- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singers
- P. Susheela, T. R. Mahalingam
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Amuthavalli
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 13 Aug 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from the 1959 movie Amuthavalli employs the metaphor of a boat navigating the vast ocean of time to contemplate the nature of love and human grief. One speaker questions whether love is merely a passing myth or a genuine emotion, expressing anguish over a life that feels regressive and unfulfilled like a ripe fruit turning back into an unripe sour one. The responding voice offers comfort and clarity, assuring that their bond is genuine, free from falsehood, and fully worthy of love and rights.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kaalam enamoru aazha kadalinil / Kaadhal padagum vilayaadudhamma”
Compares time to a deep ocean ('Kaalam enamoru aazha kadalinil') and love to a boat sailing on it ('Kaadhal padagum').
Antithesis / Paradox
“Kaniyaagi kaaiyaanal / Kadhai thaanae maanae”
Juxtaposes 'Kani' (ripe fruit, symbolizing joy/fulfillment) with 'Kaai' (unripe fruit, symbolizing hardship/unfulfillment) to depict an impossible regression in life.
Initial Rhyme (Monai)
“Kaniyaagi kaaiyaanal / Kadhai thaanae maanae”
Repetition of the 'Ka' initial consonant across words creating melodic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy with lyrics by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, this song features a philosophical conversation about love and life. Although structured as a dialogic duet between male and female characters in the narrative context, the audio rendition notably features female playback singers P. Susheela and A. P. Komala.
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