- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Music director
- Bharathwaj
- Movie name
- Pooveli
- Movie release year
- 1998
- Lyrics added on
- 6 Mar 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Kadhai Solla Poren' from the film Pooveli (1998) is a vibrant and playful riddle-based Tamil folk song (Vidu Kadhai Paattu). The song features family members and lovers challenging each other with classic folk riddles. Correct answers bring promises of wealth, while wrong answers lead to humorous taunts. Through clever puns and double meanings (Sledai), the characters solve riddles about daily village life, objects, and natural phenomena.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Sledai (Double Entendre / Pun)
“Perungayathaal / Perun kaayathaal”
A classic Tamil poetic technique where a single sound/phrase yields two entirely different meanings. 'Perungayathaal' refers to asafoetida (seasoning for dal), while 'Perun kaayathaal' refers to a mortal wound.
Sledai (Double Entendre / Pun)
“Paal vathiponaal”
The phrase 'Paal vathiponaal' dual-functions as plant sap drying up (causing leaves to yellow) and buffalo milk drying up (causing calves to weep).
Personification & Riddle Metaphor
“Kekka oru kadhillai / Pakka oru kannillai / Pesa oru vaayillai enakku”
An inanimate object (a weighing scale of justice) is given human traits (no ears, eyes, or mouth) to form a classic folk riddle.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kekka oru kadhillai / Pakka oru kannillai”
Rhyming line endings ('kadhillai', 'kannillai') creating a catchy rhythm suitable for folk banter.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed in simple queries as 'Unknown', the music for Pooveli (1998) was composed by Bharadwaj. Lyricist Vairamuthu incorporated authentic South Indian folk riddles using the ancient literary device of 'Sledai' (wordplay), which was traditionally used in village gatherings to test intellect and humor.
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