- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singer
- T. V. Rathinam
- Music director
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Movie name
- Ratha Kanneer
- Movie release year
- 1954
- Lyrics added on
- 27 Jan 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Aalai Aalai Paarkkiraar is a satirical dance song from the classic movie Ratha Kanneer (1954). Lyricist Udumalai Narayanakavi humorously critiques wealthy, lustful men in the audience who attend cultural dance performances not to appreciate the art or classical music, but solely to ogle the female dancer. Through witty social commentary, the song highlights how these men puff cigarettes, show off their gold teeth, fidget in their chairs, and pinch their friends, completely ignoring the traditional art form.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Aalai aalai paarkkiraar”
Words are repeated consecutively ('aalai aalai', 'kannai kannai', 'chumma chumma', 'thulli thulli') to emphasize the obsessive and continuous actions of the audience.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Cigarettai oodhi thalli”
Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, a signature feature of Tamil prosody (Cigarettai / Saer / Sinegithar / Sirikkiraar).
Satire and Irony
“Paattiyin raagam thaalam Ketka ingaarum varallai”
The lyrics contrast the high classical context of dance and music ('raagam thaalam') with the coarse, lustful behavior of wealthy patrons ('rokka pulli').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the rationalist poet Udumalai Narayanakavi for M. R. Radha's landmark movie Ratha Kanneer, the song serves as a social commentary on hypocritical wealthy elites. Performed on screen as a dance stage act, it reflects the Dravidian movement's reformist themes prevalent in Tamil cinema during the 1950s.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Ratha Kanneer
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.