- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Movie name
- Sonthakkaran
- Movie release year
- 1989
- Lyrics added on
- 12 May 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Aththaanae Aththaanae' from Sonthakkaran (1989) is a passionate and sensuous romantic track where the female protagonist expresses her deep longing, desire, and surrender to her lover. Through playful teasing and vivid imagery, she beckons him, asking the night and moon to stay still so their intimate moments are prolonged. Vairamuthu uses rich metaphors—comparing love to bathing in a running river, sleeping like a dewdrop on a leaf, and embracing fire—to depict the intensity of raw human passion and romantic surrender. The song balances playful flirtation with classical poetic themes of yearning and union.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Ilaiyil thoongum panitthuli polae Unathu maarbil urangida aasai”
Compares resting on her lover's chest to a fragile dewdrop resting softly on a leaf ('Ilaiyil thoongum panitthuli polae').
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)
“Neruppai anaiththu paduththida aasai Nilavai pizhinthu kuliththida aasai”
Uses dramatic exaggeration of passion by expressing a desire to embrace fire and squeeze the moon for a bath.
Anaphora / Repetition (Edukkuthodai)
“Irave irave urangaathae Nilavey nilavae irangaathae”
Rhythmic repetition of words like 'Aththaanae', 'Irave', and 'Nilave' to emphasize pleading and affectionate address.
Contrast (Muran)
“Thaazhppaal pottu kulippathu veru Thaavum nadhiyil kulippathu veru”
Draws contrasts between private restricted love vs open free-flowing love using the image of a closed shower vs a flowing river.
Did you know?
Trivia
The soundtrack for Sonthakkaran (1989) was composed by Chandrabose, featuring lyricist Vairamuthu's signature sensual imagery, which was very popular in late 1980s Tamil cinema tracks.
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