- Lyricist
- Suratha
- Singers
- Jikki, T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Nadodi Mannan
- Movie release year
- 1958
- Lyrics added on
- 15 Jul 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Inba Kaaviya Kalaiyae from the 1958 classic Nadodi Mannan is a charming romantic duet expressing deep love, admiration, and poetic devotion. The lyricist uses nature-inspired similes to describe the beloved—comparing her presence to lightning that causes the fragrant Thaazhai flower to bloom, and her essence to rain and sky without which life cannot sustain. The lovers celebrate their joyous union, expressing that love is even softer and more delicate than flowers, looking forward to a bright new life together.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Minnal pol kaanuthae / Thaazhai malaruvathu pola”
Compares the sudden arrival of the beloved to a flash of lightning and the heart's delight to the blooming of the Thaazhai flower upon seeing lightning.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Inba kaaviya kalaiyae oviyamae / Amudhae”
Directly addresses the beloved as a work of epic art, a living painting, and divine nectar.
Hyperbole (Ushuyarvu Navorchi)
“Malarinum melliyathu kaadhlae”
Exaggerates the softness of love by stating it is gentler and more delicate than a flower.
Did you know?
Trivia
Nadodi Mannan (1958) was a landmark film directed by and starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The song's lyrics were written by Kavignar Suratha, who was renowned in Tamil literature as 'Upamai Kavingar' (the Poet of Similes) due to his masterly usage of metaphors and comparisons.
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