- Lyricist
- Papanasam Sivan
- Singers
- P. U. Chinnappa, Kannamba
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Sudharsan
- Movie release year
- 1951
- Lyrics added on
- 21 Mar 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a patriotic and work-honoring duet that highlights the sanctity of labor, handicrafts, and cottage industries. It draws a poetic parallel between the Almighty, who crafts diverse living creatures, and the artisan who creates essential goods for society. The lyricist argues that self-reliance through cottage industries ('Kudisai thozhil') brings happiness, personal independence, self-respect, and economic strength to the nation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Analogy / Divine Parallel
“Palavagai vadivulla Uyirgalai padaipaan... Palavagai paandangal naan samaippen”
Compares God's creation of various living forms to human artisans creating diverse vessels and goods for society.
Rhetorical Question
“Thozhilai marandhaal Naadu nalam kuraiyaadhoo”
Uses questioning to strongly assert that abandoning work leads to national ruin.
Repetition / Refrain
“Kai thozhil allavoo / Kudisai thozhil allavoo”
Repeats phrases like 'Kai thozhil allavoo' and 'Kudisai thozhil allavoo' to reinforce the Gandhian ideal of manual labor and cottage industry.
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Trivia
Composed during the early post-independence era, this song strongly reflects Gandhian ideals of self-sufficiency through cottage industries (Kudisai Thozhil). The film 'Sudharsan' (1951) featured legendary Carnatic singer-actor P. U. Chinnappa alongside Kannamba, with music by G. Ramanathan and lyrics by the acclaimed Carnatic composer Papanasam Sivan.
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