- Lyricist
- Papanasam Sivan
- Music director
- Aalathur V. Sivasubramaniam
- Movie name
- Ashok Kumar
- Movie release year
- 1941
- Lyrics added on
- 23 Jul 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This philosophical song cautions human beings against leading a life rooted in falsehoods and material illusions. Papanasam Sivan employs the vivid metaphor of a dog wandering aimlessly with a dry bone, blindly cherishing something of no real spiritual or lasting value. The lyricist warns that blindly hoping for future fortune while living dishonestly will only result in deception and self-destruction.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile / Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Naai orr elumbhai thookki alaiyum”
Compares a person clinging to falsehood to a dog wandering aimlessly with a dry bone.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Naalimel nalamendrae nee nambhi”
Matching initial consonant sounds across words like Naalimel, Nalamendrae, and Nambhi to create lyrical flow.
Repetition / Refrain
“Mosamadaindha paazhaaagadhae”
Crucial thematic lines are repeated sequentially to reinforce the moral warning.
Did you know?
Trivia
Ashok Kumar (1941) was a major blockbuster starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT), the first undisputed superstar of Tamil cinema. Written by famed Carnatic composer Papanasam Sivan, the soundtrack played a significant role in the movie's immense commercial success.
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