Oho Megam Vanthatho
From Mouna Ragam · 1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ohho megham vandhadho… | Oh, has the cloud arrived? |
| Yedho raagham thandhadho…. | Has it brought a soft melody? |
| Female | |
| Yellaam poovukkaaghathaan | Is all of this just for the flower? |
| Paadum paavaikaaghathaan | Is it for the singing maiden? |
| Female | |
| Pookkal mel neerthuligal | Don't the raindrops on the flowers |
| Venn paakal paadaadho | Sing classical white verses? |
| Female | |
| Thooral podum neram | When the gentle drizzle falls, |
| Poonjaaral veesaadho | Won't a sweet spray blow? |
| Chorus | |
| Ohho megham vandhadho… | Oh, has the cloud arrived? |
| Yedho raagham thandhadho…. | Has it brought a soft melody? |
| Female | |
| Yaarum sollaadha kaaviyam | An unrevealed epic poem |
| Aadai kondinghu aadudhu | Is dancing here draped in fine attire! |
| Female | |
| Neram vandhaalenna ponnoviyam | Even as time passes, a golden painting |
| Vannam maaraamal minnudhu | Shines without losing its true colors! |
| Female | |
| Naan pennaanadhu kalyaanam thedavaa | Did I become a woman just to seek marriage? |
| Chorus | |
| Oh kannaalan vandhu poomaalai podavaa | Should a groom come and place a flower garland on me? |
| Hey ammaadiyo pen paarkum naadagham | Oh my, this drama of bride-viewing ritual! |
| Female | |
| Yaar vandhaalumenna | No matter who comes, |
| Thirumbaadhu nyaabhagham | My past memories will not return. |
| Poovilanghu thevaiyillaiyae……… | There is no need for flower shackles! |
| Chorus | |
| Dududu..dududu duuuuuuuuuuuu…. | [Music vocalization / Scatting] |
| Chorus | |
| Ohho megham vandhadho… | Oh, has the cloud arrived? |
| Yedho raagham thandhadho…. | Has it brought a soft melody? |
| Female | |
| Kaalgal yengeyum odalaam | Feet can run anywhere! |
| Kaadhal illaamal vaazhalaam | One can live even without love! |
| Female | |
| Vanna minnalgalai nindraadalaam | One can dance under colorful lightnings! |
| Vaazhvil sangeedham paadalaam | One can sing music throughout life! |
| Female | |
| Naam innaalilae sittaagha maaralaam | Today, we can turn into sparrows! |
| Chorus | |
| : Vaa sevvaanam indru jivvindru yeralaam | Come, let us zip up into the red sky today! |
| Naam yellorumae semmeenghal aaghalaam | All of us can become red fishes! |
| Female | |
| Vaa neerodai yenghum | Come, across every stream, |
| Vellottam poghalaam | Let us go for a test sail! |
| Vaazhkai yenna vaazhndhu paarkalaam……. | Let us live life fully and see what it brings! |
| Chorus | |
| : Dududu..dududu duuuuuuuuuuuu…. | [Music vocalization / Scatting] |
| Female | |
| Ohho megham vandhadho… | Oh, has the cloud arrived? |
| Yedho raagham thandhadho…. | Has it brought a soft melody? |
| Female | |
| Yellaam poovukkaaghathaan | Is all of this just for the flower? |
| Paadum paavaikaaghathaan | Is it for the singing maiden? |
| Female | |
| Pookkal mel neerthuligal | Don't the raindrops on the flowers |
| Venn paakal paadaadho | Sing classical white verses? |
| Female | |
| Thooral podum neram | When the gentle drizzle falls, |
| Poonjaaral veesaadho | Won't a sweet spray blow? |
| Chorus | |
| Ohho megham vandhadho… | Oh, has the cloud arrived? |
| Yedho raagham thandhadho…. | Has it brought a soft melody? |
| Chorus | |
| Paapa paabha pappabhaa….. paapa paabha pappabhaa | [Music vocalization / Scatting] |
| Paapa paa pabhapapa…. | [Music vocalization / Scatting] |
ஓஹோ மேகம்
வந்ததோ ஏதோ ராகம்
தந்ததோ
Oh, has the cloud arrived?
Has it brought a soft melody?
எல்லாம்
பூவுக்காகத்தான் பாடும்
பாவைக்காகத்தான்
Is all of this just for the flower?
Is it for the singing maiden?
பூக்கள் மேல்
நீர்த்துளிகள் வெண்
பாக்கள் பாடாதோ
Don't the raindrops on the flowers
Sing classical white verses?
தூறல் போடும்
நேரம் பூஞ்சாரல்
வீசாதோ
When the gentle drizzle falls,
Won't a sweet spray blow?
ஓஹோ மேகம்
வந்ததோ ஏதோ ராகம்
தந்ததோ
Oh, has the cloud arrived?
Has it brought a soft melody?
விஷ்லிங் :
.........................
An unrevealed epic poem
Is dancing here draped in fine attire!
யாரும் சொல்லாத
காவியம் ஆடை கொண்டிங்கு
ஆடுது
Even as time passes, a golden painting
Shines without losing its true colors!
நேரம் வந்தாலென்ன
பொன்னோவியம் வண்ணம்
மாறாமல் மின்னுது
Did I become a woman just to seek marriage?
நான் பெண்ணானது
கல்யாணம் தேடவா
Should a groom come and place a flower garland on me?
Oh my, this drama of bride-viewing ritual!
ஓ கண்ணாளன்
வந்து பூமாலை போடவா
ஹே அம்மாடியோ பெண்
பார்க்கும் நாடகம்
No matter who comes,
My past memories will not return.
There is no need for flower shackles!
யார் வந்தாலுமென்ன
திரும்பாது ஞாபகம் பூவிலங்கு
தேவையில்லையே
[Music vocalization / Scatting]
..................................
Oh, has the cloud arrived?
Has it brought a soft melody?
ஓஹோ மேகம்
வந்ததோ ஏதோ ராகம்
தந்ததோ
Feet can run anywhere!
One can live even without love!
கால்கள் எங்கேயும்
ஓடலாம் காதல் இல்லாமல்
வாழலாம்
One can dance under colorful lightnings!
One can sing music throughout life!
வண்ண மின்னல்களாய்
நின்றாடலாம் வாழ்வில் சங்கீதம்
பாடலாம்
Today, we can turn into sparrows!
நாம் இந்நாளிலே
சிட்டாக மாறலாம்
Come, let us zip up into the red sky today!
All of us can become red fishes!
வா செவ்வானம்
இன்று ஜிவ்வின்று ஏறலாம்
நாம் எல்லோருமே செம்மீன்கள்
ஆகலாம்
Come, across every stream,
Let us go for a test sail!
Let us live life fully and see what it brings!
வா நீரோடை
எங்கும் வெள்ளோட்டம்
போகலாம் வாழ்க்கை என்ன
வாழ்ந்து பார்க்கலாம்
[Music vocalization / Scatting]
..................................
Oh, has the cloud arrived?
Has it brought a soft melody?
ஓஹோ மேகம்
வந்ததோ ஏதோ ராகம்
தந்ததோ
Is all of this just for the flower?
Is it for the singing maiden?
எல்லாம்
பூவுக்காகத்தான் பாடும்
பாவைக்காகத்தான்
Don't the raindrops on the flowers
Sing classical white verses?
பூக்கள் மேல்
நீர்த்துளிகள் வெண்
பாக்கள் பாடாதோ
When the gentle drizzle falls,
Won't a sweet spray blow?
தூறல் போடும்
நேரம் பூஞ்சாரல்
வீசாதோ
Oh, has the cloud arrived?
Has it brought a soft melody?
ஓஹோ மேகம்
வந்ததோ ஏதோ ராகம்
தந்ததோ
[Music vocalization / Scatting]
[Music vocalization / Scatting]
.........................
Ohho megham vandhadho…
Oh, has the cloud arrived?
Yedho raagham thandhadho….
Has it brought a soft melody?
Yellaam poovukkaaghathaan
Is all of this just for the flower?
Paadum paavaikaaghathaan
Is it for the singing maiden?
Pookkal mel neerthuligal
Don't the raindrops on the flowers
Venn paakal paadaadho
Sing classical white verses?
Thooral podum neram
When the gentle drizzle falls,
Poonjaaral veesaadho
Won't a sweet spray blow?
Ohho megham vandhadho…
Oh, has the cloud arrived?
Yedho raagham thandhadho….
Has it brought a soft melody?
Yaarum sollaadha kaaviyam
An unrevealed epic poem
Aadai kondinghu aadudhu
Is dancing here draped in fine attire!
Neram vandhaalenna ponnoviyam
Even as time passes, a golden painting
Vannam maaraamal minnudhu
Shines without losing its true colors!
Naan pennaanadhu kalyaanam thedavaa
Did I become a woman just to seek marriage?
Oh kannaalan vandhu poomaalai podavaa
Should a groom come and place a flower garland on me?
Hey ammaadiyo pen paarkum naadagham
Oh my, this drama of bride-viewing ritual!
Yaar vandhaalumenna
No matter who comes,
Thirumbaadhu nyaabhagham
My past memories will not return.
Poovilanghu thevaiyillaiyae………
There is no need for flower shackles!
Dududu..dududu duuuuuuuuuuuu….
[Music vocalization / Scatting]
Ohho megham vandhadho…
Oh, has the cloud arrived?
Yedho raagham thandhadho….
Has it brought a soft melody?
Kaalgal yengeyum odalaam
Feet can run anywhere!
Kaadhal illaamal vaazhalaam
One can live even without love!
Vanna minnalgalai nindraadalaam
One can dance under colorful lightnings!
Vaazhvil sangeedham paadalaam
One can sing music throughout life!
Naam innaalilae sittaagha maaralaam
Today, we can turn into sparrows!
: Vaa sevvaanam indru jivvindru yeralaam
Come, let us zip up into the red sky today!
Naam yellorumae semmeenghal aaghalaam
All of us can become red fishes!
Vaa neerodai yenghum
Come, across every stream,
Vellottam poghalaam
Let us go for a test sail!
Vaazhkai yenna vaazhndhu paarkalaam…….
Let us live life fully and see what it brings!
: Dududu..dududu duuuuuuuuuuuu….
[Music vocalization / Scatting]
Ohho megham vandhadho…
Oh, has the cloud arrived?
Yedho raagham thandhadho….
Has it brought a soft melody?
Yellaam poovukkaaghathaan
Is all of this just for the flower?
Paadum paavaikaaghathaan
Is it for the singing maiden?
Pookkal mel neerthuligal
Don't the raindrops on the flowers
Venn paakal paadaadho
Sing classical white verses?
Thooral podum neram
When the gentle drizzle falls,
Poonjaaral veesaadho
Won't a sweet spray blow?
Ohho megham vandhadho…
Oh, has the cloud arrived?
Yedho raagham thandhadho….
Has it brought a soft melody?
Paapa paabha pappabhaa….. paapa paabha pappabhaa
[Music vocalization / Scatting]
Paapa paa pabhapapa….
[Music vocalization / Scatting]
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Oho Megham Vandhadho from Mouna Ragam (1986) is a landmark rain dance song celebrating female youth, carefree freedom, and self-expression. Sang by S. Janaki with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by Vaali, the song portrays Divya (Revathi) exuberantly dancing with her friends in rain-soaked Chennai streets, expressing her reluctance toward arranged marriage and societal pressures. The song uses nature imagery—clouds, drizzle, sparrows, red fish, and bright lightning—to convey her inner desire to live on her own terms without being bound by societal expectations or marital constraints, metaphorically referred to as 'flower shackles'.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Yellaam poovukkaaghathaan / Paadum paavaikaaghathaan”
Matching second consonants across lines, creating a rhythmic melodic cadence.
Metaphor (Uruvagham)
“Poovilanghu thevaiyillaiyae”
'Poovilanghu' (flower shackles) metaphorically describes marriage as a beautiful yet constraining bond.
Personification
“Pookkal mel neerthuligal Venn paakal paadaadho”
Raindrops resting on flowers are personified as poets reciting pure classical 'Venpa' verses.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Ohho megham vandhadho… Yedho raagham thandhadho….”
The repeating refrain creates a buoyant and joyful mood mirroring rain showers.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and written by Vaali, 'Oho Megham Vandhadho' became an iconic rain anthem in Tamil cinema. Picturized on Revathi in Mani Ratnam's critically acclaimed 'Mouna Ragam', the visual presentation broke traditional depictions of heroines by portraying an independent, energetic college girl dancing freely in public rain, choreographed by Sundaram Master.
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