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Ka Pae Ranasingam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Punnagaiye

From Ka Pae Ranasingam · 2020

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Sundarayyar
Music director
Ghibran
Movie name
Ka Pae Ranasingam
Movie release year
2020
Lyrics added on
26 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thunai onnu illamalae
Oththa usuru alai modhuthae
Eriyura kaatukullae
Oru erumbu vazhitheduthae
Pattikaattu ponnu sollu
Parliament-il ketkuma
Kaattu singam muyala kaakka
Kaditham kodukkuma
Kanji potta kaakki sattai
Kaithariya paakkuma
Velu naachi vamsakkaari
Veeram poguma….
Thuninja thee idhu
Kuninju eriyuma…
Punnagaiyae puyalaai maarum podhu
Siru poongkiliyae puliyaai neeyum maaru
Adhigaarathin meedhu
Adiyae neeyum modhu
Siru vaer muttum podhu
Karumpaarai thaangaadhu
Ilakkai adaiyamalae
Ival idhayam adangathadaa
Vilangu udaiyamalae
Ival valaiyal udaiyathadaa
Ivalum kooda Indhiya raththam
Arasamaippu solluthu
Ee erumbum vaazha thaanae
Bhoomi ulladhu
Arungampullum nanaiya thaanae
Andha megam peiyudhu
Azhudha jaadhi meela thaanae
Arasu ulladhu
Azhudha pillaithaan paal kudikkudhu
Adhigaarathin meedhu
Adiyae neeyum modhu
Siru vaer muttum podhu
Karumpaarai thaangaadhu
With no one by her side,
a lone soul struggles restlessly.
Inside a burning forest,
an ant searches for a way out.
Will the voice of a village girl
be heard in Parliament?
To protect a rabbit,
will a wild lion ever write a letter?
Will starched khaki uniforms
ever look at humble handloom clothes?
She comes from the line of Velu Nachiyar (brave warrior queen);
will her courage ever fade?
This is a fearless fire—
will it ever bow down as it burns?
When a smile turns into a storm,
O gentle parrot, turn into a tigress!
Against the seats of power,
go on, woman, and clash!
When even a tiny root pushes against it,
the solid black rock cannot withstand it.
Without reaching her goal,
her heart will not quiet down.
Before breaking these chains,
her bangles will not shatter.
She too carries Indian blood,
just as the Constitution says.
Isn't it so that even flies and ants can live
that the earth exists?
Isn't it so that even tiny grass is drenched
that the clouds pour rain?
Isn't it for the weeping people to rise
that a government exists?
Only the child that cries gets milk.
Against the seats of power,
go on, woman, and clash!
When even a tiny root pushes against it,
the solid black rock cannot withstand it.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This anthem from Ka Pae Ranasingam serves as a fierce battle cry for an underprivileged rural woman fighting against systemic apathy, political corruption, and bureaucracy. The song chronicles her solitary struggle, comparing her to an ant navigating a forest fire or a fragile root eventually cracking a massive boulder.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

“Siru vaer muttum podhu Karumpaarai thaangaadhu”

Compares a small root breaking through a hard rock to an ordinary woman overcoming massive institutional power.

Rhetorical Question (வினா அணி)

“Pattikaattu ponnu sollu Parliament-il ketkuma”

Uses sharp questions to critique administrative apathy and social inequality.

Alliteration (மோனை)

“Velu naachi vamsakkaari Veeram poguma”

Repetition of initial consonants ('Va'/ 'Ve') enhancing the poetic rhythm.

Contrast / Antithesis (முரண் அணி)

“Siru poongkiliyae puliyaai neeyum maaru”

Contrasts a delicate songbird ('poongkili') with a fierce tiger ('puli') to depict internal transformation.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ka Pae Ranasingam (2020) stars Aishwarya Rajesh and Vijay Sethupathi. The movie revolves around Ariyanachi's struggle to bring back her husband's mortal remains from Dubai. The music for this film was composed by Ghibran, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.

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