- Lyricist
- Arivumathi
- Singers
- Unnikrishnan, Arun Mozhi, S. N. Surendar
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Sethu
- Movie release year
- 1999
- Lyrics added on
- 22 Sept 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Maalai En Vedhanai' from the film Sethu (1999) expresses the deep emotional turmoil and aching longing of a lover as twilight sets in. The evening twilight acts as a catalyst, intensifying his feelings of solitude, desire, and anxiety regarding his beloved's silence and the uncertain future of their love. Through evocative dialogue and musical exchanges, the protagonist and his friend discuss the nature of love, drawing comparisons to natural elements like the wind, flowers, clouds, and waves to decipher the unspoken responses of his lover.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Mugam kaattu en pournami / En kaadhal veenai nee”
Comparing the beloved to the full moon ('Pournami') and a musical lute ('Kaadhal veenai').
Alliteration (Moonaai)
“Kaadhal than velaiyai / Kaatuthadi”
Repetition of the 'K' sound in 'Kaadhal', 'Kaatru', 'Kelvikku', and 'Kaatuthadi'.
Personification
“Kaatru vidum kelvikku / Malar sollum badhil ennavo”
Attributing the ability to ask questions and give answers to nature elements like wind, flowers, and clouds.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Sethu' (1999), directed by Bala, was a landmark film in Tamil cinema that catapulted actor Vikram to stardom. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with poignant lyrics penned by Arivumathi.
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