- Lyricist
- Malliyam Rajagopal
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Jeevanamsam
- Movie release year
- 1968
- Lyrics added on
- 26 Aug 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This playful romantic duet expresses the intimacy and joy of lovers uniting. Built around clever wordplay centered on the word 'kai' (hand), the lyrics weave together sweet romantic banters about physical touch, youthful passion, and sweet emotional connection. The lovers metaphorically view their hearts as a mansion where love serves as the rent, and celebrate their romantic union as a natural experience of youth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Repetition / Repetitive Rhythm (Adukkuthodar)
“Akkakko kai kai malar kai”
The word 'kai' (hand) is repeated rhythmically throughout the chorus to create an infectious musical beat and emphasize touch.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Idhayam or maligai”
Comparing a delicate hand to a soft flower ('malar kai') and heart to a palace ('Idhayam or maligai').
Internal Rhyme / Wordplay (Pun)
“Idhalil or punnagai / Adhu pon nagai”
Wordplay matching 'punnagai' (smile) with 'pon nagai' (golden ornament).
Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Iyarkkai alli virikkum / Ilamai solli mudikkum”
The second consonant 'ya' matches across lines ('Iyarkkai' and 'Ilamai').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1968 Tamil film 'Jeevanamsam', starring Jaishankar and Lakshmi. The film was directed by Malliyam Rajagopal, who also penned the lyrics for this song, set to music by the veteran composer K. V. Mahadevan.
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