- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singer
- P. Leela
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Movie name
- Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam
- Movie release year
- 1962
- Lyrics added on
- 7 Apr 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This cheerful and metaphorical song uses nature—birds, trees, and forests—to convey a deep social message about unity, cooperation, and community. The narrator calls upon various creatures of nature like sparrows, cuckoos, parrots, and bees to gather for a feast and listen to an important message. Through the imagery of bamboo trees holding onto each other to grow strong and tall, lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram emphasizes that isolated individuals cannot rise or prosper. True growth and strength come only from unity and solidarity among people.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaniyirukku virundhu vaikka / Kaadirukku koodukatta / Kalandhu pesa”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across consecutive lines ('Kani', 'Kaad', 'Kalandhu') creates a melodious and rhythmic flow.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Chinnanjiru sittugalae / Singaara paravaigalae”
Matching second-consonant sounds ('n') in 'Chinnanjiru' and 'Singaara' provides strong phonetic harmony.
Metaphor / Nature Allegory
“Ongi valarum moongilmaram / Onnaionnu pudichirukku”
Bamboo trees leaning on each other to branch out and grow tall serve as a vivid social metaphor for human unity and collective progress.
Rhetorical Question (Vinah)
“Othumai kalainjudhunna / Valara mudiyumaa”
Asking 'Valara mudiyumaa?' (Can one grow?) challenges the listener to realize that progress is impossible without unity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, fondly known as 'Makkal Kavignar' (People's Poet), was celebrated for weaving egalitarian and socialist philosophies into simple folk-style songs. The film 'Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam' (1962) was written by C. N. Annadurai (former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu), making this song a classic example of Dravidian reformist cinema where nature motifs were used to teach community ethics.
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