- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Trichy Loganathan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Kanniyin Kathali
- Movie release year
- 1949
- Lyrics added on
- 12 Sept 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Vaanaththu muzhumathiyo from the 1949 film Kanniyin Kathali is a poetic ode praising a woman's exquisite beauty. Lyricist Kannadasan compares her features to celestial wonders—wondering if she is the full moon, the divine dancer Urvashi on earth, or the pinnacle of human imagination. He compliments her face as a cool lotus, her teeth as finer than pearls (making jasmine buds wither in jealousy), and her skin as radiant enough to put pure gold to shame.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Ammaa mullai vaadi varunthaatho”
Exaggerating that jasmine flowers would wither in envy upon seeing the beauty of her teeth.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Un mugam seethak kamalammaa neeyae”
Comparing the maiden's face directly to a cool, divine lotus flower.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Vaanaththu muzhumathiyo / Maanilaththu oorivasiyo”
Repeatedly questioning her identity through poetical comparisons to create a romantic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kanniyin Kathali (1949) holds landmark historical importance in Tamil cinema as it marked the debut of the legendary poet Kaviarasu Kannadasan as a film lyricist. The movie was adapted from William Shakespeare's famous play 'Twelfth Night'.
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