- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Shailaja
- Music director
- S. R. Vasu
- Movie name
- Athaimadi Methaiyadi
- Movie release year
- 1989
- Lyrics added on
- 19 Apr 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song portrays the inner anguish and sadness of a female stage performer who feels objectified by society. She views herself as a tender flower meant to embody love and delicacy, yet laments why her life has instead brought the sharp pain of a thorn piercing her heart. Behind the glamorous, nightly stage shows and revealing attire lies a young woman longing for genuine affection and respect. She questions the cruel treatment of women, drawing a poignant parallel between women and flowers, emphasizing that femininity deserves gentle warmth rather than forced exploitation. Through poetic imagery like being strummed like a veena in the dark, she expresses her deep pain over betrayal and loss, wondering who will ever understand her plight.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Muran (Contrast)
“Ennalumae naanthaan poovallavo / En nenjilae yaenthaan mull thaiththatho”
Contrasts the softness of a flower ('poo') with the sharp pain caused by a thorn ('mull') piercing the heart.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Poo meniyalla pon veenai endru”
Compares the performer's delicate body to a golden music instrument (veena).
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Mella alla varum uravallavaa / Killa villa adhu pagaiyallavaa”
Rhyming of the second consonant 'll' in 'Mella' and 'Killa'.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Poovum pennum oru inamallavaa / Penmai menmai adhan manamallavaa”
Repeated line endings with the word 'allavaa' to create musical harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by lyricist Vaali for the 1989 film Athaimadi Methaiyadi, the song uniquely blends catchy English catchphrases ('Oh my dear look me here') with emotive Tamil poetry that criticizes the societal objectification of female stage performers.
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