- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Thambi Durai
- Movie release year
- 1997
- Lyrics added on
- 11 Dec 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This emotional song expresses grief and indignation over the social and personal plight of a woman who has been unjustly cast into widowhood despite her husband being alive. The lyrics question fate, societal cruelty, and deceptive machinations that reduce a pure-hearted woman to a helpless puppet in the hands of treachery. Lyricist Vaali vividly portrays her lost joy—symbolized by stripped flowers, bangles, and bindi—and challenges societal notions of righteousness and justice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monorhyme / Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Vidhiyaa vidhavaiyaa / Sadhiyin karangalil”
The second letter 'dhi' matches across consecutive lines ('Vidhiyaa' / 'Sadhiyin').
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagai)
“Malar izhandhaal poongodi / Valai izhandhaal paningili”
Comparing the woman to a flowering vine ('Poongodi') and a dew-kissed parrot ('Paningili').
Antithesis / Contrast (Oduvu)
“Sumangaliyaai aanaval / Amangaliyaai ponaval”
Contrasting 'Sumangali' (auspicious married woman) with 'Amangali' (widow) to highlight her paradoxical tragic situation.
Rhetorical Question
“Nyaayangalae oo… oo… Poiyaavadhaa”
Using repeated questioning ('Vidhiyaa vidhavaiyaa', 'Poiyaavadhaa') to invoke empathy and challenge systemic injustice.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary poet Vaali, this song addresses the emotional turmoil of false widowhood and societal prejudice. Vaali frequently incorporated philosophical interrogations and social commentary into his situational song lyrics.
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