- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Karnan
- Movie release year
- 1964
- Lyrics added on
- 30 Jan 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant philosophical track from Karnan (1964) questions the social prejudices and caste-based hierarchies of human society. Through deep analogies drawn from nature—such as the sky having no divisions, a lamp containing no darkness, and milk giving birth to ghee—the lyricist emphasizes that natural virtues like vision, light, and mercy carry no caste or lineage labels. The lyrics praise Karnan's unbound charity, asserting that true greatness is defined by a person's generosity and actions rather than their birth or origin. Those who give selflessly are noble, while those who hoard or beg remain lesser, reminding us that righteousness and compassion are the supreme spiritual truths.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Alangaram)
“Kannuku kulamaedhu... Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu”
Posing poetic questions about eyes, sky, and light having no caste or division to challenge human caste discrimination.
Metaphor (Uvamaikani)
“Villakkukkul irulaedhu”
Comparing the absence of caste in eyes or darkness in a lamp to show the inherent purity of the soul and charity.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran Alangaram)
“Koduppavarellaam mel aavaar / Kaiyil kolbavarellaam keezh aavaar”
Contrasting 'mel' (high/noble) and 'keezh' (low) based on the action of giving ('koduppavar') versus receiving ('kolbavar').
Initial Rhyme (Monaai)
“Kannuku kulamaedhu / Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines (e.g., 'Kannuku' / 'Kannaa' / 'Karunaikku').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the renowned duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and rendered by P. Susheela with lyrics by Kaviarasu Kannadasan, this track in Karnan highlights Karnan's noble struggle against societal rejection due to his foster birth. The song remains one of Tamil cinema's most potent anti-caste philosophical anthems.
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