- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. B. Sreenivas, Jikki
- Music director
- A. M. Rajah
- Movie name
- Vidivelli
- Movie release year
- 1960
- Lyrics added on
- 19 Jul 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic duet celebrates the intrinsic virtues of womanhood, romance, and cultural aesthetics through rich poetic metaphors. Lyricist Kannadasan equates modesty (naanam) in a virtuous woman to the inherent connection between musical rhythm (thaalam) and melody (pan). The song captures the delicate play of emotions between lovers—where bashfulness creates hesitation, yet love unleashes joyful harmony in their hearts.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ezhuthu/Edhugai (Tamil Second-letter Rhyming)
“Pannodu pirandhadhu thaalam / Kannodu kalandhadhu kaatchi / Mannodu malarndhadhu maanam”
The second consonant 'nn' (ண்ண/ன்ன) creates a rhythmic rhyme across different verses: 'Pannodu', 'Kannodu', and 'Mannodu'.
Moonaai (Tamil Initial Alliteration)
“Pannodu pirandhadhu thaalam”
Initial sound matching with 'Pa' in 'Pannodu' and 'pirandhadhu'.
Analogy / Metaphor
“Kula pennodu pirandhadhu naanam”
Compares abstract feminine qualities like modesty and honor to fundamental entities like music rhythm and the earth.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Vidivelli' (1960) was directed by C. V. Sridhar and starred Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. The music score was composed by A. M. Rajah, who also rendered this classic duet along with P. Susheela. Kannadasan's lyric comparing rhythm and melody to female modesty remains one of the most famous similes in Tamil film music history.
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