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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oh Vaanambaadi

From Saadhanai · 1986

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Saadhanai1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalizing (Aa… aa… aa…)
Aa… aa… aa…Vocalizing (Aa… aa… aa…)
Aaa… aa… aa…Vocalizing (Aaa… aa… aa…)
Aa… aa… aa…Vocalizing (Aa… aa… aa…)
Aa… aa… aa…Vocalizing (Aa… aa… aa…)
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalizing (Aa… aa… aa…)
Male
O vaanambaadi unnai naadiOh skylark, seeking you
Engum thaediSearching everywhere
Nenjil soodi inbam kodiCherishing you in my heart, bringing endless bliss
Male
O vaanambaadi unnai naadiOh skylark, seeking you
Engum thaediSearching everywhere
Nenjil soodi inbam kodiCherishing you in my heart, bringing endless bliss
Kaana yenginen naalum vaadinenI yearned to see you and withered every single day
Female
O vaanambaadi unnai naadiOh skylark, seeking you
Engum thaediSearching everywhere
Nenjil soodi inbam kodiCherishing you in my heart, bringing endless bliss
Male
Bogamae en yogamaeMy ultimate joy, my great fortune
En kaadhal raagamaeMy melody of love
Female
Geedhamae en vaedhamaeMy song, my sacred Veda
En jeeva naadhamaeMy life's true sound
Male
Paavai undhan paadhamaeOh maiden, your feet
PaarijaadhamaeAre like the divine Parijata flowers
Female
Paadhai engum poovanamEvery path we tread becomes a flower garden
Thaadhu thoovumaeScattering flower pollen around
Male
Mannil sorgam vandhadhaeHeaven has descended onto the earth
Female
Maarbil saaindhu kondadhaeAnd leaned against my chest
Male
Sindhaadha muthukkalUnscattered pearls
Sevvaayil sindha kandenI saw spilling from your reddish lips
Male
O vaanambaadi unnai naadiOh skylark, seeking you
Engum thaediSearching everywhere
Nenjil soodi inbam kodiCherishing you in my heart, bringing endless bliss
Chorus
Aaa….aaa….aaa…Vocalizing (Aaa…aaa…)
Aaaa….aaa….aaa…..Vocalizing (Aaaa…aaa…)
Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aa….Vocalizing (Aaa…aaa…)
Female
Mannavan kan moodinaalIf my king closes his eyes
En vaanil raathiriIt becomes pitch-black night in my sky
Male
Mangaiyae un paarvai thaanOh maiden, your loving glance alone
En vaanil vaigaraiIs the bright dawn in my sky
Female
Inbam ennum vaedhanaiThe sweet agony called pleasure
Indru paarkkirenI experience it today
Male
Naanum konjam sodhanaiI too will put you through
Pottu paarkkirenA gentle little test
Female
Kaattru vandhu theendumoWill even the breeze touch you?
Male
Karppu enna aagumoWhat will happen to your purity?
Female
Poongaattrum theendaamalWithout letting even the gentle breeze touch you
Nee ennai katti kolvaaiYou will embrace me tightly
Female
O vaanambaadi unnai naadiOh skylark, seeking you
Engum thaediSearching everywhere
Nenjil soodi inbam kodiCherishing you in my heart, bringing endless bliss
Kaana yenginen naalum vaadinenI yearned to see you and withered every single day
Male
O vaanambaadi unnai naadiOh skylark, seeking you
Engum thaediSearching everywhere
Nenjil soodi inbam kodiCherishing you in my heart, bringing endless bliss

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

O Vaanambaadi is a romantic duet expressing the deep passion, devotion, and joy shared between two lovers. The speaker addresses the beloved as a skylark ('vaanambaadi'), describing how searching for them and holding them in their heart brings unmatched happiness. The song uses vivid poetic images, comparing the lover's presence to heaven coming down to earth and their gaze to the break of dawn. The lyrics explore intimacy, playful romance, and spiritual devotion in love. The lovers treat each other as their divine melody, scripture, and ultimate destiny, capturing the sweet agony and ecstasy of romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Mangaiyae un paarvai thaan / En vaanil vaigarai

The beloved's gaze is directly compared to the dawn ('vaigarai') breaking in the sky of the speaker's life.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Bogamae en yogamae / En kaadhal raagamae / Geedhamae en vaedhamae

The deliberate use of matching ending sounds (-mae) creates a rhythmic, musical quality across consecutive lines.

Imagery (Visual Imagery)

Sindhaadha muthukkal / Sevvaayil sindha kanden

The poetic imagery compares teeth or a smile spilling from red lips to unscattered pearls falling.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'O Vaanambaadi' from the 1986 movie Saadhanai was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by the veteran Tamil poet Pulamaipithan. Saadhanai starred Sivaji Ganesan, Prabhu, K. R. Vijaya, and Nalini.

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