- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Ratha Thilagam
- Movie release year
- 1963
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Apr 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This iconic philosophical masterpiece celebrates the immortal nature of an artist and poet. The protagonist embraces a bohemian lifestyle—finding solace in alcohol, female companionship, and music—while declaring his supreme divine purpose as a creator. He considers himself the youngest son of Mother Literature and equates a poet's power of creation to that of God.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Oru koppaiyilae en kudiyiruppu / Oru kola mayil en thunai iruppu / Isai paadalilae en uyir thudippu / Naan paarpathellaam azhagin sirippu”
The endings 'kudiyiruppu', 'thunai iruppu', 'thudippu', and 'sirippu' create a rich rhyming rhythm at the end of each stanza line.
Metaphor
“Naan padaippathanaal en per iraivan”
The poet equates the act of artistic creation to divine creation, declaring himself God because he creates poetry.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaaviya thaayin ilaiyamagan / Kaadhal pengalin perunthalaivan”
The repetition of the 'Kaa' sound at the start of consecutive lines creates melodic flow.
Hyperbole / Self-Affirmation
“Naan nirantharamaanavan azhivathillai / Entha nilaiyilum enakku maranam illai”
An emphatic declaration of immortality, emphasizing that a true poet's legacy and words never die even if the physical body perishes.
Did you know?
Trivia
The iconic line 'Naan nirantharamaanavan azhivathillai, entha nilaiyilum enakku maranam illai' (I am eternal, I do not perish; under no circumstance do I suffer death) became closely synonymous with Kannadasan himself. It is widely regarded as his own self-composed epitaph, symbolizing the timeless nature of his literary genius. The song was set to music by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan for Sivaji Ganesan.
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