Arivu writes powerful lyrics about displacement in ‘Kangaani’. The poet describes workers losing their homeland to enter a ruinous forest. From the album ‘Valliamma Peraandi – Vol. 01’, the composer produces a tune that highlights plantation struggles.
Released: July 18, 2024
Kangaani
Arivu • From “Valliamma Peraandi – Vol. 01”
Valliamma Peraandi – Vol. 01’s Kangaani Tamil Lyrics English Translation
Arivu uses striking physical imagery when he says ‘carrying our lives on our heads’. The lyricist describes generations being chopped like firewood, facing leech bites as their wage. His words tell the story of survival amid extreme hardship.
AaraaroLullaby, lullaby,
Yaaraarowho is this stranger?
Aaraaro aaraaro aariraari raaraaroLullaby, lullaby, sleep now,
Yaaraaro aandukittu poguraane aaraaroan unknown master rules over us, lullaby.
Elelo elelo elaalangkadi eleloHeave ho, heave ho, let’s work,
Emaaththum pozhappukku vesham kaatti poraarohe puts on a disguise for his deceitful livelihood.
Ooraana oorizhantha oththappana thoppizhanthaWe’ve lost our entire village, lost the lone palm grove,
Peraana kanniyila peththa thaaya naa maranthanand in this vast virgin land, I’ve forgotten the mother who bore me.
Seeraana seema vittu seerazhiya kaadu vanthuLeaving our prosperous homeland to enter this ruinous forest,
Kooda thala mela kudi vaazhkkai kaanagaththacarrying our lives on our heads, settling in the wilderness.
Kangaani kangaani karuththai kottu kangaaniOverseer, overseer, pay close attention, overseer,
Naalu aalu varalanaakka nakki povaan kangaaniif four workers don’t show up, you’ll have nothing to eat.
Elloru vaa elloru vaaEveryone come, everyone come,
Elloru vaa elloru vaa elloru vaaeveryone come, everyone come, everyone come.
Verippidichchavan thuraiThe master is a madman,
Avan kuraikkira naaykkoru kuraiand his barking dog has a flaw.
Kari aduppula kariCharcoal, like charcoal in the stove,
Avan pudingki erinja naa sediI’m a plant he uprooted and threw away.
Naalaappuram naalu thalaimuraiyaaOn all four sides, for four generations,
Kaala kaalamaa vettum veragaawe’ve been chopped as firewood since the beginning of time.
Kappalla eri thottila aadiBoarding the ship and rocking in its cradle,
Aththa kadi vaangi michcham thaan kooliwe suffer leech bites, and the remainder is our wage.
Ooraththolachchaan ooraHe lost his village, our village,
En veraththolachchaan veraand he lost my roots, my roots.
Yaara pakachchaan yaaraWho did he make enemies with?
Thaay mannaa kuduththaanHe gave away his motherland.
Kaadumalaigalila karadi puli yaanai singamIn these forests and mountains with bears, tigers, elephants, and lions,
Koodi vaazhum intha koduvanaththa vikkirathaaare you selling this cruel forest where they all live together?
KoduvanaththaThis cruel forest?
He yaari yaari yaari yaari yaaraari yaari yaariHey, yaari yaari yaari yaari yaaraari yaari yaari,
Yaara yaara yaarawho, who, who,
He yaari yaari yaari yaarihey, yaari yaari yaari yaari.
He malaiyila maaveera ilaigala pari pari vaa veeraHey, great warrior on the mountain, pluck the leaves, come warrior,
Oramora vaarira oppaari kosh’ula eriraagather them to the side, and join the chorus of lamentation.
Oru the ila innum kaayalaA single tea leaf hasn’t dried yet,
Panjam theerala enjaami vaazhalathe famine hasn’t ended, my lord, we haven’t truly lived.
Odu odu odu odu odiyaa pullaRun, run, run, run, run here child,
Odu odu odu odiyaa haanrun, run, run, run here, haan,
Odu odu odu odu odiyaa pullarun, run, run, run, run here child,
Odu odu odu odiyaa herun, run, run, run here, hey.
Ela vetti ilangaiya kattiPlucking leaves and building Sri Lanka,
Irunooru varusham kottipouring in two hundred years of our labor,
Karuppatti vadikatti kudi da neefilter it with palm jaggery and drink it,
Oru cup teaa simple cup of tea.
Kangaani kangaani karuththai kottu kangaaniOverseer, overseer, pay close attention, overseer,
Naalu aalu varalanaakka nakki povaan kangaaniif four workers don’t show up, you’ll have nothing to eat.
Intha malaiyaan en malaiyaanThis mountain man is my mountain man,
En malaiyaan en malaiyaanmy mountain man, my mountain man.
En malaiyaan en malaiyaanMy mountain man, my mountain man,
Atta kadiyila thinam seththu pozhaikkura sanampeople surviving by dying every day from leech bites.
Kottikkadakkuthu ranam vaaya poththikkadakkuthu inamWounds are piled high, yet our race keeps its mouth shut.
Atta kadiyila thinam seththu pozhaikkura sanamPeople surviving by dying every day from leech bites.
Kottikkadakkuthu ranam vaaya poththikkadakkuthu inamWounds are piled high, yet our race keeps its mouth shut.
Far away my ancestors make a wayFar away my ancestors make a way,
The crown masters stole awaythe crown masters stole away,
My ancestors make a waymy ancestors make a way.
The lord of latas call my veinThe lord of latas call my vein,
Raari raari raari rothamuniraari raari raari rothamuni,
Raari raari raariroraari raari raariro,
Raari raari raari rothamuniraari raari raari rothamuni.
Raari raari raariroRaari raari raariro,
Raari raari raari rothamuniraari raari raari rothamuni,
Raari raari raariroraari raari raariro,
Raari raari raari rothamuniraari raari raari rothamuni.
Raari raari raariroRaari raari raariro,
Raari raari raari rothamuniraari raari raari rothamuni,
Raari raari raariroraari raari raariro,
Raari raari raari rothamuniraari raari raari rothamuni.
Raari raari raariroRaari raari raariro.
He kangaaniHey, overseer!
Kangaani Music Video
‘Kangaani’ is about workers facing exploitation in colonial forests. The Tamil lyrics tell how communities were displaced for profit while maintaining their dignity through song.