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Lyrics & meaning

Andhi Varum Nerathile

From Nee Vazha Vendum · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, P. Jayachandran
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Nee Vazha Vendum1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Anthi varum neraththilaeAt the arrival of dusk,
Anju vanna poo eduththuTaking flowers of five colors,
Naalthorum ambu vidum manmaOh Cupid, who shoots arrows every day,
Unnai yaaraenum kandathundo manmatha rajaHas anyone ever seen you, king of love?
Female
Anthi varum neraththilaeAt the arrival of dusk,
Anju vanna poo eduththuTaking flowers of five colors,
Naalthorum ambu vidum manmaOh Cupid, who shoots arrows every day,
Unnai yaaraenum kandathundo manmatha rajaHas anyone ever seen you, king of love?
Male
Muthu vanna maalaiyittuAdorned with a pearl-like garland,
Moga vanna selai kattiDraped in a saree of passionate color,
Muthu vanna maalaiyittuAdorned with a pearl-like garland,
Moga vanna selai kattiDraped in a saree of passionate color,
Therottam aadi varum devathai yaaroWho is this goddess arriving like a chariot procession?
Intha devathaikku pennazhagu radhiyennum peroDoes this goddess go by the name of beautiful Rathi?
Male
Muthu vanna maalaiyittuAdorned with a pearl-like garland,
Moga vanna selai kattiDraped in a saree of passionate color,
Therottam aadi varum devathai yaaroWho is this goddess arriving like a chariot procession?
Intha devathaikku pennazhagu radhiyennum peroDoes this goddess go by the name of beautiful Rathi?
Female
Kannirendil unnuvathumEating/interlocking with both eyes,
Kayirendai pinnuvathuPlaiting two ropes together,
Kannirendil unnuvathumEating/interlocking with both eyes,
Kayirendai pinnuvathuPlaiting two ropes together,
Enna kalai theriyavillaiI do not know what art form this is,
Idhai palliyilum padikkavillaiNor was this taught in any school.
Male
Inba veri kolluvathumBecoming intoxicated with pleasure,
Eerudalgal thulluvathumAnd two bodies leaping in ecstasy,
Inba veri kolluvathumBecoming intoxicated with pleasure,
Eerudalgal thulluvathumAnd two bodies leaping in ecstasy,
Enna sugam puriyavillaiI do not understand what kind of bliss this is,
Entha yaedum idhai vilakkavillaiNo book has ever explained this.
Female
Paavai enthan ullamMy maidenly heart,
Pothum pothumennumSays 'enough, enough',
Male :Bodhaiyerum kangalWhile your intoxicating eyes,
Thevai thevaiyennumSay 'I need it, I need it'.
Mouna mozhi kettaenadiI heard your silent language, my dear,
Adhil maaya valai paarthenadiAnd in it, I saw an illusionary net.
Female
Gangai mudi sangaranaarLord Shiva, with the Ganges in his hair,
Kaaman unai yaevi vittarDispatched Cupid toward you,
Mogamennum thuyar koduththaarHe gave the sorrow known as passion,
Muppuram pola unai eriththaarAnd burned you like the three cities.
Male
Aada vantha sangaranaiCupid, who made even Lord Shiva,
Aatti vaiththa manmathanaiWho came to dance, move to his tunes,
Bhoomithanil azhipathundoCan anyone destroy him on this earth?
Nyanigalum jeyipathundoCan even sages conquer him?
Female
Yaagam yogam endru koorum yaavum inguEverything called sacrifice and penance here,
Male :Kaamam mogam kandu maarum maarum EndruChanges upon witnessing desire and passion,
Ethanaiyo saatchiyunduThere are so many witnesses to this,
Visuvaamithiranin kadhaiyunduIncluding the tale of Sage Vishwamitra.
Female
Anthi varum neraththilaeAt the arrival of dusk,
Anju vanna poo eduththuTaking flowers of five colors,
Naalthorum ambu vidum manmaOh Cupid, who shoots arrows every day,
Unnai yaaraenum kandathundo manmatha rajaHas anyone ever seen you, king of love?
Manmatha raja manmatha rajaOh King of love, king of love!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This romantic duet from 'Nee Vazha Vendum' revolves around the playful flirtation and deep romantic awakening between two lovers. The female protagonist invokes Manmatha (Cupid), questioning his unseen yet undeniable influence as dusk falls, while the male lover compares her beauty to Goddess Rathi. Together, they explore the sweet confusion of love and desire—an art not taught in schools nor fully explained in scriptures. In the second half, the song delves into classical mythological imagery, noting how Cupid holds power over everyone, even driving Lord Shiva and great sages like Vishwamitra to succumb to desire. Through poetic expressions of unspoken chemistry and irresistible passion, the lovers acknowledge that love and desire ultimately conquer all worldly discipline and spiritual austerity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Moga vanna selai katti

Describing the saree as 'Moga vanna selai' (saree colored in passion) and eyes as 'Bodhaiyerum kangal' (eyes filled with intoxication).

Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhugai and Monai)

Muthu vanna maalaiyittu / Moga vanna selai katti

Use of matching second letters like 'Muthu vanna' / 'Moga vanna' and 'Anthi' / 'Anju'.

Allusion (Puraana Kurippeedhu)

Visuvaamithiranin kadhaiyundu

Reference to Hindu mythological stories of Lord Shiva, Manmatha (Cupid), Rathi, and Sage Vishwamitra breaking his penance.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this classic track highlights Kannadasan's mastery in blending classical Tamil literary references (such as Manmatha's five floral arrows) with accessible film music sensibilities.

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