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Lyrics & meaning

Annana Vittu

From Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Annana vittu oru kalyaanamaaIs it a wedding, leaving the elder brother behind?
Anbu kangala katti oru oorgolamaaIs it a procession, with eyes of love blindfolded?
Annana vittu oru kalyaanamaaIs it a wedding, leaving the elder brother behind?
Anbu kangala katti oru oorgolamaaIs it a procession, with eyes of love blindfolded?
Sindhanaiyil veitha annanum dhaanThe brother who held you fondly in his thoughts,
Pandhalil nikka koodaadhaaShould he not even stand under the marriage canopy?
Annanum angae vandhu nindruShould not the brother come there to stand,
Atchadhai poda koodaadhaaAnd shower the sacred rice of blessings?
Annana vittu oru kalyaanamaaIs it a wedding, leaving the elder brother behind?
Anbu kangala katti oru oorgolamaaIs it a procession, with eyes of love blindfolded?
Male
Yaarukku ennaTo whom did I
Theenghu seidhenCause any harm?
Yen indha sodhanaiWhy this painful ordeal?
Thangachikku dhaan theriyumOnly the younger sister truly knows
Annanin vedhanaiThe grief inside her elder brother's heart.
Male
Sondhangal ellaam poyaachuAll relatives are gone now,
Sorpanam polae aayaachuThey have all turned into a dream.
Bandhangal ellaam ennaachuWhat became of all those bonds?
Pattadhu podhum endraachuIt feels like enough suffering has been borne.
Male
{Mangala vaadhiyangal{The auspicious music and instruments
Oorukkul muzhanghudhuResound across the entire village,
Ingirundhu en manamFrom right here, my heart
Vaazhthukkal vazhanghudhu} (2)Bestows its blessings} (2)
Male
Annan ingae thaedumoWill she search for her brother here?
Kanneerilae aadumoWill she drown in tears?
Annaalilae naa valarthaThe colorful parrot I nurtured in those days,
Vannakkili vaadumoWill that little bird wither in sorrow?
Male
Annana vittu oru kalyaanamaaIs it a wedding, leaving the elder brother behind?
Anbu kangala katti oru oorgolamaaIs it a procession, with eyes of love blindfolded?
Male
Nesam vecha paavathukkuFor the sin of placing deep affection,
Nenjamae anubhaviO heart, endure this pain!
Neerai vittu azhichaalumEven if washed away with water,
Neengumaa thalai vidhiCan the destiny written on one's forehead be erased?
Male
En vidhi ippo ennoduMy fate remains with me now,
Yaaridam solla en paaduTo whom can I express my plight?
Karpanai seidhu kannoduAll that was built through imagination in front of my eyes,
Kattiyadhellaam mun veeduHas collapsed like a house built at the front.
Male
{Oorukkae paadam sollum{The child from the teacher's house who teaches lessons to the village,
Vaathiyaar veettu pillaiThe child from the teacher's house,
Vaazhkkai ennum paadathaithaanHas failed to properly learn
Serivara padikkavillai} (2)The lesson known as life itself} (2)
Male
Neram ondru undaagumA suitable time will arrive,
Ellaam andru nandraagumEverything will turn out well on that day.
Onnaagathaan naam irukkaFor us to be united together as one,
Pinnaal oru naal varumA day in the future will surely come.
Male
Annana vittu oru kalyaanamaaIs it a wedding, leaving the elder brother behind?
Anbu kangala katti oru oorgolamaaIs it a procession, with eyes of love blindfolded?
Sindhanaiyil veitha annanum dhaanThe brother who held you fondly in his thoughts,
Pandhalil nikka koodaadhaaShould he not even stand under the marriage canopy?
Annanum angae vandhu nindruShould not the brother come there to stand,
Atchadhai poda koodaadhaaAnd shower the sacred rice of blessings?
Annana vittu oru kalyaanamaaIs it a wedding, leaving the elder brother behind?
Anbu kangala katti oru oorgolamaaIs it a procession, with eyes of love blindfolded?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant emotional song expresses the deep anguish of an elder brother who is alienated from his beloved younger sister during her wedding. Unable to participate in the celebrations due to misunderstandings or social circumstances, he laments how fate has separated them despite the pure love he nurtured for her since childhood. From afar, he hears the wedding music sounding throughout the village and offers his heartfelt blessings, while inwardly questioning why life dealt him such a tragic hand. Despite his pain and sense of betrayal by relatives, the brother holds onto hope. He compares himself to a teacher's child who can teach the world but failed to master the practical lessons of life. Ultimately, he consoles his troubled heart with optimism, believing that time will heal all wounds and a future day will arrive when he and his sister will be reunited.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uragavam)

Vannakkili vaadumo

The sister is affectionally referred to as 'Vannakkili' (colorful parrot), symbolizing innocence, delicacy, and loving care.

Irony / Self-reflection

Vaazhkkai ennum paadathaithaan

The speaker contrasts his role as the 'Vaathiyaar veettu pillai' (child of a teacher who teaches the village) with his inability to understand or navigate the lesson of life ('Vaazhkkai ennum paadathaithaan').

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil prosody)

Nesam vecha paavathukku / Nenjamae anubhavi

Rhyming of the second letter 's' in 'Nesam' and 'Nenjamae'.

Rhetorical Question

Pandhalil nikka koodaadhaa

The speaker repeatedly poses grief-stricken rhetorical questions asking if the brother shouldn't be allowed to bless his sister or stand under the wedding canopy.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai' (1989) stars Sathyaraj and Shobana, directed by P. Vasu. The film features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vaali. The theme of sibling bond and the self-sacrificing elder brother was a signature motif in late 1980s Tamil melodramas.

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