- Lyricist
- Parthi Bhaskar
- Singer
- M. S. Subbulakshmi
- Music director
- S. V. Venkatraman
- Movie name
- Meera (1945) Film
- Movie release year
- 1945
- Lyrics added on
- 3 Jul 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic devotional composition from the 1945 film 'Meera' expresses Saint Meera's agonizing longing and ecstatic devotion for Lord Krishna (Giridhara). She reminisces about the divine vision where Krishna arrived playing his flute, displayed his captivating ocean-complexioned form, and united with her in a dream. Transitioning from blissful recollection to painful reality, Meera laments the deep distress of her current separation from him. She describes herself as drowned in an ocean of sorrow and questions where her divine king has vanished, desperately pleading for his presence to rescue her fading spirit.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai / Urvagam)
“Idar kadalil meeraavai”
'Idar kadal' (ocean of distress) compares the immense, boundless nature of her grief and suffering to a vast sea.
Imagery (Visual and Auditory)
“Kuzhaloodhi isai paadi / Kadal vanna thirumaeni”
Creates vivid visual sensory details ('Kadal vanna thirumaeni' - ocean-hued sacred body) alongside auditory imagery ('Kuzhaloodhi isai paadi' - playing music on the flute).
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Udal uruga ulam uruga”
The repetition of initial sounds/vowels across words in a line ('Udal', 'ulam') creating rhythmic internal harmony.
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)
“Ennarasae ennarasae”
Repetition of emotional epithets and questions ('Ennarasae ennarasae', 'Kanavinilae enai manandha kannaa') to emphasize intensity of emotion and devotional grief.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song was performed by the legendary Carnatic music exponent M. S. Subbulakshmi, who also portrayed the title role of Saint Meera in the 1945 Tamil movie 'Meera' (directed by Ellis R. Dungan with music scored by S. V. Venkatraman). The movie's immense success led to a 1947 Hindi remake, which launched M. S. Subbulakshmi to national prominence.
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