- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, Kovai Murali
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Movie name
- Katha Nayagan
- Movie release year
- 1988
- Lyrics added on
- 13 Apr 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Naanthaanda Hanumaan Peran from the 1988 film Katha Nayagan is a buoyant and energetic song celebrating ambition, optimism, and youthful courage. The lyrics portray characters embarking on a risky journey across the ocean on an illegal boat to earn a livelihood, boldly claiming to return prosperous on their own ship. Drawing heavily on classical Tamil proverbs like Avvaiyar's 'Thiraikadal odi thiraviyam thaedi', Vairamuthu's verses balance hard work with the pursuit of pleasure, romance, and philosophical reflections on life. The upbeat rhythm by Chandrabose and dynamic vocals by Malaysia Vasudevan bring out the humorous yet resilient spirit of everyday people striving for a better future.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allusion (Iyaiputhal)
“Naanthaanda hanumaan peran”
The speaker calls himself 'Hanumaan peran' (Hanuman's grandson), referencing the mythological deity Hanuman who famously crossed the ocean to Lanka, emphasizing strength and audacity.
Proverb Citation (Pazhamozhi)
“Thiraikadal odi thiraviyam thaedi”
Refers directly to the ancient Tamil proverb by Avvaiyar, 'Thiraikadal odi thiraviyam thaedi' (Cross oceans to seek wealth).
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kadalukku karai undu ambhi / Kaadhalukku mudivillai thambhi”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the start of consecutive lines ('Kadalukku' / 'Kaadhalukku').
Analogy (Upamāna)
“Megangal urasi povadhanaalae / Vaanam theinju pogathu”
Uses natural phenomena (clouds brushing sky, sparrow leaving nest) to illustrate that core human virtues and identity do not change with physical actions or travel.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song adapts the classical Tamil adage 'Thiraikadal odi thiraviyam thaedi' into a modern 1980s comedic context in Katha Nayagan (1988), starring Pandiarajan and S. V. Sekhar. Lyricist Vairamuthu and composer Chandrabose created this popular track capturing the migration themes common in Tamil cinema during that era.
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