- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Kulamagal Radhai
- Movie release year
- 1963
- Lyrics added on
- 6 Sept 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Written by Kannadasan, this philosophical track reflects on the dualities of life, intellect, emotion, and destiny. It contrasts the expansive, analytical mind with the singular focus of love and devotion. Just as the night sky is filled with thousands of stars while the day relies on a single sun, the mind considers countless doubts while a loving heart holds on to a singular truth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Contrast
“Iravukku aayiram kangal / Pagalukku ondrae ondru”
Contrasts the night (stars/intellect with countless perspectives) against the day (sun/love with a singular focus).
Simile (Upamai)
“Angum ingum alai polae”
Compares the constant changes and uncertainties in human life to the endless swaying of ocean waves (alai polae).
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Arivukku aayiram kangal / Uravukku ondrae ondru”
Matching second consonants in Tamil poetic structure ('ra' in Iravukku and Pagalukku / 'ri' in Arivukku and 'ra' in Uravukku).
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Trivia
This song is inspired by Francis William Bourdillon's famous 1873 English poem 'The Night Has a Thousand Eyes'. Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully adapted the core romantic philosophy into Tamil philosophical film music. The song in Kulamagal Radhai (1963) was set to music by K. V. Mahadevan and famously sung by P. Susheela.
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