- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Minmini, Srinivas, Noel James
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Gentleman
- Movie release year
- 1993
- Lyrics added on
- 10 Jul 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Parkathae Parkathae from the 1993 movie Gentleman (directed by S. Shankar with music by A. R. Rahman and lyrics by Vaali) is a playful, romantic duet celebrating youth, love, and spontaneity. The song revolves around a lively banter between two young lovers urging each other to abandon rigid traditions, excessive ritualistic mindset, and hesitation, encouraging them to embrace romance and live in the present moment rather than delaying happiness. Through witty metaphors comparing religious detachment with youthful desires, lyricist Vaali highlights that youth is fleeting and life should be lived joyfully today. Rahman's energetic arrangement and catchy chorus further enhance the track's youthful vigor, making it one of the standout pop-influenced romantic tracks of the early 1990s.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Epizeuxis (Adukkuthodar)
“Parkathae parkathae”
Repetition of words like 'Parkathae', 'Thallathae', 'Killathae', and 'Kollathae' creates a rhythmic cadence throughout the song.
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagathilip)
“Female :Kilimanasa killathae”
'Kilimanasu' compares a gentle, tender heart to a parrot, emphasizing innocent love.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Panjangatha parkathae”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Pa' sound in 'Parkathae' and 'Panjangatha' establishes a smooth rhythmic flow.
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Thallathae thallathae”
Matching second consonants across successive lines ('ll' in Thallathae, Killathae, Kollathae).
Contrast / Antithesis
“Kashmir irukaiyilae / Kasiyaithan ennathae”
Contrasting spiritual renunciation (Kasi) with romantic passion (Kashmir) to emphasize enjoying life.
Did you know?
Trivia
Gentleman (1993) marked the directorial debut of blockbuster director S. Shankar and was a massive musical hit for A. R. Rahman in his early career following Roach. Lyricist Vaali crafted this track with a blend of modern youthful slang and classical Tamil wordplay.
Keep listening
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