- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Thayai Katha Thanayan
- Movie release year
- 1962
- Lyrics added on
- 3 Jun 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
In this philosophical song penned by lyricist Kannadasan for the 1962 film Thayai Katha Thanayan, human personalities are metaphorically categorized using three types of horses: the stubborn horse (Sandi kuthirai), the lame horse (Nondi kuthirai), and the good riding horse (Nalla savvaari kuthirai). The stubborn horse represents individuals who take on responsibilities like family but shirk work, or those who move sluggishly even when smooth roads lie ahead. The lame horse symbolizes those who make excuses and give up despite having good opportunities. In contrast, the good riding horse represents resilient individuals who overcome all hardships and rough terrains to gallop forward with determination. Ultimately, the song serves as a moral guide advising people to leave past failures behind, walk the high road with dignity and self-respect, and face life's ups and downs bravely regardless of material wealth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Nalla savvaari kuthirai moonu / Manushan sangadhi ellam inga irukku”
Human behaviors and mindsets are metaphorically mapped to three types of horses: stubborn, lame, and good riding horse.
Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Sandi kuthiraii / Nondi kuthiraii”
Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in 'Sandi' and 'Nondi'.
Repetition / Anaphora
“Thulli thulli ooduvathu”
Repetition of words like 'Sandi', 'Nondi', 'mella mella', and 'thulli thulli' for rhythmic and emphatic effect.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Perum pallam medaana oru / Paathiyilae sendraalum / Thulli thulli ooduvathu / Nalla kuthirai”
Contrasting the sluggish behavior on smooth roads (Sandi) with dynamic leaping on rough terrain (Nalla kuthirai).
Did you know?
Trivia
Thayai Katha Thanayan (1962) is an M. G. Ramachandran starrer produced by Devar Films and directed by M. A. Thirumugam. The music for the film was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and the lyrics were penned by Kannadasan. This song uses simple folk-inspired allegories typical of MGR's screen persona to convey moral values to the masses.
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