- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- P. Jeyachandran, S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu
- Movie release year
- 1983
- Lyrics added on
- 19 Dec 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a lively and seductive romantic duet set during a chilly night near a stream. The lovers express their intense physical attraction, nervousness, and overwhelming affection for each other. The lyrics use rural metaphors such as honey and foxtail millet flour (thenai maavu), as well as the overflowing Cauvery river during the monsoon month of Aadi, to symbolize abundance, passion, and natural desire. Through playful exchanges and rhythmic refrains, the couple discards social inhibitions and invites one another closer to embrace their love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Oodaiyilae pani vaadaiyilae….”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'd' in consecutive lines 'Oodaiyilae' and 'Ottikitta'.
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Pakkaththila machchaan machchaan ada hoi”
Repetition of the initial consonant 'P' in 'Pakkaththila' and 'Paasaththaiyae'.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Aasai oru poosai nee ingae vaa”
Desire ('Aasai') is conceptualized as a sacred ritual of worship ('Poosai').
Cultural Imagery & Simile
“Aadiyilae kaveriyaam ada hoi….”
The rush of romantic passion is compared to the flooding of the River Cauvery during the Tamil month of Aadi.
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)
“Paasaththaiyae vachchaan vachchaan ada hoi”
Repetition of words like 'machchaan machchaan' and 'vachchaan vachchaan' to create a rhythmic, folkloric bounce.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Raaththiri Pozhuthu' is from the 1983 Tamil film 'Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu', written and directed by veteran filmmaker C. V. Sridhar. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran. Sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. P. Sailaja, the track features distinct folk-pop rhythm patterns characteristic of Ilaiyaraaja's early 1980s romantic duets.
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