- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Paditha Manaivi
- Movie release year
- 1961
- Lyrics added on
- 29 Apr 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from 'Paditha Manaivi' presents a compelling emotional duel between a husband and wife. The husband questions his wife's sudden transformation from a gentle, serene person (symbolized by the moon, flowers, love, and sacrifice) into an angry, turbulent persona (symbolized by fire, boiling rage, and storms). He wonders which version reflects her true identity and where her hidden intellect and eloquence came from. The wife responds with a deeply poetic justification, explaining that while she was raised with traditional virtues like modesty and silence, her assertive voice and fiery anger emerge only in response to her husband's lost patience. She draws a powerful analogy: just as an eye naturally turns red and irritated when its protective eyelid is hurt, a devoted wife cannot remain calm or silent when her husband suffers or acts out.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethirsol / Antithesis (எதிர்ச்சொல்)
“Andha mugama indha mugam”
Contrasts the past gentle nature ('Andha mugam') with the present stormy anger ('Indha mugam').
Uruvagaimai / Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Perum neruppum kodhippum puyalum irukkudhu”
Metaphorically compares gentle emotions to the moon and flowers, and anger to fire, boiling heat, and a storm.
Monai / Alliteration (மோனை)
“Atcham naanam maunam idhai thaan”
Repetition of initial phonetic sounds across words (e.g., Atcham, Avasaram, Aathiram) to build rhythmic flow.
Uvamaani / Analogy (உவமை)
“Kaakkum imaiyil kaayam irundhaal / Kangal sivakaadha”
Uses the organic relationship between an eyelid and the eye to explain how a wife's grief and anger are an innate reaction to her husband losing his patience.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Paditha Manaivi' (1961), with music by K. V. Mahadevan, is known for its thoughtful portrayal of marital communication and dynamics. The duet format functions as an intellectual debate between the characters, combining classical Tamil virtues with sharp modern questioning.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Paditha Manaivi
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.