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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Seladum Vanna Odai

From Azhagar Malai Kalvan · 1959

Lyricist
Puratchi Dasan
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
B. Gopalam
Movie name
Azhagar Malai Kalvan
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
3 Apr 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………
Selaadum vanna odai
Thanilaadum anna pedai
Selaadum vanna odai
Thanilaadum anna pedai
Senthamizh suvai pol
Thaen palaach sulai pol
Senthamizh suvai pol
Thaen palaach sulai pol
Selaadum vanna odai
Thanilaadum anna pedai
Selaadum vanna odai
Thanilaadum anna pedai
Manthi kilai thaavum
Malar sinthum kaavum
Manthi kilai thaavum
Malar sinthum kaavum
Panjanai thidalil
Pulli maangal nindru yaengum
Panjanai thidalil
Pulli maangal nindru yaengum
Aa….aa…..aa….aa….aa….
Inikkum thanai marakkum
Inba aasai nenjil surakkum
Inikkum thanai marakkum
Inba aasai nenjil surakkum
Selaadum vanna odai
Thanilaadum anna pedai
Selaadum vanna odai
Thanilaadum anna pedai
Thendral vanthu mevum
Vandu malar thaavum
Thendral vanthu mevum
Vandu malar thaavum
Venn nilavoliyil
Kulircholai yaavum thoongum
Venn nilavoliyil
Kulircholai yaavum thoongum
Aaa….aaa….aa….aa….
Inikkum thanai marakkum
Inba aasai nenjil surakkum
Inikkum thanai marakkum
Inba aasai nenjil surakkum
Selaadum vanna odai
Thanilaadum anna pedai
Selaadum vanna odai
Thanilaadum anna pedai
...
In the colourful stream where fish play,
A female swan swims gracefully,
In the colourful stream where fish play,
A female swan swims gracefully,
Like the sweetness of pure Tamil,
Like a honeyed piece of jackfruit,
Like the sweetness of pure Tamil,
Like a honeyed piece of jackfruit,
In the colourful stream where fish play,
A female swan swims gracefully,
In the colourful stream where fish play,
A female swan swims gracefully.
Monkeys leap across the branches,
Flowers shower down in the groves,
Monkeys leap across the branches,
Flowers shower down in the groves,
On the soft, mattress-like meadow,
Spotted deer stand and yearn with longing,
On the soft, mattress-like meadow,
Spotted deer stand and yearn with longing.
Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
It feels so sweet that one forgets oneself,
And joyful desire surges in the heart,
It feels so sweet that one forgets oneself,
And joyful desire surges in the heart.
In the colourful stream where fish play,
A female swan swims gracefully,
In the colourful stream where fish play,
A female swan swims gracefully.
The gentle breeze sweeps in softly,
Bees hop from blossom to blossom,
The gentle breeze sweeps in softly,
Bees hop from blossom to blossom,
Under the pure white moonlight,
All the cool groves drift off to sleep,
Under the pure white moonlight,
All the cool groves drift off to sleep.
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
It feels so sweet that one forgets oneself,
And joyful desire surges in the heart,
It feels so sweet that one forgets oneself,
And joyful desire surges in the heart.
In the colourful stream where fish play,
A female swan swims gracefully,
In the colourful stream where fish play,
A female swan swims gracefully.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Selaadum Vanna Odai is an iconic, idyllic nature-themed song from the 1959 film Azhagar Malai Kalvan. Sung brilliantly by S. Janaki with music composed by B. Gopalam, the lyrics penned by Puratchi Dasan paint a tranquil picture of a vibrant, pristine natural sanctuary. The stream filled with darting fish, swans bathing in clear water, monkeys leaping across flower-laden branches, and deer resting on soft meadows create a dreamy setting. The song draws parallel comparisons between the breathtaking natural scenery and the sweetness of refined Tamil language and honey-dipped jackfruit. As moonlight covers the sleeping groves and breeze gently sweeps past, a deep sense of bliss and romantic longing overwhelms the heart, causing one to lose themselves in pure delight.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Senthamizh suvai pol / Thaen palaach sulai pol”

Compares the sweet experience of observing nature and feeling romantic longing directly to the taste of refined Tamil ('Senthamizh suvai') and honeyed jackfruit ('Thaen palaach sulai').

Visual Imagery

“Selaadum vanna odai / Thanilaadum anna pedai”

Paints a vivid landscape picture of fish swimming in streams, swans gliding in water, and monkeys jumping on blossoming branches.

Rhyme & Rhythm (Edukku / Monai)

“Selaadum vanna odai / Thanilaadum anna pedai”

Uses consistent assonance and second-letter rhyme scheme ('Selaadum' / 'Thanilaadum') creating a flowing, musical rhythm.

Personification

“Venn nilavoliyil / Kulircholai yaavum thoongum”

Attributes human traits such as sleeping ('thoongum') to the cool forest groves under the moonlight.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song stands out as one of the earliest solo hits for the legendary playback singer S. Janaki, released early in her career in 1959. It is widely praised by Tamil musicologists for its classical melody and pure literary imagery depicting rural Tamil Nadu's landscapes.

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