- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. V. Janaki
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Kanniyin Kathali
- Movie release year
- 1949
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Sept 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
In this song, a speaker reports their keen observations of a woman to a superior or master ('Aiyaa'). While acknowledging her external beauty—her full-moon face, glowing eyes, honeyed lips, swan-like walk, and parrot-like voice—the speaker highlights the underlying negative qualities accompanying these physical traits, such as disrespect, cruelty, poison, pride, and a utter lack of humility.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile)
“Nadaiyai kandaen aiyaa annam pol”
Comparing her walk to a swan ('annam pol') and her voice to a parrot ('kili pol') to illustrate initial grace.
Uruvagamaana Muran (Oxymoron/Contrast)
“Athilae visha madhuvum kalanthirukka kandean aiyaa”
Juxtaposition of pleasant imagery with toxic traits, such as 'madhu' (sweet nectar/honey) and 'visha madhu' (poisonous honey).
Anaphora (Madakku)
“Naan unmaiyai sonnaen aiyaa….”
Repetition of the phrase 'Naan unmaiyai sonnaen aiyaa' at the end of stanzas to emphasize truthfulness and sincerity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kanniyin Kathali (1949) is a milestone in Tamil cinema as it marked the debut of the legendary poet and lyricist Kannadasan. The movie was an adaptation of William Shakespeare's famous comedy play 'Twelfth Night'.
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