- Lyricist
- M. Karunanidhi
- Singer
- Master Subbaiya
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Manthiri Kumari
- Movie release year
- 1950
- Lyrics added on
- 15 Mar 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from the landmark 1950 Tamil film 'Manthiri Kumari' is a biting socio-political commentary composed in a traditional folk style. The singer addresses his buffalo calf to vent his frustration about societal injustices, highlighting the tragic plight of honest workers and poor laborers who toil endlessly yet face suffering and poverty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Apostrophe / Refrain
“Erumai kannu kutti”
Addressing an inanimate or non-human listener ('Erumai kannu kutti') continuously as a folk refrain to convey deep distress and social helplessness.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Yeichu polaikkuravan / Ezhadukku maaligaiyil”
Matching of the second consonant sound in adjacent lines, a fundamental Tamil poetic meter rule.
Moni (Initial Letter Alliteration)
“Naatukku thalaivan endru / Nambumpadi pesi vittu”
Repetition of initial vowel or consonant sounds across consecutive lines.
Juxtaposition / Social Irony
“Ezhadukku maaligaiyil... Pichai edukkuranae”
Contrasting the corrupt fraud living in a multi-story mansion with the righteous man reduced to begging.
Did you know?
Trivia
Manthiri Kumari (1950) was directed by American filmmaker Ellis R. Dungan and featured dialogue and lyrics by M. Karunanidhi, who later became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The movie served as a major propaganda tool for the Dravidian movement, embedding themes of social justice, anti-corruption, and rationalism directly into its songs and dialogues.
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