- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- Vani Jairam, T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Jamboo
- Movie release year
- 1980
- Lyrics added on
- 13 Feb 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from the movie Jamboo (1980) is a lively and romantic folk-style duet characterized by playful teasing between two lovers. The male lead inquisitively asks where the female lead has arrived from, while she playfully responds that she traveled by aeroplane to share her story and get to know him better. The back-and-forth exchange is filled with flirtatious folk chants and energetic musical flourishes. As the song progresses, the imagery shifts to tender romantic expressions—resting on sand beds, cradling on one's lap, and diving for deep-sea pearls as a metaphor for discovering true love and intimacy. Calling each other affectionate titles like 'Rasathi' (queen) and 'Rasa' (king), the lovers express their mutual longing, joy, and playful companionship.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Nadukkadalil muththu irukku / Melae onnum thonaathu”
The pearl lying in the deep sea symbolizes deep-seated love and affection that remains hidden under the surface until one dives deep to retrieve it.
Ethugai (Second-letter assonance)
“Manalilae meththaiyittu / Madiyilae thaalaattu”
The second consonant sound ('na' / 'di' tapping rhythm) aligns across consecutive lines to create a smooth melodic rhythm.
Monai (Initial sound alliteration)
“Nalla muththai eduppatharke / Naalu romba aagaathu”
The repetition of the 'Na' sound at the beginning of 'Nalla' and 'Naalu' provides rhythmic emphasis in Tamil poetry.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Engae vanthae engae vanthae / Yaenadi nee engae vanthae”
The repetitive questioning adds emphasis, playfulness, and a rhythmic folk hook to the track.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Jamboo' (1980) is a Tamil action-adventure movie directed and produced by M. Karnan, featuring actor Jaishankar in the lead role. The lyrics for this song were penned by the veteran lyricist Kannadasan, who incorporated colloquial rhythm words like 'Thaiyaarae' alongside modern references such as 'Aeroplane' to give it a unique urban-folk mix.
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