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Seeman Petra Selvangal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Appadi Venuma Ippadi Venuma

From Seeman Petra Selvangal · 1962

Lyricist
Mayavanathan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Movie name
Seeman Petra Selvangal
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
18 Jun 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Appadi venuma ippadi venuma
Appadi venuma ippadi venuma
Eppadi venum annaachi annaachi
Appadi venuma ippadi venuma
Eppadi venum annaachi annaachi
Manjal kulipavalaa
Illai oru maavil kulipavalaa
Manjal kulipavalaa
Illai oru maavil kulipavalaa
Anji nadappavalaa
Kaiyai aatti nadappavalaa
Anji nadappavalaa
Kaiyai aatti nadappavalaa
Konji aruginil vandhu amarndhidum
Kola siru mayila
Illai aval veru oru kuyialaa
Appadi venuma ippadi venuma
Eppadi venum annaachi annaachi
Kungumam ittavalaa
Tamil adhan kooda pirandhavalaa
Kungumam ittavalaa
Tamil adhan kooda pirandhavalaa
Mangala poocharamaa illai
Oru maavilai thoranama
Mangala poocharamaa illai
Oru maavilai thoranama
Pongum kadal adhil thingal vizhundhidum
Pon mayam aanavalaa
Illai oru pithalai pondravalaa
Appadi venuma ippadi venuma
Eppadi venum annaachi annaachi
Appadi venuma ippadi venuma
Eppadi venum annaachi annaachi
Do you want her like that, or like this?
Do you want her like that, or like this?
What kind do you want, brother, oh brother?
Do you want her like that, or like this?
What kind do you want, brother, oh brother?
A girl who bathes with turmeric,
or one who washes with cosmetic powder?
A girl who bathes with turmeric,
or one who washes with cosmetic powder?
One who walks with shy and hesitant steps,
or one who swings her arms and strides along?
One who walks with shy and hesitant steps,
or one who swings her arms and strides along?
Coming close and speaking sweetly to sit beside you,
like a lovely little peacock,
or is she a completely different cuckoo bird?
Do you want her like that, or like this?
What kind do you want, brother, oh brother?
One who wears kumkum (auspicious red mark) on her forehead,
born right along with the Tamil language?
One who wears kumkum (auspicious red mark) on her forehead,
born right along with the Tamil language?
Is she an auspicious string of flowers,
or a festive arch of mango leaves?
Is she an auspicious string of flowers,
or a festive arch of mango leaves?
Like the moon reflected in a surging sea,
is she magical like pure gold,
or is she merely made of brass?
Do you want her like that, or like this?
What kind do you want, brother, oh brother?
Do you want her like that, or like this?
What kind do you want, brother, oh brother?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and conversational Tamil song from 'Seeman Petra Selvangal' (1962) features a lively singer teasingly asking a man ('Annaachi') about his specific choices and expectations in a prospective bride. The lyrics present humorous and poetic dichotomies between different female archetypes—contrasting traditional virtues with modern flair, shy modesty with bold expression, and high elegance with humble simplicity. Through imaginative metaphors featuring turmeric baths, peacocks, flower garlands, pure gold, and simple brass, the song delightfully skewers the endless search for an ideal life partner with charming musical flair.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Appadi venuma ippadi venuma / Eppadi venum annaachi annaachi / Manjal kulipavalaa / Illai oru maavil kulipavalaa / Anji nadappavalaa / Kaiyai aatti nadappavalaa / Konji aruginil vandhu amarndhidum / Kola siru mayila / Illai aval veru oru kuyialaa / Appadi venuma ippadi venuma / Eppadi venum annaachi annaachi / Kungumam ittavalaa / Tamil adhan kooda pirandhavalaa / Kungumam ittavalaa / Tamil adhan kooda pirandhavalaa / Mangala poocharamaa illai / Oru maavilai thoranama / Mangala poocharamaa illai / Oru maavilai thoranama / Pongum kadal adhil thingal vizhundhidum / Pon mayam aanavalaa / Illai oru pithalai pondravalaa / Appadi venuma ippadi venuma / Eppadi venum annaachi annaachi / Appadi venuma ippadi venuma / Eppadi venum annaachi annaachi”

Antithesis (Muran)

“Pon mayam aanavalaa / Illai oru pithalai pondravalaa”

Simile and Imagery (Upamai)

“Pongum kadal adhil thingal vizhundhidum”

Did you know?

Trivia

'Seeman Petra Selvangal' (1962) featured music by veteran composer T. R. Pappa and stars K. A. Thangavelu alongside S. S. Rajendran. Sung by P. Susheela, this song stands out as a rare, highly rhythmic folk-pop hybrid of its era that highlights her vocal versatility in delivering playful dialect and cadence.

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