- Lyricist
- Kuyilan
- Singer
- Ghantasala
- Music director
- V. Dakshinamurthy
- Movie name
- Asai Magan
- Movie release year
- 1953
- Lyrics added on
- 26 Sept 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant philosophical song addresses a mother who is lamenting the ruinous state or misdeeds of her son. The narrator questions the futility of weeping over a predicament born entirely of her own past actions and choices in raising him. It highlights how blind, unrestrained affection can corrupt even the best intentions, turning sweet nectar into poison. Using agricultural metaphors, the song admonishes the mother for failing to plant the seeds of virtue and morality. Instead, through overindulgence and misguided protection, she nurtured vice and sin under the banner of maternal love. Ultimately, the song serves as a stern reminder of karma—that one reaps precisely what one sows in character and parenting.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile)
“Kannin mani polae”
Compares the mother's intense care for her son to protecting the precious pupil of one's eye ('Kannin mani polae').
Uruvagamy (Metaphor)
“Nanmai enum nalla vidhaiyaalae”
Extensive use of agricultural metaphors comparing virtues to seeds ('Nanmai enum nalla vidhai'), bad deeds to water ('Theemai enum neeroottri'), and sins to fertilizer ('paapamaam eru').
Paradox / Oxymoron
“Amuthamae visham aagi vittathu”
Contrasts divine nectar turning into deadly poison to illustrate how excessive unguided love leads to negative outcomes.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kalippudanae thaalaattiyae”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in consecutive lines ('Kalippudanae', 'Karunaiyodu', 'Kannin').
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Aasai Magan' (1953) featured music originally composed by C. R. Subbaraman and finished by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy after Subbaraman's untimely demise. Lyricist Kuyilan penned these deeply philosophical lines reflecting traditional Tamil notions of karma and moral upbringing.
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