- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Al Rufian
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Movie name
- Genius
- Movie release year
- 2018
- Lyrics added on
- 13 Sept 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from 'Genius' addresses the overwhelming pressure, stress, and mental toll brought on by the modern human rat race. People endlessly chase titles, money, and status—a futile pursuit poetically described as searching for fish in a mirage—causing their minds and lives to burn with constant anxiety.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi)
“Silu silu silu sil… / Sala sala sala sal…”
Words like 'Silu silu' and 'Sala sala' visually and aurally imitate the sensory sounds of cool wind and flowing spring water.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kaanal neeril meengal thedi”
Chasing meaningless wealth and status is metaphorically compared to searching for living fish inside a dry mirage.
Anaphora / Parallel Structure
“Mazhaiyaal ezhunthu / Mazhaiyil mithanthu / Mazhaiyaal udainthu”
The repetition of 'Mazhaiyaal' and 'Mazhaiyil' at the start of consecutive phrases emphasizes nature's cyclical and temporary life cycle using rain.
Imagery
“Kaalil udaiyum kaalai panithuzhi... Meetti muditha veenaiyin mounam”
Vivid sensory imagery evokes touch, sight, and sound through dewdrops underfoot, trapped rain on leaves, bird calls, and the lingering silence of a plucked veena.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Genius' (2018), directed by Suseenthiran with music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, focuses heavily on the dark side of societal pressure, competitive schooling, and the resulting mental health crisis among youth.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Genius
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.