- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Sivappu Malargal
- Movie release year
- 1986
- Lyrics added on
- 18 Jul 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song uses the central metaphor of a puppet show ('Bommallattam') to comment on human relationships, tragic misunderstandings, and the inescapable grip of fate. It describes how human beings, driven by pride, love, or family loyalty, often end up acting like helpless puppets whose strings are pulled by circumstances or an unseen hand.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Bommallattam)
“Oru bommallattam nadakkudhu”
Compares human life and interpersonal conflicts to a puppet show where people are controlled by unseen strings.
Proverbial Simile (Upamai)
“Ilavu kaatha killai pola”
Uses the traditional Tamil idiom of a parrot waiting fruitlessly for a silk-cotton fruit (which turns into inedible fluff) to symbolize disappointment and wasted hope.
Metaphor (Thaneer kolam)
“Thaneer kolam”
Describes plans and dreams as 'rangoli drawn on water', emphasizing their fleeting, fragile, and temporary nature.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Naalu peru naduvilae / Noolu oruthan kaiyilae”
'Naalu' and 'Noolu' share the 'lu' sound in the second character position, creating a pleasing rhythmic resonance.
Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)
“Allum pagalum annan vaazhndhaan”
'Allu' (night) and 'Pagal' (day) are direct antonyms used together to emphasize continuous time.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary lyricist Vaali, this song features classical Tamil metaphors like 'Ilavu kaatha killai' and 'Thanneer kolam' to express deep emotional sorrow and fatalism, a signature storytelling style in 1980s Tamil cinema soundtracks.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
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