- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- A. P. Komala
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Raja Malaiya Simman
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Dec 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Kannaal Kaanbathum Poiyae is a didactic song from the 1959 Tamil film Raja Malaiya Simman, cautioning against the deceptive nature of sensory perceptions. Built upon the famed Tamil proverb that what is seen and heard can be misleading and only careful investigation yields the truth, the song advises against taking reality at face value, as illusions often obscure genuine facts.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Assonance / Alliteration)
“Kannaaal kaanbathum poiyae…”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Ka' across words in the line ('Kannaaal' and 'kaanbathum') creating a rhythmic poetic effect.
Allegory / Sanskrit Loan Metaphor (Manduga Nyaya)
“Nee mandugam aaga kudaathu”
The term 'Mandugam' refers to a frog in a well, serving as an allegory for a person with narrow perspective and ignorance of the broader reality.
Proverbial Metaphor
“Mann meedhil veluppaanadhellaam”
Utilizes the classic Tamil folk imagery that 'all that is white is not milk' (akin to 'all that glitters is not gold') to illustrate deceptive appearances.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyricist A. Maruthakasi creatively weaves two famous Tamil philosophical sayings into this song: the adage about deep inquiry ('Kannal kaanbadhum poi...') and the moral proverb 'All that is white is not milk'. Sung spiritedly by A. P. Komala under the direction of legendary composers Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, the track stands out for combining lighthearted musical arrangements with traditional wisdom.
Keep listening
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