- Lyricist
- Kambadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, T. V. Rathinam
- Music director
- O. P. Nayyar
- Movie name
- Paattaliyin Sabatham
- Movie release year
- 1958
- Lyrics added on
- 17 Apr 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a lively playful duet between a woman and her bold suitor. The heroine warns her persistent admirer to keep his distance, asserting her self-respect and dignity while warning him that her charms have humbled mighty wrestlers in the past and that his antics might get him arrested by the local police ('Taanakaaran'). Undeterred, the suitor passionately declares that Cupid's arrow has struck his heart, swearing that not even handcuffs or fear of the law will stop him from following the woman he loves.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kanam kanam unai kandidavum / Manam thudithiduthae madhan kanaiyaal”
The second consonant sound 'na' matches in 'Kanam kanam' and 'Manam', creating rhythmic harmony.
Metaphor
“Manam thudithiduthae madhan kanaiyaal”
'Madhan kanai' refers to the arrow of Kamadeva (Cupid), symbolizing the irresistible and sudden onset of love.
Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Badae badae bayilvaanae”
Words like 'Kanam kanam' (moment by moment) and 'Badae badae' (big/mighty) are doubled for poetic emphasis and dramatic flair.
Did you know?
Trivia
Paattaliyin Sabatham (1958) features music and lyrics contributed by Kambadasan, a celebrated Tamil poet known for blending classical literary tropes with catchy colloquial folk idioms. The song uses early Tamil cinema slang such as 'Taanakaaran' for a police constable and 'Nijar' derived from knickers/shorts.
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