- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Sumai
- Movie release year
- 1981
- Lyrics added on
- 30 Jan 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Oru Rathiri Oru Poongodi' captures the deep romantic yearning, sleeplessness, and agonizing heat of youthful passion experienced by a young woman in the absence of her beloved. Metaphorically described as a tender flowering vine ('poongodi') and a helpless bird ('maina'), she tosses and turns through the night as her bed feels like thorns and the usually cool night breeze feels scorching hot due to her unfulfilled desire.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“oru raththiri oru poongodi”
The young woman is metaphorically referred to as a tender flowering vine ('poongodi') and later as a bird ('mainaa').
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Paavam padukkai mullaachchu”
Exaggerating the sleepless discomfort of romantic longing by describing her soft bed turning into sharp thorns.
Simile (Upamai)
“Ilamai thanalena kodhikkum / Idhyam puzhuvena thavikkum”
Youth is compared to burning ember ('thanalena') and the aching heart is compared to a writhing worm ('puzhuvena').
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Ilamai thanalena kodhikkum / Idhyam puzhuvena thavikkum / Imaigal urangida marukkum / Iravai pagalena ninaikkum”
The lines end with rhythmic, rhyming verbal endings ('kodhikkum', 'thavikkum', 'marukkum', 'ninaikkum').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Oru Rathiri Oru Poongodi' is a memorable track from the 1981 movie 'Sumai', composed by Gangai Amaran and penned by Vaali. Rendered in the rich vocal tone of K. J. Yesudas, the lyrics cleverly weave references to classical music ragas like 'Bhoopalam' (a dawn raga) to poetically emphasize the endless, agonizing wait through a sleepless night.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Sumai
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.