- Lyricist
- V. A. Gopalakrishnan
- Singer
- Chittoor V. Nagaiah
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Ezhai Padum Padu
- Movie release year
- 1950
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Aug 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This devotional and reflective song captures a soul's shift from material pursuit to spiritual realization. The narrator recounts their past when they blindly chased worldly riches, feeling lonely, helpless, and destitute like an outcast. Upon encountering a pious spiritual guru (Sathguru), the divine light of wisdom (Gyana Jothi) is revealed to them. This divine encounter eliminates all suffering and degradation, causing their life to blossom into joy and fulfillment.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antonymy / Rhyme (Ethirai)
“En vaazhvu malarnthathuvae / En thaazhvu paranthathuvae”
Juxtaposes 'Vaazhvu' (flourishing life) and 'Thaazhvu' (degradation/hardship) to create poetic contrast and second-letter rhyming.
Adukku Thodar (Reduplication)
“Porul theduvadhae perithu perithu”
The word 'perithu' (great) is repeated consecutively for emphasis on how grand material pursuit once seemed.
Simile (Upamai)
“Yaarumillaatha agathiyai polae”
Compares the state of living without spiritual guidance to an abandoned refugee ('agathiyai polae').
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Gyana jothi kandaen aahaa….”
Equates spiritual wisdom to a shining flame or light ('Gyana jothi').
Did you know?
Trivia
Ezhai Padum Padu (1950) is an adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel 'Les Misérables'. Directed by K. Ramnoth and produced by Pakshiraja Studios, the film was a major critical success and featured music composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and C. N. Pandurangan.
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