- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singers
- Jikki, T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Madurai Veeran
- Movie release year
- 1956
- Lyrics added on
- 16 Mar 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song serves as a reformer's counsel addressed to thieves, tricksters, and bandits. It cautions them against surviving on deceit, highway robbery, and breaking into houses, highlighting that such illegal acts only lead to losing one's freedom and counting iron bars in prison. The lyrics advise them to abandon corrupt means and instead embrace honest labor, specifically agriculture ('holding the plow'), so they can hold their heads high with self-respect and live without fear of authority or society.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Saettai podum pulligal ellaam / Kottai vittu kambi ennanum”
Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating rhythmic flow, such as 'Saettai' and 'Kottai'.
Monaie (Initial Alliteration)
“Poottai udaikkum puliyae idhai neenga”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words, such as 'Poottai' and 'Puliyae'.
Tamil Metaphor / Idiom
“Siraiyil kambi ennanum / Yerai pidichi maanam peridhaai”
'Kambi ennanum' literally means 'counting bars', a Tamil idiom for serving a prison sentence. 'Yerai pidichi' (holding the plow) symbolizes taking up farming and honorable hard work.
Did you know?
Trivia
Madurai Veeran (1956) was a blockbuster starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The soundtrack was composed by G. Ramanathan, with lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. This reformer-style song perfectly aligned with MGR's screen image of championing social righteousness, honest hard work, and dignity of labor.
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