- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- A. L. Raghavan, L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Thiruvarutchelvar
- Movie release year
- 1967
- Lyrics added on
- 4 Nov 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oho ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo oo
Hoo oo oo hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo oo hoi
Aathu vellam kaathirukku
Azhukku thuniyum neranjirukku
Pottu kasakki eduthu vittaa vellaiyappaa
Aathu vellam kaathirukku
Azhukku thuniyum neranjirukku
Pottu kasakki eduthu vittaa vellaiyappaa
Nallaa puzhinji karaiyil
Kaaya vechaa vellaiyappaa
Manasu pola veluthu vechi
Oravu pola adukki vechi
Varavu pola mootta katti vellaiyappaa
Naama varavu vaikkum
Naanayam thaan vellaiyappaa
Appappaa
Aathu vellam kaathirukku
Male :Azhukku thuniyum neranjirukku
Male :Pottu kasakki eduthu vittaa vellaiyappaa
Male :Nallaa puzhinji karaiyil
Kaaya vechaa vellaiyappaa
Kalaiyathilae kanji vachi
Kaattu keera vadhakki vachi madhiyathilae
Kondu selvom vellaiyammaa
Kalaiyathilae kanji vachi
Kaattu keera vadhakki vachi madhiyathilae
Kondu selvom vellaiyammaa
Namma manasukkullae
Kalangam illae vellaiyammaa
Namma manasukkullae
Kalangam illae vellaiyammaa
Aadi odi vaela senji
Aluthu vandhu paduthavarai
Paadi paadi thoonga vaippom vellaiyammaa
Aadi odi vaela senji
Aluthu vandhu paduthavarai
Paadi paadi thoonga vaippom vellaiyammaa
Namma parambaraikkae kalangamillae
Vellaiyammaa
Kalyaana podavaiyinnu
Maamanaaru kodutha saelai
Kodukkaiyilae irundha niram pachaiyappaa
Pottu thovaikkaiyilae vandha niram
Vellaiyappaa appaa
Kalyaana podavaiyinnu
Maamanaaru kodutha saelai
Kodukkaiyilae irundha niram pachaiyappaa
Pottu thovaikkaiyilae vandha niram
Vellaiyappaa appaa
Vaetti saelai potti pottu
Aathukkullae alasum podhu
Vaetti ingae jeyikkudhadaa vellaiyappaa oo…
Vaetti saelai potti pottu
Aathukkullae alasum podhu
Vaetti ingae jeyikkudhadaa vellaiyappaa…
Aanaa veettukkullae
Saela thaanae velludhappaa
Pattu chaelai noolu chaelai
Pala palakkum jaruva chaelai
Kattam potta saaya chaelai kottadi chaelai
Nalla kalyaana koora chaelai sungadi chaelai
Thovachi mootta katti saertthu vittaa
Theerndhadhu vaelai
Vaanavillai polae…
Aa… aaa…aa….aa….aa…aa…aa…aa..ooo…ooo
Hmm oo oo hooo hoo ooo
Vaanavillai polae ingae
Vanna vanna chaelai ellaam
Boomiyilae kaayudhadi vellaiyammaa
Vaanavillai polae ingae
Vanna vanna chaelai ellaam
Boomiyilae kaayudhadi vellaiyammaa
Enga buthiyilae ulla niram vellaiyammaa
Kandhaiyilae azhukkirundhaal
Kasakki eduthu vidu vellaiyappaa
Un sindhaiyilae azhukkirundhaal
Sivanadiyai naadi vidu vellaiyappaa
Uyirae azhukku thuni
Uvar mannae nam pirappu
Uyirae azhukku thuni
Uvar mannae nam pirappu
Boo ulaga vaazhkkai enum
Pollaadha kallinilae
Boo ulaga vaazhkkai enum
Pollaadha kallinilae
Modhi adikkaiyilae muttrum kasakkaiyilae
Modhi adikkaiyilae muttrum kasakkaiyilae
Aadhi sivan ennum aatril varum vellathilae
Aadhi sivan ennum aatril varum vellathilae
Azhukkellaam velukkudhadaa vellaiyappaa
Avan arul ennum nizhal thanilae vellaiyappaa
Indha uyirellaam vaazhudhadaa vellaiyappaa
Uyirae azhukku thuni
Uvar mannae nam pirappu
Boo ulaga vaazhkkai enum
Pollaadha kallinilae
Modhi adikkaiyilae muttrum kasakkaiyilae
Aadhi sivan ennum aatril varum vellathilae
Aadhi sivan ennum aatril varum vellathilae
Azhukkellaam velukkudhadaa vellaiyappaa
Avan arul ennum nizhal thanilae vellaiyappaa
Indha uyirellaam vaazhudhadaa vellaiyappaa
Panjilae noolai vaithaan
Noolilae aadai vaithaan
Aadaiyilae maanam vaithaan andha
Maanathilae uyirai vaithaan vellaiyappaa
Baktharukku arul kurippu
Paamararkku porul kurippu
Baktharukku arul kurippu
Paamararkku porul kurippu
Sathiyathin oru kurippu vellaiyappaa
Adhu mukthi tharum thiru kurippu vellaiyappaa
Sathiyathin oru kurippu vellaiyappaa
Adhu mukthi tharum thiru kurippu vellaiyappaa
Aathu vellam kaathirukku
Azhukku thuniyum neranjirukku
Pottu kasakki eduthu vittaa vellaiyappaa
Nallaa puzhinji karaiyil
Kaaya vechaa vellaiyappaa
Oho oo ho oo oo ho o
Ho o o ho oo ho oo oo o hoy
The river's flow is waiting,
and dirty clothes are piled high!
If we scrub and wash them clean, Vellaiappa,
The river's flow is waiting,
and dirty clothes are piled high!
If we scrub and wash them clean, Vellaiappa,
If we wring them well and on the bank
spread them out to dry, Vellaiappa,
Bleached pure white like our hearts,
folded and stacked like loving kin,
bundled up tight like our honest earnings, Vellaiappa,
the integrity we earn through our work
is pure and untainted, Vellaiappa!
Oh my!
The river's flow is waiting,
and dirty clothes are piled high!
If we scrub and wash them clean, Vellaiappa,
If we wring them well and on the bank
spread them out to dry, Vellaiappa!
Cooking rice porridge in a clay pot,
sauteing wild greens, at noon
we will bring it to the riverside, Vellaiyamma!
Cooking rice porridge in a clay pot,
sauteing wild greens, at noon
we will bring it to the riverside, Vellaiyamma!
Deep inside our hearts,
there is no stain of malice, Vellaiyamma!
Deep inside our hearts,
there is no stain of malice, Vellaiyamma!
To the one who works hard running about
and lies down weary and worn,
we will sing softly and lull them to sleep, Vellaiyamma!
To the one who works hard running about
and lies down weary and worn,
we will sing softly and lull them to sleep, Vellaiyamma!
In our entire lineage, there is no blemish,
Vellaiyamma!
Claiming it was a fine wedding saree,
the saree my father-in-law gave,
was green when he gave it,
but when scrubbed and washed, the color it turned
was pure white, oh Vellaiappa!
Claiming it was a fine wedding saree,
the saree my father-in-law gave,
was green when he gave it,
but when scrubbed and washed, the color it turned
was pure white, oh Vellaiappa!
When dhoti and saree compete
while being rinsed in the river,
the dhoti wins here, Vellaiappa, oh...
When dhoti and saree compete
while being rinsed in the river,
the dhoti wins here, Vellaiappa...
Yet inside the home,
isn't it the saree that always wins?
Silk sarees and cotton sarees,
glittering sarees woven with shiny zari,
checkered dyed sarees, everyday village sarees,
fine wedding sarees and Sungudi sarees—
once washed, bundled, and delivered,
our day's work is done!
Just like a rainbow...
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... ooo... ooo
Mmm o o ho-o ho oo
Just like a rainbow here,
all these colorful sarees
are drying across the ground, Vellaiyamma!
Just like a rainbow here,
all these colorful sarees
are drying across the ground, Vellaiyamma!
The only color in our minds is pure white, Vellaiyamma!
If there is dirt in your rags,
scrub and wash it clean, Vellaiappa!
If there is dirt in your thoughts,
seek the holy feet of Lord Shiva, Vellaiappa!
The soul itself is a soiled cloth,
and alkaline earth is our mortal birth!
The soul itself is a soiled cloth,
and alkaline earth is our mortal birth!
On this harsh washing stone
known as earthly life,
On this harsh washing stone
known as earthly life,
when it is struck against the stone and scrubbed clean,
when it is struck against the stone and scrubbed clean,
in the rushing river flood of primordial Shiva,
in the rushing river flood of primordial Shiva,
all dirt is washed pure white, Vellaiappa!
Under the shelter of His divine grace, Vellaiappa,
all these living souls truly thrive, Vellaiappa!
The soul itself is a soiled cloth,
and alkaline earth is our mortal birth!
On this harsh washing stone
known as earthly life,
when it is struck against the stone and scrubbed clean,
in the rushing river flood of primordial Shiva,
in the rushing river flood of primordial Shiva,
all dirt is washed pure white, Vellaiappa!
Under the shelter of His divine grace, Vellaiappa,
all these living souls truly thrive, Vellaiappa!
Inside cotton, He placed thread;
inside thread, He placed cloth;
inside cloth, He placed human dignity;
and inside that dignity, He placed life itself, Vellaiappa!
To the devotee, it is a sign of grace;
to the common folk, a sign of earning a living;
To the devotee, it is a sign of grace;
to the common folk, a sign of earning a living;
it is a sacred sign of truth, Vellaiappa;
it is the holy mark that grants salvation, Vellaiappa!
It is a sacred sign of truth, Vellaiappa;
it is the holy mark that grants salvation, Vellaiappa!
The river's flow is waiting,
and dirty clothes are piled high!
If we scrub and wash them clean, Vellaiappa,
If we wring them well and on the bank
spread them out to dry, Vellaiappa!
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Chorus
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from the classic movie 'Thiruvarutchelvar' (1967) presents a profound philosophical allegory through the daily routine of a washerman (Vellaiyappa) and washerwoman (Vellaiyamma). On the surface, the lyrics playfully discuss washing clothes in river water, drying colorful sarees across the bank like a rainbow, and enjoying a simple laborer's meal. However, Kannadasan seamlessly elevates the mundane craft of washing clothes into a spiritual metaphor for human existence. The dirty cloth represents the human soul tainted by worldly sins, while birth acts as alkaline fuller's earth (uvar man). The hardships of earthly life act as the washing stone against which the soul is beaten and purified, and Lord Shiva's divine grace serves as the cleansing river flood that washes away all spiritual impurities, ultimately granting liberation (mukthi).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Uyirae azhukku thuni”
Compares human soul to dirty cloth ('Uyirae azhukku thuni') and earthly hardships to a washing stone ('Boo ulaga vaazhkkai enum pollaadha kallinilae').
Simile (Uwamai)
“Vaanavillai polae ingae vanna vanna chaelai ellaam”
Compares colorful sarees drying on the bank to a rainbow.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Panjilae noolai vaithaan / Noolilae aadai vaithaan”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds such as 'Panjilae', 'Noolilae', 'Aadaiyilae', 'Maanathilae' across consecutive lines.
Wordplay / Humor
“Aanaa veettukkullae saela thaanae velludhappaa”
Playful social commentary on domestic life where the dhoti wins in river washing, but the saree rules inside the household.
Did you know?
Trivia
In the film 'Thiruvarutchelvar', this song picturizes the story of Thirukurippu Thonda Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars who was a washerman devoted to Lord Shiva. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.
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