- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Avargal
- Movie release year
- 1977
- Lyrics added on
- 6 Mar 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Kaatrukkenna Veli' from K. Balachander's 1977 masterpiece 'Avargal' is a soaring anthem of female liberation, self-discovery, and emotional emancipation. Lyricist Kannadasan utilizes vivid elements of nature—the boundless wind, the vast ocean, and the unstoppable rush of the Ganges—as metaphors for a woman's spirit breaking free from societal shackles and abusive relationships. The song captures the joyous euphoria of regaining one's autonomy and innocence, comparing the protagonist to a drifting cloud, a dancing peacock, and a playful calf. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan and rendered with exuberance by S. Janaki, the song serves as a pivotal psychological turning point for the protagonist, Sujatha. It celebrates her triumph over past trauma, asserting that a woman's joy and self-worth cannot be boxed in by regressive social norms. Through poetic imagery and rhythmic vitality, the track remains one of Tamil cinema's most iconic songs celebrating women's freedom.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Metaphorical Inquiry)
“Kaatrukkenna veli / Kadalukkenna moodi”
Kannadasan opens with rhetorical questions comparing human freedom to untamable elements of nature, asserting that freedom is natural and irrepressible.
Hyperbole / Visual Metaphor
“Gangai vellam sangukkullae / Adangi vidaadhu”
Contrasting the vastness of the Ganges with the tiny space of a conch shell symbolizes the impossibility of confining an expansive mind.
Monorhyme and Alliteration (Edugai & Moinai)
“Kandrukkutti thullumbodhu / Kaalil enna kattuppaadu”
Repetition of sound patterns like 'Kandrukkutti' and 'Kattuppaadu', as well as 'Kaalam' and 'Aasaikkenna', creates an energetic poetic rhythm.
Simile (Upamai)
“Maegamaai paaduven / Thogaipol aaduven”
Comparing the protagonist's free-spirited expression to clouds singing in the sky and peacocks dancing on earth.
Paradox
“Pillai petrum pillai aanen”
Expressing how becoming a mother did not age her spirit, but instead restored her youthful innocence and sense of wonder.
Did you know?
Trivia
In the film 'Avargal' (1977), directed by K. Balachander, this song accompanies a famous sequence where Sujatha plays a classical guitar and dances joyfully, expressing her newfound freedom after escaping a toxic marriage with Ramanathan (played by Rajinikanth). The song was composed by M. S. Viswanathan and sung by S. Janaki, winning immense praise for its vocal agility and empowering lyricism.
Keep listening
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