- Lyricist
- ‘Avinasi’ Mani
- Singers
- M. S. Rajeswari, Anjali
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Naan Yen Pirandhen
- Movie release year
- 1972
- Lyrics added on
- 6 Jan 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant song expresses the deep pain and helplessness of a destitute family abandoned to suffer on the streets. The children compare themselves to sparrows without a nest, wandering without shelter or basic necessities, longing for a caring figure—presumably their absent father—to comfort them, dress them, and bring joy into their lives. The song vividly details the family's plight: a mother drained of smiles, a brother stripped of hope, and a sick sister, with no one to offer them strength or guidance. Despite searching desperately, they remain stranded without a path forward, questioning why their protector has forgotten them and delayed his arrival.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Koodillaadha kuruvigal polae”
Compares homeless, destitute children directly to sparrows without a nest to emphasize vulnerability.
Anaphora / Rhetorical Questions
“Pottukka sattai yaar koduppaa”
Repeated use of 'yaar' (who) across consecutive lines creates emotional resonance and highlights abandonment.
End Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Ammaa mugathil sirippillae”
Consistent rhyming pattern using negative suffix 'illai' (sirippillae, oliyillae, seriyillae) to emphasize absence and lack.
Did you know?
Trivia
Naan Yen Pirandhen (1972) is a Tamil drama film starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), K. R. Vijaya, and Kanchana. The musical score for the film was composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh. The song highlights MGR's signature cinema style of embedding social empathy, poverty awareness, and emotional family ties into popular music.
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