- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Chorus
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Vilaiyattu Pillai
- Movie release year
- 1970
- Lyrics added on
- 7 May 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is crafted in the traditional Tamil folk art form of Villu Paattu (bow-song ballad), where a lead singer and chorus tell a legendary story using a bow-lute and rhythm refrains. The performers arrive to sing the legend of Madurai Veeran, a celebrated warrior deity revered across Tamil Nadu as a village guardian.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Villu Paattu Refrain (Folk Call-and-Response)
“Thandhanathom endru solliyae”
The song uses classic Villu Paattu rhythmic filler words like 'Thandhanathom' and affirmative chorus responses like 'Aama' to maintain the tempo and engage listeners.
Upamai (Simile)
“Poovattam valarndhava bommiyamma”
'Poovattam' compares the gentle upbringing of princess Bommi to the softness and beauty of a flower.
Mōnai (Alliteration)
“Veranukku veeran thanunga madhurai veeran”
Repetition of the 'Ve' consonant sound at the start of adjacent words ('Veeranukku veeran') for poetic emphasis.
Literary Allusion (Akam / Kalavu Tradition)
“Kanni thamizh yettinilae saatchiyum undu”
Kannadasan references 'Kalavu'—the ancient Sangam Tamil literary concept of secret love leading to marriage—legitimizing the hero's elopement with Bommi through classical Tamil poetry texts ('Kannithamizh yedu').
Did you know?
Trivia
This track from the 1970 film 'Vilaiyattu Pillai' (starring Sivaji Ganesan) highlights K. V. Mahadevan's mastery in integrating authentic Tamil folk music traditions like Villu Paattu into mainstream cinema. Lyricist Kannadasan seamlessly blends folk deity folklore with classical Sangam literary concepts of love (Kalavu Olukkam).
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