Tamil poet Kannadasan, renowned as one of India’s most esteemed lyricists, penned an astounding 5,000 lyrics, composed 6,000 poems and authored 232 books. He became the inaugural recipient of the National Film Award for Best Lyrics in 1969. Amazingly, many of his film lyrics and their original themes resonate vibrantly in Narendra Modi’s exhortations to develop a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

In the 1961 film ‘Pasamalar’, the lyrics were by Kannadasan, music by the Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy duo, and singers were T.M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The powerful message in the opening stanza of the song, reads:

‘Engalukum

Kaalam varum kaalam vandhaal

Vaazhvu varum vaazhvu vandhaal

Anaivaraiyum vaazhavaipomae.’

‘Our time will surely come,

And when our time comes we will live gloriously.

Not only us but we will ensure that everybody lives gloriously.’

Is this not a reflection of the great Modi theme of ‘Sabka saath sabka vikas’?

In the 1964 movie ‘Vettaikkaran’, a great song penned by Kannadasan, set to tune by K.V. Mahadevan and sung by T.M. Soundararajan, is “Unnai Arinthaal". Verse seven appears tailor-made for Modiji:

‘Maaperum sabaigalil

Nee nadandhaal

Unakku maalaigal vizha vendum

Oru maattru kuraiyaadha

Mannavan ivanendru

Pottri pughazha vendum.’

‘When you walk in a great gathering

Garlands should fall on you

and people should praise you,

that this one is a blemish-less king.’

When Modiji visits foreign countries, every Indian is proud to see Presidents, Prime Ministers, Dictators and Premiers, stepping out to receive him, giving him a guard of honour, and heaping praises on him. Today, everywhere, the Indian passport has a respectability and acknowledgement that it never had before.

Another gem of a song mirroring the capacity of Modiji can be discerned in the 1963 movie bearing the title ‘Dharmam Thalaikakum’ meaning- “the charity you do will save your head". The music is by K.V. Mahadevan and sung by T.M. Soundararajan. Verse four of this title song has this powerful verse:

‘Malai poalae varum soadhanai yaavum

pani poal neenggi vidum

nammai vaazhavidaadhavar vandhdhu nam vaasalil vananggida vaithu vidum.’

‘Your ordeals and difficulties which may seem as mighty and insurmountable as the mountains,

will melt away like the snow,

it will make our foes who used to make our lives hard,

come to our doorsteps and salute us.’

The country is seeing how nations that were once inimical and scornful, have mellowed and are more cautiously respectful. Today, India has strong relationships with........

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