- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singer
- Ghantasala
- Music director
- V. Dakshinamurthy
- Movie name
- Ulagam Sirikirathu
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Feb 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Solla Mudiyaadha Thunba Kadhai is a philosophical song from the 1959 Tamil movie Ulagam Sirikirathu, composed by V. Dakshinamurthy and sung by Ghantasala. Written by lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, the song delivers a stern moral warning against the destructive vice of gambling. It cautions that regardless of how prosperous a gambler's life may seem initially, it ultimately leads to misery and ruin, turning even honorable people corrupt and deceitful. To drive the moral lesson home, the song invokes iconic epics from Indian mythology: the Pandavas who gambled away their kingdom and were exiled to the forest with Draupadi, and King Nala and Queen Damayanti who lost everything and were separated due to the roll of dice. Through these vivid literary allusions, the song highlights the timeless truth that gambling destroys lives, relationships, and moral values.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Soodhaadi maandhargalin / Paadhaalam pogumenal”
Matching second consonants across lines to create rhythmic flow, such as 'Soodhaadi' and 'Paadhaalam'.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Ariya kaadhalai piriya nernthathum / Aadhaaram izhandhadhum soodhaattathaale”
Repetition of initial vowel sounds across words in a line for euphonic effect.
Mythological Allusion
“Andha naalilae panja paandavar / Arasu urimaiyai izhandhadhum”
Referencing ancient epics (Mahabharata's Pandavas and Draupadi; Nala-Damayanti from the Naishadha Charita) to validate the cautionary message.
Refrain / Chorus
“Solla mudiyaadha thunba kadhai / Soodhaadi manidharin soga kadhai”
Repetition of core thematic lines after every verse to reinforce the moral warning.
Did you know?
Trivia
Lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was renowned for weaving social ethics and political consciousness into popular film songs. This track is a rare Tamil collaboration featuring iconic veteran Malayalam composer V. Dakshinamurthy and legendary Telugu/Tamil playback singer Ghantasala.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Ulagam Sirikirathu
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.