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Lyrics & meaning

Achcham Vittu

From Deiva Sangalpam · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Deiva Sangalpam1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkirenLeaving fear behind and leaving shyness behind, I ask you
En anbin meedhu aanaiyittu unmai ketkkirenSwearing upon my love, I ask you for the truth
Ennai maalaiyittu manam muditha mannan neeyandroAre you not the king who garlanded me and wedded me?
Adhu unmai thaan androIs that not the absolute truth?
Female
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkirenLeaving fear behind and leaving shyness behind, I ask you
Female
Paal kudikka vandha poonai bayandhu ponadhoDid the cat that came to drink milk get scared away?
Illai pazhaiya kaala ninaivai ellam marandhu ponadhooOr have you forgotten all the memories of the past days?
Enna enni indha neram oomaiyaanadhooThinking of what have you become mute at this moment?
Idhayathilae enna thaan kelviyaanadhooWhat question has arisen inside your heart?
Female
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkirenLeaving fear behind and leaving shyness behind, I ask you
Female
Potti pottu pesa vandhen vaarthaigal illaiI came to speak in eagerness, but I have no words left
Pookal kondu odi vandhen poojaiyum illaiI came running with flowers, but there is no worship taking place
Potti pottu pesa vandhen vaarthaigal illaiI came to speak in eagerness, but I have no words left
Pookal kondu odi vandhen poojaiyum illaiI came running with flowers, but there is no worship taking place
Female
Thaanae kaettu pengalukku pazhakkamum illaiIt is not the habit of women to demand or ask on their own
Thaanae kaettu pengalukku pazhakkamum illaiIt is not the habit of women to demand or ask on their own
Kula tharmathilae appadiyor vazhakkamum illaiThere is no such custom in traditional righteous conduct
Female
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkirenLeaving fear behind and leaving shyness behind, I ask you
Female
Thunbangalil periya thunbam kaathiruppadhuThe greatest sorrow among all sorrows is the pain of waiting
Oru thunai irundhum uravillamal paarthirupathuTo have a partner present, yet looking on without emotional intimacy
Inam pirindha maanai pola thanithirupathuTo remain isolated like a deer separated from its herd
Enna kettum badhil illamal yengi nirppadhuTo stand longing without receiving any response no matter what is asked
Female
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkirenLeaving fear behind and leaving shyness behind, I ask you
En anbin meedhu aanaiyittu unmai ketkkirenSwearing upon my love, I ask you for the truth
Ennai maalaiyittu manam muditha mannan neeyandroAre you not the king who garlanded me and wedded me?
Adhu unmai thaan androIs that not the absolute truth?
Female
Acham vittu naanam vittu unnai ketkkirenLeaving fear behind and leaving shyness behind, I ask you

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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