- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ghantasala Vijayakumar
- Movie name
- Then Koodu
- Movie release year
- 1984
- Lyrics added on
- 29 Nov 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song is a heartfelt hymn of gratitude and love dedicated to an elder brother and a mother figure who serve as the pillars of a family. The lyrics equate the elder brother's guidance to fatherly love and selflessness, while honoring the maternal figure for her protective and nurturing nature. It emphasizes that despite physical differences, the family members share an unbreakable bond of blood and spirit. The emotional core of the track lies in celebrating unity, sacrifice, and unconditional devotion. The family members express that their existence and happiness are entirely tied to these figures, wishing them a long and blessed life as two guiding eyes protecting the household like a hive ('Then Koodu').
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Engal dheivam annaa neeyallavo / Indru pola endrum nee vaazhgavae”
The second consonant sound 'ng' in 'Engal' rhymes with 'nd' in 'Indru' establishing a rhythmic Tamil cadence.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Thanthaiyin anbai paarkkirom / Thambigal unnaal vaazhgirom”
The initial letter 'Tha' is repeated in 'Thanthaiyin' and 'Thambigal'.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Engal anbu dheivam neeyallavo / Endrum emmai kaakkum thaaiyallavo”
The line endings 'neeyallavo' and 'thaaiyallavo' create a harmonious end-rhyme scheme.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Iru kangalaaga needoozhi vaazhga dheivangalae”
The elder figures in the family are metaphorically compared to two eyes ('Iru kangal') essential for guidance and vision.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is penned by the eminent Tamil poet Pulamaipithan for the 1984 film 'Then Koodu' (meaning Honeycomb), which centers on family values, togetherness, and domestic harmony. Pulamaipithan was renowned for his rich classical vocabulary and ability to weave deep emotional and familial bonds into popular cinema songs.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Then Koodu
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.