- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Movie name
- Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam
- Movie release year
- 1962
- Lyrics added on
- 4 Apr 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Thangam vilaiyum thirunaadu' from the movie 'Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam' (1962) is a poignant social commentary on poverty, homelessness, and political hypocrisy. The protagonist reflects on the ironic contrast between his nation's rich heritage and agricultural wealth (where 'gold grows') and his own harsh reality of lacking even a roof over his head. He criticizes politicians and scholars who preach equality and declare every citizen a 'king' on stages and in literature, while profiting off these empty promises while the common poor struggle daily for a single meal and a place to sleep without police harassment. It remains a powerful anthem of economic disparity in post-independence India.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Irony (முரண்)
“Thangam vilaiyum thirunaadu... Naan thangiyirukkathaan enakkillai ingae oru veedu”
Pitting the country's immense wealth ('Thangam vilaiyum thirunaadu') against the protagonist's severe homelessness ('Naan thangiyirukkathaan enakkillai ingae oru veedu').
Monai / Alliteration (மோனை)
“Thangam vilaiyum thirunaadu”
Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Th' in 'Thangam' and 'Thirunaadu'.
Erhai / Second-letter Rhyme (எதுகை)
“Sattam idam thara villai / Samathuvam enbathu vaarthaiyil irukkum”
The second letter 'th' matches in 'Sattam' and 'Samathuvam'.
Sarcasm / Metaphor (பரியாசம்)
“Ellorum innaattu mannargal endrae / Maedaiyil muzhangukindraar”
Comparing the impoverished masses sarcastically to 'kings' ('mannargal') to mock political speeches that claim all citizens are equal rulers.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from 'Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam' (1962), a film written by Dravidian leader and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C. N. Annadurai (Arignar Anna). Lyricist A. Maruthakasi captured Anna's social reformer ideology brilliantly in this track rendered forcefully by T. M. Soundararajan.
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