- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- T. V. Rathinam
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Koondukkili
- Movie release year
- 1954
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Oct 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Solla Vallaaiyo Kiliyae is a celebrated poem by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, framed in the classical Tamil literary tradition of 'Kili Vidu Thoothu' (sending a parrot as a messenger of love). The heroine, representing the human soul longing for divine union (Nayaka-Nayaki Bhava), pleads with a messenger parrot to go to Lord Murugan—the divine son of Lord Shiva who dances at Thillai—and remind Him of her love. She asks the parrot to remind Murugan of the cherished moments they shared: twilight conversations near the lily pond and jasmine bushes, and the solemn oaths he swore on his divine Vel (spear) while holding her hand across a desolate desert plain. She entreats the parrot to persuade Him to return and unite with her in joyful affection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Kili Vidu Thoothu (Parrot Messenger Genre)
“Solla vallaaiyo kiliyae”
A classical Sangam and Bhakti literary motif where a woman in love addresses a parrot to convey her feelings and message to her beloved deity (Lord Murugan).
Nayaka-Nayaki Bhava (Bridal Mysticism)
“Thanai ingu vandhu kalandhu Maghizhndhu kulaavaendru”
An allegorical device where the human soul takes the persona of a bride yearning for union with the Supreme Lord (Murugan).
Edukki and Monai (Tamil Alliteration & Rhyme)
“Alli kulatharugae oru naal / Andhi pozhudhinilae”
Rhythmic rhyming and initial consonant matching across adjacent lines such as Alli/Andhi and Paalaivana/Pattri.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song from the 1954 movie 'Koondukkili' features lyrics adapted from Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's devotional poetry. 'Koondukkili' holds a historic landmark status in Tamil cinema history as it is the only film in which the two towering titans of Tamil cinema, M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Sivaji Ganesan, acted together.
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