- Lyricist
- Jupiter Chinnadurai
- Singer
- Veeramani S. Raju
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Arumbugal
- Movie release year
- 1979
- Lyrics added on
- 6 Jan 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This high-energy motivational song urges the listener to reject submissiveness ('salaam') and fight for dignity and self-respect in a harsh world. The lyrics stress that the world tramples upon the meek, but respects those who stand tall and fight back against oppression and societal norms.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor & Simile (Upamai)
“Aayiram varusham naayai polae... Oru singam polae vaazhanumadaa”
Compares living submissively for a long time to a dog's life, and living courageously even for a brief moment to a lion's life ('Aayiram varusham naayai polae... Ainthu nimisham vaazhnthaalum Oru singam polae vaazhanumadaa').
Rhyme & Alliteration (Edhukai / Mouna)
“Ulaaththai kandu nee payanthaa / Ulagam unnai udhaikkumadaa”
Use of second-letter rhyming across lines such as 'Ulaaththai' / 'Ulagam' / 'Ulagaththai' and 'Paavam' / 'Paiththiyakaaran' / 'Pallai' / 'Paramparai'.
Antithesis (Muran)
“Aayiram varusham naayai polae... Ainthu nimisham vaazhnthaalum Oru singam polae vaazhanumadaa”
Contrasting living fearfully for a thousand years as a dog versus living proudly for five minutes as a lion.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Jupiter Chinnadurai for the 1979 film 'Arumbugal', this energetic track features rebellious themes typical of late 1970s Tamil cinema hero-introduction and philosophical motivational numbers.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Arumbugal
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.