- Lyricist
- Bharathidasan
- Singer
- Vijay Yesudas
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada
- Movie release year
- 2016
- Lyrics added on
- 11 Dec 2016
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Avalum Naanum' is a poetic celebration of an inseparable romantic bond, built entirely upon classical Tamil metaphors. The song draws rich analogies from nature, music, and art to show how the protagonist and his beloved are intrinsically linked—comparing them to nectar and Tamil, a body and its soul, a wave and the ocean, and a flower and its fragrance. Through these timeless pair comparisons, the lyricist conveys that neither individual is complete without the other, symbolizing a profound harmony where two distinct entities merge into one essence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaal / Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Avalum naanum / Amuthum thamizhum”
Extensive use of initial 'A' (அ) letter repetition across lines ('Avalum', 'Amuthum', 'Alaiyum', 'Aalum', 'Asaivum', 'Aniyum') creating melodic harmony.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Suffix Symmetry)
“Uyirum udambum / Narambum yaazhum”
Consistent use of the conjunctive suffix '-um' (உம்) at the end of almost every noun pair, establishing a hypnotic rhythmic cadence.
Uvamai (Analogy / Metaphor)
“Meenum punalum / Vinnum virivum”
Pairing concepts where one cannot exist without the other (e.g., harp and strings, fish and water) to metaphorically illustrate deep emotional and spiritual unity.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics of 'Avalum Naanum' were not originally written for cinema; they are excerpts from a famous poem by Pavendhar Bharathidasan, one of modern Tamil literature's greatest poets. Composer A.R. Rahman adapted these classical verses into a song for Gautham Vasudev Menon's 2016 film 'Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada', with vocals by Vijay Prakash.
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