- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Panithirai
- Movie release year
- 1961
- Lyrics added on
- 25 Jul 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan for the 1961 film 'Panithirai', this philosophical song serves as a scathing critique of human ignorance, hypocrisy, and wasted potential. The narrator wonders why a human being, endowed with the supreme gift of six senses, speech, and reason, lives mindlessly—growing tall in body like a tree but remaining devoid of true wisdom and character. The lyrics highlight the contradictions in human behavior, particularly how men glorify women as goddesses one day only to demean and vilify them the next. By drawing comparisons to animals and nature—noting that dogs possess gratitude, foxes possess intellect, crows demonstrate unity, and natural elements serve a purpose—Kannadasan emphasizes how humans often fail to meet even basic standards of virtue, casting away their moral compass into a fog of ignorance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uwamai Ani)
“Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan”
Compares a foolish person who grows physically without wisdom to a mindless tree ('maram pol').
Metaphor (Uruvagak Ani)
“Than iyarkkai arivai madamaiyenum / Paniththiraiyaalae moodugiraan”
Ignorance is metaphorically described as a 'paniththirai' (a screen/curtain of mist) that veils a person's natural intellect.
Monai (Initial Rhyme)
“Edhilum achcham edhilum aiyam / Eduththatherkkellaam vaadugiraan”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'E' ('Edhilum', 'Eduththatherkkellaam') creates rhythmic resonance.
Contrast / Antithesis (Muran Ani)
“Pennae deivam annai kadavul ... Marunaal avanae yesugindraan”
Juxtaposes praising women as divine goddesses with scorning them as curses the next day to highlight human hypocrisy.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kannadasan's lyric 'Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan' directly echoes classical Tamil literature, particularly Thirukkural (Kural 600 and 1002), where individuals lacking discernment and empathy are famously compared to useless timber or trees ('maram'). The title of the movie 'Panithirai' translates to 'Screen of Mist', which is explicitly referenced in the song's verse ('Paniththiraiyaalae moodugiraan') as a metaphor for ignorance blinding human reason.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Panithirai
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.