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Aalappirandhavan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kodi Katti Parakira

From Aalappirandhavan · 1987

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Aalappirandhavan
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
17 Apr 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maharaja vaazhga
Maharaja vaazhga
Maharaja vaazhga
…………….
Kodikkatti parakkira raja
Enga maharaja enga magaraja
Chorus :Kodikkatti parakkira raja
Enga maharaja enga magaraja
Adi aaththaadi avan
Engiruntho dhinam varuvaandi
Siru kooththaadi ingu poraadi
Kurai theerppaandi
Thanniya kudippaan tharaiyila paduppaan
Than kudi makkalin kavalaiya theerppaan
Kodikkatti parakkira raja
Enga maharaja enga magaraja
Chorus :Kodikkatti parakkira raja
Enga maharaja enga magaraja
Padaigalum illa kudigalum illa
Edupidi illa adhanaal kedupidi illa
Vote-tugalindri nottugalindri
Thaanaai nindraanae adhai
Vettugalindri paattugalindri
Thaniyaai vedraanae
Ottugalindri nottugalindri
Thaanaai nindraanae adhai
Vettugalindri paattugalindri
Thaniyaai vedraanae
Mudiyaathu mudiyaathu
Engalai surandida mudiyaathu
Padiyaathu padiyaathu yaezhaigal varkkam padiyaathu
Ingae yaezhaigal kadhavathu thirakkuthu
Unmai sudhandhiram piranthathu piranthathu
Kodikkatti parakkira raja
Enga maharaja enga magaraja
Chorus :Kodikkatti parakkira raja
Enga maharaja enga magaraja
……………
Yaeri sellum vilaivaasigalai
Idhuvarai yaarum irakkiyathillai
Koshangal pottu
Kodikalai pidiththom
Nadanthathu ondrumillai
Verum veshangal paarththu
Whistle-galai adiththom
Kidaiththathu nanmaiyillai
Koshangal pottu
Kodikalai pidiththom
Nadanthathu ondrumillai
Verum veshangal paarththu
Whistle-galai adiththom
Kidaiththathu nanmaiyillai
Dharmangalum niyaayangalum
Eliyavar sorpadi ketkaathu
Madhangalum arasiyal katchigalum
Manithanai nesikka mudiyaathu
Ingae yaezhaigal kadhavathu thirakkuthu
Unmai sudhanthiram piranthathu piranthathu
Kodikkatti parakkira raja
Enga maharaja enga magaraja haei….
Chorus :Kodikkatti parakkira raja
Enga maharaja enga magaraja….
Adi aaththaadi
Avan engiruntho dhinam varuvaandi
Siru kooththaadi ingu poraadi
Kurai theerppaandi
Thanniya kudippaan tharaiyila paduppaan
Than kudi makkalin kavalaiya theerppaan
Kodikkatti parakkira raja
Enga maharaja enga magaraja haei haei….
Chorus :Kodikkatti parakkira raja
Enga maharaja enga magaraja….
Long live the king!
Long live the king!
Long live the king!
...
The king who flies his flag high,
our Maharaja, our great king!
Chorus: The king who flies his flag high,
our Maharaja, our great king!
Oh goodness me,
he shows up every day from somewhere!
Like a simple street artist, fighting right here,
he solves all our problems!
He drinks plain water and sleeps on the bare floor,
and wipes away the worries of his people!
The king who flies his flag high,
our Maharaja, our great king!
Chorus: The king who flies his flag high,
our Maharaja, our great king!
He has no armies, nor subjects under him,
he has no lackeys, so there is no bossing around!
Without needing votes, without needing money,
he stood up on his own!
Without taking bribes or seeking flattering songs,
he conquers it all all by himself!
Without needing votes, without needing money,
he stood up on his own!
Without taking bribes or seeking flattering songs,
he conquers it all all by himself!
No way, it is impossible!
You cannot exploit us anymore!
The working poor will never bow down, will never yield!
The doors of hope are opening here for the poor,
true freedom is finally born, it is born!
The king who flies his flag high,
our Maharaja, our great king!
Chorus: The king who flies his flag high,
our Maharaja, our great king!
...
The ever-rising prices of daily goods,
no one has ever brought them down till now.
We shouted slogans,
we held up party flags,
yet nothing good ever happened!
Falling for mere false acts,
we whistled and cheered,
yet we gained nothing from it!
We shouted slogans,
we held up party flags,
yet nothing good ever happened!
Falling for mere false acts,
we whistled and cheered,
yet we gained nothing from it!
Moral codes and justice
do not listen to the pleas of the poor.
Religions and political parties
can never truly love a human being.
The doors of hope are opening here for the poor,
true freedom is finally born, it is born!
The king who flies his flag high,
our Maharaja, our great king, hey!
Chorus: The king who flies his flag high,
our Maharaja, our great king...
Oh goodness me,
he shows up every day from somewhere!
Like a simple street artist, fighting right here,
he solves all our problems!
He drinks plain water and sleeps on the bare floor,
and wipes away the worries of his people!
The king who flies his flag high,
our Maharaja, our great king, hey hey!
Chorus: The king who flies his flag high,
our Maharaja, our great king...
Chorus
Chorus
Male
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Chorus
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Chorus
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Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic folk-pop track celebrates an unsung leader of the common people—a simple street performer who acts as a savior for the poor without political power, money, or vanity. The lyrics criticize the corruption in politics, pointing out how votes, money, empty slogans, and political banners fail to bring relief from rising prices and exploitation. Unlike politicians who make grand promises, this 'king of the people' lives humbly, drinking water and sleeping on the floor, while genuinely listening to and solving the struggles of the working class.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vote-tugalindri nottugalindri / Thaanaai nindraanae adhai / Vettugalindri paattugalindri

Rhyming of the second consonant sound in successive lines ('Vote-tugalindri' / 'Vettugalindri').

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Padaigalum illa kudigalum illa / Edupidi illa adhanaal kedupidi illa

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('P') across line beginnings.

Repetition (Anaphora)

Mudiyaathu mudiyaathu / Engalai surandida mudiyaathu

Emphatic repetition of words like 'mudiyaathu' and 'padiyaathu' to assert resistance against exploitation.

Irony / Social Satire

Verum veshangal paarththu / Whistle-galai adiththom / Kidaiththathu nanmaiyillai

Contrast between grand political showmanship ('koshangal pottu', 'whistle-galai adiththom') and its total lack of real result.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from 'Aalappirandhavan' (1987) features lyrics written by Ilaiyaraaja himself, showcasing his adept hand at socio-political Tamil folk poetry. Sung forcefully by Malaysia Vasudevan, the song presents a sharp satire on electoral politics, political fanfare, and price inflation during the late 1980s.

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