- Lyricist
- Muthulingam
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
- Movie release year
- 1977
- Lyrics added on
- 14 Nov 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Anbukku Naan Adimai' is an iconic philosophical song from the 1977 Tamil film 'Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga'. The protagonist declares his allegiance to love, Tamil cultural values, noble principles, and dedicated public service. The song critiques the hypocritical and superficial state of modern society, where emotional warmth is replaced by heartless emptiness, commercialization triumphs over basic needs, and superficial trends replace moral wisdom. The lyricist highlights the loss of core values like humility, sincerity, duty, dignity, and discipline, urging people not to mistake superficial indulgence for true civilization. Through a compelling blend of social commentary and cultural pride, the song serves as a moral compass emphasizing humility and moral integrity over material excess.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition (Emoni)
“Anbukku naan adimai / Thamizh panbukku naan adimai”
The phrase 'naan adimai' is repeated at the end of consecutive refrain lines to strongly anchor the speaker's commitment to virtues.
Simile (Upamai)
“Idhayam ellaam paalaivanam pol”
Uses 'pol' (like/as) to compare emotional emptiness in people's hearts to a barren desert ('paalaivanam').
Antithesis (Maranpatta Porul)
“Kudikkum neera vilaigal pesi... Irukkum kaasai thanneer polae...”
Contrasts two opposing behaviors: commercializing basic drinking water over there versus squandering money like water over here.
Alliterative Allusion (Monai)
“Kadamai ganniyam kattuppaattai”
Employs 'Ka' alliteration across 'Kadamai', 'Ganniyam', and 'Kattuppaattai' while referencing C. N. Annadurai's famous political and ethical trilogy (Duty, Dignity, Discipline).
Did you know?
Trivia
'Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga' (1977) was released during the crucial period when M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) transitioned into political leadership. The line 'Kadamai ganniyam kattuppaattai' explicitly echoes the three guiding principles coined by DMK founder C. N. Annadurai. The song was written by lyricist Muthulingam, composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and sung by T. M. Soundararajan.
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