- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music directors
- M. S. Vishwanathan, Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Vishwa Thulasi
- Movie release year
- 2004
- Lyrics added on
- 24 Oct 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant song expresses profound yearning, confusion, and despair in love. The protagonist addresses 'Kannamma', questioning whether their shared bond has turned into a distant dream or illusion. Through a series of rhetorical questions, the speaker wonders if the natural world itself has stalled—whether cuckoos have stopped singing and jasmines have ceased blooming—simply because the warmth and presence of love seem missing. The lyrics reflect deep introspection and heartbreak, as the protagonist struggles to comprehend the emotional distance and whether they still hold a place in their beloved's heart and soul.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinava Vina)
“Kannammaa... kanavillaiyaa... Kan thanil sugam illaiyaa”
Almost every line ends with the interrogative suffix 'illaiyaa' (is it not?), expressing self-doubt, longing, and emotional anguish.
Repetend / Monorhyme (Iyaipu)
“Un mugam paarkkalaiyaa / Illai jaadhi poo pookkalaiyaa”
The deliberate repetition of the ending sound 'illaiyaa' across consecutive lines builds a rhythmic cadence and emphasizes constant questioning.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Illai puvi kooda sutralaiyaa”
Nature's phenomena—the cuckoo's call, jasmine blooming, and the earth spinning—are used metaphorically to reflect the internal emotional state of the lover.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Vishwa Thulasi (2004) is historic for its soundtrack as it brought together two legends of Tamil film music—M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) and Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja—who jointly composed the music for the film, creating an iconic collaboration.
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