- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Sivappu Nila
- Movie release year
- 1985
- Lyrics added on
- 6 Jan 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Pudikkiraen Kottaiyai from the 1985 movie Sivappu Nila is a satirical, high-energy track composed by Shankar Ganesh, written by Vaali, and sung in Malaysia Vasudevan's signature expressive style. In the song, a protagonist under the influence of liquor humorously boasts about capturing power while making witty observations about societal issues, water scarcity, government policies, and social class structure. Vaali cleverly weaves contemporary political and social commentaries into a upbeat song. He touches upon real-world issues such as the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu Cauvery water dispute, the delay in bringing Krishna river water to Chennai, illicit liquor deaths, the state's lifting of prohibition, and how liquor ironically acts as a social equalizer across caste and economic divisions.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Pudikkiraen kottaiyai paarungadaa / Pudichchathum kumbida vaarungadaa”
The second letter 'di' (டி) matches across lines, creating rhythmic continuity.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Machchaana kettaen kaaveri thanni / Maattaennu sonnaan pidivaathaam panni”
The lines end with matching rhyming words 'thanni' and 'panni'.
Social Satire / Irony
“Pala saathinga konda samuthaayamae / Oru saathiyaa maaththum saaraayamae”
The lyricist satirically remarks that alcohol achieves social equality across caste and class lines faster than social reform.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song directly references real contemporary 1980s events in Tamil Nadu, including interstate water sharing disputes over the Cauvery river, the Krishna River Water Supply Scheme (Telugu Ganga Project) to supply drinking water to Madras, and the Tamil Nadu government's policy changes surrounding state-run alcohol sales.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Sivappu Nila
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.