- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan
- Movie name
- Annai Abirami
- Movie release year
- 1972
- Lyrics added on
- 30 Apr 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This philosophical song from Annai Abirami warns against the destructive nature of uncontrolled desire (aasai). It draws upon classical Hindu epics and mythology to demonstrate how desire can bring down even the most powerful and divine beings. Ravana, the king of Lanka who was blessed by Lord Shiva, met his downfall because of lust, while gods like Indra and Chandra ruined their stature due to unbridled desire. Furthermore, the song points out that the catastrophic eighteen-day war of the Mahabharata, which destroyed wisdom and ruined destinies, was fundamentally caused by greed and desire. Ultimately, it serves as a moral lesson that unchecked desire is the primary root of destruction.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Aasaiyaal veezhnthaanandro / Tharam kettu ponaanandro”
The lines end with the rhyming suffix 'andro' ('veezhnthaanandro', 'ponaanandro', 'aasai andro'), creating a rhythmic and rhetorical cadence throughout the song.
Edhugai (Second Letter Assonance)
“Varam petra indhiranum chanthiranum / Tharam kettu ponaanandro”
The second letter consonant 'ra' rhymes across 'Varam' and 'Tharam' in consecutive lines.
Rhetorical Questioning
“Kaaranam aasai andro….”
The repeated use of 'andro' (meaning 'is it not so?') poses rhetorical questions to the listener to emphasize undeniable moral truths.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song uses iconic stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas to deliver a universal moral message on the dangers of greed and lust. Music director Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was renowned for infusing classical Carnatic nuances into dramatic cinematic narrative songs.
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