- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Gangai Amaran, Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Iravu Pookkal
- Movie release year
- 1985
- Lyrics added on
- 24 Dec 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This folk track from the 1985 movie 'Iravu Pookkal' is filled with playful banter, rustic humor, and double entendres written by Gangai Amaran. The song uses vivid agricultural and rural metaphors—such as opening lake sluices for irrigation, plowing barren land, and casting votes—to comment humorously on relationships, desires, and taking active initiative in life. The singers exchange cheeky advice on love, marriage, and practical living, emphasizing that life is short ('just four good days') so one should act decisively rather than merely talk.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Metaphor)
“Vanji ilam kodiyae vanthirukku thoraiyae”
Compares a young, graceful woman to a delicate creeper vine ('Vanji ilam kodi').
Edhukai (Second letter rhyming)
“Innum aayiram saedhithaan / Aanaa sonnathu paadhithaan / Naanum solluraen meedhithaan”
Rhyming of the second character 'dh/th' across consecutive lines (saedhi / paadhi / meedhi).
Metaphor / Agricultural Allegory
“Kanmaaya thorappathu yaarukku / Onnoda vayalukkuththaan”
Uses agricultural plowing ('kalappa yaeru') and opening sluice gates ('kanmaaya thorappathu') as allegories for romantic and physical relationships.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Iravu Pookkal' (1985) features lyrics by Gangai Amaran, who frequently infused Tamil film tracks with rich rural dialect and playful folk idioms.
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