- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- Soundararajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Malaikkallan
- Movie release year
- 1954
- Lyrics added on
- 5 Sept 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Eththanai Kaalamthaan Yaemattruvaar' is an iconic social-reformist anthem that exposes political and societal hypocrisy while offering a vision for a progressive, self-reliant nation. The song opens with a sharp critique of corrupt elites and false moralists who pose as pious citizens while exploiting the innocent masses and plundering national wealth under false pretenses.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Bakthanai polavae pagal vesham kaatti / Baamara makkalai valaiyinil maatti”
The line endings 'kaatti' and 'maatti' create a rhythmic end-rhyme scheme (Iyaipu) emphasizing the deceptive trapping of common folk.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Saththiyam thavaraatha / Uththaman polaveae nadikkiraar”
The second consonant sound 'thth' ('Saththiyam' and 'Uththaman') agrees, creating classical Tamil Ethugai rhyme.
Rhetorical Question
“Eththanai kaalamthaan yaemattruvaar intha naattilae”
The repeated question ('How long will they deceive people?') serves as a powerful rhetorical device to provoke social awakening and challenge political oppression.
Metaphor
“Baamara makkalai valaiyinil maatti”
Compares the deceptive traps of corrupt leaders to a net ('valai') used to capture unwitting common people.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Eththanai Kaalamthaan Yaemattruvaar' from Malaikkallan (1954) was a monumental turning point in Tamil cinema history. Composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, it was the breakthrough song for legendary playback singer T. M. Soundararajan (TMS), establishing him as the definitive screen voice for M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The song's rationalist, reformist lyrics heavily fueled MGR's political persona and contributed to Malaikkallan becoming the first Tamil film to win a President's Silver Medal at the National Film Awards.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Malaikkallan
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.