- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Sonnathu Neethana
- Movie release year
- 1978
- Lyrics added on
- 25 Apr 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant song from 'Sonnathu Neethana' (1978) expresses the overwhelming emotional dilemma of a woman caught in a tug-of-war between two sacred relationships—her devotion to her husband and her instinctual love for her child. Describing herself as torn between two righteous paths ('niyaayam' and 'dharmam'), she questions her own place and purpose amidst conflicting duties. Through vivid imagery, she compares her suffering to a fish hooked on both sides and a heart navigating a flood of tears. She questions whether her wifely obligations (symbolized by the 'thaali' and 'kattil') or her maternal duties (symbolized by 'thaaimai' and 'thottil') hold greater priority. Vani Jairam's soul-stirring vocal rendition combined with Ilaiyaraaja's deeply empathetic musical arrangement captures the agony of an innocent soul searching for light and answers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Yaengum deivam angae / Thoongum selvam ingae”
The second consonant 'ng' (ங்) matches in 'Yaengum' and 'Thoongum'.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Yaengum deivam angae / Thoongum selvam ingae”
The lines end with rhyming words 'angae' (there) and 'ingae' (here).
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Thoondilo irandu pakkam, thudikkavo meenai vaiththaan”
Her tragic situation is metaphorically compared to a fish caught on a hook attached at both ends, writhing in helpless pain.
Symbolism & Contrast (Muran)
“Kattil perithaa thottil perithaa”
'Kattil' (marital bed) symbolizes conjugal bond/wifely duty, while 'Thottil' (cradle) symbolizes maternal bond/childcare, posing a philosophical contrast.
Monai (Initial Rhyme)
“Thaaliyum nilaikka vendum / Thaaimaiyum vaazhvendum”
Both lines start with the 'Thaa' (தா) sound.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and penned by the acclaimed poet Pulamaipithan, 'Yaengum Deivam Angae' is revered for its emotional depth and thought-provoking lyricism. The line 'Kattil perithaa thottil perithaa' (Is the bed greater or the cradle greater?) became a famous pop-culture idiom in Tamil literature and cinema to describe the universal conflict between marital life and motherhood. Vani Jairam's delicate and expressive vocals earned high praise for conveying deep vulnerability.
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