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Irandil Ondru album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Veetti Vanthu

From Irandil Ondru · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Irandil Ondru
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
14 Feb 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………..
Oru vetti
Vanthu sela katta poduthoru potti
Thalaiyaatti ponnu
Solluratha kekkum pattu vetti
Neega podaatha kottam illae
Male Chorus :Oho oho
Female :Inth penn pilla mattam illae
Male Chorus :Oho ho ho
Oru vetti
Vanthu sela katta poduthoru potti
Oru sela
Vanthu vetti kitta kaattuthoru vela
Oru naala enni kaaththirukku
Kattikkittu vaazha
Iva podaatha kottam illae
Female Chorus :Oho oho
Male :Intha aan pilla mattam illae
Female Chorus :Oho ho ho
Oru sela
Vanthu vetti kitta kaattuthoru vela
Kadhalikkumpothu iddhu
Kattupattu pogum kaala vegamthaan
Kalyaanam aana pinbu
Kandapadi meyum vera paagamthaan
Sonnapadithaan ippa nadakkum
Appuram vanthu etti mithikkum
Ponna pola vedhanai illa
Enni paaru aambala tholla
Thaali pottu veli pottu
Thaaram aagum parithaabam
Oru sela
Vanthu vetti kitta kaattuthoru vela
Oru naala enni kaaththirukku
Kattikkittu vaazha
Iva podaatha kottam illae
Female Chorus :Oho oho
Male :Intha aan pilla mattam illae
Female Chorus :Oho ho ho
Oru sela
Vanthu vetti kitta kaattuthoru vela
Oru naala enni kaaththirukku
Mattu mariyaatha vechchu
Vekkappattu pogum yaavum polithaan
Vettu onnu thundu rendu
Vetti vetti pesum jaalakkaarithaan
Ulla nenappu onnu irukkum
Kallam irukkum pala mullum irukkum
Katti pottu podanum veli
Kaalam paaththu poottanum thaali
Aala paaththu azhaga paaththu
Maalae pottu mayangaathae
Ini vaai sanda thevai illa
Female Chorus :Oho oho
Female :Idhu onnaachchu onnukkulla
Female Chorus :Oho ho ho
...
A dhoti...
Comes to compete with a saree!
Nodding along to whatever the girl says,
This silk dhoti obeys her every word!
There is no limit to your antics!
Male Chorus: Oho, oho!
Female: This girl is second to none!
Male Chorus: Oho ho ho!
A dhoti...
Comes to compete with a saree!
A saree...
Is playing tricks on a dhoti!
Waiting and counting the days,
To marry and live together!
There are no tantrums she hasn't thrown!
Female Chorus: Oho, oho!
Male: This man is second to none!
Female Chorus: Oho ho ho!
A saree...
Is playing tricks on a dhoti!
When you are in love,
Time rushes by in gentle obedience.
After the wedding is over,
A different side wanders off wherever it pleases!
Right now, he acts just as he is told,
Later on, he will turn and kick you away!
There is no suffering like a woman's pain;
Just think of all the trouble a man brings!
Tying the knot and putting up a fence,
How pitiful is the life of a wife!
A saree...
Is playing tricks on a dhoti!
Waiting and counting the days,
To marry and live together!
There are no tantrums she hasn't thrown!
Female Chorus: Oho, oho!
Male: This man is second to none!
Female Chorus: Oho ho ho!
A saree...
Is playing tricks on a dhoti!
Waiting and counting the days...
Keeping up an act of polite respect
And feigning bashful shyness—it is all fake!
Speaking blunt and sharp,
She is a clever trickster who cuts with her words!
Inside her mind lies another thought,
Full of deceit and many hidden thorns!
You must bind her and raise a fence,
Wait for the right time and tie the thaali (sacred wedding knot)!
Just looking at a person and their beauty,
Do not exchange garlands and lose your head!
No more arguing with words,
Female Chorus: Oho, oho!
Female: We have now become one with each other!
Female Chorus: Oho ho ho!
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Oru Vetti' from the film 'Irandil Ondru' (1988) is a playful, banter-filled duet between the lead male and female characters. Using the cultural metaphors of 'Vetti' (traditional dhoti representing the man) and 'Sela' (saree representing the woman), the song frames courtship as a fun competition where both sides try to outwit and tease each other. The verses touch upon stereotypical marital expectations, courtship behavior vs. post-marriage realities, and mutual teasing about gender dynamics. Despite the lighthearted arguments and comedic warnings about the struggles of married life, the song resolves harmoniously. The verbal sparring gives way to mutual acceptance, symbolizing the blending of two distinct personalities into a unified couple ('Idhu onnaachchu onnukkulla').

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம் - Uruvagam)

Oru vetti / Vanthu sela katta poduthoru potti

The garments 'Vetti' (Dhoti) and 'Sela' (Saree) are used as metaphors to represent the male and female lead characters engaged in courtship banter.

Idiom (தமிழ் மரபுத்தொடர்)

Vettu onnu thundu rendu

A popular Tamil idiom literally meaning 'one cut, two pieces', used here to describe someone who speaks very bluntly and decisively.

Monai / Alliteration (மோனை)

Thaali pottu veli pottu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('pottu' / 'pottu') and structured rhythm within the line.

Ethugai (எதுகை)

Aala paaththu azhaga paaththu / Maalae pottu mayangaathae

The second letters ('la') match between lines, creating classic Tamil second-letter rhyming (Ethugai).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Oru Vetti' is composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran for the 1988 film 'Irandil Ondru', directed by V. Azhagappan. The track features the energetic vocals of Mano and K. S. Chithra, who frequently paired up in the late 1980s for vibrant, folk-pop playful duets.

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