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Varuvan Vadivelan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Joyful Singapore

From Varuvan Vadivelan · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Varuvan Vadivelan
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
9 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Joyful singapore…sigapore singapore
Colorful malaysiya….malaysiya malaysiya
Joyful singapore…
Colorful malaysiya….
Joyful singapore…
Colorful malaysiya….
Aagaaya pandhalukku
Aalavatta megangal
Azhagaana malai naattil
Moondru mozhi raagangal
Aagaaya pandhalukku
Aalavatta megangal
Azhagaana malai naattil
Moondru mozhi raagangal
Seenakkili pol sirikkum azhagai
Kaana kankodi ippodhu thaevai
Female :Neelakkadal pola midhakkum vizhiyil
Kaadhal kavipaada vandhaal un paavai
Joyful singapore…
Female :Colorful malaysiya….
…………………….
………………………
Azhagiya poongaavai polae
Adi thirumagal un koondhal melae
Oru malar naan sooda vendum
Innoru malar neeyaaga vendum
Arumbiya kulir kaatru modhum
Arumbiya kulir kaatru modhum
En azhagiya ilamaeni vaadum
Karumbena idhazh thandha saarum
En karai meerum aasaiyai thoondum
Joyful singapore…
Female :Colorful malaysiya….
……………………..
…………………….
Maraththilum pen pondra gunangal
Adhan madiyilum paaloorum idangal
Nizhalukku sugamaana vanangal
Naam nerungida sariyaana idangal
Joyful singapore…
Female :Colorful malaysiya….
Aaduthottil manjam podum
Thanneer malaiyin pakkam vandhu
Aadu kannaa aadu ingae
Naadu vittu naadu vandhu
Kaadhalikkum indha vaelai
Paadu kannae paadu ingae
Kaamanudan pottiyittu
Kaikalandhu mei kalandhu
Kaadhalikkum jodi ingae
Kaalamagal aasai kondu
Pooviriththa methaithannil
Serndhirukka vaadi ingae
Joyful singapore…
Female :Colorful malaysiya….
Joyful Singapore... Singapore, Singapore!
Colorful Malaysia... Malaysia, Malaysia!
Joyful Singapore...
Colorful Malaysia...
Joyful Singapore...
Colorful Malaysia...
For the sky's vast canopy,
clouds wave like royal fans.
In this beautiful mountain land,
melodies blend in three languages.
For the sky's vast canopy,
clouds wave like royal fans.
In this beautiful mountain land,
melodies blend in three languages.
To see this beauty who smiles like a Chinese parakeet,
I need ten million eyes right now!
Female: In your eyes that float like the blue sea,
your sweetheart has come to sing a song of love.
Joyful Singapore...
Female: Colorful Malaysia...
...
...
Like a lovely flower garden,
upon your hair, my goddess,
I want to place a flower,
and you must become another flower yourself.
When the crisp, cool breeze blows,
When the crisp, cool breeze blows,
my delicate young body shivers.
The sweet nectar from your sugarcane lips
awakens desires that overflow all bounds.
Joyful Singapore...
Female: Colorful Malaysia...
...
...
Even the trees have womanly traits,
with milk flowing gently from their embrace.
These forests offer comforting shade,
making them the perfect place for us to get close.
Joyful Singapore...
Female: Colorful Malaysia...
Swaying like a cradle making a bed,
beside the cascading waterfalls,
dance, my darling, dance right here!
Crossing over from land to land,
in this sweet moment of love,
sing, my sweetheart, sing right here!
Competing with the god of love,
clasping hands and uniting body and soul,
here is a couple in love!
Since lady destiny has lovingly
spread out a bed of flowers,
come here to be with me!
Joyful Singapore...
Female: Colorful Malaysia...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the 1978 Tamil movie 'Varuvan Vadivelan' serves as a vibrant romantic travelogue celebrating the scenic beauty and multicultural harmony of Singapore and Malaysia. Kannadasan's lyrics painterly capture the landscape—referencing the 'three languages' (Tamil, Malay, Chinese) and natural splendor—while weaving a narrative of two lovers expressing their affection and passion during a foreign journey.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Seenakkili pol sirikkum azhagai / Neelakkadal pola midhakkum vizhiyil

Compares the woman's laughter and charm to a 'Chinese parrot' (Seenakkili) and her eyes to the 'blue sea' (Neelakkadal).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Aagaaya pandhalukku Aalavatta megangal

Describes the sky as a canopy (Aagaaya pandhal) and drifting clouds as fanning whisks/fans (Aalavatta megangal).

Rhyme (Etukai)

Aaduthottil manjam podum... / Paadu kannae paadu ingae

Second-letter rhyming pattern typical of Tamil poetry ('-da-' sound: Aaduthottil / Paadu / Kaadhalikkum).

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by poet Kannadasan for the 1978 film 'Varuvan Vadivelan', the song 'Moondru mozhi raagangal' (melodies in three languages) pays homage to the primary ethnic groups and languages—Malay, Chinese, and Tamil—that shape the cultural mosaic of Malaysia and Singapore.

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