- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- R. Govarthanam
- Movie name
- Kairasi
- Movie release year
- 1960
- Lyrics added on
- 17 Aug 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant song expresses the existential grief, loneliness, and despair of a woman abandoned by society and destitute of family ties. She questions her very existence in this world while grappling with the ironies of fate—people undertake arduous pilgrimages and bathe in the Ganges yearning for a child, yet an unexpected child arrives in her life without her even asking for it.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Oorum illai naatilae / Uravum illai veetilae / Yaarum illai vaazhvilae / Yen pirandhaen ulagilae”
The locative suffix '-ilae' repeats at the end of each consecutive line, creating a rhythmic, sorrowful cadence.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Oorum illai naatilae / Uravum illai veetilae”
The second consonant 'ru' (ரு) matches in 'Oorum' and 'Uravum', adhering to classic Tamil prosody rules.
Rhetorical Question
“Kadavul kooda manidhanaa / Karunai illaadha jaathiyaa”
The speaker questions whether God has become as cruel and unfeeling as humankind, highlighting deep existential despair rather than seeking a literal answer.
Muran (Irony / Antithesis)
“Pillai endru thaeduvaar... / Thaedaamal vandhaai selvamae”
Contrasts those who desperately seek a child through holy rituals with the singer who received a child unasked.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Kairasi' (1960) was directed by K. Shankar and starred Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. The film's soundtrack was composed by R. Sudarsanam with soulful lyrics by Kavignar Kannadasan, who was renowned for capturing deep philosophical angst and maternal devotion in his songs.
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