- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Vazhkai Vazhvatharke
- Movie release year
- 1964
- Lyrics added on
- 13 Aug 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from 'Vazhkai Vazhvatharke' (1964) expresses the profound angst and grief of a woman whose beloved has departed for the battlefield. Lyricist Kannadasan draws upon ancient Sangam literary traditions (Akam vs. Puram), contrasting the soldier's outward military expedition with the heroine's intense inner turmoil. While he wields weapons in battle, her own heart and body become a battleground of emotional distress and longing. Throughout the song, she anxiously questions whether his chariot will return with good news or if he will come back to fulfill his promises of love and marriage. Through P. Susheela's expressive vocals and Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy's classical composition, the song captures the agonizing suspense of waiting for a warrior lover to return safely.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Naan porkalam aanen”
The speaker equates her internal distress directly to a battlefield ('Naan porkalam aanen'), emphasizing how war affects the emotionally vulnerable left behind.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Avan kaavalan endraan / Naan kaavalai izhandhen”
Juxtaposes his role as a protector ('kaavalan') against her complete loss of safety and guard ('kaavalai izhandhen').
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Avan kaavalan endraan / Avan paavalan endraan”
Rhyming of second letters across adjacent lines ('kaavalan' / 'paavalan', 'aadaiyil' / 'paavadaiyil').
Monai (Initial Consonance)
“Avan porukku ponaan / Naan porkalam aanen”
Matching initial consonant sounds in 'porukku' and 'porkalam'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song draws directly from Sangam poetry themes, specifically blending Akam (interior/love) and Puram (exterior/warfare). Kannadasan's use of classic imagery like 'porkalam' (battlefield), 'vel' (spear), and 'thirumalar' (sacred wedding flowers) evokes classical Tamil literature within a film song structure.
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