- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Vani Jairam, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Nenjil Aadum Poo Ondru
- Movie release year
- 1978
- Lyrics added on
- 14 Jun 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This folk-infused romantic duet from the 1978 Tamil film 'Nenjil Aadum Poo Ondru' captures playful romantic banter between two lovers. Through lush imagery of turmeric (symbolizing auspicious purity and scent) and parrots, the song portrays mutual affection, physical attraction, and subtle restraint. The lyrics highlight the conflict between yearning desire pulling forward and traditional shyness pulling back, ultimately reassuring that their romantic bond is timeless, extending far beyond the present moment.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Vechaal indha pacha kili”
The speaker refers to herself as a 'pacha kili' (green parrot) to symbolize innocence, beauty, and affection.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Thazhuvura aasai thaan munnaal nadakka / Thadukkura naanam thaan pinnaal izhukka”
Contrasting 'munnaal nadakka' (stepping forward) with 'pinnaal izhukka' (pulling backward) captures the dual emotions of passion and modesty.
Second-letter Rhyme (Etukai)
“Thazhuvura aasai thaan munnaal nadakka / Thadukkura naanam thaan pinnaal izhukka”
The second consonant sound 'dh' repeats across consecutive lines ('Thazhuvura' / 'Thadukkura'), creating phonetic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the iconic Vaali, 'Marudha Manja Kezhangu' features traditional Tamil rural folk idioms centered around turmeric root ('manja kezhangu') and floral garlands, which carry cultural significance regarding marriage and romance in Tamil Nadu.
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