Meettatha Veenai
From Thendral Veesum · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Thendral Veesum1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral | This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze. |
| Vaadadha mullai idhu paadi varum thaeni | This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee. |
| Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral | This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze. |
| Vaadadha mullai idhu paadi varum thaeni | This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee. |
| Thevittadha inimai idhu thigattadha pudhumai | This is an insatiable sweetness, a novelty that never palls. |
| Palingaana padhumai idhu pazhagaadha ilamai | This is a crystal statue, an unblemished youth. |
| Thevittadha inimai idhu thigattadha pudhumai | This is an insatiable sweetness, a novelty that never palls. |
| Palingaana padhumai idhu pazhagaadha ilamai | This is a crystal statue, an unblemished youth. |
| Female | |
| Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral | This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze. |
| Vaadadha mullai idhu paadi varum thaeni | This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee. |
| Female | |
| Aasiyudan odi varum azhagu mugam ondru | One beautiful face comes running eagerly with desire. |
| Anjiyae nadungi varum anbu mugam ondru | One loving face comes trembling with fear. |
| Paasamalar kondu varum paruva mugam ondru | One youthful face brings flowers of affection. |
| Paarthavudan naanamena sivandha mugam ondru | One face turns red with shyness upon a single glance. |
| Female | |
| Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral | This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze. |
| Vaadadha mullai idhu paadi varum thaeni | This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee. |
| Female | |
| Mai vadiyum kann paarthu malar endru solvaar | Looking at eyes filled with kohl, they say it is a flower. |
| Mayangi varum nadai paarthu annanadai enbaar | Watching her mesmerizing walk, they praise it as a swan's stride. |
| Kai yazhagu paarthavudan kavidhai mazhai pozhivaar | Beholding the beauty of her hands, they shower a rain of poetry. |
| Kaalamagal pettradhoru kolamayil enbaar | They call her a gorgeous peacock birthed by Mother Time. |
| Female | |
| Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral | This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze. |
| Vaadadha mullai idhu paadi varum thaeni | This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee. |
| Hmm mm mm hmm mm …. | [Humming refrain] |
மீட்டாத வீணை இது வீசி வரும் தென்றல்
வாடாத முல்லை இது பாடிவரும் தேனீ
மீட்டாத வீணை இது வீசி வரும் தென்றல்
வாடாத முல்லை இது பாடிவரும் தேனீ
This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze.
This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee.
This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze.
This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee.
This is an insatiable sweetness, a novelty that never palls.
This is a crystal statue, an unblemished youth.
This is an insatiable sweetness, a novelty that never palls.
This is a crystal statue, an unblemished youth.
தெவிட்டாத இனிமை இது திகட்டாத புதுமை
பளிங்கான பதுமை இது பழகாத இளமை
தெவிட்டாத இனிமை இது திகட்டாத புதுமை
பளிங்கான பதுமை இது பழகாத இளமை
This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze.
This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee.
மீட்டாத வீணை இது வீசி வரும் தென்றல்
வாடாத முல்லை இது பாடிவரும் தேனீ
One beautiful face comes running eagerly with desire.
One loving face comes trembling with fear.
One youthful face brings flowers of affection.
One face turns red with shyness upon a single glance.
ஆசையுடன் ஓடிவரும் அழகு முகம் ஒன்று
அஞ்சியே நடுங்கி வரும் அன்பு முகம் ஒன்று
பாசமலர் கொண்டு வரும் பருவமுகம் ஒன்று
பார்த்தவுடன் நாணமெனச் சிவந்த முகம் ஒன்று
This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze.
This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee.
மீட்டாத வீணை இது வீசி வரும் தென்றல்
வாடாத முல்லை இது பாடிவரும் தேனீ
Looking at eyes filled with kohl, they say it is a flower.
Watching her mesmerizing walk, they praise it as a swan's stride.
Beholding the beauty of her hands, they shower a rain of poetry.
They call her a gorgeous peacock birthed by Mother Time.
மை வடியும் கண் பார்த்து மலரென்று சொல்வார்
மயங்கி வரும் நடை பார்த்து அன்னநடை என்பார்
கையழகு பார்த்தவுடன் கவிதை மழை பொழிவார்
காலமகள் பெற்றதொரு கோலமயில் என்பார்
This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze.
This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee.
[Humming refrain]
மீட்டாத வீணை இது வீசி வரும் தென்றல்
வாடாத முல்லை இது பாடிவரும் தேனீ
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம் ....
Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral
This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze.
Vaadadha mullai idhu paadi varum thaeni
This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee.
Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral
This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze.
Vaadadha mullai idhu paadi varum thaeni
This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee.
Thevittadha inimai idhu thigattadha pudhumai
This is an insatiable sweetness, a novelty that never palls.
Palingaana padhumai idhu pazhagaadha ilamai
This is a crystal statue, an unblemished youth.
Thevittadha inimai idhu thigattadha pudhumai
This is an insatiable sweetness, a novelty that never palls.
Palingaana padhumai idhu pazhagaadha ilamai
This is a crystal statue, an unblemished youth.
Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral
This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze.
Vaadadha mullai idhu paadi varum thaeni
This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee.
Aasiyudan odi varum azhagu mugam ondru
One beautiful face comes running eagerly with desire.
Anjiyae nadungi varum anbu mugam ondru
One loving face comes trembling with fear.
Paasamalar kondu varum paruva mugam ondru
One youthful face brings flowers of affection.
Paarthavudan naanamena sivandha mugam ondru
One face turns red with shyness upon a single glance.
Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral
This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze.
Vaadadha mullai idhu paadi varum thaeni
This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee.
Mai vadiyum kann paarthu malar endru solvaar
Looking at eyes filled with kohl, they say it is a flower.
Mayangi varum nadai paarthu annanadai enbaar
Watching her mesmerizing walk, they praise it as a swan's stride.
Kai yazhagu paarthavudan kavidhai mazhai pozhivaar
Beholding the beauty of her hands, they shower a rain of poetry.
Kaalamagal pettradhoru kolamayil enbaar
They call her a gorgeous peacock birthed by Mother Time.
Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral
This is an unplucked veena, and a wafting breeze.
Vaadadha mullai idhu paadi varum thaeni
This is an unfading jasmine flower, and a singing honeybee.
Hmm mm mm hmm mm ….
[Humming refrain]
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Meettaadha Veenai Idhu' is a celebration of pristine beauty, innocence, and romantic longing. Through vivid lyrical imagery, the heroine is compared to an untouched veena (lute), a flower that never fades, a crystal statue, and a majestic peacock born of time. The lyrics capture her youthful grace and the delicate emotions of love, fear, and shyness. Written by Kannadasan and composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, the song uses rich Tamil metaphors to describe how her beauty inspires poetry and awe. P. Susheela's soft, expressive vocal rendition enhances the ethereal and poetic atmosphere of the composition.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral”
Compares the untouched maiden directly to an unplucked veena and an unfading jasmine blossom.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Meettaadha veenai idhu veesi varum thendral”
Matching initial consonant sounds in 'Meettaadha' and 'veeni/veesi' creates melodic rhythm within the line.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi Ani)
“Kai yazhagu paarthavudan kavidhai mazhai pozhivaar”
Exaggerates the impact of her beauty by describing poets showering a torrential rain of poetry just upon seeing her hands.
Personification
“Kaalamagal pettradhoru kolamayil enbaar”
Attributes motherhood to Time ('Kaalamagal'), describing the heroine as a beautiful peacock born to time.
Did you know?
Trivia
From the 1962 film 'Thendral Veesum', this song is renowned for P. Susheela's delicate vocal delivery and Kannadasan's timeless classical metaphors. The legendary composer duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy structured the song around subtle, soothing melodic progressions that complement the gentle breeze theme indicated by the movie's title.
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