- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Aalai Kandu Mayangathe
- Movie release year
- 1958
- Lyrics added on
- 31 Jan 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Yaezhaikku Ettaatha Ulagam' is a poignant philosophical lament about social inequality, hypocrisy, and the harsh realities faced by the poor. It expresses deep sorrow over how the vulnerable are exploited by cruel, deceitful people and how even justice seems blinded when a virtuous, god-like man is unjustly framed and imprisoned through conspiracy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Inbamum thunbamum / Oru thaai kuzhanthaigal”
Joy and sorrow are metaphorically compared to twin siblings born of the same mother, emphasizing their inseparable nature in human existence.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Sirikkuuthamma intha ulagam ... Kodukkuthammaa intha ulagam ... Nammai kedukkuthammaa intha ulagam”
The repeating phrase ending with 'intha ulagam' creates a rhythmic cadence and reinforces the central critique of society.
Muran (Antithesis)
“Thirudanum thiyaagiyum”
Contrasting two polar opposites—a thief ('thirudan') and a selfless martyr ('thiyaagi')—living in the same society to highlight societal absurdity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in the 1958 film 'Aalai Kandu Mayangathe', this song features lyrics by legendary songwriter Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass and music by S. M. Subbaih Naidu. Rendered in the majestic, classical voice of Seerkazhi Govindarajan, the song exemplifies the era's dramatic moralist cinema, using rich high-flown Tamil to critique corruption and offer solace to the oppressed.
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