- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Chinmayi, Senthil Dass
- Music director
- Ebenezer
- Movie name
- Kandaen
- Movie release year
- 2011
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Feb 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from the movie Kandaen (2011), penned by veteran lyricist Vaali, is a deeply humanist and philosophical anthem exploring the true nature of divinity. It conveys that God is not confined to religious rituals or temple idols, but is omnipresent across nature—manifesting in the blue sea, the swimming fish, the sun, moon, and blooming flowers. Vaali emphasizes that nature makes no distinction between individuals, offering the same rain, breeze, sun, and soil to everyone equally. The lyrics call for breaking down the handcuffs of religious dogma and ritualistic practices that divide humanity. Instead, it redefines spiritual devotion as empathy and charity, asserting that feeding a poor person's hungry stomach is equivalent to putting an offering into a temple box (undiyal). True divinity resides in helping hands, kind hearts, and a spirit of oneness among all living beings.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagani)
“Undiyaargal veralla / Ezhai vayiruthaan”
The lyricist directly equates the stomach of a poor person to a temple offering box (undiyal), suggesting that giving food to the hungry is the ultimate religious offering.
Metaphor (Samathuva vilangugal)
“Samayangal sadangugal / Avai samathuva vilangugal”
Religions and rituals are metaphorically described as 'handcuffs to equality' (samathuva vilangugal), binding people away from true unity.
Monai (First-Letter Alliteration)
“Samayangal sadangugal / Avai samathuva vilangugal”
Repetition of the initial 'Sa' sound in Samayangal, Sadangugal, and Samathuva creates melodic rhythm.
Ethugai (Second-Letter Rhyming)
“Unaithoda / Ingu thanithani veyil illai”
The second letter alignment in words across consecutive ideas enhances lyrical flow.
Parallelism / Anaphora
“Unnai theendum poongaatru / Ennai theenduthu / Unnai thaangum boomithaan / Ennai thaanguthu”
Repetition of structural patterns ('Unnai... Ennai...') highlights the theme of absolute equality under nature.
Did you know?
Trivia
The soundtrack of Kandaen (2011) was composed by debutant music director Vijay Ebenezer. The song features profound philosophical lyrics by legendary lyricist Vaali, who drew inspiration from Kannadasan's classic humanist songs and ancient Tamil philosophy (such as 'Yadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir') to compose this secular, uplifting track.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Kandaen
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.