- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- T. Chalapathi Rao
- Movie name
- Uthami Petra Rathinam
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Aug 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic romantic song captures the poignant grief and sweet longing of a lover separated from her beloved. She metaphors her beloved as a honey moon ('Thaen Nilavu') and herself/her world as a vast, empty sky searching for light. She compares her situation to a skylark singing sorrowfully while losing its life force because it cannot find its mate. Despite the ache of longing, her heart remains illuminated by the vision of love. Every surrounding sight reminds her of her beloved, filling her mind with passionate yearning as she calls out for her soulmate to return.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Thaen nilavae nee pona dhengae”
Comparing the beloved to a sweet honey moon ('Thaen nilavu') and love to a radiant lamp ('Vaazhvin deepam').
Personification
“Thediduthae ..vaanam ingae”
Attributing the human action of searching to the sky ('Vaanam ingae thediduthae').
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Paadudhu paar oru vaanam paadi / Vaadudhu paar adhan jeeva naadi”
Tamil poetic rhyme where the second letter matches across lines ('Paadudhu' / 'Vaadudhu').
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Thonudhu nenjinil kaadhal roobam / Jothiyai veesidum vaazhvin deepam”
Matching end sounds across lines ('roobam' / 'deepam').
Did you know?
Trivia
Released in 1959, 'Uthami Petra Rathinam' featured music by T. Chalapathi Rao and poignant lyrics by A. Maruthakasi. P. Susheela's expressive vocal rendering of this track contributed significantly to her growing popularity as the leading female playback singer in 1950s South Indian cinema.
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