- Lyricist
- Kanakasurabhi
- Singer
- M. L. Vasanthakumari
- Music directors
- Chittor V. Nagaiah, A. Rama Rao
- Movie name
- Thai Ullam
- Movie release year
- 1952
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Aug 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This lullaby-style allegorical song tells a story to a young child about a pure white cow and its energetic calf who live happily surrounded by maternal love. Their tranquil existence is disrupted by a cunning sly fox, causing sorrow and driving the pure-hearted mother into despair and separation from her child. However, upon waking and wandering in distress, the mother cow hears the endearing call of her calf. She rushes to embrace her young one, culminating in a joyful reunion where mother and child become inseparable again like the eye and its pupil.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory / Metaphor
“Kullanari vandhu kalaithathada”
The white cow represents pure maternal innocence, while the sly fox ('Kullanari') symbolizes evil or malicious third-party deceit that tears families apart.
Color Imagery & Contrast
“Vellai manamum karuthathada”
Contrasts 'Vellai' (white, representing innocence and joy) with 'karuthathada' (darkened, representing grief and despair).
Ethirai (Second-Letter Rhyme)
“Kangal thiranthu ezhunthathada / Kandrai ninainthu alainthathada”
The second letter consonant 'n' ('ண') rhymes across consecutive lines (Kangal / Kandrai / Manadhu).
Idiomatic Simile
“Kannum maniyum kalanthathada”
'Kannum maniyum kalanthathada' compares the deep emotional bond of mother and child to the inseparable unity of the eye and its pupil.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Thai Ullam' (1952) was an adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel 'Les Misérables'. The music for this film was composed jointly by V. Nagayya and A. Rama Rao, featuring evocative allegorical lyrics written by lyricist Kanakasurabhi.
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