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A Comparative Content Analysis of the Lyrics of Na. Muthukumar and Super Subu
Subject area: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities · Area of research: Media Studies
DOI: 10.64388/ire1724500
Abstract
Tamil film songs communicate emotions, relationships and character identities through words shaped by music and visual storytelling. This study compares eight selected songs associated with Na. Muthukumar and Super Subu using qualitative lyrical content analysis. The Na. Muthukumar sample comprises “Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen,” “Suttum Vizhi,” “Anandha Yazhai,” and “Devathaiyai Kanden.” The Super Subu sample comprises “Hukum – Thalaivar Alappara,” “Jujubee,” “Manasilaayo,” and “Othapada Veriyattam.” Each song is examined through its central theme, a short lyric excerpt, denotation, connotation, emotional tone and narrative/visual function. The analysis suggests that the selected Na. Muthukumar songs foreground personal attachment, memory, admiration and family affection, while the selected Super Subu songs foreground character elevation, catchy phrasing, rhythmic energy and dramatic attitude. These are observations about the selected songs only; they are not generalisations about the complete works of either lyricist. “Manasilaayo” is treated as a jointly credited song with Vishnu Edavan.
Keywords
Tamil film songs; lyrical content analysis; Na. Muthukumar; Super Subu; denotation; connotation; visual communication
How to cite this paper
@article{1724500,
author = {Sriganth Selvaraj, Manikkam Kaliraj},
title = {A Comparative Content Analysis of the Lyrics of Na. Muthukumar and Super Subu},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {5},
pages = {31-41},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1724500.pdf},
abstract = {Tamil film songs communicate emotions, relationships and character identities through words shaped by music and visual storytelling. This study compares eight selected songs associated with Na. Muthukumar and Super Subu using qualitative lyrical content analysis. The Na. Muthukumar sample comprises “Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen,” “Suttum Vizhi,” “Anandha Yazhai,” and “Devathaiyai Kanden.” The Super Subu sample comprises “Hukum – Thalaivar Alappara,” “Jujubee,” “Manasilaayo,” and “Othapada Veriyattam.” Each song is examined through its central theme, a short lyric excerpt, denotation, connotation, emotional tone and narrative/visual function. The analysis suggests that the selected Na. Muthukumar songs foreground personal attachment, memory, admiration and family affection, while the selected Super Subu songs foreground character elevation, catchy phrasing, rhythmic energy and dramatic attitude. These are observations about the selected songs only; they are not generalisations about the complete works of either lyricist. “Manasilaayo” is treated as a jointly credited song with Vishnu Edavan.},
keywords = {Tamil film songs; lyrical content analysis; Na. Muthukumar; Super Subu; denotation; connotation; visual communication},
month = {November},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/ire1724500}
}