- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Petralthan Pillaiya
- Movie release year
- 1966
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Dec 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant lullaby from the movie Petralthan Pillaiya (1966), written by Kannadasan, expresses deep anguish, longing, and existential grief over the emotional detachment or separation from a child. The song contrasts traditional lullaby motifs with painful reality, questioning why a child who was prayed for, raised with intense affection, and nurtured like gold was destined to leave or illuminate another family's life instead.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Poo pol sirithirundhu / Pon pol valarndhirundhu”
Compares the innocent smile of the child to a blooming flower ('poo pol') and the child's precious upbringing to pure gold ('pon pol').
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Yaaro thavamirundhu / Yaaro madi sumandhu”
The repetition of the initial word 'Yaaro' across consecutive lines creates rhythmic emphasis on the mystery of destiny.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Tholil thavazhndhirukka / Thottil niraindhirukka”
The second consonant 'l' sound ('lh'/'t') matches between 'Tholil' and 'Thottil', giving melodic flow to the lullaby rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Petralthan Pillaiya (1966), starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi, is an official Indian adaptation of Charlie Chaplin's iconic silent classic 'The Kid' (1921). The film's music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with evocative lyrics written by Kannadasan.
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