- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Pennai Solli Kutramillai
- Movie release year
- 1977
- Lyrics added on
- 11 Feb 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This romantic track from 'Pennai Solli Kutramillai' (1977), composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali, blends Mughal, Arabian, and Malayalam cultural motifs into a playful cabaret-style duet. The male protagonist compares his beloved's radiant beauty to Shah Jahan's Taj Mahal illuminated under the moonlight, admiring her crescent-like forehead and starry eyes while expressing his desire for matrimony. In response, the female singer reciprocates with seductive praise infused with Urdu/Arabic and Malayalam expressions, creating a lighthearted cross-cultural dialogue. The song shifts into a playful Malabar-inspired rhythm where she desires to watch Kathakali dance at midnight, while he fondly responds with affectionate Tamil terms of endearment like deer, honey, and dove.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvaman/Uvameyam)
“Vennilavil kan kavarum Shajahan tajmahal”
Compares the heroine's luminous beauty to the Taj Mahal shining under moonlight.
Rhetorical Question & Celestial Imagery
“Nettriyoru pirai nilavo Neel vizhigal thaaragaiyo”
Uses questions comparing bodily features to heavenly bodies (crescent moon and stars).
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Nettriyoru pirai nilavo / Neel vizhigal thaaragaiyo”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Ne-') across consecutive lines.
Multilingual Code-Switching (Mani-pravalam style)
“Palingu maeni padipathenna premu kahaani”
Incorporates Urdu, Arabic, and Malayalam phrases ('premu kahaani', 'aabki kulaabi', 'ninna pol oru sundharanai') into Tamil lyrics for cinematic effect.
Endearment Assonance (Anupirasam)
“Maanae thaenae maada puraavae”
Rhyming endearments ('maanae', 'thaenae', 'puraavae') creating a rhythmic, musical effect.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song stands out in late 1970s Tamil film music for its eclectic fusion of regional and linguistic styles. M. S. Viswanathan combined Middle Eastern soundscapes, Hindustani influences, and traditional Kerala folk rhythms within a single track. Lyricist Vaali seamlessly integrated Malayalam phrases ('Ninna pol oru sundharanai', 'Kadhakkali kaanaan kodhikunnu') and Urdu words, tailored for singers S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, L. R. Eswari, and Vani Jairam.
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