- Lyricist
- Avvaiyaar
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan
- Movie name
- Annai Abirami
- Movie release year
- 1972
- Lyrics added on
- 6 May 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic Tamil philosophical verse emphasizes the sanctity of life and the core ethic of non-violence (Ahimsa). It highlights that ending a life is effortless for anyone on Earth, yet bringing a dead person back to life is impossible even for the most powerful ruler. Consequently, the poet asserts that only those who strictly observe the vow of non-killing are truly virtuous individuals, leaving the moral standing of all others in doubt before the Supreme Being.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Ethircholl)
“Vaazhum uyirinai vaangi vidal / Veezhum uyirai ezhupputhalo”
Contrasts 'Vaazhum uyir' (a living life) with 'Veezhum uyir' (a dying/fallen life) to illustrate the contrast between taking and giving life.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Vaazhum uyirinai vaangi vidal / Veezhum uyirai ezhupputhalo”
The second letter sound ('zhum' - ழ்) rhymes in the opening words 'Vaazhum' and 'Veezhum'.
Apostrophe / Divine Invocation (Paraaparamae)
“Mattru allaathaar yaaro ariyaen paraaparamae….”
Directly addressing 'Paraaparam' (the Supreme Divinity) at the end of the stanza to anchor the moral claim in divine truth.
Did you know?
Trivia
This philosophical verse attributed to Avvaiyaar strongly echoes the Ahimsa teachings found in Thirukkural ('Kollaamai'). In the 1972 film Annai Abirami, it was set to music by violin maestro Kunnakudi Vaidhiyanathan and sung with deep devotion by P. Susheela.
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