- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Asha Bhosle
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Meera
- Movie release year
- 1992
- Lyrics added on
- 17 Feb 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Oh Butterfly is a romantic duet expressing playful yearning, emotional longing, and tender affection. The protagonist addresses the beloved metaphorically as a delicate, free-spirited butterfly who flits away whenever love draws near. Through soft pleading and evocative imagery, the singer questions why the beloved spreads their wings and stays just out of reach, comparing their own shadow-like pursuit to a quest for love and freedom.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Extended Metaphor
“Oh butterfly…butterfly… Free-spirited lover depicted as a delicate butterfly flutteringly evading capture while stirring deep affection directly into the heart of the admirer, central to the song's imagery, framing the lover as a restless, beautiful creature of nature beyond easy reach or control. Overall meaning reflected in the image of a butterfly gliding across blossoms, embodying fleeting romance, playful resistance, and emotional grace throughout the track.”
Simile
“Nizhalai pola thodarum yennai”
Hyperbole / Visual Metaphor
“Aahaa vizhigal nooru kadidham pottum”
Did you know?
Trivia
'Oh Butterfly' is one of the rare Tamil duets sung by veteran Hindi playback legend Asha Bhosle alongside S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the 1992 film Meera.
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