- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- A. M. Rajah
- Music director
- Rajeswara Rao
- Movie name
- Missiamma
- Movie release year
- 1955
- Lyrics added on
- 25 Feb 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from the classic movie Missiamma (1955) delivers lighthearted social commentary advising women on how to navigate modern life with grace, composure, and tact. The lyrics encourage women to leave behind outdated, rigid traditions, shed stubbornness, and prepare for the changing times ahead. Rather than resorting to anger, scowling, or endless arguments, the song advises approaching the world with an open, unbiased heart, patience, and a winning smile to resolve conflicts and build harmony.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Refrain (Pallavi repetition)
“Pazhaga theriya venum”
The core refrain 'Pazhaga theriya venum / Ulagil paarthu nadakka venum' repeats throughout the song to reinforce the central theme of social adaptability.
Onomatopoeia / Mimetic Word (Erattai Kilavi)
“Kadu kaduvena mugam maarudhal”
'Kadu kaduvena' mimics the harsh, stern, and tense expression on a scowling face.
Ethukai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil prosody)
“Pazhangaalathin nilai marandhu”
The second letters in 'Pazhangaalathin' ('zha') and 'Varungaalathai' ('ru' phonetic structure matching sequence) form a temporal contrast rhyme between past and future.
Did you know?
Trivia
Missiamma (1955), produced by Vijaya Vauhini Studios and directed by L. V. Prasad, is a landmark bilingual film (released as Missamma in Telugu). The Tamil soundtrack was composed by S. Rajeswara Rao, with lyrics written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. This iconic song features P. Leela providing the playback vocals for actress Savitri.
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