- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Movie name
- Teacheramma
- Movie release year
- 1968
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Aug 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This satirical track from 'Teacheramma' (1968), penned by lyricist Kannadasan, uses sharp humor to critique greed, false generosity, and foolishness. The narrator chides a miserly uncle who hoards excess wealth while boasting about his meager, useless acts of charity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Satire and Irony
“Kizhinja kudai koduththaan / Vallal endru paereduththaan”
Compares grand classical patrons like Pari (who donated his chariot) and Kumanan (who offered his head) to the uncle who gave away a worthless torn umbrella yet considers himself a grand philanthropist.
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
“Unakku mattum enna onbathu vayiru”
Exaggerates the uncle's gluttony and greed by contrasting the standard human belly measurement ('one span') with his 'nine-span stomach'.
Metaphor
“Un mandaiyil mattum yaen kalimannu”
Uses 'clay' (kalimannu) as a metaphor for stupidity or lack of intelligence inside the head.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Karnan poranthathu naattukku perumai / Kamban poranthathu thamizhukku perumai”
Uses matching second consonants across successive lines ('r' sound in Karnan and Kamban).
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Kannadasan, this song relies on classical Tamil literary references—such as King Vel Pari giving his chariot to a climbing plant and King Kumanan offering his head for a bounty—to mock everyday miserliness in a humorous, theatrical setting.
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