- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singers
- P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Padikkadha Medhai
- Movie release year
- 1960
- Lyrics added on
- 23 Oct 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song presents a progressive philosophy of living a dignified, respectable life while staying open-minded and adaptable. It emphasizes protecting one's honor and self-respect with utmost care, comparing it to safeguarding one's own eyes. It encourages traveling to Western nations to acquire beneficial knowledge and modern ideas, while carefully choosing only what is useful and necessary. Finally, it calls for adaptability, encouraging people to evolve their attire and lifestyle according to changing times without losing their core moral integrity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Ganniyam thannnai / Iru kan polae kaathiduvom”
Compares protecting one's self-respect (ganniyam) to protecting one's own two eyes (iru kan).
Rhyme / Monai
“Suttriduvom thaevai / Namakkedhuvo adhai mattum kattriduvom”
The verbs 'Suttriduvom' (travel) and 'Kattriduvom' (learn) use matching rhyming patterns and rhythm to create a melodious flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
Padikkadha Medhai (1960) is a celebrated Tamil drama film directed by A. Bhimsingh and starring Sivaji Ganesan. Though the song's lyricist is A. Maruthakasi, the movie's soundtrack was composed by the legendary music director duo K. V. Mahadevan.
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