Onnam Vetha
From Kozhi Koovuthu (1982 Film) · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kozhi Koovuthu (1982 Film)1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Lululullulululullulululu | [Festive ululation / Kulavai sound] |
| Lululullululullululululu | [Festive ululation / Kulavai sound] |
| Male | |
| Onnaam vedhai vedhaichchom | We sowed the first seed |
| Muththu pola velainju varai | May it grow yielding like fine pearls |
| Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa | Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa |
| Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa | Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa |
| Male | |
| Irandaam vedhai vedhaichchom | We sowed the second seed |
| Latchanamaa kozhunthu vida | May it sprout tender leaves gracefully |
| Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa | Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa |
| Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa | Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa |
| Male | |
| Moonaam naal kaalaiyilae | On the morning of the third day |
| Molaippayiru ezhunthuvida | As the sprouted seedlings rise up |
| Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa | Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa |
| Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa | Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa |
| Male | |
| Naalaam naal paarkkaiyilae | When looking at it on the fourth day |
| Nallapadi valarnthirukka | May it have grown healthily and well |
| Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa | Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa |
| Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa | Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa |
| Male | |
| Anjaam naal paarkaiyilae | When looking at it on the fifth day |
| Arumbugalaal sirichchirukka | May it bloom and smile through fresh buds |
| Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa | Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa |
| Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa | Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa |
| Male | |
| Aaraam naal kaalaiyilae | On the morning of the sixth day |
| Azhagazhagaa asainjirukka | Swaying beautifully in the breeze |
| Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa | Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa |
| Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa | Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa |
| Male | |
| Yaezhaam naan raaththiriyil | On the night of the seventh day |
| Ilam kuruththu polirukka | Resembling tender, fresh palm leaves |
| Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa | Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa |
| Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa | Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa |
| Male | |
| Ettaam naal kanniyargal | On the eighth day, young maidens |
| Ezhunthu vanthu kulavaiyida | Rise and come together to make festive ululations |
| Chorus :Lululullulululullulululu | Chorus: [Festive ululation / Kulavai sound] |
| Male | |
| Manja kayiru katti | Tying sacred yellow threads |
| Mangaiyargal paadi vara | As young maidens arrive singing songs |
| Chorus :Lululullulululullulululu | Chorus: [Festive ululation / Kulavai sound] |
| Male | |
| Maariyammaal kaaththiruppaal | Goddess Mariyamman will guard and protect us |
| Nammaiyellam nallapadi | All of us in a wonderful manner |
| Chorus :Lululullulululullulululu | Chorus: [Festive ululation / Kulavai sound] |
லுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலு
லுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலு
[Festive ululation / Kulavai sound]
[Festive ululation / Kulavai sound]
ஒன்னாம் வெதை வெதைச்சோம்
முத்து போல வெளைஞ்சு வரை
குழு :
தானா னா தான நனா
தான நனா தான நனா
We sowed the first seed
May it grow yielding like fine pearls
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
இரண்டாம் வெதை வெதைச்சோம்
லட்சணமா கொழுந்து விட
குழு :
தானா னா தான நனா
தான நனா தான நனா
We sowed the second seed
May it sprout tender leaves gracefully
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
மூனாம் நாள் காலையிலே
மொளைப்பயிறு எழுந்து விட
குழு :
தானா னா தான நனா
தான நனா தான நனா
On the morning of the third day
As the sprouted seedlings rise up
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
நாலாம் நாள் பார்க்கையிலே
நல்லபடி வளர்ந்திருக்க
குழு :
தானா னா தான நனா
தான நனா தான நனா
When looking at it on the fourth day
May it have grown healthily and well
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
அஞ்சாம் நாள் பார்க்கையிலே
அரும்புகளால் சிரிச்சிருக்க
குழு :
தானா னா தான நனா
தான நனா தான நனா
When looking at it on the fifth day
May it bloom and smile through fresh buds
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
ஆறாம் நாள் காலையிலே
அழகழகா அசைஞ்சிருக்க
குழு :
தானா னா தான நனா
தான நனா தான நனா
On the morning of the sixth day
Swaying beautifully in the breeze
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
ஏழாம் நாள் ராத்திரியில்
இளம் குருத்து போலிருக்க
குழு :
தானா னா தான நனா
தான நனா தான நனா
On the night of the seventh day
Resembling tender, fresh palm leaves
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
எட்டாம் நாள் கன்னியர்கள்
எழுந்து வந்து குலவையிட
குழு :
லுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலு
On the eighth day, young maidens
Rise and come together to make festive ululations
Chorus: [Festive ululation / Kulavai sound]
மஞ்ச கயிறு கட்டி
மங்கையர்கள் பாடி வர
குழு :
லுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலு
Tying sacred yellow threads
As young maidens arrive singing songs
Chorus: [Festive ululation / Kulavai sound]
மாரியம்மாள் காத்திருப்பாள்
நம்மையெல்லாம் நல்லபடி
குழு :
லுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலுலு
Goddess Mariyamman will guard and protect us
All of us in a wonderful manner
Chorus: [Festive ululation / Kulavai sound]
Lululullulululullulululu
[Festive ululation / Kulavai sound]
Lululullululullululululu
[Festive ululation / Kulavai sound]
Onnaam vedhai vedhaichchom
We sowed the first seed
Muththu pola velainju varai
May it grow yielding like fine pearls
Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Irandaam vedhai vedhaichchom
We sowed the second seed
Latchanamaa kozhunthu vida
May it sprout tender leaves gracefully
Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Moonaam naal kaalaiyilae
On the morning of the third day
Molaippayiru ezhunthuvida
As the sprouted seedlings rise up
Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Naalaam naal paarkkaiyilae
When looking at it on the fourth day
Nallapadi valarnthirukka
May it have grown healthily and well
Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Anjaam naal paarkaiyilae
When looking at it on the fifth day
Arumbugalaal sirichchirukka
May it bloom and smile through fresh buds
Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Aaraam naal kaalaiyilae
On the morning of the sixth day
Azhagazhagaa asainjirukka
Swaying beautifully in the breeze
Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Yaezhaam naan raaththiriyil
On the night of the seventh day
Ilam kuruththu polirukka
Resembling tender, fresh palm leaves
Chorus :Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Chorus: Thaanaa naa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Thaana nanaa thaana nanaa
Ettaam naal kanniyargal
On the eighth day, young maidens
Ezhunthu vanthu kulavaiyida
Rise and come together to make festive ululations
Chorus :Lululullulululullulululu
Chorus: [Festive ululation / Kulavai sound]
Manja kayiru katti
Tying sacred yellow threads
Mangaiyargal paadi vara
As young maidens arrive singing songs
Chorus :Lululullulululullulululu
Chorus: [Festive ululation / Kulavai sound]
Maariyammaal kaaththiruppaal
Goddess Mariyamman will guard and protect us
Nammaiyellam nallapadi
All of us in a wonderful manner
Chorus :Lululullulululullulululu
Chorus: [Festive ululation / Kulavai sound]
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This folk song vividly depicts the traditional Tamil ritual of 'Mulaipari', a sacred custom performed during village deity festivals (specifically for Goddess Mariyamman). The lyrics recount the day-by-day journey of sowing grain seeds in earthen pots, tracking their progress over eight days as they germinate, sprout tender leaves, bloom with buds, and flourish into lush greenery.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uwamai Ani)
“Muththu pola velainju varai”
Compares the quality and beauty of the growing grain yield to shiny white pearls ('muththu pola').
Personification
“Arumbugalaal sirichchirukka”
Personifies the flower buds ('arumbugal') by describing them as 'smiling' ('sirichchirukka') as they open.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Aaraam naal kaalaiyilae / Azhagazhagaa asainjirukka”
The initial letter sound 'Aa/A' repeats at the beginning of consecutive key words, creating rhythmic harmony.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Moonaam naal kaalaiyilae / Molaippayiru ezhunthuvida”
The initial letter sound 'Mo' is repeated across 'Moonaam' and 'Molaippayiru'.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song represents the authentic Tamil folk tradition of Mulaipari, a ritual practiced in rural Tamil Nadu to pray for rain, fertility, and a good harvest. The movie *Kozhi Koovuthu* (1982) was directed by Gangai Amaran, with music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The lyrics written by Vairamuthu evoke the rich cultural heritage and community spirit of Tamil village temple festivals dedicated to Goddess Mariyamman.
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