- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Arasilangkumari
- Movie release year
- 1961
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Oct 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song presents a blend of devotion, philosophical reflection, and satirical social commentary rendered in street-performer style. The singer begins by calling out to Lord Murugan, complaining humorously about living in a tiny hut ('ettu jaan kuchi') and bargaining for a storied house in return for offering savings from a small pot. The song then shifts seamlessly to invoking Lord Govindha and Raghurama, highlighting the virtues of charity, divine resolution of sins, and the indifference of passersby to those in distress. In the final section, the lyrics transition into a deep philosophical discourse on impermanence. Calling out divine omnipresence across forms (man, woman, speech, breath, animal), the singer warns against attaching oneself to the temporary physical body, which ultimately turns into useless clay once life leaves it. Written by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, the verse blends popular folk worship with Siddhar-like wisdom on body impermanence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Emoni / Eghai (Rhyme & Alliteration)
“Theeraadha vinaigal ellaam / Maaraadha manasai ellaam”
Initial sound matching across consecutive phrases or line-beginnings, such as 'Theeraadha' / 'Maaraadha' / 'Pattai' / 'Un kattai'.
Metaphor / Philosophical Imagery
“Udambai uyir pirindha pinnae / Idhu ondrukkum udhavaadha mannae”
'Ettu jaan kuchi' (an eight hand-span hut) and 'Idhu ondrukkum udhavaadha mannae' (useless earth) metaphorically represent the mortal body and its temporary, fragile nature.
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)
“Pennaagi aanaagi / Pechaagi moochaagi”
Repetition of terms like 'Maanaagi mayilaagi', 'Pennaagi aanaagi', 'Pechaagi moochaagi' creates rhythm and emphasizes omnipresence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Arasilangkumari (1961) starred M. G. Ramachandran, P. S. Veerappa, and Padmini. The film's music score was composed by G. Ramanathan. Lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was renowned for blending philosophical principles of Siddhar poetry with common folk dialect, accessible to everyday cinema audiences.
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