- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- R. Govarthanam
- Movie name
- Porsilai
- Movie release year
- 1969
- Lyrics added on
- 16 Sept 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic melancholic song portrays the deep longing and grief of a woman separated from her lover by the ocean. Addressing the ocean waves as her confidante, she expresses her despair over his absence, describing how her physical and emotional health is deteriorating without him. She laments that if she were born a fish, she could swim across the sea to meet him, but as a land creature (a deer), she remains helplessly bound to 'this shore'. Through rich imagery of golden statues, stone idols, and lost adornments, Kannadasan captures the pain of unfulfilled love and longing.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Pun / Sledhai (Double Entendre)
“Akkaraiyil avanirukka... Akkaraiyillaadhathenna kadal alaiyae”
Kannadasan plays with the homonyms 'Akkarai' meaning 'that shore' (Akkaraiyil) and 'Akkarai' meaning 'care/concern' (Akkaraiyillaadhadhu).
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Akkaraiyil avanirukka / Ikkaraiyil naanirukka”
The second consonant 'k' in 'Akkaraiyil' and 'Ikkaraiyil' creates an elegant Tamil rhyming structure.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Porsilaiyin nenjinilae... Karsilaikku saathuvaenoh”
The heroine compares herself to a golden statue ('Porsilai') and her unresponsive lover or fate to a stone statue ('Karsilai').
Contrast / Imagery
“Meenaaga pirandhirundhaal... Naan maanaaga pirandhu vittaen”
Contrasting the aquatic ability of a fish to cross the sea with the terrestrial nature of a deer to highlight her helplessness.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by R. Govarthanam, a lesser-known yet brilliant music director in Tamil cinema, 'Akkaraiyil Avanirukka' remains one of P. Susheela's finest solo renditions. Kannadasan's double-meaning usage of 'Akkarai' in the opening line is celebrated as one of the finest examples of linguistic cleverness in Tamil film lyrics.
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