- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Punnagai
- Movie release year
- 1971
- Lyrics added on
- 4 Oct 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Naanum Kooda Raaja Thaanae is a satirical and philosophical track from the film Punnagai (1971), composed by M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan. The protagonist asserts his fundamental equality and dignity as a citizen despite facing extreme poverty and joblessness. He humorously points out the irony of democracy—that during elections, even powerful political leaders must bow down and ask for the common person's vote, effectively making every citizen a king in their own right.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Irony / Metaphor
“Naanum kooda raaja thaanae”
The speaker, an impoverished and unemployed man, metaphorically calls himself a king to highlight democratic equality and the ironic reality of citizen power during elections.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Naadum nallalla naanum nallaalla”
The repetition of the initial 'Naa' sound across 'Naadum', 'nallalla', 'naanum', and 'nallaalla' emphasizes the shared plight between the nation and the individual.
Antithesis / Imagery
“Maedum illaamae pallam illaamae”
The contrasting imagery of high ground ('maedu') and low depression ('pallam') serves as a metaphor for social inequality and class divisions, expressing a desire for social leveling.
Did you know?
Trivia
Punnagai (1971) was directed by K. Balachander and featured music composed by M. S. Vishwanathan, with T. M. Soundararajan providing the energetic vocal delivery for this social-commentary track.
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