- Lyricist
- Thellur Dharmarajan
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- L. Vaithiya Nathan
- Movie name
- Vazhthungal
- Movie release year
- 1978
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Oct 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Arul Vadivae' is a deeply moving devotional prayer song that surrenders completely to the supreme divinity. The narrator praises God as the embodiment of grace, bliss, and ultimate truth, acknowledging the fundamental truth that not even an atom moves without divine sanction. The song highlights how great sages stay true to righteous teachings under divine guidance, and asks God—who knows the future—to act as a protective guide along life's journey. In the face of human betrayal where worldly friends turn hostile and shoot arrows of hurt, leaving one tossed like a helpless straw upon ocean waves, God remains the sole true refuge. Rejecting the company of uncompassionate people, the devotee prays daily for the divine light to dispel household and mental darkness, seeking the grace of the spotless supreme jewel.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)
“Avanandri veror anu asaiyaathae”
The line references the timeless Tamil philosophical aphorism 'Avanandri oru anuvum asaiyaadhu', emphasizing divine omnipotence.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Alai thurumpaanaen aadhariththaayae”
Compares the speaker's helpless condition during life's turbulence to a tiny straw tossed helplessly by ocean waves.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Aananthamae arulae porulae pugalae”
Repetition of the initial letter 'A' across words in the line for rhythmic harmony.
Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Nee nee jothi nee nerimurai arulvaai”
Repetition of the pronoun 'Nee' (You) to emphasize the absolute devotion and dependency on God.
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Trivia
Composed by classical maestro L. Vaithiyanathan for the 1978 film 'Vazhthungal', this devotional song showcases K. J. Yesudas's mastery in classical Tamil musical phrasing, seamlessly blending Carnatic musical elegance into film music.
Keep listening
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