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Lyrics & meaning

Thangathile Orukurai

From Bhaaga Pirivinai · 1959

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Bhaaga Pirivinai1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{ ThangathilaeEven in gold,
Oru kurai irunthaalumif there happens to be a flaw,
Tharathinil kuraivathundodoes its inherent value ever decrease?
Ungal angathilae oru kuraiEven if there is a flaw in your physical body,
Irunthaalum anbu kuraivathundo } (2)does true love ever diminish?
Female
{ SingathinEven if a lion's
Kaalgal pazhuthulegs get injured or damaged,
Pattalum setram kuraivathundo } (2)does its majestic pride ever diminish?
Female
SinthayumWhen thought
Seyalum ondru pattalaeand action become united,
{ Maatram kaanbathundo } (2)will there ever be a change or wavering?
Female
ThangathilaeIn gold,
Oru kurai irunthaalumif there is a flaw,
Tharathinil kuraivathundodoes its value decrease?
Ungal angathilae oru kuraiEven if there is a flaw in your body,
Irunthaalum anbu kuraivathundodoes love ever diminish?
Female
{ KaalgalWithout legs,
Illamal venmathidoes not the white moon
Vaanil thavazhndhu varavillaya } (2)crawl gracefully across the sky?
Female
Iru kaigalWithout hands,
Illamal malargalaidoes not the breeze embrace flowers
Anaidhae kaadhaland shower love,
Tharavillaya kaadhal tharavillayadoes it not give love, does it not give love?
Female
ThangathilaeIn gold,
Oru kurai irunthaalumif there is a flaw,
Tharathinil kuraivathundodoes its value decrease?
Ungal angathilae oru kuraiEven if there is a flaw in your body,
Irunthaalum anbu kuraivathundodoes love ever diminish?
Female
{ KaalamEven if time
Pagaithaalum kanavarturns hostile, I will serve my husband
Pani seithu kaadhal uravaaduven } (2)and cherish our bond of love.
Female
UyarAs a noble woman
Maanam perithendruwho considers honor supreme,
Vaazhum kulamaatharliving with dignity,
{ Vaazhvin suvai kooruven } (2)I shall express the true sweetness of life.
Female
ThangathilaeIn gold,
Oru kurai irunthaalumif there is a flaw,
Tharathinil kuraivathundodoes its value decrease?
Ungal angathilae oru kuraiEven if there is a flaw in your body,
Irunthaalum anbu kuraivathundodoes love ever diminish?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song from Bhaaga Pirivinai expresses profound devotion, unconditional love, and psychological strength in the face of physical disability. The female protagonist reassures her husband—who suffers from physical handicap—that physical imperfections do not detract from a person's inner worth, honor, or capacity for love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Analogy / Metaphor)

Thangathilae oru kurai irunthaalum tharathinil kuraivathundo

Compares a physical disability in a human body to an imperfection in gold, emphasizing that true intrinsic worth remains intact.

Vinaa Aani (Rhetorical Question)

Ungal angathilae oru kurai irunthaalum anbu kuraivathundo

Employs rhetorical questions to emphatically state that love and dignity are unaffected by physical limitations.

Personification & Nature Metaphor

Kaalgal illamal venmathi vaanil thavazhndhu varavillaya

Personifies the moon crawling in the sky without legs and nature bestowing love without hands to normalize and elevate physical differences.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thangathilae / Ungal angathilae

Matches second consonant sounds across lines (e.g., 'Thangathilae' and 'Angathilae').

Did you know?

Trivia

In the film Bhaaga Pirivinai (1959), Sivaji Ganesan plays Kannan, a man with a physical handicap affecting his arm and leg. This evergreen song composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, written by Kannadasan, and sung exquisitely by P. Susheela, stands as one of Tamil cinema's greatest anthems of unconditional love and empathy.

Keep listening

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