- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Alli
- Movie release year
- 1964
- Lyrics added on
- 27 May 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This playful duet from the 1964 movie 'Alli' portrays a lively, romantic banter between a young man and a woman in a rural Tamil setting. The male protagonist showers her with poetic compliments—comparing her to the fish in Kaveri, a forest deer, and Kollimalai honey—while teasing her about her tough, masculine gait and fiery temper. The heroine cheekily defends her demeanor, explaining that she walks like a man to protect herself from nuisance suitors in the village. As their back-and-forth continues, teasing turns into mutual admiration. The hero openly expresses his romantic eagerness, while the heroine advises patience, asking him to let their feelings mature before surrendering to love. Poet Kannadasan masterfully captures traditional rural courtship banter filled with humor, charm, and vivid imagery.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Kaaveri meenadiyoo / Kaattukullae maanadiyoo”
Compares the heroine's grace and traits to natural elements using 'adiyoo' / 'pola' (like a fish in Kaveri, like a deer in the forest).
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kaaveri meenadiyoo / Kaattukullae maanadiyoo / Koovadha kuyiladiyoo / Kollimalai thaenadiyoo”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Kaa'/'Koo'/'Ko' across successive lines to create a rhythmic musical flow.
Uruvakam (Metaphor)
“Oruthan kaiyil nee kedachaa / Karumbu thaan”
Metaphorically equates the sweet youthful state of the lover to a sweet sugarcane ('Karumbu').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Alli' (1964) is a rare black-and-white Tamil film featuring lyrics penned by Kaviarasu Kannadasan. The track relies heavily on classic folk-style 'Sindu' rhythms and conversational phrasing typical of mid-20th-century Tamil village duets.
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