- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Saadhanai
- Movie release year
- 1986
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Feb 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This tragic Tamil song expresses the anguish of a dying or severely suffering woman calling out to her beloved. She pleads for him to return so she can see his face one final time before life slips away. Through vivid imagery, she questions the cruel fate bestowed upon her and asserts that while her mortal body and life may fade like the moon, true love remains as eternal as the sky. The lyrics emphasize deep grief, despair, and an unyielding emotional bond that transcends death.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition
“Anbae… anbae… / Engae… engae…”
Repeated use of 'Anbae… anbae…' and 'Engae… engae…' creates a mournful, rhythmic plea.
Metaphor
“Kaadhal ennum poovin meedhu / Paarai yaettri paarppadho”
Comparing love to a fragile flower ('Kaadhal ennum poovin meedhu') and hardship to a heavy rock placed upon it.
Imagery & Contrast
“Nilavu thaeindhu poga koodum / Vaanam thaeindhu pogaadhu”
Contrasting the waning moon (mortal life) with the unchanging sky (immortal love).
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Nenjil indru porkkalam / Neeril moozhgum kangalum”
Rhyming second letters in consecutive lines: 'Dhaegam' and 'Nilavu', or 'Nenjil' and 'Neeril'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Saadhanai' (1986) featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja (often uncredited or misattributed in standard compilations) with poignant lyrics written by Vairamuthu during their celebrated collaborative era in 1980s Tamil cinema.
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