- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Movie name
- Ellorum Nallavare
- Movie release year
- 1975
- Lyrics added on
- 29 Oct 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song is a romantic, appreciative composition praising the mesmerizing, flawless beauty of a young woman. The lyricist attributes her exquisite presence to Lord Brahma's divine creation, describing how seeing her evokes a captivating, pleasurable agony ('suga vedhanai') in the hearts of onlookers. The verses elevate her charm by referencing classic imagery: questioning whether the mirror reflects her or gains beauty by looking at her, comparing her lullaby to the soothing classical raga Neelambari, and claiming that legendary artist Raja Ravi Varma missed out by not seeing her. Ultimately, the singer prays for this agonizing yet beautiful feeling of love to endure every day.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Oxymoron
“Sugamaana vedhanai”
The phrase 'Sugamaana vedhanai' pairs two contrasting concepts—'sugam' (pleasure/sweetness) and 'vedhanai' (pain/agony)—to capture the intoxicating ache of love.
Hyperbole (Atisayokti)
“{Unnai ravivarman Kaanamal ponaanadi...}”
Claiming that the artist Raja Ravi Varma missed painting her and even the god of love (Manmatha) would get lost upon seeing her exaggerates her divine physical beauty.
Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Padaithaanae brahmadevan / Padhinaaru vayathu kolam”
The repetition of similar starting consonant/vowel sounds in adjacent lines, such as 'Padaithaanae' and 'Padhinaaru'.
Personification
“Illai un meni / Athu paarkum kannadiya”
Attribute of looking back is given to the mirror ('Athu paarkum kannadiya') and singing a lullaby is attributed to the moon/sky.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track features lyrics by the legendary Panchu Arunachalam from the 1975 film 'Ellorum Nallavare'. The imagery referencing Raja Ravi Varma's standard of feminine beauty became a popular romantic trope in Tamil film lyrics during the 1970s and 1980s.
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