- Lyricist
- Pazhani Bharathi
- Singers
- Sanjeev Adwani, Sowmya Raoh
- Music director
- Sirpy
- Movie name
- Janakiraman
- Movie release year
- 1997
- Lyrics added on
- 15 Apr 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Hawaliya' from the 1997 film 'Janakiraman' is a vibrant and playful duet filled with sensual banter between lovers. The lead couple exchanges romantic compliments and teases each other, comparing bodily charm to nature's sweetest elements like flower garlands, red bananas, and sugarcane. The narrative revolves around physical attraction, playful pinching, irresistible longing, and intimate promises lasting until dawn. The emotional tone is lighthearted yet deeply romantic, capturing the glamorous commercial aesthetic of 1990s Tamil cinema dance sequences where metaphors and traditional folk-style phrasing blend into a modern rhythm.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Upamai)
“Kaalgal enna sevvaalaiya”
Compares smooth, shapely legs directly to red bananas ('sevvaalai') to highlight beauty and soft texture.
Metaphor (Upamai)
“Karumbu udambudhan…”
Compares the beloved's physique to sweet sugarcane ('karumbu').
Iyaipu (Rhyming end scheme)
“Dhegam enna poomaalaiya / Kaalgal enna sevvaalaiya”
Both lines end with the matching rhyming sound '-alaiya'.
Simile / Imagery (Udambu / Udumbu)
“Machaan udumbudhan…”
Uses the tenacious grip of a monitor lizard ('udumbu') as a wordplay with body ('udambu') to signify an unyielding embrace.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Janakiraman' (1997) features music composed by Sirpy, with lyrics penned by Pazhani Bharathi. Known for producing upbeat dance numbers in the late 90s, Sirpy used catchy folk-pop rhythms in this song to complement the lively screen presence of Sarathkumar and Nagma.
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