- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- 16 Vayathinile
- Movie release year
- 1977
- Lyrics added on
- 22 Sept 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic Tamil folk-style song portrays a young man expressing his deep romantic yearning to his beloved in a rural setting. He reminds her of a promise she made during the corn-sowing season. Now that the crops have matured, he compares the ready harvest to his own readiness to marry her, gently prompting her for a positive response.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaal / Alliteration
“Solam vethakkaiyilae... Solli puttu pona pullae... Sodikkili ingae irukku...”
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Maanae en malligaiyae / Marutha marikkozhunthae / Thaenae thinaikkaruthae”
The lover addresses his beloved using pastoral metaphors such as 'Malligai' (Jasmine), 'Marikkozhunthu' (Marjoram), 'Thinaikkaruthu' (Millet ear), and 'Ponnmayil' (Golden peacock) to highlight her natural beauty.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Maanae / Thaenae / Ponnae”
The second consonant sound matches across lines, creating a rhythmic lyricism characteristic of Tamil folk poetry.
Did you know?
Trivia
16 Vayathinile (1977), directed by Bharathiraja, was a pathbreaking movie in Tamil cinema history as it moved production out of indoor studios into authentic rural landscapes. The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and remains iconic for bringing authentic Tamil folk melodies into mainstream film music.
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