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Arangetra Velai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aagaya Vennilavae

From Arangetra Velai · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Uma Ramanan, K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Arangetra Velai
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
29 Oct 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aagaaya vennilaavae
Tharai meedhu vandhatheno
Female :Azhagaana aadai soodi
Arangerum velaithaano
Malar soodum koondhalae
Mazhai kaala megamaai kooda
Female :Uravaadum vizhigalae
Iru velli meengalaai aada
Aagaaya vennilaavae
Tharai meedhu vandhatheno
Female :Azhagaana aadai soodi
Arangerum velaithaano
Dhevaara sandham kondu
Dhinam paadum thendral ondru
Poovaaram soodikondu
Thalai vaasal vanthadhindru
Thenpaandi mannan endru
Thirumeni vannam kandu
Madiyeri vazhum penmai
Padiyeri vanthadhindru
Ilaneerum paalum thaenum
Idhazhoram vaanga vendum
Female :Koduthaalum kaadhal thaagam
Kuraiyaamal yenga vendum
Kadal pondra aasayil
Madal vazhai meni thaan aada
Female :Nadujaama velaiyil
Neduneram nenjamae kooda
Aagaaya vennilaavae
Tharai meedhu vandhatheno
Female :Azhagaana aadai soodi
Arangerum velaithaano
Dhevaadhi dhevar koottam
Thudhi paadum dheivaroopam
Aadhaadhi kesam engum
Oliveesum koyil deepam
Vaadaadha paarijaadham
Nadaipodum vanna paadham
Kelaadha vaenugaanam
Kili pechil ketkka koodum
Adiyaalin jeevan aevi
Adhigaaram seivadhenna
Male :Azhangaara dhevadhevi
Avadhaaram seidhadhenna
Isai veennai vaadutho
Idhamaana kaigalae meetta
Male :Srudhiyodu serumo
Sugamaana raagamae kaatta
Aagaaya vennilaavae
Tharai meedhu vandhatheno
Male :Azhagaana aadai soodi
Arangerum velaithaano
Malar soodum koondhalae
Mazhai kaala megamaai kooda
Male :Uravaadum vizhigalae
Iru velli meengalaai aada
Aagaaya vennilaavae
Tharai meedhu vandhatheno
Male :Azhagaana aadai soodi
Arangerum velaithaano
O silver moon of the sky,
why have you come down to the earth?
Female: Dressed in beautiful clothes,
is it time for your stage debut?
With flowers adorning your hair,
gathering like dark monsoon clouds,
Female: your loving, playful eyes
dance like a pair of silver fish!
O silver moon of the sky,
why have you come down to the earth?
Female: Dressed in beautiful clothes,
is it time for your stage debut?
With the sacred rhythm of Thevaram hymns,
a gentle breeze that sings every day
has adorned itself with a garland of flowers
and arrived at the main doorway today.
Seeing the handsome glow of your form
and knowing you as the king of the southern land,
this woman, meant to rest upon your lap,
has walked up your doorstep today.
Sweet tender coconut, milk, and honey—
I must taste them from the corner of your lips.
Female: Even when given, this thirst for love
must never fade, keeping us longing for more.
In an ocean of boundless desire,
as this tender body sways like a young banana plant,
Female: in the quiet hours of midnight,
our hearts unite for a long, sweet time.
O silver moon of the sky,
why have you come down to the earth?
Female: Dressed in beautiful clothes,
is it time for your stage debut?
You are a divine form whom the assembly of gods
praises with devotional songs;
from head to toe,
you shine like a radiant temple lamp.
Like an unfading parijata flower,
your graceful, colorful feet take gentle steps;
divine flute melodies never heard before
can be heard in your sweet, parrot-like speech.
Commanding the very life of this humble servant,
why do you rule over me like this?
Male: O gorgeously adorned goddess,
why have you descended to this world?
Does the musical veena yearn in silence,
waiting for gentle hands to play its strings?
Male: Will it blend in perfect harmony,
to reveal a sweet and soothing melody?
O silver moon of the sky,
why have you come down to the earth?
Male: Dressed in beautiful clothes,
is it time for your stage debut?
With flowers adorning your hair,
gathering like dark monsoon clouds,
Male: your loving, playful eyes
dance like a pair of silver fish!
O silver moon of the sky,
why have you come down to the earth?
Male: Dressed in beautiful clothes,
is it time for your stage debut?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Aagaaya Vennilaavae' is a classic romantic duet from the movie Arangetra Velai. In this song, the lovers express their admiration for each other using divine imagery, classical metaphors, and romantic poetry. The male protagonist compares his beloved to the moon descending onto earth, describing her hair as dark rain clouds and her eyes as shimmering silver fish.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Aagaaya vennilaavae Tharai meedhu vandhatheno

Compares the beloved woman to the celestial white moon landing on earth.

Simile (Upamai)

Mazhai kaala megamaai kooda

Compares hair adorned with flowers to rain-bearing monsoon clouds.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Iru velli meengalaai aada

Compares playful, expressive eyes to twin silver fish swimming.

Etukai (Second letter rhyme)

Dhevaara sandham kondu / Dhinam paadum thendral ondru

The second consonant sound 'dha' rhymes in 'Dhevaara' and 'Dhinam'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Aagaaya Vennilaave' was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki with lyrics written by Vaali. The movie 'Arangetra Velai' (1990) starring Prabhu and Revathi is the Tamil remake of the iconic Malayalam comedy film 'Ramji Rao Speaking'.

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