- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Devi Dharisanam
- Movie release year
- 1980
- Lyrics added on
- 16 Jun 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a dramatic, guilt-ridden confession from a man who committed a grave sin by deceitfully marrying a virtuous, divine-like woman through unethical means. He realizes that by tricking a pure woman and desecrating the sanctity of marriage, he did not merely deceive a human being, but challenged God Himself. Now facing the agony of retribution, he acknowledges the harsh price he must pay for his transgression. Suffering from intense moral remorse, the protagonist expresses deep repentance. The sacred marriage thread (thaali) feels like fire burning his conscience, haunting him for the rest of his life. He surrenders completely, begging for forgiveness and laying his soul at the feet of the woman and the divine mother.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (Rhyme / End Rhyme)
“Thaalikkaiyiru ennai sudugindrathu / Antha thavaru en aayul varai varugindrathu”
Matching rhyming suffixes at the end of consecutive lines ('sudugindrathu', 'varugindrathu', 'purigindrathu') create a rhythmic, solemn cadence that emphasizes agonizing emotional progression.
Metaphor
“Thaalikkaiyiru ennai sudugindrathu”
The mangalsutra thread ('thaalikkaiyiru') burning the narrator is a metaphor describing the unbearable heat of guilt and moral agony consuming his conscience.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Paavam naan seithatharkku / Pazhi theerththaal deviyammaa”
The second letter consonant match ('va' in 'Paavam' and 'Pazhi') strengthens the poetic structure, connecting sin directly with its inevitable retribution.
Monai (Initial Letter Alliteration)
“Kovilaiyum yaemattri / Kulamagalai yaemaattri”
Alliteration of the initial letter 'K' in 'Kovilaiyum' and 'Kulamagalai' binds the dual act of deception (cheating the temple and cheating the noble family).
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by M. S. Viswanathan for the 1980 film 'Devi Dharisanam', this song highlights Kannadasan's mastery in translating intense human guilt and divine retribution into deeply emotional Tamil poetry, rendered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan.
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