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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Holy Holy

From Vaanavil · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Sujatha, Gopal Rao
Music director
Deva
Details
Vaanavil2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Hae hae holiHey hey Holi
Holi holi holi holi holi yaaliHoli holi holi holi holi yaali
Holi holi holi holi holi yaaliHoli holi holi holi holi yaali
Holi holi holi holi holi yaaliHoli holi holi holi holi yaali
Holi holi holi holi holi yaaliHoli holi holi holi holi yaali
Female
Holi holi holi rangoliHoli holi holi rangoli
Thilvaali….. bengaali…..ladikki ki….Big-hearted ones... Bengalis... sweet girl...
Male :Holi holi holi KondaaduMale: Celebrate Holi, holi, holi
Kondaadu…….bengaalil……pennoduCelebrate... in Bengal... with a woman
Male
Vaanavillai kaayapottuDry the rainbow in the sun
Vanna vanna powder pannuMake colorful, colorful powder from it
Chorus :Vaanavillai kaayapottuChorus: Dry the rainbow in the sun
Vanna vanna powder pannuMake colorful, colorful powder from it
Male
Vanna powder kannam poosiApply colored powder on her cheeks
Kanni ponnai thaajaa pannuPamper and flatter the young maiden
Chorus :Vanna powder kannam poosiChorus: Apply colored powder on her cheeks
Kanni ponnai thaajaa pannuPamper and flatter the young maiden
Male
VaanavillilIn the rainbow
Chorus :VaanavillilChorus: In the rainbow
Male :Yaezhu vannamMale: Seven colors
Chorus :Yaezhu vannamChorus: Seven colors
Female :Vannamellam Ennam sollumFemale: Every color reflects a thought
Unthan vannamae ennaiyyaa sollaiyaaWhat is your color, tell me sir?
Ennaiyaa solvaiyyaaTell me, sir!
Male
Aah holi holi holi KondaaduAah, celebrate Holi, holi, holi
Kondaadu…….bengaalil……pennoduCelebrate... in Bengal... with a woman
Male
Bhoomiyellam vannam kollaiThe entire earth is abundant with colors
Vannam ponaal onnumae illaiIf color vanishes, nothing remains
Niramillai endraal oru vaanveli illaiWithout colors, there is no outer space
Kan kaanbathellam verum karuppu vellaiAll the eyes see would just be black and white
Female
Kadhalin vannam athu sivapendru aagumThe color of love becomes red
Karpin vanna athu karuneelam aagumThe color of chastity becomes deep blue
Male
Pachchai niram pidiththaal nee poraamaikaaranIf you like green, you are envious
Manjal niram pidiththaal nee adhirshttakaaaranIf you like yellow, you are fortunate
Ada karuppu un virupaa nee asakaaya sooranOh, if black is your choice, you are an invincible hero
Female
Holi holi holi rangoliHoli holi holi rangoli
Thilvaali….. bengaali…..ladikki ki….Big-hearted ones... Bengalis... sweet girl...
Chorus
………………....
Female
Saayam ponaal aadai pazhasuIf dye fades, the garment becomes old
Vannam ponaal vaazhkkai pazhasuIf color fades, life becomes dull and old
Mannodu saernthal vidhai vannam maarumWhen joined with soil, the seed changes its color
Ennodu saernthaal un ennam maarumWhen joined with me, your thoughts will change
Male
Hae hae raththathin niramennaHey hey, what is the color of blood?
Sivappendru solvomWe shall say it is red
Muththathin niramkoodaEven the color of a kiss
Sivappendru seivomWe shall make it red
Male
Penmaiyai vittraalIf womanhood is abandoned
Vannamum illaiThere is no color either
Penmaiyai vittraal uravugal illaiIf womanhood is abandoned, there are no relationships
Aanodu pen saernthaal niramaedhum illaiWhen a man and woman unite, no distinction of color remains
Female
Holi holi holi rangoliHoli holi holi rangoli
Thilvaali….. bengaali…..ladikki ki….Big-hearted ones... Bengalis... sweet girl...
Male :Holi holi holi KondaaduMale: Celebrate Holi, holi, holi
Kondaadu…….bengaalil……pennoduCelebrate... in Bengal... with a woman
Male
Vaanavillai kaayapottuDry the rainbow in the sun
Vanna vanna powder pannuMake colorful, colorful powder from it
Chorus :Vaanavillai kaayapottuChorus: Dry the rainbow in the sun
Vanna vanna powder pannuMake colorful, colorful powder from it
Male
Vanna powder kannam poosiApply colored powder on her cheeks
Kanni ponnai thaajaa pannuPamper and flatter the young maiden
Chorus :Vanna powder kannam poosiChorus: Apply colored powder on her cheeks
Kanni ponnai thaajaa pannuPamper and flatter the young maiden
Male
VaanavillilIn the rainbow
Chorus :VaanavillilChorus: In the rainbow
Male :Yaezhu vannamMale: Seven colors
Chorus :Yaezhu vannamChorus: Seven colors
Female :Vannamellam Ennam sollumFemale: Every color reflects a thought
Unthan vannamae ennaiyyaa sollaiyaaWhat is your color, tell me sir?
Ennaiyaa solvaiyyaaTell me, sir!
Male
Yaeh holi holi holi KondaaduYeah, celebrate Holi, holi, holi
Kondaadu…….bengaalil……pennoduCelebrate... in Bengal... with a woman

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song from the film Vaanavil (2000) uses the vibrant backdrop of the festival of Holi to metaphorically reflect on life, human emotions, and love. The lyrics creatively envision capturing a rainbow to turn it into colorful powders, symbolizing how colors bring joy and vibrancy into life. The song establishes that without colors, existence would be dull, reduced merely to black and white. Through poetic associations, Vairamuthu attributes human emotions and virtues to specific colors—red for love and passion, blue for chastity, green for envy, yellow for luck, and black for heroic strength. Ultimately, the song highlights the transformative nature of togetherness, suggesting that true unity and love dissolve all artificial boundaries and color differences.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Vaanavillai kaayapottu / Vanna vanna powder pannu

Poetic exaggeration of drying the rainbow to grind it into color powder.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Vannamellam Ennam sollum

Matching second consonants 'nn' across adjacent lines (Vannam / Ennam).

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Kadhalin vannam athu sivapendru aagum / Karpin vanna athu karuneelam aagum

Associating human traits directly with specific colors (e.g., love with red, chastity with deep blue).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Vaanavil' (2000), starring Arjun, Abhirami, and Prakash Raj, was directed by Manoj Kumar. Music for the film was composed by 'Thenisai Thendral' Deva. The title of the movie itself means 'Rainbow', making this color-centric Holi track a central thematic piece for the film.

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