- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo
- Movie release year
- 1981
- Lyrics added on
- 17 Mar 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This folk-infused romantic track from 'Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo' vividly captures rural Tamil Nadu's idyllic landscape and pastoral beauty. The song praises a good-hearted man whose presence makes the entire village bloom with rich fragrances like jasmine and shenbagam. Through nature imagery—swaying paddy fields, flowing streams, and breezes carrying floral scents—the lyrics convey intense longing, romantic desire, and deep affection within a traditional agricultural setting.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Thaenaattam vellam oda oduthadi en manasu”
Compares the flowing stream to honey ('Thaenaattam vellam oda'), emphasizing sweetness and smoothness.
Metaphor / Imagery (Uruvagam)
“Aththanaiyum... Sakkaraithaan”
Compares the water drawn by the loved one to sugar ('Sakkaraithaan'), highlighting how love sweetens even basic work.
Personification
“Saainthaadum nerkadhire sadhiradum vazhaigalae”
Attributes human dancing and celebrating actions to plantain trees ('sadhiradum vazhaigalae') and the breeze ('kondaadum thendral').
Monnai (Alliteration)
“Kaadellaam pichippoovu / Karaiyellaam shenbagappoo”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines (e.g., Kaadellaam / Karaiyellaam).
Did you know?
Trivia
Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo (1981) was directed by G. N. Rangarajan based on Sujatha's popular novel of the same name. Ilaiyaraaja not only composed the music but also rendered vocal parts in this song, using traditional Tamil folk 'Ettappattu' / 'Yaethappattu' (work songs sung during agricultural labor) rhythms.
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