- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Manoj – Gyan
- Movie name
- Thambathyam
- Movie release year
- 1987
- Lyrics added on
- 29 Jan 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Geetham Vanthathu' from 'Thambathyam' (1987) is a soulful classical duet that celebrates the sanctity and harmony of marital love. The lyricist Vaali draws rich allegories between conjugal union and Carnatic music, equating the husband and wife to 'Sruti' (pitch) and 'Layam' (rhythm)—two essential elements that must merge seamlessly to create beautiful melody. The couple expresses their devotion, emphasizing that their bond transcends a single lifetime and spans across seven births. Throughout the song, the narrative flows through affectionate praise. The husband compares his wife to timeless literature (Kamban's poetry) and a divine temple sculpture that one never tires of admiring. In return, the wife addresses her husband as the morning raga ('Bhoopaalam') that gently wakes her every day. Through swaras and poetic metaphors, the song conveys that true love brings divine grace, turning daily life into a continuous shower of musical bliss.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Shuruthiyodu layam saernthathu”
Compares the harmony between husband and wife directly to the fundamental musical pairing of pitch (Sruti) and rhythm (Layam).
Simile / Metaphor (Upamai)
“Kamban paadal neeyallavaa”
Compares the beloved to a poem by the legendary Tamil poet Kamban, symbolizing immortal beauty and endless charm.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Endrum neeyae en thaaramae / Vaera yaedhu aadhaaramae”
The lines end with rhyming words ('thaaramae' and 'aadhaaramae') to enhance the melodic rhythm.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Ketka ketka thigatidaatha / Kamban paadal neeyallavaa”
Repetition of the initial 'K' sound across the consecutive lines ('Ketka' and 'Kamban').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Geetham Vanthathu' was composed by the duo Manoj–Gyan, who were well known for blending classical music aesthetics with contemporary 1980s film music instrumentation. Sung by legendary playback singers Malaysia Vasudevan and Vani Jairam, the track features classical Carnatic swara passages integrated directly into the romantic duet. Lyricist Vaali weaves classical music concepts like 'Sruti', 'Layam', and 'Bhoopaalam' raga to metaphorically represent domestic harmony.
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