- Lyricist
- K. V. Srinivasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music directors
- A. Rama Rao, Hemant Kumar
- Movie name
- Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam
- Movie release year
- 1955
- Lyrics added on
- 18 Aug 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a powerful, emotionally charged prayer of a distressed wife pleading with the Divine Mother (Jagan Maathaa) to save her husband's life. Facing a dire situation where her husband is fighting a high-stakes battle, she appeals to the Goddess as her ultimate refuge. She questions whether her lifetime of daily devotion and absolute faith will go in vain, begging for 'Maangalya Pichai'—the divine alms of her husband's longevity and safety. The lyricist beautifully captures her vulnerability, drawing a contrast between her innocent child and the harsh, fiery crucible of fate. Her heart is described as melting like wax near a flame as she demands justice, mercy, and protection from the Goddess, expressing that she has no one else in the world to turn to.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai Ani (Simile)
“Anal mezhugaagudhae”
The heroine's grieving and anxious heart is compared directly to wax melting near fire ('anal mezhugu'), vividly conveying extreme distress and helplessness.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Dhevi dharumamidho… / Dhevi dhayavillaiyo… / Karunai kan paaraaiyo… / Abaya karam thaaraayo…”
The consecutive lines end with rhyming phonetic suffixes ('-idho', '-yo', '-yo', '-yo'), creating a rhythmic, chanting-like quality that heightens the emotional desperation of the prayer.
Monai (Alliteration)
“Panindhadhum bajithadhum / Payanillaadhaamo”
The initial sounds of 'Panindhadhum' and 'Payanillaadhaamo' ('Pa') across the consecutive lines align to establish a smooth, alliterative flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
While the movie 'Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam' (1955) was a massive fantasy hit starring Gemini Ganesan and Anjali Devi, the music for this landmark film was actually composed by the legendary P. Adinarayana Rao. This particular emotional song was sung by the nightingale of South Indian cinema, P. Susheela, in the very early days of her career, helping establish her reputation for delivering soulful, classical, and emotionally demanding devotional numbers.
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