- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Swarnalatha
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Anthimanthaarai
- Movie release year
- 1996
- Lyrics added on
- 23 Aug 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Oru Naa Oru Pozhudhu' from 'Anthimanthaarai' (1996) is a poignant Tamil song that expresses timeless love, deep emotional longing, and the enduring nature of human connection across aging and separation. The protagonist grieves how even a single day without seeing their loved one causes intense restlessness, hungerless days, and sleepless nights. The lyrics capture the physical toll of time—greying hair, a fading voice, and an aging body—contrasted sharply against memories and affection that remain completely unblemished and permanent. Vairamuthu uses powerful metaphors rooted in Tamil culture and geography, such as the river Kaveri splitting and reuniting at Kollidam, symbolizing how lovers who are separated by circumstances are ultimately reunited by fate. The song concludes with the poetic declaration that even death and the flames of the funeral pyre cannot destroy the eternal scent of a beloved's touch, emphasizing a love that transcends mortality.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Uvamai
“Kaaveri nadhiyum Rendaaga koodum Kollidam vandhu Onnaaga serum”
Compares the life separation and eventual reunion of separated lovers to the Kaveri river splitting into branches and merging back together at Kollidam.
Hyperbole / Uyirvu Navirchi Ani
“Kattaiyilum vegaathu Kai thotta vaasam”
Exaggerates the permanence of love by stating that even the heat of the funeral pyre ('kattai') cannot burn away the touch and memory of the beloved.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Odi vayasaachu / Urumaari pochu”
The lines end with similar sounding ending syllables ('aachu' and 'pochu'), creating a rhythmic cadence.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaaveri nadhiyum / Kaalathin kanakku”
The starting consonants of the first words in these structural lines share the initial 'Kaa' sound.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Anthimanthaarai' (1996), directed by Bharathiraja and starring Vijayakumar and Jayasudha, featured a musical score composed by A. R. Rahman. The song 'Oru Naa Oru Pozhudhu' was sung by Malaysia Vasudevan and Krishnaraj (with Swarnalatha in versions), showcasing traditional folk sentimentality mixed with classical phrasing. The movie won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.
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