- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singers
- A. L. Ragavan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- T. V. Raju
- Movie name
- Raja Sevai
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 29 Sept 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is structured as a traditional Tamil Kuravan-Kurathi folk duet between Singan and Singi. Through clever animal fables and nature allegories, the singers mock corrupt, selfish opportunists who exploit society and put up grand pretenses. Selfish men are compared to cats trying to brand themselves like tigers, snake gourds pretending to be venomous snakes, and sly foxes hiding among helpless sheep. The song carries a strong message of retributive justice: no matter how grandly a corrupt person lives at the expense of others, a tiger awaits the fox and a sharp sickle is ready to uproot the useless tree.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory & Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Puliya paathukittu Poonai soodu pottukittu”
Human opportunists and oppressors are metaphorically portrayed as sly foxes among sheep, wild cats branding themselves to look like tigers, and useless Odhiya trees.
Folk Refrain / Addressing Rhythm
“Suya kaariya poonai irukku singi singi”
The traditional Kuravan-Kurathi dialogue rhythm is maintained using rhythmic vocatives 'Singa Singa' (addressed by Singi to Singan) and 'Singi Singi' (addressed by Singan to Singi).
Initial Rhyme (Monai)
“Pudalangha paambaaghi Bussnnu seeraadhu singi singi”
Alliteration of the initial 'P' sound creates a rhythmic, musical folk flow.
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Trivia
'Raja Sevai' (1959) features music by T. V. Raju with lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass employing the classic 'Kuravan-Kurathi' folk idiom (Singan and Singi characters). This style was widely popular in mid-20th century Tamil cinema for delivering socio-political critique wrapped in catchy, high-energy folk duets.
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