- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Adimai Penn
- Movie release year
- 1969
- Lyrics added on
- 22 Apr 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Yemaatradhae Yemaaradhae' from the 1969 film 'Adimai Penn' is an iconic philosophical anthem written by Vaali. The song acts as a moral warning and a guide for life, advising people neither to trick others nor to fall prey to deception. It emphasizes that secret misdeeds never remain hidden forever, as even the darkness has eyes and walls have ears to bear witness when the right time comes. The second half calls for immediate personal reform, urging the listener to bow only to justice, honesty, love, and virtue. Using the metaphor of a shadow that constantly stays with a body, the song illustrates the inescapable nature of karma and promises that mindful, righteous living leads to a prosperous and honorable life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Personification
“Andha irutukum Paarkindra vizhi irukum Endha suvarukum Ketkindra kaadhirukum”
Attributes human sensory actions (seeing and hearing) to inanimate darkness and walls to symbolize constant observation of one's deeds.
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Sollaamal / Kollaamal kaathirukum”
The second consonant 'l' in 'Sollaamal' and 'Kollaamal' rhymes, creating a traditional Tamil poetic rhythmic harmony.
Mukai / Monai (Initial Rhyme & Polyptoton)
“Yemaatradhae Yemaatradhae Yemaaradhae yemaaradhae”
The deliberate variation between 'Yemaatradhae' (active form: don't cheat) and 'Yemaaradhae' (passive form: don't get cheated) creates a strong phonetic contrast and dual moral directive.
Imagery
“Nizhal pirivadhillai Than udalai vitu adhu”
Uses the inescapable nature of a shadow following the body as a visual metaphor for human actions and karma sticking with a person.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan, this song became one of the quintessential socio-political anthems for M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). It reinforced his popular cinematic persona as a righteous savior and moral teacher.
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