- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Paattukku Naan Adimai
- Movie release year
- 1990
- Lyrics added on
- 3 Dec 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song expresses the deep romantic longing and heartache of a young man for his maternal aunt's daughter (his cousin and traditional bride in Tamil culture). Set against a rustic backdrop, he personifies nature—the breeze setting the musical pitch, the water spring singing notes, and a parrot perched on a fig tree—to reflect his yearning. He reminisces about their childhood memories, late-night dancing, and carefree wanderings through the village, contrasting those happy times with his current state of sleepnessness and emotional torment as he waits for news from her.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Uruvagarnam / Maelamai)
“Suthi varum poongaathu… Sudhi podum…”
Nature is given human musical qualities; the wind sets the pitch (Sudhi) and the spring sings musical scales (Sram / Swaram).
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Aththi mara kili kathum / Adhu aththa magala thaan suthum”
The parrot on the fig tree serves as a metaphor for the lover who constantly hovers around his beloved.
Ezhukai (Assonance / Second-letter Rhyming)
“Suthi varum poongaathu / Thulli varum neeroothu”
The second consonant 'th' matches across consecutive lines ('Suthi' and 'Thulli'), creating rhythmic harmony.
Monaai (Alliteration)
“Sitham kalangi pochu / Ava sedhi theriyalaachu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'S' in 'Sitham' and 'Sedhi', or 'U' in 'Ullae' and 'Unna'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the song context lists unknown details, 'Paattukku Naan Adimai' (1990) starring Ramarajan and Gautami features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran. The song 'Aththi Mara Kili' is a classic rural Ilaiyaraaja duet/folk track rendered by Malaysia Vasudevan and K. S. Chithra.
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