- Lyricist
- Geetha Govindam
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Tenali Raman
- Movie release year
- 1956
- Lyrics added on
- 2 May 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic verse, adapted from Jayadeva's celebrated 12th-century Sanskrit masterpiece 'Gita Govindam', vividly depicts the divine love-sports (Raas Leela) of Lord Krishna (Hari/Madhusudhana) with the Gopis in Vrindavan. Krishna is described as having a dark blue complexioned body smeared with fragrant sandalwood paste, wearing brilliant yellow silk attire, and decorated with a forest flower garland. As He sways playfully, His shimmering earrings dance against His cheeks, and His darting, expressive eyes ignite feelings of romantic adoration among the cowherd maidens. The verse highlights the omnipresent and captivating nature of Krishna's charm. He bestows delight upon various maidens in unique ways—gazing lovingly at one's lotus face, sharing a gentle smile with another, and bringing supreme joy to all around Him. In the context of the film 'Tenali Raman' (1956), this piece serves as a sophisticated classical performance piece reflecting refined aesthetic beauty and devotional fervor.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam / Rupaka)
“Vadhana sarojam”
Compares the face ('Vadhana') directly to a lotus flower ('Sarojam') to emphasize natural purity, elegance, and beauty.
Alliteration / Anuprasa (Monai / Ethugai)
“Kaabi vilasa vilola vilosana kelana”
Repetition of the 'vi' and 'la' syllable sounds creates a melodious, rhythmic phonetic flow echoing Krishna's playful dancing.
Visual Imagery (Vannanam)
“Sandhana sarchida neelakalaebare / Peedhavasana vanamaali”
Paints a vivid picture of Krishna's divine form—combining the cool white sandalwood paste against His blue skin and bright yellow silk robes.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track from the 1956 historical film 'Tenali Raman' features music composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. Though credited under the film's soundtrack, the lyrics are sourced directly from Jayadeva's immortal 'Gita Govindam' (specifically Ashtapadi 3, 'Chandanacharchita'). Rendered gracefully by legendary playback singer P. Susheela during the early phase of her career, this song stands out as a test of classical diction and vocal agility in Tamil cinema.
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