- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Aval Oru Thodarkathai
- Movie release year
- 1974
- Lyrics added on
- 7 Jul 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Adi Ennadi Ulagam is a philosophical, iconoclastic, and rebellious song from K. Balachander's 1974 classic 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai'. Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan and composed by M. S. Viswanathan (sung by L. R. Eswari), the song serves as a spirited critique of societal hypocrisy, stifling familial expectations, and rigid traditions imposed upon women. Kannadasan compares attachments to a spider's web and relatives to a noisy market or mindless herd, advocating for self-actualization and independence over sacrifice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagathukkal)
“Bandham enbadhu silandhi valai”
Compares human relationships to a spider's web (silandhi valai) and relatives to a marketplace (sandhayadi), highlighting how emotional ties entangle and overwhelm an individual.
Mythological Allusion (Purana Kurippeedhu)
“Seedhai angu nindrirundhaal Raaman kadhai illayae”
References Sita crossing the Lakshman Rekha to argue that breaking arbitrary boundaries creates progress and legendary stories rather than passive submission.
Ethirukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Bandham enbadhu silandhi valai / Sondham enbadhu sandhayadi”
Uses matching second-letter consonants across lines to maintain rhythmic flow ('Sekku' / 'Serndhavarkae' and 'Bandham' / 'Sondham').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed by M. S. Viswanathan and rendered with fiery energy by L. R. Eswari. The recurring catchphrase 'Fadafat' in the lyrics became so immensely popular that actress Jayalakshmi, who performed in the movie, was forever nicknamed 'Fatafat Jayalakshmi' in South Indian cinema.
Keep listening
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