- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singers
- K. Jamunarani, M. S. Rajeswari
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Kappalotiya Tamizhan
- Movie release year
- 1961
- Lyrics added on
- 25 Mar 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song, written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, depicts a young woman describing her intense state of love-sickness (viraha) to her close companion ('Sagi'). She explains how her appetite and sleep have completely vanished, how flowers no longer bring her joy, and how confusion fills her mind. Even traditional remedies, doctors, and astrologers fail to diagnose her condition, attributing it to illness or planetary afflictions.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Gunam urudhi illai / Kanamum ullathilae”
The second consonant 'na' rhymes across consecutive lines 'Unavu' and 'Manam' (or 'Gunam' and 'Kanam'), adhering to classical Tamil prosody.
Monaai (Alliteration / First letter matching)
“Ichai pirandhadhadi / Edhilum inbam vilaindhadhadi”
The opening phonemes match within lines such as 'Ichai' and 'Edhilum', or 'Acham' and 'Azhagu', creating rhythmic harmony.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Acham olindhadhadi / Sagiyae azhagu vandhadhadi”
Lines end with the affectionate address suffix 'vandhadhadi' / 'pirandhadhadi', generating a conversational, poetic rhythm typical of Sakhi-style poems.
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Trivia
Although written as a romantic poem depicting Nayaki-Nayaka bhava by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, the poem is often interpreted allegorically as the soul's yearning for divine union or the spirit's restless longing for national freedom. It was adapted into the historical biopic 'Kappalottiya Thamizhan' (1961) starring Sivaji Ganesan, with music score composed by G. Ramanathan.
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