- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Sadhu
- Movie release year
- 1994
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Jun 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This emotional song from the movie Sadhu (1994), written by legendary lyricist Vaali, is an ode expressing heartfelt gratitude to a mother. The lyrics depict the infinite selfless love and sacrifices of a mother who absorbs all grief and hardship herself while providing comfort and joy to her child. She satisfies her own hunger with just water so her child can eat fully. Vaali uses rich Tamil literary imagery to compare the mother to sandalwood, which wears itself down to spread fragrance, and the divine Karpaga tree, which endures harsh heat to offer shade to others. The speaker concludes that no god on Earth can ever equal a mother's sweet, life-sustaining divine presence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Urvagam)
“Sandhanam un inamae”
Compares the mother's sacrificial nature to sandalwood (Sandhanam), which gradually wears itself away to give fragrance to others.
Allusion / Metaphor
“Nindridum karpagamae”
Compares the mother to the mythical celestial Karpaga tree (Karpagaviruksham) that stands in the blazing sun to give shade.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme / Contrast)
“Kanneerai ellaam / Panneeril naalum”
Contrasts tears (Kanneer) with rosewater (Panneer) sharing the second consonant sound 'nn', emphasizing grief transformed into love.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie Sadhu (1994) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, directed by P. Vasu, starring Vijayakanth. Vaali's lyrics frequently draw from traditional Tamil literary metaphors like the Karpaga tree and sandalwood to signify selfless sacrifice.
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