- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Anuradha Sriram
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Bombay
- Movie release year
- 1995
- Lyrics added on
- 28 Jun 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant song from the film Bombay serves as a profound humanitarian appeal for peace and unity amid religious violence. Lyricist Vairamuthu contrasts the harmony of nature—where flowers bloom together, wind flows without borders, and drops join to form oceans—with the destructive division created by human fanatism. The song emphasizes that fundamental human experiences like pain and biology transcend religion, as tears have no community and blood carries the same red color in everyone. Ultimately, the song delivers a message of hope, reminding us that no dark night lasts forever without leading to a dawn.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iratura Mozhidhal / Polysemy (Pun)
“Madham yennum madham oyattum”
The word 'Madham' is cleverly used twice in 'Madham yennum madham oyattum', where the first instance refers to 'religion' and the second refers to 'fanaticism/frenzy'.
Anaphora / Repetitive Coupling
“Malarodu malar ingu”
The poet uses parallel pairing structures like 'Malarodu malar' (flower with flower), 'Manathodu manam' (heart with heart), 'Kadalodu kadal' (ocean with ocean), and 'Oliyodu oli' (light with light) to reinforce the central theme of togetherness.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Thuli yellaam kai korthu Kadal aagattum”
The joining of individual drops into an ocean and dust particles into mountains serves as a metaphor for collective human unity overcoming division.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A.R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's iconic 1995 drama 'Bombay', this musical piece features prominently in the film's climax montage depicting human unity amidst the turmoil of the Bombay riots.
Keep listening
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