- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Panithirai
- Movie release year
- 1961
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Jul 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Kungumathai azhikkavaa from the film Panithirai (1961), penned by lyricist Kannadasan, is a heartbreaking lament of a newly widowed young woman. She grieves the unexpected loss of her husband, who was her sole savior when her family and society abandoned her as an ill-omened orphan. The song questions the cruel traditional practice of stripping away a widow's sacred symbols—vermilion (kumkum), turmeric, flowers, and mangalsutra. Throughout the song, the protagonist questions the unfairness of fate and societal superstition. She rejects the idea that her womanhood or birth was a curse, pointing her grief directly at the Creator for orchestrating such tragic destiny. The song stands as a powerful critique of patriarchal rituals and social stigma surrounding widowhood in Tamil culture.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Azhikkavaa / Kazhattravaa)
“Kungumathai azhikkavaa”
The lyrics consistently end lines with questions like 'Azhikkavaa' (Should I erase?) and 'Kazhattravaa' (Should I remove?), emphasizing agonizing doubt and grief.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kungumathai azhikkavaa / Koondhal vazham kalaikkavaa”
Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines like 'Kungumathai' and 'Koondhal' ('Ku' sound).
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Petravarai naan izhandhu / Uttravarum ooraarum”
The second letter consonant rhyming 't' sound in 'Petravarai' and 'Uttravarum'.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Kungumathai azhikkavaa”
Repetition of the opening verse throughout the song to anchor the protagonist's recurring emotional turmoil.
Apostrophe / Personification of God
“Idhu padaithavanin kuttramallava”
Addressing the Creator directly and accusing Him of committing a sin against her life.
Did you know?
Trivia
Panithirai (1961) featured music composed by K. V. Mahadevan with vocals by P. Susheela. Kannadasan used this song to challenge archaic social taboos against widows in South India, using poignant symbolism like kumkum, turmeric, and flowers to convey grief.
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