- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- Jikki
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Thozhan
- Movie release year
- 1960
- Lyrics added on
- 13 Jun 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic song expresses a heroine's yearning coaxing of her lover using rich classical Tamil allegories. The heroine compares herself to a fragrant jasmine flower ('mullai') blooming with love, while addressing her lover as a beetle ('vandu'). She questions his enduring silence and hesitation, urging him to come closer, open his heart, and reciprocate her deep affection instead of letting precious time slip away in silence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai & Urvagai (Metaphor / Personification)
“Sirikkudhu mullai thannalae”
The song uses the classic Sangam poetry allegory of the beetle ('vandu') visiting the jasmine flower ('mullai') to symbolize the lover and the beloved, while personifying the blooming flower as smiling ('sirikkudhu').
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Parisaagum yenoo / Parivodu paaraiyoo”
The second consonant 'ri' rhymes across adjacent lines ('Parisaagum' and 'Parivodu').
Monae (Initial Alliteration)
“Sollamal theriyalaiyoo / Sonnalum puriyalaiyoo”
Initial letters starting with the same sound 'So' across consecutive rhetorical questions.
Personification
“Pesum kannilaiyoo”
Attributing the human capability of speech to eyes ('pesum kann').
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in the 1960 movie 'Thozhan', this song highlights lyricist A. Maruthakasi's mastery of drawing imagery from ancient Sangam Tamil poetry (specifically the Mullai landscape representing patient waiting and love) into 1960s film music, tuned masterfully by G. Ramanathan and sung by Jikki.
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