- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Kalyana Kalam
- Movie release year
- 1982
- Lyrics added on
- 9 Mar 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Ungal Paadhaththil from the movie Kalyana Kalam (1982) is a deeply emotional song rendered by Vani Jairam, with music composed by Shankar Ganesh and lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song expresses immense emotional vulnerability, grief, and poignant reflections on societal expectations placed on women. Comparing human life to a blank canvas where relationships form the artwork, the lyrics lament how genuine human affection is burdened by artificial traditions and painful circumstances. The mythological allusion to Sakunthala and the vivid metaphor of a bird carrying its own wings emphasize the helpless sorrow and endurance of women in a rigid society.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Manitha inam perum kaagitham / Uravugalae adhil oviyam”
Comparing the human race to paper and relationships to paintings drawn on it.
Metaphor
“Aval kangalil mazhai”
Comparing tears flowing from eyes to rain.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa)
“Than siragenna paravaikku sumaiyaagumaa / Pengal azhugindra avathaaramaa”
Posing rhetorical questions to highlight the tragedy of womanhood and burden.
Second Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Mana muraiyae poliyaanathu / Idhuvaraiyil veliyaanathu”
Rhyming pattern matching the second consonant sounds across lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Kalyana Kalam (1982) featured music by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh and showcased lyrical work by Vairamuthu during his early rise in Tamil cinema. Vani Jairam's expressive vocal delivery brought tragic weight to the poignant lyrics.
Keep listening
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