- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Vaidehi Kathirunthal
- Movie release year
- 1984
- Lyrics added on
- 5 Feb 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Kaathirunthu Kaathirunthu' from the film Vaidehi Kathirunthal is a poignant expression of yearning, heartbreak, and unfulfilled longing. The song conveys the agonizing pain of endless waiting as time slips away, leaving the protagonist's eyes aching from constantly watching for the beloved's arrival. Intertwined with maternal lullaby motifs, the lyrics contrast innocent hopes with deeply painful reality, as cherished desires burn into grief.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthoodar (Repetition / Anaphora)
“Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu”
Repetition of words like 'Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu' and 'Poothirunthu poothirunthu' emphasizes the agonizingly prolonged and continuous state of waiting and blooming.
Uvamai (Metaphor)
“Poovizhi noguthadi”
'Poovizhi' metaphorically compares eyes to delicate flowers, illustrating how fragile eyes suffer from watching continuously.
Emona / Monai (Alliteration)
“Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu / Kaalangal poguthadi”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Ka' in 'Kaathirunthu' and 'Kaalangal' creates rhythm and poetic resonance.
Edhai (Second letter rhyming)
“Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu / Poothirunthu poothirunthu”
Rhyming of the second letter '-th-' across 'Kaathirunthu' and 'Poothirunthu' adheres to traditional Tamil poetic structure.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kaathirunthu Kaathirunthu' is an iconic classic composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984), sung by P. Susheela (solo version) and P. Jayachandran. The song encapsulates the thematic core of the film—endless waiting and tragic yearning.
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