- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Movie name
- Anbu Karangal
- Movie release year
- 1965
- Lyrics added on
- 24 Feb 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic song expresses a woman's pure, unwavering devotion and the tragedy of unfulfilled love. Drawing inspiration from the epic Ramayana, she considers Sita's absolute devotion to Rama as the pinnacle of womanhood and expresses her deep desire to love her soulmate with the same singular devotion. Through the natural metaphor of a night lily blooming exclusively for the moon, she asserts that her heart can respond to no one else.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Uravu endra nooleduthu / Uyir malarai thoduthaen”
Compares the relationship to a thread ('uravu endra nool') and life/soul to a flower ('uyir malar') that is woven into a garland.
Allegory / Symbolic Parallel
“Nilavillaamal yedhu vandhaalum / Alli malarumaa”
Uses the biological phenomenon of the night lily (alli) blooming only in response to the moon (nilavu) as an allegory for her heart opening only for her beloved.
Extended Metaphor
“Iraivanillaa aalayathil / Yetri vaitha dheepam”
Compares her solitary devotion in an unreciprocated relationship to a lamp burning uselessly inside a temple that lacks a deity.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Etuhais)
“Iraivanillaa aalayathil ... / Iravu pagal erivadhanaal”
Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating rhythmic flow (Iraivanillaa / Iravu).
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Anbu Karangal' (1965) featured music composed by R. Goverdhanam, with vocals for this emotional track rendered by the legendary P. Susheela and lyrics penned by Vaali.
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