- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Raja Malaiya Simman
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 3 Jan 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a grand celebration of classical dance and expression (Abhinaya), drawing deep parallels between divine human art and cosmic natural phenomena. The protagonist describes nature as the supreme dancer: lightning acts as a maiden dancing amidst cloud-flowered skies while thunder provides the faultless rhythm (Taalam). Similarly, the surging ocean acts as a maiden dancing in pure bliss under the gentle gaze of the moon. The lyrics highlight that expressive dance predated spoken language on earth as the ultimate medium of emotion and communication. Nature itself stands as the ultimate witness and testament to the majesty of classical dance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Uruvagandham / Personification)
“Minnal ennum oru maadhu / Pongum kadal ennum kanni”
Lightning ('Minnal') and the ocean ('Pongum kadal') are personified as young maiden dancers, while thunder ('Idi') is personified as a percussionist keeping time.
Etukai (Second letter rhyme)
“Kannukku kannaana kaatchi / En kalaiyin perumaikake iyarkkai saatchi”
The second letters of consecutive lines match to create a melodic rhythm, such as 'Kannukku' and 'En kalaiyin' ('n' sound).
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Vaan mega malar solai meedhu”
Comparing sky clouds to a floral garden ('Vaan mega malar solai') to enrich the visual imagery of the performance arena.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in the 1959 action-adventure film 'Raja Malaiya Simman', this composition by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy is a celebrated classical dance song rendered by P. Susheela. A. Maruthakasi's lyrics brilliantly capture the philosophical origin of 'Abhinaya' (facial expression and mime in Indian classical dance), asserting that expression preceded speech in human evolution.
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