- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Sadhana Sargam, Srinivas
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Alaipayuthey
- Movie release year
- 2000
- Lyrics added on
- 2 Jan 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Snehidhane is a legendary romantic song from the film Alaipayuthey (2000), celebrating intimate love, vulnerability, and gentle affection. The heroine addresses her secret lover and husband, asking him to maintain the same warmth, intensity, and tenderness throughout their lifetime. She outlines delicate, personal requests—such as gently trimming her nails while she sleeps, applying oil to her fingers, and wiping her tears—illustrating love not just as grand passion, but through tiny, deeply caring gestures. The song contrasts the intoxicating passion of their intimate night together with the lingering yearning she feels the next day. Written brilliantly by Vairamuthu, the lyric blends tender domesticity with romantic ecstasy, expressing a desire for a bond where both body and soul bloom fully.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for emphasis)
“Snehidhanae snehidhanae”
Words like 'Snehidhanae', 'Chinna chinna', 'azhutham azhutham', and 'Vendum vendum' are repeated sequentially to emphasize tenderness, longing, and insistence.
Upamai (Simile)
“Poopparikkum bakthan pola medhuvaai”
Compares the gentleness of her lover's touch to a devotee tenderly plucking flowers so as not to hurt them.
Upamai (Simile)
“Kandru thavippadhu oh manam”
Compares her restless, distressed heart to a calf searching anxiously for its mother.
Metaphor (Urvakam)
“En cell ellaam pookkal pookka cheivaai”
Compares the microscopic cells of her body to blooming flowers, symbolizing total sensual awakening.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kalangi pulambugiren”
The repetition of the 'Ka' and 'Pa' sound patterns at the beginning of words creates melodic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Singer Sadhana Sargam won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for 'Snehidhane', becoming the first singer of North Indian origin to win a National Award for a Tamil song. Composed by A.R. Rahman, the song features a unique blend of Carnatic raga Shuntavarali (or Harmavati in Hindustani) with contemporary western arrangements.
Keep listening
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