JeyesWrites

  Our friend Ramesh Thyagarajan shared his thoughts on the previous episode that "I am very fond of the song from film *Rajapart Rangadurai*. It raises some interesting and realistic questions." Another friend called me and playfully chided, "What is this? You’ve left out my favorite lines from the song 'Jinjinukka Chinnakili'—the ones that go, 'I try to laugh, I try to laugh, but the laughter won't come; I try to cry, I try to cry, but the tears won't come!'" My thanks to both of them for giving me a fresh idea. Kannadasan sang multiple songs in the context of ‘laugh-cry/happy-sorrow’ combination. Initially, he has sung in a philosophical vein, like this (“Pirakkumbothum azhukindraai”) (Film: *Kavalai Illatha Manithan*):   "You cry when you are born and you cry when you die oh, human, you have forgotten to laugh free from all worries, even for a single day They say the night’s tears are dewdrops, And the clouds’ tears are ...