- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Karnan
- Movie release year
- 1964
- Lyrics added on
- 27 Jan 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This powerful monologue and song from Karnan (1964) captures the essence of Lord Krishna's philosophical discourse (Bhagavad Gita) to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Krishna addresses Arjuna's reluctance to fight his own kin, reminding him that the human soul is eternal and immutable, while the body is merely a temporary vessel bound to perish. Krishna reveals his divine omnipresence—manifesting as kings, commoners, and nature alike—and urges Arjuna to relinquish his moral hesitation and pick up his bow, Gandiva.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition
“Kannanae kaattinaan / Kannanae saattrinaan / Kannanae kolai seigindraan”
The repetition of 'Kannanae' at the start of consecutive lines emphasizes Krishna's ultimate cosmic agency in all actions.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Pottruvaar pottralum / Thoottruvaar thoottralum”
Pairing 'Pottruvaar' (those who praise) with 'Thoottruvaar' (those who revile) highlights equanimity and detachment from worldly judgment.
Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Mannarum naanae / Makkalum naanae / Maram chedi kodiyum naanae”
The repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Ma' creates rhythmic musicality across lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic track from Karnan (1964) features lyrics by the legendary poet Kannadasan, who simplified complex Sanskrit philosophical concepts from the Bhagavad Gita into accessible Tamil poetry. Sung powerfully by Sirkazhi Govindarajan, the sequence culminates in the famous Sanskrit shloka 'Parithraanaaya Saadhoonaam'.
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