- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Movie name
- Makkal Kural
- Movie release year
- 1976
- Lyrics added on
- 21 Oct 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This lighthearted and teasing song 'Rengaa Rangaiyaa' from the 1976 film 'Makkal Kural' (composed by V. Kumar, rendered by S. Janaki, and penned by Kannadasan) is a humorous folk-style track. The narrator playfully mocks a messenger who gets distracted by love and vegetable vendors while on duty delivering official letters. Through sharp, witty metaphors, she reprimands him for taking advantage of his uniform and losing sight of his original purpose.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Aiyyaa unga rajangam / Kizhinji pona panjaangam”
Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'rajangam' and 'panjaangam', establishing rhythmic harmony.
Moonaai (Initial alliteration)
“Kaakki udaiya pottathaalae / Kaavalkaaran nenaippaa”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Ka' in consecutive lines 'Kaakki udaiya' and 'Kaavalkaaran'.
Mythological Allusion
“Ilangaikku poreengalaa / Rendu kaalai vaichchaanae / Oru vaalai vaichchaanae”
Comparing the messenger's movement to Hanuman traveling to Lanka with a tail.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Ippo unga selvaakku / Ennei illaa punnaakku”
Comparing the lost prestige of the man to a torn almanac ('kizhinji pona panjaangam') and oil cake without oil ('ennei illaa punnaakku').
Did you know?
Trivia
The track showcases Kannadasan's versatility in writing colloquial Tamil folk songs packed with witty social commentary, complemented by S. Janaki's expressive and energetic vocal nuances.
Keep listening
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