- Lyricist
- Ra. Balu
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Maragatham
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 13 Aug 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This patriotic Tamil anthem celebrates the rich cultural heritage, architectural legacy, and high moral philosophy of Tamil Nadu. It highlights core Tamil values such as universal brotherhood ('Ondrae kulam oruvanae devan'), non-violence ('Kollaamai'), truthfulness ('Poiyaamai'), and harmony between words and deeds. The lyrics pay tribute to the fertile land nourished by the Cauvery river, grand temple architecture, the rich literary traditions of Mutthamizh (prose, music, drama), and the wisdom of Thirukkural, presenting Tamil Nadu as the cradle of artistic excellence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaal (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaviri paayum kanni tamil naadu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines, such as 'Kaviri', 'Kalaikalukellam', and 'Kaaviyam'.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Vinnai maraiththidum goburamae”
Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines, seen in 'Vinnai' and 'Ennil'.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Kuralenum amuthaam thaenundae”
Describing Thirukkural directly as sweet nectar ('Amuthaam thaen').
Anaphora (Repetition)
“Kalaikalukellam thaai veedu”
Repetition of the refrain lines to emphasize pride in Tamil land and culture.
Did you know?
Trivia
The opening line 'Ondrae kulam oruvanae devan' originates from Thirumoolar's ancient text Thirumandhiram and was famously adopted by C. N. Annadurai as a guiding philosophical slogan for social reform.
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