- Lyricist
- Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
- Singer
- Radha Jayalakshmi
- Music director
- A. V. Nadarajan
- Movie name
- Ratha Pasam
- Movie release year
- 1954
- Lyrics added on
- 7 Apr 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song presents a profound philosophical inquiry into the nature of true happiness and perception. It contrasts transient, sensory sights (seen by physical eyes) with everlasting spiritual or intellectual vision (seen by the inner mind). Through vivid allegories—such as choosing a wild fowl over a graceful peacock or losing one's bearings on a shaky boat amidst turbulent seas—the lyrics criticize foolish desires, moral straying, and the ignorance of preferring superficial pleasures over eternal truth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Contrast / Anthesis (Maranu)
“Kann kaanum kaatchiyae inbamaa / Manadhaal kaanbadhae azhivilaa inbamaa”
Contrasts physical vision ('Kann kaanum kaatchi') with spiritual/mental vision ('Manadhaal kaanbadhu'), and superficial pleasure with eternal bliss ('azhivilaa inbam').
Allegory / Metaphor (Uvamaai)
“Vanna mayil thaan irundhum / Van kozhiyudanae madhana leelaiyadi”
Uses 'Vanna mayil' (colorful peacock) to symbolize refined beauty/virtue and 'Van kozhi' (wild fowl) to symbolize lower, superficial desires.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Alaiulaavum kadalilae / Aasai thendral kaatrinilae”
Repetition of initial consonants like 'Alaiulaavum', 'Aasai', 'Nilaiyiladha', 'Ninaivizhandhu'.
Rhetorical Questioning (Vinaa)
“Kannillaadhavan kalai kugaiyilae / Kaanum azhagedhuvoo”
The continuous use of interrogative suffixes ('-amaa', '-uvoo') forces self-reflection on worldly pursuits.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Ratha Pasam' (1954) was adapted from a popular stage play by T. K. Shanmugam's TKS Brothers. The film's soundtrack was composed by A. V. Nadarajan with deeply reflective lyrics crafted by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam, showcasing the classical Carnatic singing style of Radha Jayalakshmi.
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