- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Thaai Sollai Thattadhe
- Movie release year
- 1961
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Oct 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
In this classic composition written by Kannadasan for the 1961 Tamil film 'Thaai Sollai Thattadhe', the song serves as a poetic metaphor for the overwhelming passion and intoxicating nature of love. Described as a singular, enchanting song, love transcends conventional boundaries—it cannot be fully captured in books or scripts, nor does it yield to parental objections or societal norms. It drives a person restless, compelling them to wander, lose sleep, and remain in a constant state of romantic obsession. The lyrical narrative emphasizes that true love does not discriminate based on family lineage or physical appearance. Instead, it is depicted as a celestial, divine emotion—a verse composed by the moon maiden herself that awakens deep feelings in the human heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Refrain / Anaphora (Madakku)
“Orae oru paattu”
The deliberate repetition of the refrain 'Orae oru paattu' (Just one song) emphasizes the central theme of a singular, all-consuming emotion.
Initial Rhyme (Monai)
“Thottam thaedi nadakka chollum / Thookkamindri alaiya vaikkum”
Matching initial sounds across lines such as 'Thottam', 'Thookkam', 'Thaai', 'Paai' creates rhythm and lyrical flow.
Personification / Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Nilavu mangai ezhudhi vaitha paattu”
The moon is personified as a maiden ('Nilavu mangai') who writes this enchanting song of love.
Did you know?
Trivia
Thaai Sollai Thattadhe (1961) was a hit film starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Saroja Devi, directed by M. A. Thirumugam. The iconic music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by the legendary Kannadasan.
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