- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- En Annan
- Movie release year
- 1970
- Lyrics added on
- 12 Dec 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Neela Niram Vaanukum is a iconic romantic duet from the 1970 Tamil film En Annan, sung by T. M. Soundarajan and S. Janaki. In this song, the lead lovers engage in poetic wordplay, hyperbolic praise, and sweet banter. The male protagonist attributes all the captivating hues and shapes of nature—such as the blue sky, the red lotus, the winding river, and temple sculptures—to his lover's exquisite physical beauty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Hyperbole (Athyukthi / Tharkurippetrasani)
“Neela niram vaanukum / Kadalukum neela niram / Kaaranam yen kanne / Unn kanno neela niram”
Extravagant exaggeration attributing the blue color of the sky and ocean to the heroine's eyes.
Metaphor & Imagery (Uvamai)
“Thaamarai poovile undhan idhazhgal / Thandhadhe sivapo”
Comparing the red lips of the heroine to a lotus flower and attributing the color's origin to her lips.
Personification
“Andha nadhi enna / Unaiketu nadai potadho”
Attributing human traits to natural elements, suggesting the river asked permission before flowing.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhukai)
“Ilaigalum kanigalum unn idaiyil / Iyarkayin pasumaiye endhan idhayam”
In Tamil poetry, Edhukai refers to matching the second letter consonant across consecutive lines ('Ilaigalum' / 'Iyarkayin').
Did you know?
Trivia
En Annan (1970) was a hit remake of the Kannada movie Beedi Basavanna. Directed by Pa. Neelakantan, the film starred M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. The song's lyrics by Kannadasan highlight classical Tamil literary tropes (uvamaigal) where womanhood is intertwined with nature.
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