- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Karuppu Panam
- Movie release year
- 1964
- Lyrics added on
- 27 Feb 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from the film Karuppu Panam (1964) is a biting social and political satire composed by lyricist Kannadasan. Through sharp commentary, the song exposes societal hypocrisy, where wealth and sycophancy grant power and beauty to the unworthy, turning 'donkeys into kings' and 'crows into beauties'. It highlights how opportunists who swim in falsehoods often rise to leadership roles while genuine virtue and principles are disregarded.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Kaiyile panam irundhaal / Kaluthai kooda arasanadi”
The second letters of consecutive lines match ('Kaiyile' / 'Kaluthai', 'Poiyilae' / 'Pulugan', 'Poraada' / 'Veeraadhi').
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Poiyilae neendhi vandhaal / Pulugan kooda thalaivanadi”
Matching starting consonant sounds within the same line, such as 'Kai' and 'Kaluthai' or 'Poraada' and 'Pogaamal'.
Irony and Satire
“Kaiyile panam irundhaal / Kaluthai kooda arasanadi”
Using absurd hyperbole ('donkey as king', 'crow as beautiful', 'liar as leader') to mock real-world societal values.
Did you know?
Trivia
Karuppu Panam (1964) was directed by lyricist Kannadasan himself, who also starred in a primary role. The music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, and the song serves as a direct critique of black money and political corruption in 1960s India.
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