- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singer
- T. S. Bhagavathy
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Thanga Padhumai
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Jul 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant song from 'Thanga Padhumai' reflects deep sorrow over the loss of innocence, joy, and stability in domestic life. The lyricist compares family life to a grand mansion whose guiding sacred light has been stolen away by deceitful forces, leaving the protagonist surrounded by total darkness. The human heart is depicted as a stage where life's joy used to play freely. However, once a crippling tragedy strikes—metaphorically described as breaking a leg while playing—it becomes nearly impossible to carry on, leading to a desperate plea questioning if redemption or emotional survival is even possible.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Illara maaligaiyil”
Compares domestic or marital life to a grand mansion ('Illara maaligai').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ullamenum medaiyilae”
Compares the human mind/heart ('Ullam') to a performance stage ('Medai').
Contrast (Visual Imagery)
“Yetri veitha thiruvilakkai / Kaanbathellaam irulaachae”
Juxtaposes the light of a lit sacred lamp ('Thiruvilakku') with total darkness ('Irulaachae') to signify tragic loss.
Repetition (Anaphora / Adukku Thodar)
“Uiyyum vazhiyudhemma”
The repeated rhetorical question emphasizes despair and a desperate search for a way out.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Thanga Padhumai' (1959) was a historic drama starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini, directed by A. S. A. Sami. Poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was renowned for integrating powerful social realism and deeply philosophical metaphors into simple, accessible Tamil song lyrics.
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