- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chorus
- Music director
- K. Chakravarthy
- Movie name
- Yemanukku Yeman
- Movie release year
- 1980
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Sept 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a satirical political anthem set in the mythological underworld of Yamaloka (Hell). The protagonist incites Yama's workforce—the demons and Kinkara minions—to organize a labor union strike against Lord Yama. They demand excessive bonuses, work stoppages, uniform codes, democratic elections, and the revocation of emergency measures, turning the tyrannical hellscape into a trade union battleground. Through this comic premise, lyricist Kannadasan brilliantly parodies the trade union culture, communist political slogans ('Inquilab Zindabad'), and democratic electoral promises prevalent in contemporary Indian politics during the late 1970s and 80s.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Extended Metaphor (Allegory)
“Naragalogam enum thozhirsaalai”
Hell ('Naragalogam') is metaphorically framed as an industrial workplace or factory ('Thozhirsaalai') where workers unionize.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Kombum meesaiyum idhu enna koram / Kingarurukellaam ini uniforam”
The second consonant sound matches between adjacent lines ('Kombum' and 'Kingarurukellaam').
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Erumai maattu annaachi / Therdhal vishyam ennachi”
End-rhyming Tamilized English and Tamil words used for comedic effect ('Koram' / 'Uniforam', 'Annaachi' / 'Ennachi').
Repetition / Anaphora
“Chorus :Nirutham nirutham nirutham nirutham”
Rhythmic chant-like repetition of political protest slogans and demands to mimic a union rally.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Yemanukku Yeman' (1980) starred Sivaji Ganesan in dual roles (including Lord Yama and the mortal hero) and was a fantasy-comedy remake of the 1977 Telugu blockbuster 'Yamagola' starring N. T. Rama Rao. Lyricist Kannadasan drew heavily on post-Emergency Indian political rhetoric, blending labor union slogans like 'Inquilab Zindabad' into a mythological fantasy context.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Yemanukku Yeman
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.