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Vidiyum Varai Kaathiru album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Abhinayam Kaattu

From Vidiyum Varai Kaathiru · 1981

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Vidiyum Varai Kaathiru
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
17 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaa….aaa…..aaa….aaa….aaa….
Haa….aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa……thnaraa thanaraa
Haa….aaa….aa….aaa…aa…
Abinayam kaattu nadai pottu…
Abinayam kaattu nadai pottu
Ilaiyaval isaikka enai nee jeyikka
Ilaiyaval isaikka enai nee jeyikka
Abinayam kaattu nadai pottu
Maamallan sivagaami maru pirappo
Aaaa…aa….aa….aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa…aa…
Maamallan sivagaami maru pirappo
Maanaaga meenaaga maiyal vizha vizhigal malara
Abinayam kaattu nadai pottu
Ilaiyaval isaikka enai nee jeyikka
Abinayam kaattu nadai pottu
Kuyil inam naan endru
Kural valam thaan kandu
Ulagamae ariyaadhadho
Kuyil inam naan endru
Kural valam thaan kandu
Ulagamae ariyaadhadho
Inimai en saareeram
Pudhumai en sangeetham
Unakkidhu puriyaadhadho
Paattindri yaedhamma
Baradha kalai …aaa….aa….aaa….aa…aa…
Paattindri yaedhamma baradha kalai
Naan paada nee aada noolidai adhu neliya neliya
Abinayam kaattu nadai pottu
Pen aada iru kan thaan aada
Paadhangal jathigalum payila
Sollaadha pudhu sandham solla
Thullaadha ilam thendral thulla
Pudhumaiyaana nadana thogai aada
Arumaiyaana geetham paavai paada
Oruvar thiramai oruvar ariya udhavattumae
Aadal enbadhanai paadal vellumadi
Paadal velluvadhai kaalam sollumadi
Unadhu manadhu enadhu kalaiyai unarattumae
Ilam kuyil isaikkaiyilae
Mayangidum iyarkaigalae
Kanmaniyae …pon maniyae….
Thaam tharikida thattheemtha
Thatthit thakajunu thaa
Thaangidaka dheemtha thaangidaka dheemtha
Thakajunu thaa
Thakadhimi tharikidathaa d
Dheemtha dheemtha
Thatthit thaam dheemthat thakajunu thaa
Thadhimi thajunu thakida thajunu
Tharikida dheem
Thatthajam thatthajam thakadhina thaa
Thadhimi thajunu dheem
Thaangidathaka dheemtha dheem
Thadhimi thaa thakajunu thaa
Thakida thaa thanuku thaa
Sagagaga saririri nisasasa dhaninini
Paadhaa dhaanee sanidhapa
Padhadhadha mapapapa gamamama rigasari
Gaamaa paamaa garisa
Sarisa neesa rigama gaama
Gamapadha mapaha maapa dhanisa neesa
Garee sarisanisa ree sarisanisa sarisanisa
Sari gamaga mapa dhapama padha nisarisa
Abinayam kaattu nadai pottu
Ilaiyaval isaikka enai nee jeyikka
Abinayam kaattu nadai pottu…
Aah... aah... aah... aah... aah...
Haa... aah... aah... aah... aah... thanara thanara
Haa... aah... aah... aah... aah...
Dance with expressions as you take your steps...
Dance with expressions as you take your steps,
As this girl sings, come and try to defeat me,
As this girl sings, come and try to defeat me,
Dance with expressions as you take your steps!
Are you the rebirth of Mamallan and Sivakami?
Aah... aah... aah... aah... aah... aah... aah... aah... aah... aah...
Are you the rebirth of Mamallan and Sivakami?
With eyes blooming in love, darting like a deer and a fish,
Dance with expressions as you take your steps,
As this girl sings, come and try to defeat me,
Dance with expressions as you take your steps!
That I am of the cuckoo's kind,
Hearing the richness of my voice,
Does the whole world not know?
That I am of the cuckoo's kind,
Hearing the richness of my voice,
Does the whole world not know?
My voice is pure sweetness,
My music is always fresh,
Do you not understand this?
Without a song, what is left,
For the art of Bharatanatyam... aah... aah... aah... aah... aah...
Without a song, what is the art of Bharatanatyam?
As I sing and you dance, with your slender waist swaying,
Dance with expressions as you take your steps!
As the woman dances, both her eyes dance,
Her feet keep pace with the rhythmic beats,
Expressing brand-new unheard rhythms,
Making even the gentle breeze leap and sway,
As the peacock dances with fresh elegance,
And the young woman sings a marvelous melody,
Let this help each of us discover the other's talent!
Song will surely defeat dance, my friend!
Whether song wins, time alone will tell!
Let your heart realize the beauty of my art!
When the young cuckoo sings,
All of nature is enchanted,
Oh darling... oh precious gem...
Thaam tharikita thath-theemtha
Thath-thith thakajunu thaa
Thaangidaka theemtha thaangidaka theemtha
Thakajunu thaa
Thakathimi tharikidathaa
Theemtha theemtha
Thath-thith thaam theemthath thakajunu tha
Thathimi thajunu thakita thajunu
Tharikita theem
Thath-thajam thath-thajam thakathina tha
Thathimi thajunu theem
Thaangidathaka theemtha theem
Thathimi thaa thakajunu thaa
Thakita thaa thanuku thaa
Sa ga ga ga, sa ri ri ri, ni sa sa sa, dha ni ni ni
Paa dhaa, dhaa nee, sa ni dha pa
Pa dha dha dha, ma pa pa pa, ga ma ma ma, ri ga sa ri
Gaa maa, paa maa, ga ri sa
Sa ri sa, nee sa, ri ga ma, gaa ma
Ga ma pa dha, ma pa dha, maa pa, dha ni sa, nee sa
Ga ree, sa ri sa ni sa, ree, sa ri sa ni sa, sa ri sa ni sa
Sa ri ga ma ga, ma pa dha pa ma, pa dha ni sa ri sa
Dance with expressions as you take your steps,
As this girl sings, come and try to defeat me,
Dance with expressions as you take your steps...
Female
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Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song represents a classic artistic jugalbandi (a competitive lyrical duel) between vocal music and Bharatanatyam dance. The singer challenges the dancer to match vocal nuances and fast-paced swaras with expressive facial gestures (abhinaya), graceful steps, and intricate rhythmic footwork (jathis). Lyricist Vaali weaves classical imagery and literary references into the lyrics, highlighting how vocal melody and dance form an inseparable bond in Indian classical fine arts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

Maamallan sivagaami maru pirappo

Refers to Maamallan (King Narasimhavarman I) and Sivagami, the iconic protagonist dancer from Kalki's celebrated historic Tamil novel 'Sivagamiyin Sabatham'.

Simile / Metaphor (Uwamai / Uruvagathani)

Maanaaga meenaaga maiyal vizha vizhigal malara

Compares the expressive eyes of the dancer to a deer (maanaaga) and a fish (meenaaga) darting with emotion.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Kuyil inam naan endru / Kural valam thaan kandu

Repetition of the initial 'K' sound across the lines ('Kuyil' and 'Kural').

Rhetorical Question

Inimai en saareeram / Pudhumai en sangeetham / Unakkidhu puriyaadhadho

The singer uses rhetorical questions to assert supremacy in song and rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed in song metadata as unknown composer in some compilations, the music for 'Vidiyum Varai Kaathiru' (1981), directed by K. Bhagyaraj, was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The track showcases intricate Carnatic swara passages and classical solkattu (dance mnemonics) blended into a cinematic jugalbandi.

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