- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Nizhal Nijamagiradhu
- Movie release year
- 1978
- Lyrics added on
- 28 Nov 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Kamban Yaemaandhaan' is a cynical and satirical reflection on the romantic illusions created by grand classical Tamil poets like Kamban, Thiruvalluvar, Ilango Adigal, and Subramania Bharati. The protagonist argues that these legendary bards idealised women as gentle flowers, sweet milk, and bright lamps, ignoring their potential for anger and destruction. He laments that he too fell into the same trap of romantic fantasy created by classical poetry before declaring that a woman's anger is temporary and limited to domestic boundaries.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Irony / Satire (நையாண்டி)
“Kamban yaemaandhaan”
The entire refrain humorously undermines the legendary status of Kamban, claiming the great epic poet was naive and tricked by female beauty.
Metaphor / Rhetorical Question (உவமை & வினா)
“Aval arunjuvai paalena yaen sonnaan / Adhu kodhippadhinaal thaano”
Subverts the classical metaphor of eyes as arrows and milk as sweetness by reinterpreting them as weapons that pierce and anger that boils over.
Initial Rhyme / Monai (மோனை)
“Aathiram enbadhu pengalukkellaam / Aduppadi varai thaanae”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'Aa' across lines for rhythmic emphasis.
Allusion (இலக்கியக் குறிப்பு)
“Valluvan ilango bharathi endroru”
Directly cites classical and modern Tamil literary figures—Thiruvalluvar, Ilango Adigal, and Subramania Bharati—to critique romantic literary traditions.
Did you know?
Trivia
From the film 'Nizhal Nijamagiradhu' (1978) directed by K. Balachander, this iconic track was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, penned by Kannadasan, and rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam for Kamal Haasan's character.
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