- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singer
- Kamal Haasan
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Movie name
- Pudhupettai
- Movie release year
- 2006
- Lyrics added on
- 19 Mar 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This track captures the ruthless, hyper-vigilant mindset of a gangster surviving in the brutal underworld of Pudhupettai. The song explores themes of constant paranoia, deadly rivalry, and existential disillusionment. The protagonist lives under the perpetual threat of assassination, realizing that rest is a luxury reserved only for the grave and that constant alertness is his only shield.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Imagery (Visual)
“Oru kannil thoongidu / Maru kannai thiranthiru”
Lines like 'Oru kannil thoongidu, Maru kannai thiranthiru' create vivid sensory images of constant vigilance and life on the edge.
Simile / Metaphor
“Yemanaaga thodargiraan”
Comparing the persistent shadow of an enemy to Yama, the Hindu deity of death ('Yemanaaga thodargiraan').
Iyaibu (Rhyme)
“Neruppu vaayinil oramaai eriyum”
End-rhymes using '-eriyum', '-theriyum', '-puriyum', '-odhungum' establish a rhythmic cadence typical of Tamil lyrical composition.
Irony / Contrast
“Naam budhan illai vazhi vidu”
Contrasting non-violence with violence by stating 'Naam budhan illai vazhi vidu' (We are not Buddha, so step aside).
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for the cult classic Tamil film Pudhupettai (2006), directed by Selvaraghavan and written by Na. Muthu Kumar. The song accompanies the intense character arc of Kokki Kumar (played by Dhanush) as he navigates the violent political-gangster landscape of North Chennai.
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