- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Movie name
- Kaalam Oru Naal Maarum
- Movie release year
- 1981
- Lyrics added on
- 6 Mar 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is an energetic revolutionary track from the 1981 film 'Kaalam Oru Naal Maarum', penned by Vaali and sung by T. M. Soundararajan. The song serves as a rallying cry for the working class, declaring that the tides of time and power are shifting towards the poor and oppressed. Using the spiritual metaphor of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti, the lyricist argues that just as Shiva is incomplete without Shakti, the elite and wealthy cannot survive or thrive without the labor and energy of the working class. Throughout the song, the protagonist warns oppressors against taking advantage of laborers, highlighting that the sweat and tears of the poor built the very structures of luxury enjoyed by the rich. The lyrics critique human prejudice and greed, drawing a contrast with nature (represented by the wind), which treats a palace and a hut without bias. Ultimately, the song delivers a stern warning: oppressive rule will inevitably crumble, and when the downtrodden rise, justice will prevail.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)
“Paramasivam paramasivam sakthiyillaama yaedhu sugam”
Compares the physical energy and hard work of the labor class to 'Shakti', stating that 'Paramasivam' (the wealthy/powerful upper layer) cannot exist or find happiness without 'Shakti'. Also compares worker's tears to 'senneer' (red blood).
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Vallaan endraal valainthirukkum / Illaan endraal nimirnthirukkum”
Tamil poetic device where the second letter of consecutive lines match ('du' in Kudisaiyil / Maaligai - phonetically paired structure, and 'lla' in Vallaan / Illaan).
Personification / Nature Symbolism
“Kudisaiyil kooda kaaththu varum / Maaligai endraa paaththu varum”
The wind (kaaththu) is personified as an impartial force that treats huts and palaces equally, contrasting nature's fairness with human discrimination.
Monaikkazhuththu / Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kuninthavar naangal nimirnthaal unnai viduvomaa”
Initial sound matching across words within a line or across adjacent lines, such as 'Kuninthavar' and 'Kuththiya'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Music director V. Kumar, known for his frequent collaborations with K. Balachander films and soulful tunes, composed this punchy social-protest song. Rendered by the legendary T. M. Soundararajan (TMS), the song echoes the iconic socialist lyricism popularized during the golden age of Tamil cinema by lyricists like Vaali and Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram.
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