- Lyricist
- S. D. Sundharam
- Singers
- P. Leela, T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Petra Maganai Vitra Annai
- Movie release year
- 1958
- Lyrics added on
- 19 Jun 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This philosophical song allegorizes 'Time' (Kaalam) as an all-powerful, unstoppable force that governs human existence and the universe. Time is depicted as a wild river overflowing its banks, a grand bridge across life, a playful maiden, and a chariot whose wheels are stabilized by the sun and moon. It emphasizes that no human emotion, trickery, or wickedness can escape the grand equalizer that Time represents. Furthermore, the lyricist highlights the moral order maintained by Time. While the righteous undergo temporary trials (sodhanai) and the wicked eventually suffer agony (vaedhanai), Time ultimately delivers divine justice to all without bias. It washes away sins through tears and acts as a merciful healer, reinforcing the grand Indian philosophical concept of Karma and temporal destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagamy (Metaphor)
“Kaalamennum kaattaru”
Time is directly personified and metaphorized as a wild river ('Kaalamennum kaattaru'), a bridge ('Kaalam seiyum paalamada'), a maiden ('Kaalamennum kanniyaval'), and a chariot ('Kaalamennum vandiyilae').
Monaivazhi (Alliteration / First-letter Harmony)
“Kolavuyir kulamellam / Kulavugira vaazhvellaam”
Extensive use of initial 'K' sound alliteration across lines (Kaalamennum, Karai, Kaeli, Kolavuyir, Kulavugira, Kannimaiyin, Kadaiyaaniyaagumada).
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Nalloorkku sodhanaiyum / Ellorkkum needhi tharum”
Rhyming of second consonants across lines, such as 'll' in Nalloorkku and Ellorkkum.
Antithesis (Moral Contrast)
“Nalloorkku sodhanaiyum / Theeyorkku vaedhanaiyum”
Contrasting the experiences of the righteous ('Nalloorkku sodhanaiyum') with those of the evil ('Theeyorkku vaedhanaiyum') to highlight moral duality.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Petra Maganai Vitra Annai' (1958) starred S. S. Rajendran and Pandari Bai. The lyrics were penned by the renowned playwright and lyricist S. D. Sundharam, known for his deeply philosophical and dramatic Tamil poetry. The music for this movie was composed by the duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, though historical song booklets often credited the grand orchestra arrangements.
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