- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Naam Pirandha Mann
- Movie release year
- 1977
- Lyrics added on
- 6 Dec 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This powerful philosophical song expresses the anguish and disillusionment of an unsung freedom fighter in post-independence India. The protagonist invokes national icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Iron Man), and Kamarajar, questioning his own identity and sacrifice among the forty crore citizens during the freedom struggle. He recalls suffering torture, beatings, and imprisonment under British rule while proudly raising the flag and chanting 'Vande Mataram'. He laments how the sacrifices of true patriots were rendered futile when corrupt opportunists took power. Reflecting on how society quickly forgot visionaries like Gandhi and defeated leaders like Kamarajar in elections, he feels it is no surprise that an anonymous freedom fighter like him has been entirely erased from memory. He concludes with a poignant question asking when the nation will truly break free from political degeneration and greed.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Viduthalai ennum velvi theeyil karugiyavan”
Compares the struggle for freedom to a sacred sacrificial fire ('Velvi thee') where patriots burnt themselves out.
Aetukai (Second letter rhyme)
“Irumbu manithaa nee sollu / Karma veera nee sollu”
Rhyming of the second character 'ru' in 'Irumbu' and 'ar' in 'Karma' creating rhythmical harmony in the opening invocation.
Esubu / End Rhyme
“Aandugal thorum anniyan kaalil mithipattavan”
Consistent use of the verbal participle ending '-avan' across multiple lines ('adipattavan', 'udhaipattavan', 'mithipattavan', 'siraipattavan') to emphasize the hero's identity through actions.
Rhetorical Question
“Naan yaar andru naan yaar”
The repeated question 'Naan yaar' (Who am I?) serves as an existential query emphasizing the loss of identity and gratitude.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by poet Kannadasan for the 1977 film 'Naam Pirandha Mann' starring Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan, the song stands as one of Tamil cinema's most potent political commentaries on post-independence disillusionment. The mention of Kamarajar being defeated ('Annal kamarajarai thottrach seitha innadu') directly references the iconic 1967 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections where K. Kamaraj lost his seat, a tragedy that deeply affected Kannadasan.
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