- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Aalai Kandu Mayangathe
- Movie release year
- 1958
- Lyrics added on
- 12 Feb 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a moral monologue delivering a sharp rebuke to deceptive, treacherous, and arrogant individuals. It opens with the famous Tamil maxim that divine justice, though delayed, is inevitable and ultimate. The lyricist warns that backstabbers, oppressors of the poor, and corrupt traitors cannot escape karmic retribution or cheat God, regardless of their cunning schemes.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Koyilai idikka vantha komaliyae / Kulaththai kedukka vantha kodaaliyae”
The second letter ' ra' / 'i' matches across lines 'Arasu' and 'Deivam' structurally, and prominent second-letter rhyming occurs in 'Koyilai', 'Kulaththai', and 'Kooda'.
Metaphor
“Kulaththai kedukka vantha kodaaliyae / Kooda irunthu sathi seithaai kullanariyae”
Comparing a traitor to an axe handle/head ('kodaali') that cuts down its own forest/clan, and to a sly jackal ('kullanari').
Repetition / Anaphora
“Mudiyaathadaa adhu mudiyaathadaa”
Repetition of 'Mudiyaathadaa' emphasizes the absolute impossibility of escaping divine judgment.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, the song integrates ancient Tamil philosophical maxims ('Arasu andu kollum, Deivam nindru kollum') seamlessly into film lyrics. Rendered by Seerkazhi Govindarajan, his commanding theatrical voice made this a landmark philosophical song in 1950s Tamil cinema.
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