- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Asha
- Movie release year
- 1985
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Nov 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song captures a powerful dramatic theme of vengeance and justice. The protagonist confronts the antagonist who destroyed her peaceful married life through deceit. She describes her extreme suffering using the metaphor of hot water poured over a plant's roots, explaining that her innocent self died that day and was reborn as an unseen, divine entity seeking retribution.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Meettaathiruntha veenai idhu”
Compares herself to an unplayed veena ('Meettaathiruntha veenai idhu') waiting to play music for vengeance under divine command.
Imagery
“Vaerinilae sudu neer vittapodhu”
Uses vivid imagery of pouring hot water on roots ('Vaerinilae sudu neer vittapodhu') to represent complete, cruel destruction of a happy life.
Alliteration / Rhyme (Emonai & Edhugai)
“Thottum thodaamal pattum padaamal”
Rhythmic rhyming and contrasting words ('Thottum thodaamal pattum padaamal / Vittum vidaamal thodarnthaen') creating internal rhythm and emphasis.
Classical Allusion
“Pandiyan sabaiyil needhiyai ketta / Paththini dheivam kannagi naan”
Refers to Kannagi from the Tamil epic Silappatikaram, invoking her iconic demand for justice in the court of the Pandyan king.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song makes explicit reference to the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram. Lyricist Vaali frequently used classical literary figures like Kannagi to evoke powerful emotions of righteous wrath and tragic innocence in film music.
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