- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singers
- V. N. Sundaram, M. L. Vasanthakumari
- Music director
- C. R. Subbaraman
- Movie name
- Manamagal
- Movie release year
- 1951
- Lyrics added on
- 6 Mar 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a deeply humble devotional expression written by Udumalai Narayanakavi. The singer admits human flaws and deceitful tendencies, referring to oneself as a heartless sinner while seeking divine grace. It emphasizes surrendering to the divine dawn of wisdom without pretense, fake piety, or flattering wealthy patrons as celestial beings like Indra or the Karpagam tree.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Male :Indhiran sandhiran endru pugazhaamalum”
Matching of the second consonant sound in adjacent words, such as 'Indhiran' and 'Sandhiran'.
Moonaal / Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paasangu pannaamalum parama”
Repetition of the initial 'Pa' sound across 'Paamalaiyaam', 'Paasangu', and 'Parama'.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Naavalar pottrum gnaanodhayamae”
'Gnaanodhayamae' metaphors the divine entity as the rising dawn of supreme knowledge/wisdom.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)
“Paaviyinum padupaavi”
'Paaviyinum padupaavi' uses extreme self-deprecation to express absolute humility before the Divine.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Manamagal' (1951) was directed by the legendary comedian and reformist N. S. Krishnan. The soundtrack was composed by C. R. Subburaman, featuring sharp, socially conscious lyrics by Udumalai Narayanakavi that often criticized social hypocrisy and religious pretension.
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