- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Iniya Uravu Poothathu
- Movie release year
- 1987
- Lyrics added on
- 27 Jan 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This playful and romantic track from 'Iniya Uravu Poothathu' uses the metaphor of learning to type on a typewriter as an allegory for romantic courtship. The male protagonist whimsically addresses the heroine as his teacher ('vaaththiyaarammaa') and begs her to teach him how to 'type' not with hands, but with romantic glances from the eyes. He humorously offers his guru dakshina (teacher's fee) which he claims is hidden in her father's pocket, and promises to be an obedient student who will type all day if she commands, or dramatically jump into the river if rejected. In the second stanza, he admires her grace and beauty, comparing her to a flowering creeper attracting a young beetle. He implores her to drop her shyness, stop teasing him, and accept his love without hesitation. Vaali's lyrics blend conversational Tamil with English loanwords to create a lively, modern, and humorous romantic duet.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Oru vaasanai poongodi vanthathu kandu / Vattangal poduthu vaaliba vandammaa”
Comparing the heroine to a parrot ('Kiliyae') and a fragrant flowering creeper ('vaasanai poongodi'), and the hero to a youthful beetle ('vaaliba vandu').
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaiyaalae type adikkathaanae / Kannaalae type adippaen naanae”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of consecutive key words.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Loanword Rhyming)
“Nee aanai ittaal naal muzhukka type adippaen / Nee viratti vittaal koovaththilae dive adippaen”
Rhyming English loanwords 'type adippaen' and 'dive adippaen' at the end of consecutive lines for humorous effect.
Traditional Metaphor (Maan vizhi / Meen vizhi)
“Adi maan vizhi meen vizhi anjuvathenna”
Standard Tamil poetic imagery comparing beautiful eyes to a deer's eyes ('maan vizhi') and fish ('meen vizhi').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, the song features a quirky late-1980s synth-pop arrangement. Lyricist Vaali was renowned for seamlessly weaving modern English everyday terms like 'type' and 'dive' into classical Tamil poetic tropes, creating an iconic comedic-romantic style.
Keep listening
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