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Vazhkai Vazhvatharke album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aadakkanbathau Kaveri

From Vazhkai Vazhvatharke · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, K. Jamunarani
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Vazhkai Vazhvatharke
Movie release year
1964
Lyrics added on
18 Aug 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haa….aaa….aaa…
Hoo ooo ooo
Aadakaanbathu kaveri vellam
Aasaiyai kaanbathu kanniyar ullam
Oda kaanbathu paruvathu kaathu
Ohoo ohoo ohoo hoo hoo hoo
Aadakaanbathu kaveri vellam
Aasaiyai kaanbathu kanniyar ullam
Oda kaanbathu paruvathu kaathu
Ohoo ohoo ohoo hoo hoo hoo
Pootiya nenjin nattiyam arindhu
Kottilirundhu paadudhu ilamaiyai paathu
Pootiya nenjin nattiyam arindhu
Kottilirundhu paravai parandhu
Paatondru paadudhu ilamaiyai paathu
Kattaana motteduthu kattaana sittadudhu
Aadakaanbathu kaveri vellam
Aasaiyai kaanbathu kanniyar ullam
Oda kaanbathu paruvathu kaathu
Ohoo ohoo ohoo ohoo hoo hoo
Thaamarai poopol maeni valarnthu
Thaaragai pol iru vizhigal malarndhu
Thaamarai poopol maeni valarnthu
Thaaragai pol iru vizhigal malarndhu
Poo mazhai thoovudhu punnagai thaavudhu
Poo mazhai thoovudhu punnagai thaavudhu
Ponnondru pennaandhu
Ennangal undaanadhu
Aadakaanbathu kaveri vellam
Aasaiyai kaanbathu kanniyar ullam
Oda kaanbathu paruvathu kaathu
Ohoo ohoo ohoo ohoo hoo hoo
Ohoo hoo hoo haaa…aaa…aaa…
Female :Haa…aa…hahaha…aa….aaa…
Iyarkaiyin naadagam maedaiyilae
Inimai enum siru solaiyiale
Male :Haa…aaa…
Female :Iyarkaiyin naadagam maedaiyilae
Inimai enum siru solaiyiale
Ezhudhiya oviyam pazhuthu padaamal
Ezhundhu nadanthathu maalaiyilae
Male :Ahaa haa hoo ooo
Ezhudhiya oviyam pazhuthu padaamal
Ezhundhu nadanthathu maalaiyilae
Ilamai inimel yaaridamoo
Iraivan thiruullam evvidumoo
Kanimozhi pesidum kanniyin ullam
Kanimozhi pesidum kanniyin ullam
Yaarodu poradumoo ingu
Paalodu thaenaagumoo
Aa.... aaaa... aaaa...
Hoo ooo ooo
What dances before us is the flood of the Kaveri,
what longs with desire is a young girl's heart,
and what races by is the breeze of youth.
Oho oho oho ho ho ho
What dances before us is the flood of the Kaveri,
what longs with desire is a young girl's heart,
and what races by is the breeze of youth.
Oho oho oho ho ho ho
Sensing the dance inside a locked heart,
it sings from its cage, gazing at youth.
Sensing the dance inside a locked heart,
a bird flies out from its cage,
and sings a song, gazing at youth.
Like a shapely flower bud blooming, she dances in graceful rhythm.
What dances before us is the flood of the Kaveri,
what longs with desire is a young girl's heart,
and what races by is the breeze of youth.
Oho oho oho oho ho ho
With a figure blossoming like a lotus flower,
and two eyes shining wide like stars,
With a figure blossoming like a lotus flower,
and two eyes shining wide like stars,
a shower of flowers falls as a sweet smile leaps,
a shower of flowers falls as a sweet smile leaps.
A piece of pure gold has become a young woman,
and new longings have taken root in her thoughts.
What dances before us is the flood of the Kaveri,
what longs with desire is a young girl's heart,
and what races by is the breeze of youth.
Oho oho oho oho ho ho
Oho ho ho haa... aaa... aaa...
Female: Haa... aa... hahaha... aa... aaa...
The drama of nature unfolds on stage,
here in this sweet little garden grove.
Male: Haa... aaa...
Female: The drama of nature unfolds on stage,
here in this sweet little garden grove.
Like a painted picture, completely flawless,
she rose and walked into the evening.
Male: Aaha haa hoo oo
Like a painted picture, completely flawless,
she rose and walked into the evening.
Whom will this youth belong to from now on?
Where does God's divine will lead?
The heart of this sweet-spoken young girl—
The heart of this sweet-spoken young girl—
whom will it have to battle with here?
Or will it blend sweetly like milk and honey?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Aadakaanbathu Kaveri Vellam' from the 1964 film Vazhkai Vazhvatharke is a lyrical masterpiece by Kannadasan set to a breezy melody by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. The song celebrates the bloom of youth and love, drawing vivid parallels between the beauty of nature—such as the surging Kaveri river, lotus blossoms, and singing birds—and the emerging romantic desires in a young maiden's heart. It beautifully captures the innocence, curiosity, and sweet anxiety of youthful romance as two souls anticipate their destiny together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Thaamarai poopol maeni valarnthu / Thaaragai pol iru vizhigal malarndhu”

Compares eyes blooming to stars blossoming ('Thaaragai pol iru vizhigal malarndhu') and body softness to a lotus flower ('Thaamarai poopol maeni valarnthu').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Ezhudhiya oviyam pazhuthu padaamal ezhundhu nadanthathu maalaiyilae”

Metaphorically describes a pristine maiden as a painted artwork coming to life ('Ezhudhiya oviyam pazhuthu padaamal ezhundhu nadanthathu').

Anaphora / Rhyme (Emoni & Ethirhai)

“Aadakaanbathu kaveri vellam / Aasaiyai kaanbathu kanniyar ullam”

Parallel sentence structure starting with 'Aadakaanbathu', 'Aasaiyai kaanbathu', and 'Oda kaanbathu' creating rhythmic harmony.

Idiomatic Metaphor

“Paalodu thaenaagumoo”

Blending like honey and milk ('Paalodu thaenaagumoo') represents perfect union and harmony in romance.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and features playful vocal embellishments by P. Susheela and K. Jamunarani, epitomizing the classic 1960s Tamil cinema musical style.

Keep listening

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