- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Movie name
- Athirshtam Azhaikirathu
- Movie release year
- 1976
- Lyrics added on
- 4 Apr 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This heartwarming song from 'Athirshtam Azhaikirathu' (1976) paints a glowing portrait of an ideal Tamil family, elevating it to the status of a sacred temple and a poetic couplet from Thirukkural. The mother and father are revered as divine figures akin to Goddess Ambigai and God. The lyricist affectionally introduces each of the three sons and their distinct temperaments: the eldest is detached and stubbornly set in his ways (like water on a lotus leaf); the second son is short-tempered and grumpy like a tomcat; while the youngest is a playful, Krishna-like child with a heart as pure as freshly milked milk. In the final stanza, the narrator humbly speaks of her own presence in the household. Feeling unworthy to claim equal standing with the biological children, she compares herself to a little puppy seeking shelter or a banana plant from the neighboring yard leaning over the fence into their home. Expressing deep gratitude, she considers herself fortunate to have inherited the priceless treasure of their collective love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile)
“Ambigai pol annai / Antha aandavan pol thanthai”
Compares the mother to Goddess Ambigai and the father to God using the explicit comparison word 'pol' (like/as).
Uvamai (Simile)
“Thamarai mel neerai pola thaniththiruppaan indru”
Compares the eldest son's detachment and independent nature to water droplets resting unattached on a lotus leaf.
Pazhamozhi / Idiom
“Thaan pidiththa muyalgalukkae moondru kaalgal endru”
Uses the famous Tamil idiom 'Thaan pidiththa muyalukku moondru kaal' (The rabbit I caught has three legs) to depict someone who stubbornly refuses to yield or acknowledge another's viewpoint.
Metaphor & Metonymy
“Sidusidunnu mugam irukkum kaduvan poonaiyondru”
Metaphorically describes the grumpy, short-tempered second son as a frowning tomcat ('kaduvan poonai').
Uvamai (Simile)
“Karantha paalai pol irukkum kuzhantha manam vellai”
Compares the purity and innocence of the youngest son's heart to white, freshly milked milk.
Urvagam (Metaphor)
“Anbu ennum selvaththai naan abagariththa yaezhai”
Equates 'love' (anbu) directly to 'wealth/treasure' (selvam) without explicit comparison words.
Metaphor / Visual Imagery
“Intha veettil thalaiyai neettum aduththa veettu vaazhai”
Uses vivid imagery comparing an outsider who joins the household to a neighbor's banana plant leaning into the courtyard.
Did you know?
Trivia
The music for 'Athirshtam Azhaikirathu' (1976) was composed by V. Kumar, affectionately known as 'Mellisai Maamani', who was renowned for his rich melody-driven compositions during the 1960s and 1970s. Lyricist Vaali brilliantly weaves classic Tamil proverbs ('Thaan pidiththa muyalukku moondru kaal') and cultural metaphors into the verse, perfectly rendered by legendary playback singer P. Susheela.
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