- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- A. L. Raghavan, Mothi
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Chithi
- Movie release year
- 1966
- Lyrics added on
- 17 Aug 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic philosophical song written by Kannadasan for the 1966 film 'Chithi' offers a biting satirical commentary on human nature. The lyricist explores the dual nature of man, viewing humanity as a volatile hybrid of godliness and animalistic savagery. Kannadasan highlights how human beings display animalistic traits through greed (crow), aimless wandering (donkey), cunningness (fox), and selfishness (tiger), turning to God only when impoverished or desperate. In the latter stanzas, the song delivers a fierce critique of hypocrisy, malicious speech, and moral corruption. With sharp wit, Kannadasan notes that humans possess a devilish mind and mud for brains, suggesting that if released into a jungle, wild beasts would readily accept them—the only thing preventing them from being total animals is the absence of a physical tail.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Animal Imagery (உவமை / உருவகம்)
“Aasaiyilae kaakkaiyadaa / Alaivadhilae kazhudhaiyadaa / Thandhirathil narigaladaa / Thannalathil puligaladaa”
Compares human traits directly to various animals to emphasize moral flaws—crow for desire, donkey for restless wandering, fox for cunningness, and tiger for selfishness.
Edhugai (அடி எதுகை - Second letter rhyming)
“Thandhirathil narigaladaa / Thannalathil puligaladaa”
The second letter 'da' in 'Thandhirathil' and 'Thannalathil' creates a strong rhythmic Tamil poetic resonance across adjacent lines.
Monaai (அடி மோனை - Initial letter alliteration)
“Mugathil paadhi vaayirukkum / Muzha neelam naakkirukkum / Mudhugilae kannirukkum / Moolaiyilae mannirukkum”
Repetition of initial consonant sound 'M' across all four consecutive lines (Mugathil, Muzha, Mudhugilae, Moolaiyilae).
Antithesis / Irony (முரண்)
“Ingae dheivam paadhi / Mirugam paadhi / Manidhan aanadhadaa”
Contrasts divine qualities ('dheivam') against animalistic savagery ('mirugam'), and pure heart ('ullam') against deceit ('kallam') to illustrate internal human conflict.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by M.S. Viswanathan and rendered powerfully by T.M. Soundararajan, this track is renowned for its theatrical delivery and sarcastic laughter at the end ('Ha ha ha sabaash'). It remains one of Lyricist Kannadasan's most iconic philosophical songs exploring human psychology.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Chithi
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.