- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Lalitha
- Movie release year
- 1976
- Lyrics added on
- 12 Nov 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Sorkkaththilae Mudivaanathu is an iconic philosophical song from the 1976 Tamil film Lalitha, composed by M. S. Viswanathan and written by Kannadasan. The lyrics reflect on the divine nature of marriage, stating that marital unions are pre-ordained in heaven, comparing a couple to a lamp and camphor burning together in complete harmony. It explores the duality of joy and suffering, explaining that while God orchestrates the meeting of two hearts, human actions dictate whether life becomes a temple or a place of sorrow. The song concludes on a hopeful note about the timeless quality of true love, emphasizing that genuine affection sustains relationships over decades, making silver jubilees possible.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Sorkkaththilae mudivaanathu / Sonthaththilae nilaiyaanathu”
The second letters of 'Sorkkaththilae' and 'Sonthaththilae' match ('r' and 'n' consonant harmony in traditional Tamil prosody).
Metaphor
“Deepaththil ondru karpooram ondru”
Compares the couple to lamp and camphor, symbolizing pure unity and sacrificial devotion.
Analogy
“Vaanaththu chandhiran angirunthaalthaan iththanai kaaviyam undu”
Compares the role of the moon in inspiring poetry to the role of love in achieving a silver jubilee in marriage.
Did you know?
Trivia
The phrase 'Sorkkaththilae Mudivaanathu' (Decided in Heaven) penned by Kannadasan became a deeply ingrained idiom in Tamil culture regarding marriage and destiny. The song features a classic vocal duet by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam.
Keep listening
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