- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Hentry Kuruvilla, Madhushree, A. R. Rahman
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Sakkarakatti
- Movie release year
- 2007
- Lyrics added on
- 22 Dec 2016
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Maruthani' from Sakkarakatti paints a poignant portrait of unyielding, selfless love. The protagonist adores his lover with absolute purity—saving even her discarded fingernails as treasures and fearing to drink hot water lest it warm or hurt her spirit, which resides inside his heart. Despite misunderstandings and the illusions that love creates (treating a mirage as the river Ganges and vice versa), his love remains as pure and unsullied as mother's milk. The lyricist Vaali uses metaphors of 'Maruthani' (henna) in the eyes to symbolize tears of love or fire, comparing true love to an eternal song and an immutable truth like the sky that never falls to the earth. Ultimately, the song reassures that time will reveal the selfless purity of his devotion to her.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Avan nenjam thaai paal polae”
Comparing the purity of his heart directly to 'thaai paal' (mother's milk) to denote innocence and untainted devotion.
Hyperbole (Adukyani)
“Aval dhegam vendhu poghum ena avan arundhida maattan sudu neerum sudu soorum”
Exaggerating the lover's devotion to the extent that he avoids hot food/water fearing it will burn her body residing in his heart.
Oxymoron / Paradox (Maran Kooru)
“Gangai endru kaanalai kaatum – kaadhal Kaanal endru gangaiyai kaatum”
Contrasting 'Gangai' (sacred river) and 'kaanal' (mirage) to show how love alters perception and leads to bittersweet illusions.
Monorhyme / Rhyme Scheme (Edhukai & Monai)
“Nijamana kaadhal thaan / Nilaiyana paadal thaan”
Repetition of initial consonant and rhyming sounds in consecutive lines ('Nijamana kaadhal thaan' / 'Nilaiyana paadal thaan').
Keep listening
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