- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, T. L. Maharajan
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Sivappu Malli
- Movie release year
- 1981
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Nov 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Erimalai Eppadi Porukkum' from Sivappu Malli (1981) is a legendary communist labor anthem written by Vairamuthu. The song serves as a fiery rally cry for oppressed laborers, farmers, and the working class, calling upon them to break free from passive suffering and fatalism. It metaphorically compares the pent-up rage of laborers to an erupting volcano, urging them to pick up the whip of revolution to shatter the chains of socio-economic oppression. With vivid imagery—such as blood turning into sweat, honey tasting salty due to endless tears, and workers wearing down like footwear—the lyrics capture the raw pain and exploitation faced by the proletariat. Reclaiming May Day as the ultimate symbol of working-class pride and unity, the song declares that destiny is not pre-written and that true justice will only come through collective action and struggle.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Erimalai eppadi porukkum / Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam”
Compares the suppressed rage and revolutionary spirit of the working class to a sleeping volcano and dormant fire.
Simile
“Seruppena uzhaiththavar varapena ilaiththavar”
Uses 'ena' (like) to compare the grueling, unrewarded labor of workers to worn footwear and eroded field bunds.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Seruppena uzhaiththavar / Suda suda azhuthavar”
The second letter 'r' rhymes between 'Seruppena' and 'Suda' (via soft 'r/d' consonant sound structure).
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Yaeru pidiththavar iruni ilaiththavar / Vaervai vidhaiththavar veyilil aruththavar”
The ending suffix '-avar' creates a rhythmic end rhyme across parallel lines describing the workers.
Hyperbole / Visual Imagery
“Uzhavan veettu thaenum kooda / Uppu karikkum adhil kanneer midhakkum”
Exaggerates the omnipresence of grief by stating even honey tastes salty because tears float in it.
Did you know?
Trivia
1. 'Sivappu Malli' (1981), directed by Rama Narayanan, stars Vijayakanth and Chandrasekar as radical young activists fighting local exploiters. It is one of the most prominent Leftist-themed films in Tamil cinema history. 2. The song was composed by legendary music composer M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) and sung by veteran singer T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) along with a chorus. 3. Lyricist Vairamuthu penned these fiercely political lines early in his career, and the track remains an iconic anthem played during May Day rallies and trade union gatherings across Tamil Nadu.
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