- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi
- Movie release year
- 1977
- Lyrics added on
- 27 May 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Vaarthai illaamal oru kavi paadavaa' from 'Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi' is a deeply emotional, sorrowful reflection on life's unexpected turns, loss of direction, and helpless resignation to destiny. Through vivid and paradoxical imagery—such as a river flowing without water carrying boats, or singing a song without words—the protagonist conveys the profound emptiness and confusion felt after a once-happy domestic life unravels.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Paradox / Oxymoron (Muran)
“Neer indri oru nadhiyodudhu”
Presents surreal imagery where opposite or impossible concepts are paired (a poem without words, a story without meaning, a waterless river flowing) to emphasize deep grief and absurdity of life.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Samsaara kadalinilae mutheduthom”
Compares family life / worldly existence to a vast ocean ('Samsaara kadal') from which one retrieves a precious pearl of joy.
Analogy (Upamaanai)
“Dheivam indri oru kovil illai”
Draws parallel relationships between nature/divinity and human bond—stating a moon cannot exist without sky and a temple cannot exist without a deity, just as she cannot exist without her beloved.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song features in the 1977 Tamil film 'Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi', directed by Valampuri Somanathan and starring Sivakumar and Sujatha. The music was composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Panchu Arunachalam, rendered passionately by legendary playback singer P. Susheela.
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