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Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ennadi Meenakshi

From Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
12 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaarthai thavari vitaai
Kannama maarbu thudikuthadi
Paartha idathil ellam unnaipol
Paavai theriyuthadi
{ Ennadi meenakshi
Sonnadu ennachu } (2)
Netrodu nee sonna
Vaarthai kaatrodu poyaachu
Ennadi meenakshi
Sonnadu ennachu
Netrodu nee sonna
Vaarthai kaatrodu poyaachu
{ Undhan udhatil
Nirainthirukum pazharasam
Andha manathil
Marainthirukum thuli visam } (2)
Nenjam thudithidum naazhi
Neeyo aduthavan thozhi
Ennai maranthu povathum nyaayamo
Indha kaadhal oviyathin paathai maariyathu
Kaalam seithuvita maayamo
Oru manam uruguthu
Oru manam vilaguthu hey
Ennadi meenakshi
Sonnadu ennachu
Netrodu nee sonna
Vaarthai kaatrodu poyaachu
{ Anbil vilaintha
Uravu oru thodarkadhai
Andha uravu unaku oru sirukadhai } (2)
Kannan thanimayilae paada
Raadhai than vazhiyae oda
Indha pirivai thaangumo enmanam
Oru noolil aadugindra oonjal pondrathadi
Naalum maarugindra un manam
Enaku indru purinthadhu
Evan endru therinthadhu hey
{ Ennadi meenakshi
Sonnadu ennachu } (2)
Netrodu nee sonna
Vaarthai kaatrodu poyaachu
Vaarthai thavari vitaai
Kannama maarbu thudikuthadi
You broke your promise,
Kannamma, my chest pounds in pain.
Everywhere I look,
I see a figure just like you.
Tell me, Meenakshi,
What happened to what you said?
The words you spoke yesterday
Have blown away with the wind.
Tell me, Meenakshi,
What happened to what you said?
The words you spoke yesterday
Have blown away with the wind.
On your lips,
Overflows sweet fruit juice,
But inside that heart of yours,
A drop of poison lies hidden.
While my heart throbs in agony,
You have become another man's companion.
Is it fair for you to just forget me?
Did the path of this painting of love change
Due to some cruel trick played by time?
One heart melts in love,
While the other heart turns away, hey!
Tell me, Meenakshi,
What happened to what you said?
The words you spoke yesterday
Have blown away with the wind.
A bond born of love
Is a continuing story,
Yet to you, that bond is just a short story.
While Kannan sings in loneliness,
And Radha runs off on her own path,
Can my heart bear this separation?
Like a swing hanging by a single thread,
Is this heart of yours that changes every day.
Today I finally understood,
I know who that other man is now, hey!
Tell me, Meenakshi,
What happened to what you said?
The words you spoke yesterday
Have blown away with the wind.
You broke your promise,
Kannamma, my chest pounds in pain.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic song captures the deep anguish, anger, and feelings of betrayal experienced by a lover whose partner broke her promises and chose someone else. It opens by invoking Mahakavi Bharathiyar's legendary line 'Vaarthai thavari vittai Kannamma', establishing the pain of broken trust. The song develops through vivid contrasts—juxtaposing the sweet words on her lips with the poison in her mind, and comparing his commitment to a lifelong saga against her treatement of it as a mere short story.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Literary Allusion

“Vaarthai thavari vitaai Kannama maarbu thudikuthadi”

Directly borrows and adapts Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's famous poem 'Vaarthai Thavari Vittai Kannamma', invoking timeless literary sorrow.

Metaphor / Contrast (Muran)

“Undhan udhatil Nirainthirukum pazharasam Andha manathil Marainthirukum thuli visam”

Contrasts nectar/fruit juice on her lips with poison hidden in her heart to illustrate outward sweet deception versus inward betrayal.

Contrast (Muran)

“Uravu oru thodarkadhai / Andha uravu unaku oru sirukadhai”

Contrasts 'Thodarkadhai' (never-ending serial story) with 'Sirukadhai' (short story) to highlight how deeply he valued the relationship compared to how lightly she discarded it.

Simile (Upamai)

“Oru noolil aadugindra oonjal pondrathadi Naalum maarugindra un manam”

Compares her fickle, constantly changing mind to a precarious swing hanging by a single frail thread.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from 'Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu' (1978) was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Performed on screen by Rajinikanth, lyricist Vaali famously blended classical poetic themes inspired by Bharathiyar with modern western pop-rock rhythms.

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