீராகப் பயில்வோம்
கேளிக்கையாகவே நாளினைப் போக்கிட
கேள்வியும் ஞானமும் ஒன்றாகத் திரட்டுவோம்
We will build a house for every single person...
We will build a house for every single person...
And properly practice noble fine arts inside them!
And properly practice noble fine arts inside them!
To spend our days in joy and happiness,
we will gather both critical inquiry and wisdom together!
இன்னும் எத்தனை காலம்தான்
இன்னும் எத்தனை காலம்தான் ஏமாற்றுவார்
இந்த நாட்டிலே இந்த நாட்டிலே இந்த நாட்டிலே.....
How much longer,
how much longer will they keep deceiving people
in this country, in this country, in this country?
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa….
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa….
Aa….aa…..aaa….aaa….aa….aa….
Aa….aa…..aaa….aaa….aa….aa….
Aa…..aa…..aa….
Aa…..aa…..aa….
Eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar
How long will they keep deceiving people
Intha naattilae
in this country?
Innum eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar
How much longer will they keep deceiving people
Intha naattilae
in this country?
Sontha naatilae nam naatilae
In our own country, in our very own land!
Saththiyam thavaraatha
Pretending to be righteous souls
Uththaman polaveae nadikkiraar….aa…aa…
who never stray from the truth...
Saththiyam thavaraatha
Pretending to be righteous souls
Uththaman polaveae nadikkiraar
who never stray from the truth...
Samayam paarththu pala vagaiyilim
Biding their time, in various ways,
Kollai adikkiraar
they plunder and loot!
Samayam paarththu pala vagaiyilim
Biding their time, in various ways,
Kollai adikkiraar
they plunder and loot!
Bakthanai polavae pagal vesham kaatti
Disguising themselves hypocritically like devout believers,
Baamara makkalai valaiyinil maatti
trapping the innocent, common people in their net,
Eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar
how long will they keep deceiving people
Intha naattilae
in this country?
Sontha naatilae nam naatilae
In our own country, in our very own land!
Theruvengum palligal kattuvom…mmm….
We shall build schools in every street...
Theruvengum palligal kattuvom…
We shall build schools in every street...
Kalvi theriyaatha perkalae illamal seivom
We will ensure there is no uneducated person left!
Kalvi theriyaatha perkalae illamal seivom
We will ensure there is no uneducated person left!
Karuththaaga pala thozhil payiluvom
We will diligently learn various crafts and trades,
Karuththaaga pala thozhil payiluvom
We will diligently learn various crafts and trades,
Ooril kanjikillai endra
And eradicate the plight of saying
Sollinai pokkuvom
"there is no food to eat in this town!"
Ooril kanjikillai endra
And eradicate the plight of saying
Sollinai pokkuvom
"there is no food to eat in this town!"
Eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar
How long will they keep deceiving people
Intha naattilae
in this country?
Sontha naatilae nam naatilae
In our own country, in our very own land!
Aalukkoru veedu kattuvom…oo….oo…
We will build a house for every single person...
Aalukkoru veedu kattuvom…
We will build a house for every single person...
Adhil aana kalaigalai seeraaga payilvom
And properly practice noble fine arts inside them!
Adhil aana kalaigalai seeraaga payilvom
And properly practice noble fine arts inside them!
Kelikkaiyaagavae naalinai pokkida
To spend our days in joy and happiness,
Kelviyum gynaamum ondraaga thirattuvom
we will gather both critical inquiry and wisdom together!
Innum eththanai kaalamthaan
How much longer,
Innum eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar
how much longer will they keep deceiving people
Intha naattilae intha naattilae intha naattilae
in this country, in this country, in this country?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Eththanai Kaalamthaan Yaemattruvaar' is an iconic social-reformist anthem that exposes political and societal hypocrisy while offering a vision for a progressive, self-reliant nation. The song opens with a sharp critique of corrupt elites and false moralists who pose as pious citizens while exploiting the innocent masses and plundering national wealth under false pretenses.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Bakthanai polavae pagal vesham kaatti / Baamara makkalai valaiyinil maatti”
The line endings 'kaatti' and 'maatti' create a rhythmic end-rhyme scheme (Iyaipu) emphasizing the deceptive trapping of common folk.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Saththiyam thavaraatha / Uththaman polaveae nadikkiraar”
The second consonant sound 'thth' ('Saththiyam' and 'Uththaman') agrees, creating classical Tamil Ethugai rhyme.
Rhetorical Question
“Eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar intha naattilae”
The repeated question ('How long will they deceive people?') serves as a powerful rhetorical device to provoke social awakening and challenge political oppression.
Metaphor
“Baamara makkalai valaiyinil maatti”
Compares the deceptive traps of corrupt leaders to a net ('valai') used to capture unwitting common people.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Eththanai Kaalamthaan Yaemattruvaar' from Malaikkallan (1954) was a monumental turning point in Tamil cinema history. Composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, it was the breakthrough song for legendary playback singer T. M. Soundararajan (TMS), establishing him as the definitive screen voice for M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The song's rationalist, reformist lyrics heavily fueled MGR's political persona and contributed to Malaikkallan becoming the first Tamil film to win a President's Silver Medal at the National Film Awards.
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