- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Uthaman
- Movie release year
- 1976
- Lyrics added on
- 24 Feb 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Kelaai Maganae Keloru Vaarthai is a heartwarming and instructive song from the movie Uthaman (1976), penned by the poet Kannadasan. In this song, a parent addresses their young child, offering timeless wisdom and ethical guidance. The parent emphasizes that the child is destined to lead tomorrow's world, encouraging him to stay away from sin, walk carefully in life, face dangers courageously, and never lose heart in tears. To make moral principles easy to grasp, Kannadasan beautifully employs animal imagery—advising the child to cling to virtues like a monkey, oppose cruelty like a tiger, focus on goals like a patient crane, and embody nobility like an elephant. The song ends with an emotional reflection on family, motherly affection, and legacy, assuring the child that he represents all the comfort, joy, and divine light in his family's life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paavathai kandaal vilagi vidu / Paadhaiyai paarthu nadandhu vidu”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Paa' in adjacent lines, creating a rhythmic cadence.
Uvamai (Simile / Metaphorical Comparisons)
“Kollum kolgaiyil kurangaaga / Kodumaiyai kandaal puliyaaga”
Comparing human qualities and actions to animals (kurangaaga - like a monkey, puliyaaga - like a tiger, kokkaaga - like a crane, yaanai - like an elephant) to convey moral lessons.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kodai nizhalum / Vaadai kanalum”
Rhyming of the second character 'da' in consecutive lines ('Kodai' and 'Vaadai').
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Aarathi vilakkum / Naadhathin oliyum / Aalaya maniyum neeyae neeyae”
Directly identifying the child with sacred symbols of purity and joy such as 'Aarathi vilakku' (sacred lamp), 'Naadhathin oli' (divine sound), and 'Gopura vilakku' (tower light).
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from the movie Uthaman (1976) features music composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Kavinar Kannadasan. Songs containing parental advice to a child were a hallmark of 1970s Tamil cinema, often delivering philosophical and moral truths in accessible, poetic language meant for both children and adult audiences.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Uthaman
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.