- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Music director
- Alandur Sivasubramaniyam
- Movie name
- Ashok Kumar
- Movie release year
- 1941
- Lyrics added on
- 6 Mar 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song presents a poetic conversation questioning the true essence of beauty and nobility. One speaker wonders whether physical elegance, fine silk attire, and pearl necklaces are what command global praise and endow a person with greatness. The counter-narrative emphasizes that superficial embellishments and fancy disguises are futile, as true beauty resides in one's generous character and innate virtue rather than external adornments.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Ullan kavarumen paavaai naan / Uyarndha azhagan thaano”
Matching initial vowel sound 'U' across consecutive lines (Ullan, Uyarndha, Ulagelaam, Unmai).
Anaphora / Repetition (Iruttaakku)
“Ullan kavarumen paavaai en”
Refrain line repeated to reinforce emotional affection and musical rhythm.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Unmai sol pen maanae”
Addressing the maiden as 'pen maanae' (deer-like woman) and the lover as 'Maaraa' (Cupid/Kama).
Rhetorical Question
“Azhagae seivadhundo”
Asking whether external clothes or vain makeup can actually create or add beauty to what is natural.
Did you know?
Trivia
From the 1941 classic Tamil film 'Ashok Kumar', starring legendary singer-actor M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. Lyricist Udumalai Narayanakavi incorporated classical poetic tropes, contrasting material ornamentation with spiritual/moral character.
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