- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Jaya Vijaya
- Movie name
- Shanmuga Priya
- Movie release year
- 1973
- Lyrics added on
- 4 Apr 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This devotional song composed by lyricist Kannadasan captures a devotee's immersive experience of Lord Murugan across his sacred shrines. By attributing distinct attributes of Murugan—such as his spear (Vel), his eyes, his milk-white purity, his consort Valli, his sacred feet, and his blessing hand—to holy pilgrimage sites like Thiruchendur, Palani, and Vayaloor, the song weaves divine iconography together with sacred geography. The devotee experiences the Lord's presence through visual and auditory senses, contrasting the sound of the Lord's feet with the sight of his benevolent hand, culminating in a rhythmic celebration of Murugan's endless grace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Epiphora / Repetition (Anaphora & Polyptoton)
“Vel vannam sendhoor kandaen muruga”
The word 'vannam' (meaning hue, color, form, or grace) is systematically repeated in every line, creating a rhythmic and hypnotic refrain.
Sensory Contrast / Parallelism
“Kaal vannam kadhil kettaen / Kai vannam kannil kandaen muruga”
The lyrics juxtapose auditory perception ('kadhil kettaen' - heard with ears) and visual perception ('kannil kandaen' - saw with eyes) to show full sensory absorption in devotion.
Classic Tamil Metaphor (Uwamai)
“Sael vannam vizhiyaal valli”
'Sael vannam vizhiyaal' uses 'Sael' (carp fish) as a traditional metaphor to describe the captivating, darting beauty of Goddess Valli's eyes.
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Trivia
The film 'Shanmuga Priya' (1973) featured music composed by the famed musician duo Jaya-Vijaya (twin brothers K.G. Jayan and K.G. Vijayan), who were legendary for their Carnatic and devotional compositions dedicated to Lord Murugan. Sung by P. Susheela, this track remains a classic Murugan devotional standard.
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