Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Vedham Pudhithu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mattu Vandi Salai

From Vedham Pudhithu · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Devendran
Movie name
Vedham Pudhithu
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
21 Jul 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maattu vandi saalaiyilae
Pootu vandi poguthamma
Pootu vandi ullu kullae
Koondu kili vaaduthamma
Koora patta idam veru
Ival pogum idam veru
Kaadhalukku varalaaru
Kanneeru thagaraaru
Maattu vandi saalaiyilae
Pootu vandi poguthamma
Odi poyi solli vida
Uyir kidanthu thudikirathu
Oomai kanda kanavu ithu
Ullukkul valikkirathu
Ennathai sollaamal
Rendu manam thavikkuthu
Kannathil sinthaamal
Kanneerum urainthathu
Kaatu marangal ellam
Kai neeti alaikkuthu
Maatu salangai ellaam
Magalodu azhugudhu
Maattu vandi saalaiyilae
Pootu vandi poguthamma
Aatru manal medugalae
Adhan arugae aalaiyamae
Thenna ilam thoppugalae
Thean kodutha solaigalae
Nadhi vazhi pona magal
Vidhi vazhi pogindraal
Idhayathil thudippilai
Irunthaalum vaalukindraal
Chinna kili irandum
Seithu vitta paavam enna
Anbai kondru vittu
Aachaaram vaazhvadhenna
Maattu vandi saalaiyilae
Pootu vandi poguthamma
Pootu vandi poguthamma….
On the bullock cart track,
a covered cart moves along.
Inside that covered cart,
a caged parrot wilts in sorrow.
The place promised was one,
but the place she goes is another.
The story of love
is full of tears and strife.
On the bullock cart track,
a covered cart moves along.
Yearning to run and speak out,
my soul struggles in agony.
Like a dream seen by the mute,
it aches deep within.
Without saying a single word,
two hearts suffer in anguish.
Without even rolling down her cheeks,
her tears have frozen inside.
All the roadside trees
reach out their arms to call her.
All the bells on the bullocks
weep along with the daughter.
On the bullock cart track,
a covered cart moves along.
O sandbanks by the river,
O temple standing beside them,
O young coconut groves,
O sweet, honeyed gardens,
The daughter who walked along the river path
now walks the path of fate.
There is no beat left in her heart,
yet she still goes on living.
Those two little parrots,
what sin did they commit?
After crushing true love,
why should a formal pledge survive?
On the bullock cart track,
a covered cart moves along.
A covered cart moves along.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Poraen Naa Poraen2024
MeiyazhaganGriefSeparation
Theipirai2020
Jagame ThandhiramGriefSeparation
Uyirnaadi Nanbane2024
CoolieGriefSeparation
Poravathan Ponnuthayi1988
Rayilukku NeramachuSeparationMelancholic
Udhaya Geetham Paaduven1985
Udhaya GeethamGriefTender
Maragatha Vallikku Manakkolam1987
Anbulla AppaGriefSeparation

From the same album

More songs from Vedham Pudhithu

View album
Sandhikka Thudithen1987
Vedham PudhithuPassionate
Mandhiram Sonnen1987
Vedham PudhithuPassionate
Kannukkul Nooru Nilava1987
Vedham PudhithuRomantic
Putham Pudhu Olai Varum1987
Vedham PudhithuHopeful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.