- Lyricist
- Kamakodiyan
- Singers
- Mahanadhi Shobana, Chorus
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Punniyavathi
- Movie release year
- 1997
- Lyrics added on
- 15 Jan 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Gandhiyaiyum Paathadhilla' is an energetic folk tribute expressing deep devotion and admiration for an elder brother figure named Aiyanaar. The singer lists a wide array of renowned Indian freedom fighters, social reformers, political stalwarts, and global icons—including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, B.R. Ambedkar, Subramania Bharathi, K. Kamaraj, Periyar, C.N. Annadurai, Abraham Lincoln, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, VO Chidambaram Pillai, Rajaji, and Ma. Po. Si. The singer acknowledges that while he has never seen any of these grand historical personalities in real life, his elder brother embodies all their righteousness, selflessness, and leadership in person. Thematically, the song bridges macro-level history with micro-level lived reality, celebrating the hero of the local community as the living synthesis of national and global leaders. Set to a lively beat with rhythmic folk refrains, the lyrics demonstrate how Tamil folk tradition elevates local patriarchs and protectors to mythical heights by connecting them with respected social justice reformers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagakani)
“Engalukku gandhiyum nehruvum / Aiyanaaru annan thaan”
The lyricist directly equates national icons like Gandhi and Nehru to the elder brother Aiyanaar, using metaphor to highlight his virtues.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Gandhiyaiyum paathadhilla / Nehruvaiyum paathadhilla”
The repetitive use of 'paathadhilla' at the end of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic end rhyme (Iyaipu).
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Paattu cholli vellaiyanukku / Naattukkulla sundanaiyum”
The second letter sound 'ttu' matches in 'Paattu' and 'Naattu', satisfying the Tamil poetic rule of Ethugai.
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Avanga namma annana pola / Annana paaru avanga pola”
Uses the comparative term 'pola' (like) to explicitly draw a comparison between historical leaders and the elder brother.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Naattukkunnu nallaa ozhaichavanga / Nerandharamaa ingae nelachavanga”
Matching initial consonant sounds ('Na' and 'Ne') across lines creates a harmonious melodic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Kamakodiyan for the 1997 film 'Punniyavathi', this song stands out for its extensive roll call of political and historical figures from various ideologies (ranging from Indian freedom fighters to Dravidian leaders like Periyar and Anna, as well as global communist figures like Lenin and Stalin). It uses traditional folk song rhythm to make historical awareness accessible to mass rural audiences.
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