- Lyricist
- Muthulingam
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Kootu Puzhukkal
- Movie release year
- 1987
- Lyrics added on
- 15 Nov 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This powerful social protest song from the 1987 film 'Kootu Puzhukkal' expresses deep anguish and righteous anger over the socio-political decay of contemporary India. The narrator's heart burns like a flaming torch upon witnessing widespread unemployment among educated youth, political hypocrisy surrounding caste-based vote banks, rampant bribery, and systemic corruption that subverts justice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)
“Nenjam theepandham aagudhadaa”
Compares the speaker's rage and anguish to a burning torch ('Nenjam theepandham aagudhadaa').
Ethirniyaayam / Contrast & Irony
“Varathachinai theeyinil seethaigal saavathu Indhiya boomiyilae”
Contrasts ancient mythology (Sita's Agnipravesham in Lanka) with modern reality (women dying in dowry fires across India).
Personification / Urubagapaduthal
“Laanjamum oozhalum dhesiya reedhiyil Narthanam aaduthada”
Bribery and corruption are personified as dancers performing a wild dance at the national level.
Edhugai (Ethukai / Rhyming Second Letters)
“Nitham pala kuttramgalai / Seibavanai kandu ratham kodhikkudhadaa”
Rhyming second consonants in lines like 'Patta' / 'Idhil' and 'Jaadhi' / 'Thalaivargal' creating rhythmic cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kootu Puzhukkal' (1987) is a drama starring Raghuvaran, Amala, and Chandrasekhar, directed by Deena Dayal. The film's musical score was composed by Chandrabose, with lyrics written by the renowned poet Muthulingam, who penned several socially charged and reformist songs during this era of Tamil cinema.
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