- Lyricist
- M. Karunanidhi
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Devendran
- Movie name
- Ore Raththam
- Movie release year
- 1987
- Lyrics added on
- 21 Feb 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant song serves as a solemn elegy for a fallen revolutionary leader who fought tirelessly for social justice, equality, and human dignity. Written by M. Karunanidhi, the song laments the tragic loss of a young champion who was targeted and killed by fanatical, casteist forces. The lyrics grieve his untimely passing while celebrating his fiery spirit, comparing him to a lion cub, a rising sun, and pure gold. The song contextualizes his sacrifice within the reformist traditions of iconic world leaders and social reformers such as Jesus, Buddha, Prophet Muhammad, Mahatma Gandhi, Periyar, C.N. Annadurai, and B.R. Ambedkar. Ultimately, the song serves as both a eulogy and a battle cry, assuring the fallen leader that his followers will remain united under his flag and continue his noble cause.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Kutti singamae / Katti thangamae / Kulavilakku neeyadaa”
Directly compares the young leader to a lion cub ('Kutti singam'), pure gold ('Katti thangam'), and the auspicious light/beacon of the clan ('Kulavilakku') to emphasize his courage, purity of intent, and guidance.
Simile
“Ilam sooriyanaai oli veesiya / Kundram pola muzhangi nadantha”
Uses explicit similes ('sooriyanaai' - like the sun, 'pola' - like a mountain) to depict his radiant intellect and his towering, majestic presence.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Kolai veriyar... / Kolkaikaga...”
The second letter 'l' (ல்) rhymes across 'Kolai' and 'Kolkai', adding rhythmic resonance to the lines describing his struggle and sacrifice.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Pesum puyal peryaar annaa”
Repetition of the 'P' sound in 'Pesum', 'puyal', and 'peryaar' creates a strong phonetic punch emphasizing Periyar's powerful, stormy speeches.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Ore Raththam' (1987) was written by M. Karunanidhi, a veteran Tamil politician and literary figure known for embedding Rationalist and Dravidian ideology into film dialogue and lyrics. This film marked the cinematic debut of M.K. Stalin (Karunanidhi's son and future Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu). The music for the film was composed by Devendran, and the lyrics specifically highlight DMK ideological icons like Periyar and Anna alongside global religious and social reformers.
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