- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Arasilangkumari
- Movie release year
- 1961
- Lyrics added on
- 17 Oct 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Yettramunnaa Yettram' is a socialist folk-inspired song from the 1961 movie Arasilangkumari, written by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram. Using the metaphor of the traditional agricultural water-lift pump ('Yettram'), the song celebrates human effort, unity, and hard labor as the true engines of progress. It urges society to reject fatalism ('vidhi'), laziness, and political indecision, encouraging people to work systematically like ants and hold on to their resolve like a monitor lizard. The song highlights the dignity of labor, pointing out that even priests and scholars ultimately depend on the humble farmer whose plow feeds the world. Referencing classical Tamil wisdom from Avvaiyar, the lyricist envisions a egalitarian society where justice flourishes, the wealthy develop empathy, and all working people live in freedom and dignity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Erumbu pola varisaiyaaga”
Compares human disciplined labor to ants marching in an orderly line.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Udumbu pola urudhi venum”
Compares firm determination to the unshakeable grip of a monitor lizard ('Udumbu').
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Needhi endra nel vilaiyum / Nerinji padarndha tharisilae”
Equates justice to paddy that can grow even on thorn-filled, neglected barren land through labor.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Odhuvaar thozhuvaarellaam / Uzhuvaar thalai kadaiyilae / Ulagham sezhippadhellaam”
Repetition of initial vowel sounds ('O' / 'U') across lines 29-31 creates melodic flow.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Vidhiyai enni / Vizhundhu kidakkum / Veenarellaam maaranum”
Repetition of the second consonant sound 'dhi'/'zhu'/'na' across related structural lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was famous for embedding Marxist ideals, working-class solidarity, and anti-fatalistic themes into Tamil film songs. His songs in M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) films like Arasilangkumari (1961) played a vital role in building MGR's screen persona as a champion of the poor and oppressed.
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