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Vetri album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaaval Purinthavan

From Vetri · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. N. Surendar, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Vetri
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
8 Dec 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aa….aa….aa….aaa….aa….
Aaa…..aaa….aa….aaa…..
Aaa…..aa…..aa…..aaa….aaa…..
Thaanana naanna naanana naanana
Thaanana naa naanananaa
Male :Thaanana naanna naanana naanana
Thaanana naa naanananaa
Aaa…aa….aa….aa…
Kaaval purinthavan kadhal arinthavan
Yaarathu manmathanaa
Aayul varai oru kadhal sirai
Thara naerinil vanthavanaa
Gangaiyodu mella mella
Kaveri saeraatho
Neerum neerum serumpothu
Thaagamum theeraatho
Nagarum poovin kodi
Konjam nadanthu vaa ippadi
Enthan kannukkul nindraadum
Un pimbam ennaalum kalaiya koodaathadi
Vizhiyin aanaippadi konjam
Vilzhagippo appadi
Anbae en tholil pon maalai nee soodum
Annaalil thazhuvu niyaayappadi
Naanam enna thozhi
Saervom konja naazhi
Kaaval purinthavan kadhal arinthavan
Yaarathu manmathanaa
Male :Aayul varai oru kadhal sirai
Thara nerinil vanthavanaa
Female :Gangaiyodu mella mella
Kaveri saeraatho
Male :Neerum neerum serumpothu
Thaagamum theeraatho
……………….
Madurai maamanavaa
Unthan madiyil naanallavaa
Anbae sollaamal kollaamal nee killa
Vanthaalae nazhuvum poovallaavaa
Mayangi thaalaattaavaa
Illai madiyil vaalaattavaa
Kannaae kalyaana kolangal naam kaanum
Munnaalae santhosam naam kaana vaa
Yaedho ondraikandu
Poovaikindum vandu
Kaaval purinthavan kadhal arinthavan
Yaarathu manmathanaa
Female :Aayul varai oru kadhal sirai
Thara naerinil vanthavanaa
Male :Gangaiyodu mella mella
Kaveri saeraatho
Female :Neerum neerum serumpothu
Thaagamum theeraatho
Ah… ah… ah… aah… ah…
Aah… aah… ah… aah…
Aah… ah… ah… aah… aah…
Thaanana naanna naanana naanana
Thaanana naa naananaanaa
Male: Thaanana naanna naanana naanana
Thaanana naa naananaanaa
Aah… ah… ah… ah…
The one who guarded me, the one who understands love,
who is he? Is he Manmathan (the god of love)?
To put me in a prison of love for life,
has he come before me in person?
Slowly, gently, with the river Ganga,
won't the river Cauvery unite?
When waters merge with waters,
won't our thirst be quenched?
O moving vine of flowers,
walk over this way a little.
The image of you dancing in my eyes,
must never fade away, my dear.
Just as my eyes bid you,
please step back a little that way.
My love, on the day you place a golden garland on my shoulders,
embrace me rightfully on that day.
Why this shyness, my love?
Let us be together for a little while.
The one who guarded me, the one who understands love,
who is he? Is he Manmathan (the god of love)?
Male: To put you in a prison of love for life,
has he come before you in person?
Female: Slowly, gently, with the river Ganga,
won't the river Cauvery unite?
Male: When waters merge with waters,
won't our thirst be quenched?
...
O my beloved from Madurai,
am I not meant to be in your lap?
My love, if you come to pinch me without warning,
am I not a flower that slips away as you approach?
Shall I lose myself and sing a lullaby?
Or shall I snuggle playfully in your lap?
My darling, before we see our wedding celebrations,
come, let us share our joy beforehand!
Finding something irresistible,
the beetle gently teases the flower.
The one who guarded me, the one who understands love,
who is he? Is he Manmathan (the god of love)?
Female: To put me in a prison of love for life,
has he come before me in person?
Male: Slowly, gently, with the river Ganga,
won't the river Cauvery unite?
Female: When waters merge with waters,
won't our thirst be quenched?
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kaaval Purinthavan from the 1984 Tamil film Vetri is a romantic duet expressing deep romantic desire, longing, and affectionate teasing between lovers. The song uses poetic metaphors of sacred rivers joining together (Ganges and Kaveri) and water quenching thirst to symbolize the emotional and physical unification of two souls. The lovers express their eagerness for marriage and romantic intimacy while playfully navigating shyness, restraint, and sweet affection. The lyrics evoke mythological romantic imagery comparing the lover to Manmathan (Lord Cupid) and describing love as a sweet, lifelong imprisonment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urubagam)

“Gangaiyodu mella mella Kaveri saeraatho”

Compares the meeting of the two lovers to the natural confluence of the sacred Ganges and Kaveri rivers.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)

“Neerum neerum serumpothu Thaagamum theeraatho”

Uses a rhetorical question about water quenching thirst to emphasize the inevitability of love fulfilling emotional and physical longing.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai and Edhugai)

“Kaaval purinthavan kadhal arinthavan”

Features Tamil poetic rhythm and matching consonant sounds between Kaaval and Kadhal.

Did you know?

Trivia

Vetri (1984) is a Tamil action-drama film directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar, starring Vijayakanth and Viji in prominent roles. The soundtrack was composed by K. Chakravarthy with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.

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