- Lyricist
- Ilaiyaraja
- Singer
- Madhu Balakrishnan
- Music director
- Ilaiyaraja
- Movie name
- Naan Kadavul
- Movie release year
- 2009
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Jan 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This profound philosophical composition from the movie 'Naan Kadavul' presents the human body itself—composed of bones, flesh, nerves, and blood—as a metaphorical begging bowl before God. The speaker questions whether human life is merely a product of parental lineage or the result of accumulated primal karmic cycles, recognizing human existence as a helpless puppet controlled by divine will. Realizing that all spiritual richness resides with the Almighty, the speaker surrenders all material pursuits. Having endured countless cycles of birth and suffering, the devotee desperately begs for divine eyes of grace, shelter under the Lord's lotus feet, and ultimate release from worldly suffering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Udhiramum adangiya udambu enum / Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen”
The speaker metaphorically frames the physical body composed of flesh, bones, and blood as a begging bowl ('pichai paathiram').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Siru bommaiyin nilayinil unmaiyai unarnthida”
Human existence is compared to a small puppet ('siru bommai') controlled by string mechanics ('soothiram') held by the divine.
Epizeuxis / Repetition
“Un arul arul arul endru alaigindra manam indru pithatruthae”
The word 'arul' (grace) is repeated consecutively to emphasize intense spiritual longing and devotion.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Puthu vinaya pazha vinaya…”
Contrasting 'puthu vinai' (new karma) with 'pazha vinai' (old karma), as well as material wealth ('porullukku') with meaningless life ('porullattra vazhkai').
Keep listening
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