- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Pattanathu Rajakkal
- Movie release year
- 1982
- Lyrics added on
- 2 Aug 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This social commentary song subverts the famous Tamil proverb 'Ezhaiyin sirippil iraivanai kaanalam' (God is seen in the smile of the poor). The protagonist cynically points out that he has never seen God in a poor man's smile because society and the corrupt political system never give the poor any reason to smile in the first place.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Irony / Subversion of Motto
“Yaezhaiyin sirippil iraivan irukaan... Yaezhai sirichchathillai”
The lyrics subvert the famous egalitarian quote popularized by C. N. Annadurai ('Yaezhaiyin sirippil iraivan irukaan') by noting that the poor man never smiles.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Pollaathavan angae kondaaduraan / Illaathavan ingae thindaaduraan”
The second consonant sound 'll' matches between 'Pollaathavan' and 'Illaathavan'.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Pollaathavan angae kondaaduraan / Illaathavan ingae thindaaduraan”
Contrasting the affluent wicked man celebrating in power with the impoverished man struggling for basic needs.
Idiomatic Allusion / Metaphor
“Poonaikku naanthaan mani kattaporaen”
Uses the common fable idiom 'bell the cat' ('poonaikku mani kattadhal') to mean taking a bold stance against powerful oppressors.
Did you know?
Trivia
The opening line 'Ezhaiyin sirippil iraivanai kaanalam' was a central socio-political slogan of the Dravidian movement coined by former Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai. Lyricist Vaali brilliantly uses it in a sarcastic context to highlight social inequality.
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