- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Enga Veettu Penn
- Movie release year
- 1965
- Lyrics added on
- 18 Dec 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This iconic philosophical song from 'Enga Veettu Penn' composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan explores the duality and impermanence of human life. Through profound metaphors—such as laughter and tears, fire and water, autumn and spring—Kannadasan illustrates that life is an equal mix of joy and sorrow, conflict and calm. The lyricist highlights how divinity and value are context-dependent: food is divine to the hungry, water to the desert traveler, and shade to those enduring heat. Furthermore, the song emphasizes equality in creation and the necessity of patience. Just as stones carved from the same rock serve different roles (god, temple, threshold) based on placement, human status is shaped by context. Using natural cycles—such as floods calming down to white sand and trees leafing again after autumn—the song brings comfort, reminding the listener that hardship is temporary and peace will return.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Muran)
“Siruppu paadhi azhugai paadhi”
Juxtaposes contrasting concepts like 'Siruppu' (laughter) and 'Azhugai' (weeping) to illustrate life's duality.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Siruppu paadhi azhugai paadhi / Serndhadhallavo manidha jaadhi”
Employs Tamil prosodic second-letter rhyming across consecutive lines (Si-ruppu / Se-rndhadhallavo, Ne-ruppu / Ni-raindhadhallavo).
Contextual Metaphor (Deification)
“Pasitha vayittril unavu deivam”
Defines God not as an abstract idol, but as immediate solutions to human suffering (food for hunger, shade in summer).
Simile (Upamai)
“Amaidhi kollum venmanal polae”
Compares a tranquil human mind following grief to white sand settling peacefully after a river flood recedes.
Allegory (Nature Analogy)
“Indru un marathil ilaiyudhir kaalam / Ini varum kaalam thulir vidum kaalam”
Uses seasonal cycles of trees shedding leaves and sprouting anew as an allegory for human endurance and hope.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Siruppu Paadhi Azhugai Paadhi' is one of Kannadasan's most celebrated philosophical tracks, delivering deep life wisdom with accessible language. Rendered with soothing vocals by P. B. Sreenivas, the song appears in 'Enga Veettu Penn' (1965), starring M. G. Ramachandran in dual roles, and remains a perennial favorite for its message of emotional resilience.
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