- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Alli
- Movie release year
- 1964
- Lyrics added on
- 5 May 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This melancholic song portrays a woman's emotional conflict and secret burden. Although society reveres her as an honorable woman and a virtuous mother, her inner heart suffers silently. She keeps her true feelings and the secrets of her relationship hidden from the world, comparing her state to an unripe fruit obscured by dense leaves. She longs for the right moment when she can finally reveal the truth to her beloved, embrace them with motherly affection and rightful love, and keep their image forever in her eyes.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Adhu ilai maraintha kaayai polae / Vaazhugindrathae”
Compares her concealed emotional existence and heart to an unripe fruit hidden behind leaves ('Ilai maraintha kaay').
Rhetorical Question
“Unnai andri yaaridam / En nilayai solven”
The singer repeatedly questions who else she can confide in besides her listener, emphasizing her isolation and hidden truth.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Unmaiyai solven / Anaithu kolven / Eduthu kolluven”
Repetition of the ending suffix '-en' across multiple lines ('solven', 'kolluven') creating melodic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1964 Tamil film 'Alli', starring S. S. Rajendran and L. Vijayalakshmi, directed by L. V. Prasad. The lyrics were penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Alli
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.