- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- K. R. Ramasamy
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Satharam
- Movie release year
- 1956
- Lyrics added on
- 17 Jan 2026
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
In this classic song from Satharam (1956), sung dramatically by K. R. Ramasamy, the singer addresses a woman of royal or wealthy stature with a mixture of sarcasm, social critique, and warning. He contrasts her rich and proud background with his humble working-class roots, pointing out class divides while mocking her arrogance. Through clever wordplay, he admonishes her for losing her wisdom due to anger and forgetting her royal dignity, warning her that her missteps and contacts are being monitored and tallied.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Alliteration)
“Aathirathaal arivizhandhu”
Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds in words within the same line, such as 'Rambatta parambarai' and 'Aathirathaal arivizhandhu'.
Edhukai (Assonance / Second Letter Rhyming)
“Aathirathaal arivizhandhu / Arasi enbathai marandhu”
Rhyming of the second letter across lines, such as 'Kaathirundhaval' / 'Naethu' or 'Aathirathaal' / 'Arasi' / 'Kothirathai'.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Nee panakkaran sothu / Naan paattaali vithu”
Rhyming of ending words across consecutive lines, such as 'sothu' and 'vithu'.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Kodari kaambae en”
Comparing the woman to an axe handle that destroys its own forest/clan ('Kodari kaambae').
Did you know?
Trivia
Satharam (1956) featured music by legendary composer G. Ramanathan and lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. K. R. Ramasamy, a famous drama artist and playback singer known for his distinct theatrical vocal style, delivered this song with strong dramatic expression.
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