- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- Vani Jairam, Balamuralikrishna
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Subrabatham
- Movie release year
- 1977
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Apr 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from the film 'Subrabatham' serves as a musical pilgrimage through northern India's holy towns. The lyrics take the listener on a spiritual journey visiting Pandharpur, Mathura, and Kasi (Varanasi), highlighting the divine abodes of Lord Krishna, Rama, Satyanarayana, and Mother Ganges. It portrays the intense bliss experienced by devotees who visit these sacred shrines and bathe in the Ganges, emphasizing that true devotion transforms even the weakest souls.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kadalenum bakthiyil uyirinangal”
Compares devotion to a vast ocean ('Kadalenum bakthiyil').
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)
“Entha kaakkaiyum yaanaiyin palam perumaam”
Exaggerates the sanctifying power of the River Ganges by stating that even a tiny crow gains the strength of an elephant after bathing in it.
Personification
“Vannam nirainthathu sirikkuthammaa / Intha maduraa nagaram azhaikkuthammaa”
Personifies the city of Mathura as a welcoming entity that smiles and calls out to devotees.
Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Kandu kondaar avar kangalilae / Avan karunai piranthathu idhayaththilae”
The second consonant 'nda' matches across lines ('Kandu' / 'Avan karunai' -> 'Kandu' / 'Avan'), creating rhythmic phonetic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track is a unique pilgrimage-themed duet composed by M. S. Viswanathan, featuring legendary Carnatic vocalist Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna alongside Vani Jairam. Poet Kannadasan ingeniously condenses North Indian pilgrimage geography (Kasi, Mathura, Pandharpur) into evocative Tamil lyricism.
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