Mattu Vandi Salai
From Vedham Pudhithu · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Devendran
- Details
- Vedham Pudhithu1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Maattu vandi saalaiyilae | On the bullock cart road, |
| Pootu vandi poguthamma | The locked cart is moving, oh dear. |
| Pootu vandi ullu kullae | Inside the locked cart, |
| Koondu kili vaaduthamma | The caged parrot is wilting, oh dear. |
| Male | |
| Koora patta idam veru | The destination agreed upon is different, |
| Ival pogum idam veru | The place she goes to is different. |
| Kaadhalukku varalaaru | For love, history is |
| Kanneeru thagaraaru | A dispute born of tears. |
| Male | |
| Maattu vandi saalaiyilae | On the bullock cart road, |
| Pootu vandi poguthamma | The locked cart is moving, oh dear. |
| Male | |
| Odi poyi solli vida | To run away and tell the truth, |
| Uyir kidanthu thudikirathu | My soul lies thrashing in pain. |
| Oomai kanda kanavu ithu | This is a dream seen by a mute person, |
| Ullukkul valikkirathu | It hurts deep within. |
| Male | |
| Ennathai sollaamal | Without expressing their thoughts, |
| Rendu manam thavikkuthu | Two hearts are yearning. |
| Kannathil sinthaamal | Without falling onto the cheeks, |
| Kanneerum urainthathu | Even the tears have frozen. |
| Chorus | |
| Kaatu marangal ellam | All the wild trees |
| Kai neeti alaikkuthu | Extend their hands to call her. |
| Maatu salangai ellaam | All the bullock bells |
| Magalodu azhugudhu | Weep along with the daughter. |
| Male | |
| Maattu vandi saalaiyilae | On the bullock cart road, |
| Pootu vandi poguthamma | The locked cart is moving, oh dear. |
| Male | |
| Aatru manal medugalae | O sand dunes of the river, |
| Adhan arugae aalaiyamae | O temple near them, |
| Thenna ilam thoppugalae | O young coconut groves, |
| Thean kodutha solaigalae | O gardens that gave honey, |
| Male | |
| Nadhi vazhi pona magal | The daughter who went along the river's path |
| Vidhi vazhi pogindraal | Is now going along the path of fate. |
| Idhayathil thudippilai | There is no heartbeat in her chest, |
| Irunthaalum vaalukindraal | Yet she continues to live. |
| Chorus | |
| Chinna kili irandum | The two little birds, |
| Seithu vitta paavam enna | What sin did they commit? |
| Anbai kondru vittu | What is the point of orthodoxy living |
| Aachaaram vaazhvadhenna | After killing love? |
| Male | |
| Maattu vandi saalaiyilae | On the bullock cart road, |
| Pootu vandi poguthamma | The locked cart is moving, oh dear. |
| Pootu vandi poguthamma…. | The locked cart is moving, oh dear... |
மாட்டு வண்டி சாலையிலே
பூட்டு வண்டி போகுதம்மா
பூட்டு வண்டி உள்ளு குள்ளே
கூண்டுக் கிளி வாடுதம்மா
On the bullock cart road,
The locked cart is moving, oh dear.
Inside the locked cart,
The caged parrot is wilting, oh dear.
கூறப்பட்ட இடம் வேறு
இவள் போகும் இடம் வேறு
காதலுக்கு வரலாறு
கண்ணீரு தகராறு
The destination agreed upon is different,
The place she goes to is different.
For love, history is
A dispute born of tears.
மாட்டு வண்டி சாலையிலே
பூட்டு வண்டி போகுதம்மா
On the bullock cart road,
The locked cart is moving, oh dear.
ஓடி போய் சொல்லி விட
உயிர் கிடந்து துடிக்கிறது
ஊமை கண்ட கனவு இது
உள்ளுக்குள் வலிக்கிறது
To run away and tell the truth,
My soul lies thrashing in pain.
This is a dream seen by a mute person,
It hurts deep within.
என்னத்தை சொல்லாமல்
ரெண்டு மனம் தவிக்குது
கன்னத்தில் சிந்தாமல்
கண்ணீரும் உறைந்தது
Without expressing their thoughts,
Two hearts are yearning.
Without falling onto the cheeks,
Even the tears have frozen.
காட்டு மரங்கள் எல்லாம்
கை நீட்டி அழைக்குது
மாட்டு சலங்கை எல்லாம்
மகளோடு அழுகுது
All the wild trees
Extend their hands to call her.
All the bullock bells
Weep along with the daughter.
மாட்டு வண்டி சாலையிலே
பூட்டு வண்டி போகுதம்மா
On the bullock cart road,
The locked cart is moving, oh dear.
ஆற்று மணல் மேடுகளே
அதன் அருகே ஆலையமே
தென்ன இளம் தோப்புகளே
தேன் கொடுத்த சோலைகளே
O sand dunes of the river,
O temple near them,
O young coconut groves,
O gardens that gave honey,
நதி வழி போன மகள்
விதி வழி போகின்றாள்
இதயத்தில் துடிப்பில்லை
இருந்தாலும் வாழுகின்றாள்
The daughter who went along the river's path
Is now going along the path of fate.
There is no heartbeat in her chest,
Yet she continues to live.
சின்ன கிளி இரண்டும்
செய்த விட்ட பாவம் என்ன
அன்பை கொன்று விட்டு
அச்சாரம் வாழ்வதென்ன
The two little birds,
What sin did they commit?
What is the point of orthodoxy living
After killing love?
மாட்டு வண்டி சாலையிலே
பூட்டு வண்டி போகுதம்மா
பூட்டு வண்டி போகுதம்மா
On the bullock cart road,
The locked cart is moving, oh dear.
The locked cart is moving, oh dear...
Maattu vandi saalaiyilae
On the bullock cart road,
Pootu vandi poguthamma
The locked cart is moving, oh dear.
Pootu vandi ullu kullae
Inside the locked cart,
Koondu kili vaaduthamma
The caged parrot is wilting, oh dear.
Koora patta idam veru
The destination agreed upon is different,
Ival pogum idam veru
The place she goes to is different.
Kaadhalukku varalaaru
For love, history is
Kanneeru thagaraaru
A dispute born of tears.
Maattu vandi saalaiyilae
On the bullock cart road,
Pootu vandi poguthamma
The locked cart is moving, oh dear.
Odi poyi solli vida
To run away and tell the truth,
Uyir kidanthu thudikirathu
My soul lies thrashing in pain.
Oomai kanda kanavu ithu
This is a dream seen by a mute person,
Ullukkul valikkirathu
It hurts deep within.
Ennathai sollaamal
Without expressing their thoughts,
Rendu manam thavikkuthu
Two hearts are yearning.
Kannathil sinthaamal
Without falling onto the cheeks,
Kanneerum urainthathu
Even the tears have frozen.
Kaatu marangal ellam
All the wild trees
Kai neeti alaikkuthu
Extend their hands to call her.
Maatu salangai ellaam
All the bullock bells
Magalodu azhugudhu
Weep along with the daughter.
Maattu vandi saalaiyilae
On the bullock cart road,
Pootu vandi poguthamma
The locked cart is moving, oh dear.
Aatru manal medugalae
O sand dunes of the river,
Adhan arugae aalaiyamae
O temple near them,
Thenna ilam thoppugalae
O young coconut groves,
Thean kodutha solaigalae
O gardens that gave honey,
Nadhi vazhi pona magal
The daughter who went along the river's path
Vidhi vazhi pogindraal
Is now going along the path of fate.
Idhayathil thudippilai
There is no heartbeat in her chest,
Irunthaalum vaalukindraal
Yet she continues to live.
Chinna kili irandum
The two little birds,
Seithu vitta paavam enna
What sin did they commit?
Anbai kondru vittu
What is the point of orthodoxy living
Aachaaram vaazhvadhenna
After killing love?
Maattu vandi saalaiyilae
On the bullock cart road,
Pootu vandi poguthamma
The locked cart is moving, oh dear.
Pootu vandi poguthamma….
The locked cart is moving, oh dear...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This tragic song from 'Vedham Pudhithu' captures the poignant sorrow of a young bride being taken away in a covered bullock cart to an unwanted marriage forced by social orthodoxy. She is metaphorically depicted as a helpless bird trapped in a cage, being severed from her true love and childhood surroundings. Nature itself—the trees, the river, and the chimes of the bullock bells—seems to grieve with her as she leaves her past behind to walk down a path dictated by fate. Through Vairamuthu's deeply evocative lyricism, the song delivers a sharp critique of rigid societal customs and religious orthodoxy ('aachaaram') that sacrifice true love and human happiness. The imagery of frozen tears and unexpressed pain highlights the stifling weight of societal pressure on vulnerable individuals.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Koondu kili vaaduthamma”
Compares the bride trapped inside the covered bullock cart to a wilting parrot trapped in a cage.
Analogy / Idiom
“Oomai kanda kanavu ithu”
Uses the traditional Tamil idiom 'Oomai kanda kanavu' (a dream seen by a mute person) to illustrate unexpressible, silent agony.
Personification (Tharkurippetram)
“Kaatu marangal ellam Kai neeti alaikkuthu”
Attributes human emotions and actions to trees and bullock bells, describing them as calling out and weeping for the girl.
Ethirai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Nadhi vazhi pona magal / Vidhi vazhi pogindraal”
Rhyming of the second consonant 'dhi' in 'Nadhi' and 'Vidhi' to contrast nature's joyful path with fate's tragic path.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Vedham Pudhithu' (1987), directed by Bharathiraja, was a groundbreaking film addressing caste orthodoxy and social reform. The soundtrack was composed by Devendran, who stepped in after Bharathiraja's long-standing musical collaboration with Ilaiyaraaja temporarily paused. The film won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues.
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