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Lyrics & meaning

Gourava Sabaikku

From Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu · 1980

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Gourava sabaikku draupadi vanthaalDraupadi arrived at the court of the Kauravas,
Angu kaarirul soozhnthida kandaalShe saw dark darkness enveloping the place.
Gouravar sabaikku draupadi vanthaalDraupadi arrived at the court of the Kauravas,
Angu kaarirul soozhnthida kandaalShe saw dark darkness enveloping the place.
Aval kadhiravan oli ena nindraalShe stood bright like the radiant light of the sun.
Female
Pudhu malar kangalil pudhiya bharathamWith a new Mahabharatam in her flower-like eyes,
Aval padaiththida vanthaalShe came to create a new destiny,
Mana thudippudan nindraalShe stood there with a pounding heart.
Pudhu malar kangalil pudhiya bharathamWith a new Mahabharatam in her flower-like eyes,
Aval padaiththida vanthaalShe came to create a new destiny,
Mana thudippudan nindraalShe stood there with a pounding heart.
Female
Cholaigalil pooveduththuPlucking flowers from the groves,
Maalai kattum dharmaduraiThe noble Dharmadurai who weaves garlands,
Cholaigalil pooveduththuPlucking flowers from the groves,
Maalai kattum dharmaduraiThe noble Dharmadurai who weaves garlands,
Female
Veroruththan kaigalilaeInto the hands of someone else,
Naar aruththu koduththuvittaanCut the fiber string and surrendered it.
Veroruththan kaigalilaeInto the hands of someone else,
Naar aruththu koduththuvittaanCut the fiber string and surrendered it.
Female
Gouravar sabaikku draupadi vanthaalDraupadi arrived at the court of the Kauravas,
Angu kaarirul soozhnthida kandaalShe saw dark darkness enveloping the place.
Aval kadhiravan oli ena nindraalShe stood bright like the radiant light of the sun.
Female
Malaiyoram maanthoppuThe mango orchard near the mountainside,
Mamanukku kuththagaiyaamWas given on lease to the maternal uncle.
Malaiyoram maanthoppuThe mango orchard near the mountainside,
Mamanukku kuththagaiyaamWas given on lease to the maternal uncle.
Female
Kuththagaiyai maatrivittaarThey changed the terms of the lease,
Kolamagal vaadugindraalAnd the graceful maiden is now wilting in sorrow.
Kuththagaiyai maatrivittaarThey changed the terms of the lease,
Kolamagal vaadugindraalAnd the graceful maiden is now wilting in sorrow.
Female
Punnai maram poongum endrumHoping that the Punnai tree would bloom,
Poovil vandu serum endrumAnd that the honeybee would come to the blossom,
Kanni magal kaaththirunthaalThe young maiden waited faithfully,
Kanneeril neenthugindraalYet now she is swimming in a river of tears.
Female
Gouravar sabaikku draupadi vanthaalDraupadi arrived at the court of the Kauravas,
Angu kaarirul soozhnthida kandaalShe saw dark darkness enveloping the place.
Aval kadhiravan oli ena nindraalShe stood bright like the radiant light of the sun.
Female
Pudhu malar kangalil pudhiya bharathamWith a new Mahabharatam in her flower-like eyes,
Aval padaiththida vanthaalShe came to create a new destiny,
Mana thudippudan nindraalShe stood there with a pounding heart.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This powerful lyrical song uses the Mahabharata's iconic court assembly (Draupadi in the Kaurava court) as an allegorical narrative for a woman facing betrayal, injustice, and vulnerability. The protagonist enters a hostile environment full of moral darkness, expecting justice from figures of righteous authority (referred to as 'Dharmadurai' and maternal uncle), only to be betrayed and handed over to hostile hands.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai Ani (Simile)

Aval kadhiravan oli ena nindraal

Compares the woman's brilliant and unyielding presence to the radiant light of the sun ('kadhiravan oli ena').

Uvamaai (Metaphor)

Pudhu malar kangalil pudhiya bharatham

Compares her eyes to soft new flowers ('malarkangal') while holding the intense narrative weight of an entire epic ('bharatham').

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Kanni magal kaaththirunthaal / Kanneeril neenthugindraal

The second letter 'n' ('nn') rhymes in 'Kanni' and 'Kanneeril'.

Alliteration

Pudhu malar kangalil pudhiya bharatham

Repetition of the initial 'p' sound ('Pudhu', 'pudhiya') creates a rhythmic melodic effect.

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Trivia

The song from 'Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu' (1980) features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics by Muthulingam. Sung brilliantly by Vani Jairam, the lyrics draw deep mythological parallels between a contemporary woman's plight and Draupadi's humiliation in the Kaurava assembly, showcasing poet Muthulingam's knack for allegorical storytelling.

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