- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Arasilangkumari
- Movie release year
- 1961
- Lyrics added on
- 25 Sept 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This lighthearted satirical song plays on a classic Tamil philosophical motif to narrate the troubles of a protagonist who assumes disguises and makes promises of love. Donning saffron robes and shifting personas, he finds himself tangled up in unwanted trouble, forced to put on an elaborate act to escape his predicament. Written by the acclaimed poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, the song cleverly adapts traditional folk poetic forms to deliver sharp humor matching the comedic situation in the film's narrative.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allusion / Parody (இடைச்சொல் / நகைச்சுவை முரண்)
“Nandhavanathilor aandi”
Direct allusion to the famous philosophical verse by Kaduveli Siddhar ('Nandhavanathil Oor Aandi'), cleverly repurposed into a comical narrative about romance and disguises.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme / எதுகை)
“Kaashaayam kattikkittaandi / Veshathai maathikkittaandi”
Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Kaashaayam' and 'Veshathai' or internal rhymes like 'kodutthu' and 'maattittu'.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme / இயைபு)
“Vaarthaiyai kodutthu puttaandi / Ivan vambaaga maattittu / Thongha poraandi”
Consistent rhythmic end-rhyme suffixing (-aandi) across lines: 'puttaandi', 'poraandi', 'kattikkittaandi', 'katraandi'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is a humorous parody of Kaduveli Siddhar's mystical poem 'Nandhavanathil Oor Aandi'. In the film Arasilangkumari (1961), starring M. G. Ramachandran, lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram adapted this well-known spiritual refrain to suit a comedic situation involving disguises. The film's music was composed by G. Ramanathan.
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