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Lyrics & meaning

Achcham Vittu

From Deiva Sangalpam · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Deiva Sangalpam
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
18 Jun 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkiren
En anbin meedhu aanaiyittu unmai ketkkiren
Ennai maalaiyittu manam muditha mannan neeyandro
Adhu unmai thaan andro
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkiren
Paal kudikka vandha poonai bayandhu ponadho
Illai pazhaiya kaala ninaivai ellam marandhu ponadhoo
Enna enni indha neram oomaiyaanadhoo
Idhayathilae enna thaan kelviyaanadhoo
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkiren
Potti pottu pesa vandhen vaarthaigal illai
Pookal kondu odi vandhen poojaiyum illai
Potti pottu pesa vandhen vaarthaigal illai
Pookal kondu odi vandhen poojaiyum illai
Thaanae kaettu pengalukku pazhakkamum illai
Thaanae kaettu pengalukku pazhakkamum illai
Kula tharmathilae appadiyor vazhakkamum illai
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkiren
Thunbangalil periya thunbam kaathiruppadhu
Oru thunai irundhum uravillamal paarthirupathu
Inam pirindha maanai pola thanithirupathu
Enna kettum badhil illamal yengi nirppadhu
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkiren
En anbin meedhu aanaiyittu unmai ketkkiren
Ennai maalaiyittu manam muditha mannan neeyandro
Adhu unmai thaan andro
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkiren
Setting aside fear and shyness, I ask you,
Swearing upon my love, I ask for the truth.
Aren't you the king who garlanded and married me?
Isn't that the truth?
Setting aside fear and shyness, I ask you.
Did the cat that came to drink milk get scared, or
has it forgotten all the memories of the past?
Thinking of what has it fallen silent at this moment?
What question has troubled its heart?
Setting aside fear and shyness, I ask you.
I came eager to chat with you, but there are no words.
I ran here bringing flowers, but there is no worship.
I came eager to chat with you, but there are no words.
I ran here bringing flowers, but there is no worship.
Women are not accustomed to asking for themselves,
Women are not accustomed to asking for themselves,
and in our traditions, there is no such custom.
Setting aside fear and shyness, I ask you.
The greatest of all sorrows is waiting,
looking on without closeness despite having a partner,
living all alone like a deer separated from its herd,
and longing with heartache when no question gets an answer.
Setting aside fear and shyness, I ask you,
Swearing upon my love, I ask for the truth.
Aren't you the king who garlanded and married me?
Isn't that the truth?
Setting aside fear and shyness, I ask you.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In this poignant track from 'Deiva Sangalpam', a heroine confronts her distant and silent husband. Breaking away from her innate bashfulness and fear, she passionately demands clarity regarding his emotional detachment, swearing upon her true love for him. She wonders if he has forgotten their marriage and past memories, feeling deeply pained by his silence. She articulates the profound grief of marital neglect—describing how waiting in silence, feeling alienated despite having a spouse, and feeling like a deer separated from its herd are among the worst emotional tortures a woman can endure. Through poetic inquiries, she questions his heart while remaining rooted in her devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkiren

The second letters 'ch' rhyme across the opening couplet words ('Acham' and 'Itchhai/Naanam' structure rhythm).

Upamai (Simile)

Inam pirindha maanai pola thanithirupathu

The lyricist compares the deep feeling of emotional isolation to a deer separated from its herd ('maanai pola').

Rhetorical Questioning

Ennai maalaiyittu manam muditha mannan neeyandro

The singer poses rhetorical questions to challenge her husband's silence and remind him of his marital bond.

Metaphor / Idiomatic Expression

Paal kudikka vandha poonai bayandhu ponadho

'Paal kudikka vandha poonai' (the cat that came for milk) metaphorically refers to someone approaching happiness timidly or retreating unexpectedly.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track showcases Kannadasan's signature ability to capture nuanced female vulnerability and classical decorum ('kula tharmam'). The music was composed by V. Kumar, a talented composer known for melodic compositions in the late 1960s and 1970s, rendered soulfully by legendary playback singer P. Susheela.

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