- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. J. Kantha
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Illara Jothi
- Movie release year
- 1954
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Apr 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This soulful song reflects on grief, the burden of human desires, and the vital role of marital and domestic happiness. It draws a poignant analogy comparing dual eyesight to complete harmony in life; losing one eye deprives a person of full perspective, just as losing domestic happiness ('Illara jothi') leaves a person wandering in emotional darkness. The lyrics highlight how sorrows remain awake through the night and question whether desires can ever truly be abandoned.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Illara jothi anainthu ponaal”
Domestic harmony is conceptualized as an illuminating light ('Illara jothi') while despair is portrayed as total darkness ('Irul').
Personification
“Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae”
Night is personified as a maiden ('Iravu mangai') singing a song, and abstract sorrows are personified as beings that do not sleep ('Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae').
Analogy / Parallelism
“Megam mooduvadhaalae Vaanam maraindhu povadhum illaiyae”
Compares clouds temporarily covering the sky to troubles obscuring life's value, reinforcing that troubles do not eliminate life's true nature.
Did you know?
Trivia
Illara Jothi (1954) featured Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini in pivotal roles. The lyrics penned by Kannadasan offer early examples of his renowned philosophical writing style in Tamil cinema, reflecting deep introspections on life and duty.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Illara Jothi
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.