- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Rishi Moolam
- Movie release year
- 1980
- Lyrics added on
- 4 Feb 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This emotional song highlights the deep theme of non-biological maternal love and care. The singer addresses the child lovingly as an unfading rose, asserting that parental affection and duty are not defined merely by biological birth. She reflects on loneliness and absent partners through metaphors of a king without a queen and Krishna without Radha, while holding onto the hope that better days will bring joy to her silent longings. Comparing different nature of women to clouds and lightning, she aspires to be like the gentle moon, bringing warmth, illumination, and dignity into the lives of everyone around her.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)
“Vaadaadha roja poovae”
Compares the child affectionately to an unfading rose ('Vaadaadha roja poovae') and compares figures in life to kings and Lord Krishna ('Mannanai pol', 'Kannanai pol').
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Mannanai pol / Kannanai pol”
Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in 'Mannanai' and 'Kannanai', creating melodic rhythm in Tamil poetry.
Metaphorical Nature Analogy
“Maegathai pol pennum undu / Minnalai pol pennum undu”
Uses nature elements like clouds (maegam), lightning (minnal), and the moon (nilavu) to categorize human traits and express a desire to bring gentle light to life.
Rhetorical Question
“Yaarum pettraal thaanaa pillai kannaa…”
Questions the conventional idea of parenthood, emphasizing that love, not biological birth, defines a real parent-child bond.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Vaada En Raja Kannaa' from the 1980 Tamil movie 'Rishi Moolam' features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics written by the legendary poet Kannadasan. Sung expressively by S. Janaki, the song powerfully captures the emotional core of the film starring Sivaji Ganesan.
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