- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum
- Movie release year
- 1963
- Lyrics added on
- 15 May 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
"Oruvan Manadhu Onbadhada" is a deeply philosophical song from the 1963 Tamil film 'Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum'. It critiques human pretense, greed, and superficiality. The song highlights how complex human nature is, possessing multiple hidden motives and masks. It notes that while ordinary people judge others by their outer appearance, only the Divine truly understands human hearts and intentions. The lyrics expose fair-weather relationships—how people gather during prosperous times and abandon others during hardship. It condemns those who forget maternal love, fall into selfishness, hoard wealth greedily like a ghost guarding a treasure, and disrespect elders. Ultimately, it serves as a moral lesson encouraging sincerity, selflessness, and spiritual awareness over superficiality.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai Ani)
“Peipol Panathai kaakindran”
Compares a miser guarding money to a ghost ('peipol') obsessively guarding hidden treasure.
Antithesis (Muran Ani)
“Yerum Bodhu erigindran / Irangumbodhu sirikindran”
Contrasts two opposing states: 'yerum bodhu' (while ascending/prospering) and 'irangumbodhu' (while descending/failing).
Contrast (Muran Ani)
“Paarpavan manithanadaa / Adhil ullathai kaanbavan iraivanada”
Juxtaposes human perception (seeing outer form) with divine omniscience (seeing the inner heart/soul).
Metaphor (Uruvaga Ani)
“Thannala setril vizhugindran”
Metaphorically compares selfishness to a muddy swamp ('setril') in which a person gets trapped.
Keep listening
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