Cultured Clown – நாகரீக கோமாளி

I always liked the movie Anbe Sivam and particularly the song Naatukkoru Sethi Solla Naagariga Komaali Vanthenunga . I like this song because of Kamalahaasan’s acting singing skills. Other being that it is a song written in a communist point of view with provocating lyrics.

I would not say that I am a communist or someone who supports egalitarianism. I am one who does not stand by any “isms” as of now. Will delve into my political stance in another post. The song is composed so well by Vidhyasagar. Adding to good music is the powerful lyrics which wakes up the communist in every person. This post is for those who have listened to the song but did not understand the lyrics much to enjoy the message delivered by the song. Thanks to Shikha for inspiring me to write this, whilst her posts on lyrical love creating waves.

The song is a street play by a group of communists who are protesting against the lower wages paid to workers in the local factory and how they are exploited et all. The english version of the lyrics is given first followed by its translation in bracket. Enjoy!

Communist Leader : Naatukkoru Sethi solla, Naagariga Komaali Vanthenunga
(To deliver a message to the country, I have come in the form of a cultured clown)

Aatam Aadi, Paattu Paadi Azhagaaga Katha Solla Vanthenunga
(I have come to narrate a story beautifully by dancing and singing)

Kottu paatta paada Naanum Vanthenungo , Kodara Paata Paada Naanum Vanthenungo
(I have come to sing song with Kottu and Kodara. {not sure about what these mean exactly})

Thollayiraththi pathu roova kathaya kelungo
(Listen to the story of Rs.910)

Thozhilaalargal tholla padum kathaya kelungo
(Listen to the story of workers’ pains)

Ayya Kelungo, Amma Kelungo
(Listen Sir! Listen Madam!)

Anna Kelungo, Akka Kelungo
(Listen brother! Listen sister!)

kaelunga… kaelunga…. kaelunga!……
Listen……. Listen…….

Thachchom kizhichchom sariyae, un pattu en pattu kizhinjithu po..
(We tore and mended our silk)

Seththom pozhachchom thenasari en thala un thala uruluthu po..
(We died and lived daily)

Communist Leader : AAh ho! Periyorgalae,
(All you gentelemen)

Athaagapatthahu kathayin aarambaththilae, namathu kathayin naayagan
Athavathu thollayiraththi paththu roovai sambalakkaaran
(That’s at the beginning of the story, our story’s hero who is Rs.910 salaried person)

Saga thozhilaalargal ellaam Factory gateil irunthu sambalam usaththi keattuk kondu aarpaattam seithu kondu irukkaiyilae,
Avargalukkellam kadukka koduththu vittu midukkaa poguraan……

(When the rest workers are fighthing near the factory gate for a salary hike, he escapes from them all and goes out.)

Communist lady : Enga Poraan?
(where does he go?)

Communist Leader : Pogum pothey enga poraannu kaettaa urupudumaa?
(Here they are mentioning the Indian superstitious belief. Belief is that when a person goes out and if somone asks where he is heading to, the work will not be fruitful.)

Communist leader : Avan….

Daavu Adikka Oodi Poguraan.
Kaathaliyai thedi poguraan

( He goes in search of his girl friend)

910 Saleried Man : Maanga Moonjikku manja poosi mayakkura ponnu
Un Muzhi rendum parapputhadi en kannana kannuMaanga Moonjikku manja poosi mayakkura ponnu
Un Muzhi rendum parapputhadi en kannana kannu(The 910 salaried man sings to his girl friend. He describes her as a girl who attracts her with her eyes. Her mango like, turmeric clad face also attracts him.)

910 Salaried Man : Town Bussu poguthadi kaaliyaa
Naama Cinema kotta poi varalaam jollyaa

910 Salaried Man’s girl friend : oai…..

910 Salaried Man : Town Bussu poguthadi kaaliyaa
Naama Cinema kotta poi varalaam jollyaa

(He tells her that the town bus is empty and calls her out to a near by cinema house for which he refuses and advises him.)

910 Salaried Man’s girl friend : Vaanguratho Sambalam thollayiraththi paththu
Kudumba Baaram sumakka unakku yethayya saththu?

(You are a person whose salary is Rs.910 and I doubt whether you will be able to run a family with this salary).

Unna pola thozhilaalai……
Hey! Unna pola thozhilaalai, theruvil nikkiraan, Poraatta kodiya pudikkiraan
Sambalaththa usaththi Kaekkuraan

(Workers like you are in the street, fighting for salary hike.)

Ippo unakku Kaathal Ethukku?
Ada, Ippo unakku Kaathal Ethukku?
Vazhivittu othungu, Union Aaaloda erangu,
Poraada Theruvila erangu
Poraada Theruvila erangu

(Why should yo turn towards love, join with the worksers and fight alongside them.)

Narrator’s Voice : Kaathaliyidam ubathesam petra nam kathayin naayagan,
thaanum poraatta kalaththil irangugiraan

(Our hero, hearing the advise from his girl friend, changes his mind and gets into the battle).

Kurainja batcha koolikkenru sattam irukkuthu
Athil paisa kuraikkalaagathendru thittam irukkuthu

(There are laws to define the minimum wages and there are restrictions that the minimum wages are not to be lowered).

Satta thittam nooru nooru iruntha pothilum
Silar ishtam pola oothiyaththa korachchi vazhanguvaar
Yezhaiya kadichchi muzhunguvaar…

(How many ever laws might be there. There are people who reduce the minum wages and cheat the poor).

Communist lady : Ivlo kammiya sambalam thandhu
thoilaalikki Nombalam thandha periya manusan yaarappa?
Atho angae paarappa…….

(Who is the big shot who pays lower wages and cheats the poor?)

Kamal who is dressed like the factory owner enters the scene…

Yes Men : Aayathanam ji vo, Aayathanavaan Bhavathi….
Velludai Venthae Vaazhga, Pala thozhil Arase Vaazhga…
Pan thozhil munaiva vaazhga, Vyaabara Kaantham Vaazhga…..

(Group of yes men are praising the factory owner with flattering words.)

Factory Owner : Athu innada athu Vyaabara Kaantham?

Yes Men : Business Magnettunnunaan

Factory Owner : Podraa onu thalaila

Yes Men : Thalaivaa Vaazhga!

Communists : Vaazhga Vaazhgavendru Vaai kizhiya koovi koovi vaazhthu paadi aanju oonjittom
Vaazhththum naanga eppo vaazhvathu?
Vaazhththum naanga eppo vaazhvathu?
Vaazhvatharkku engae povathu?

(the group of Communist actors are singing together to show their anger on the people whio cheat them. The meaning is, we are tired of singing and praising people to live long and when will we live long? Where do we go to live?.)

Factory Owner : Dei! Ennannu poi keludaa?

(to his yes man, Go and ask what they want)

Yes man : Avangalukku, Naama Kooti kodakkanumaam!

Factory Owner : Adi Seruppaal!
Yes Man : Ayaayaya, athu ille. Avangalukku sambalaththa kootti kodukkanumaam

(They need a hike in their salary).

Factory Owner : Oh! Kodukka mudinthathu thollayiraththi paththu thaan.Kodukka mudiyaathini oru paisa seththu thaan
( We will give only Rs.910 and not a paise more than that.)

Yes Man : Ivangala epapdi samaalikka poreenga mudhalaali?(Sir! How are you planning to tackle these people).

Factory Owner :
I have planned a new venture, Our problems will be resolved in the near future….
Oh Oh Oh! It’s under news at this juncture….
Joint Venture…
Multi National CompanyoodaHahahaAvnaga Naatula irunthu raw materials namakku anuppuvaan
Yes Men :Yes
Factory Owner : Erakkumathi Panrom
Yes Men :Yes

Factory Owner : Refine Panrom
Yes Men :Yes

Factory Owner : Pack Panrom
Yes Men :Yes

Factory Owner : Market Panrom
Yes Men :Yes
(sings like a POP star and explains that he is planning a joint venture with a multi national company).

Yes Man : Markettukku Scope illana Vaanguvom othai
Erakkumathi panna povathu yethai?

( We will not be able to win if there is not scope to the product we are going to market. What are we going to market?)

Factory Owner : Teaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…….. Tea……..

Yes Man : Ennathu?(What?)

Factory Owner : Theyilai
(tea in tamil)

Yes Man : Athu Sari!
(Oh! Ok! (in loud voice))

Factory Owner : hsssssssssssssh!

Yes Man : Athu Sari
(Oh! Ok!( in feeble voice))

Yes Man : Profit margin yevlovu?
(What’s the profut margin?)

Factory Owner : Antha muli National Company kaaran Kaaka kadi kadichi tharuvaan
Naaappathu percent namakku, aruvathu percent avanukku.
( We will get 40% and he will take 60% – Raises the voice for 40% and lowers the voice for 60% – satire)

Yes Man : Appo ulloor theyila vevasaayingalooda kathi?
(What will happen to the local tea planters?)

Factory Manager : Avanga yekkedu ketta namakkenna? Namkku namma Veli naattu mudhalinga thaan mukkiyam. Avangalaala kedaikkira laabam mukkiyam.( We are not bothered about the local planters. We are bothered only about the well being of our foreign masters and the prfit they yield for us).

Communist lady : Sathuranga AAtathilae mudhalaaligal Kaai Nagarththa, thozhilaaligal kaigal enna poo parikkumaa? illai Kaai porukkumaa?(In the game of chess, when the owners make moves, will the worker sit quiet picking flowers and fruits?)

Communist leader to his fellow communists : Karaigal urnga virumbinaalum alaigal viduvathillai(The waves does not let the shore sleep)

Communists : viduvathillai
(Will never let that heppen)

Communist leader to his fellow communists : Marangal Ooyvai virumbinaalum Kaatru viduvathillai(Air never lets the trees to rest)

Communists : viduvathillai
(Will never let that heppen)

Communist leader to his fellow communists : Oodi Oodi olintha pothum vaazhkkai viduvathillai(Life will not leave you if one tries to run and hide)

Communists : viduvathillai
(Will never let that heppen)

hearing this , all the workers intense their fight against the owners. They are caught and whipped.

Background voice : Sodikki vittaan engiruntho saataya…
Surutti vittaan bambarama naattayae…
(Someone has guided local owners to use violence and is trying to make the country dance to his tunes).

Background voice : Sutchuma kayiru engirunthu neeluthu?(Where is the rope coming out from?)

MNC Partners : Americavilae, Engilanthilae, Franceley, Germanyilae..
Namkku oththaasaikku Aal irukkiraan

Naama thani maram illa Thoppu
Vekka Porom paaryu Aapu

(We have people in America, France, England, Germany and we are not single and we are a big team.)

The play ends and the communist leader addresses to people….

Namakku thevai nallathoru mudivu. Intha Naadakaththila mattum illa. Nalla mudivu venumnaa Naadagakaaranga naanga mattum manasu vechchaa pothaathu. Naan, Nee, Avaru, Ivaru, Avanga, Ivanga, Atho! Naadakaththa keduthuthukittu Caarla horn adichchittu kurukkula poraangale ivanga. Naama ellaarum manasu vekkanum, mudivu edukkanum(We want a good solution to this and it can be achieved with help from all the people. inlcuding the person who is trying to ibstruct the play by honking.)

Then the police starts beating the communists for enacting the play in the road. The communists try to explain the poilce and some are get hurt

badly with blood oozing out. Below revolutionary lines end the play and the song.

Background chorus :
Puthu Paattu Paadiduvom puthu paattu
Tholai thoora payanaththin vazhi paattu
Puthu Paattu Paadiduvom puthu paattu
Tholai thoora payanaththin vazhi paattu
Kanniyare, Kaalaiyare Nam paattu
Karam korthu saernthisaippom vaa paadu
Kanniyare, Kaalaiyare Nam paattu
Karam korthu saernthisaippom vaa paadu
Puthu Paattu Paadiduvom puthu paattu
Tholai thoora payanaththin vazhi paattu
Un paadu en paadu oor ulagam padum paadu
ithil kanneerikkidam illai ena paadu
ithil kanneerikkidam illai ena paadu………….