- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- A. M. Rajah
- Music director
- Sudharsanam
- Movie name
- Kalathur Kannamma
- Movie release year
- 1960
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Jul 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant song from 'Kalathur Kannamma' expresses the deep sorrow and heartbreak of a lover separated from his beloved. He reminisces about how she once drew near with immense love, melting his heart, but subsequently left him with a life devoid of peace. He questions where she has gone and laments that the anguish of separation has become unbearable. Through classic Tamil poetic imagery, he compares his condition to a flower that a woman adores and wears, only to discard later. He reflects on his heart being a home reserved entirely for her—a heart that she elevated into a grand palace with her love, but ultimately reduced to a mound of dirt through her absence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraal”
Matching of the second consonant in consecutive words or lines to create rhythm ('Arugil' / 'Urugi').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Idhayam enbadhu oru veedu”
Comparing the heart to a home ('veedu'), a mansion ('maaligai'), and a mound of dirt ('mann medu').
Adukku Thodar (Anaphora / Repetition for emphasis)
“Podhum podhumae”
Repetition of words like 'Malarae' and 'Podhum' to emphasize emotional anguish.
Contrast (Erhukottai / Sol-Muran)
“Adhu maaligai aanadhum avalaalae / Verum mann medaanathum avalaalae”
Juxtaposition of positive and negative states ('maaligai' / 'mann medu' - palace vs. mound of dirt).
Did you know?
Trivia
Kalathur Kannamma (1960) marked the iconic film debut of Kamal Haasan as a child artist, earning him the Rashtrapati Award (President's Gold Medal). The song features music composed by R. Sudarsanam, with soulful vocals by A.M. Rajah and deeply evocative lyrics by Kannadasan.
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