- Lyricist
- Aalangudi Somu
- Singers
- P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Movie name
- Poompuhar
- Movie release year
- 1964
- Lyrics added on
- 2 Feb 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This iconic song from the 1964 Tamil movie 'Poompuhar' is inspired by Silappatikaram's 'Kaanal Vari' and pays tribute to the river Kaveri, personifying her as a benevolent and magnanimous queen devoted to the Chola king (representing the Chola land). The lyrics glorify Kaveri's grace, comparing her rhythmic flow to Bharatanatyam and her fertile silt to golden wealth. The song praises her forgiving nature, noting how she holds no malice despite the Chola kingdom expanding to meet other water bodies like the Ganges and Kumari. Finally, it contrasts her noble virtue with the double standards of men, offering a subtle social critique.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Uruvagamm / உருவகம்)
“Nadaiyinil baradha kalaiyinai vadithaai”
The river Kaveri is personified as a graceful woman and queen who wears a dress of flowers and practices Bharatanatyam in her flow.
Metaphor (Uvamaani / உவமை)
“Thirumbiya dhisai ellaam Ponnadi kuvitthaai”
The golden fertile soil brought by the river's flow across the land is described metaphorically as heapings of gold.
Anaphora / Alliteration (Monai / மோனை)
“Kaaviri pennae vaazhga”
Repetition of starting sounds in consecutive lines such as Kaaviri / Undhan / Chozha creating rhythmic symmetry.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Poompuhar' (1964) was produced by Nemichand Jhabak and written by M. Karunanidhi based on the epic Silappatikaram. Music for the film was composed by R. Sudarsanam, and this song highlights classical Tamil literary allegories about the river Kaveri and the Chola dynasty.
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