Seladum Vanna Odai
From Azhagar Malai Kalvan · 1959
- Lyricist
- Puratchi Dasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- B. Gopalam
- Details
- Azhagar Malai Kalvan1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| …………… | |
| Female | |
| Selaadum vanna odai | The colorful stream where fish dart about |
| Thanilaadum anna pedai | The female swan playing in its waters |
| Selaadum vanna odai | The colorful stream where fish dart about |
| Thanilaadum anna pedai | The female swan playing in its waters |
| Female | |
| Senthamizh suvai pol | Like the sweet taste of pure Tamil |
| Thaen palaach sulai pol | Like honeyed jackfruit carpels |
| Senthamizh suvai pol | Like the sweet taste of pure Tamil |
| Thaen palaach sulai pol | Like honeyed jackfruit carpels |
| Female | |
| Selaadum vanna odai | The colorful stream where fish dart about |
| Thanilaadum anna pedai | The female swan playing in its waters |
| Selaadum vanna odai | The colorful stream where fish dart about |
| Thanilaadum anna pedai | The female swan playing in its waters |
| Female | |
| Manthi kilai thaavum | Monkeys leap across tree branches |
| Malar sinthum kaavum | In the groves scattering sweet blossoms |
| Manthi kilai thaavum | Monkeys leap across tree branches |
| Malar sinthum kaavum | In the groves scattering sweet blossoms |
| Female | |
| Panjanai thidalil | On the open ground soft as a mattress |
| Pulli maangal nindru yaengum | Spotted deer stand longing |
| Panjanai thidalil | On the open ground soft as a mattress |
| Pulli maangal nindru yaengum | Spotted deer stand longing |
| Aa….aa…..aa….aa….aa…. | Aa....aa.....aa....aa....aa.... |
| Female | |
| Inikkum thanai marakkum | It is sweet and makes one forget oneself |
| Inba aasai nenjil surakkum | Sweet desires spring forth in the heart |
| Inikkum thanai marakkum | It is sweet and makes one forget oneself |
| Inba aasai nenjil surakkum | Sweet desires spring forth in the heart |
| Female | |
| Selaadum vanna odai | The colorful stream where fish dart about |
| Thanilaadum anna pedai | The female swan playing in its waters |
| Selaadum vanna odai | The colorful stream where fish dart about |
| Thanilaadum anna pedai | The female swan playing in its waters |
| Female | |
| Thendral vanthu mevum | The gentle breeze comes and caresses |
| Vandu malar thaavum | Bees hop from blossom to blossom |
| Thendral vanthu mevum | The gentle breeze comes and caresses |
| Vandu malar thaavum | Bees hop from blossom to blossom |
| Female | |
| Venn nilavoliyil | In the white light of the moon |
| Kulircholai yaavum thoongum | All the cool groves fall asleep |
| Venn nilavoliyil | In the white light of the moon |
| Kulircholai yaavum thoongum | All the cool groves fall asleep |
| Aaa….aaa….aa….aa…. | Aaa....aaa....aa....aa.... |
| Female | |
| Inikkum thanai marakkum | It is sweet and makes one forget oneself |
| Inba aasai nenjil surakkum | Sweet desires spring forth in the heart |
| Inikkum thanai marakkum | It is sweet and makes one forget oneself |
| Inba aasai nenjil surakkum | Sweet desires spring forth in the heart |
| Female | |
| Selaadum vanna odai | The colorful stream where fish dart about |
| Thanilaadum anna pedai | The female swan playing in its waters |
| Selaadum vanna odai | The colorful stream where fish dart about |
| Thanilaadum anna pedai | The female swan playing in its waters |
......................
சேலாடும் வண்ண ஓடை
தனிலாடும் அன்னப் பேடை
சேலாடும் வண்ண ஓடை
தனிலாடும் அன்னப் பேடை
The colorful stream where fish dart about
The female swan playing in its waters
The colorful stream where fish dart about
The female swan playing in its waters
செந்தமிழ் சுவை போல்
தேன் பலாச் சுளை போல்
செந்தமிழ் சுவை போல்
தேன் பலாச் சுளை போல்
இளமை பொங்கும் கன்னிப்பருவம்
Like the sweet taste of pure Tamil
Like honeyed jackfruit carpels
Like the sweet taste of pure Tamil
Like honeyed jackfruit carpels
சேலாடும் வண்ண ஓடை
தனிலாடும் அன்னப் பேடை
சேலாடும் வண்ண ஓடை
தனிலாடும் அன்னப் பேடை
The colorful stream where fish dart about
The female swan playing in its waters
The colorful stream where fish dart about
The female swan playing in its waters
மந்தி கிளை தாவும்
மலர் சிந்தும் காவும்
மந்தி கிளை தாவும்
மலர் சிந்தும் காவும்
Monkeys leap across tree branches
In the groves scattering sweet blossoms
Monkeys leap across tree branches
In the groves scattering sweet blossoms
பஞ்சணை திடலில்
புள்ளிமான்கள் நின்று ஏங்கும்
பஞ்சணை திடலில்
புள்ளிமான்கள் நின்று ஏங்கும்
ஆஅ....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....
On the open ground soft as a mattress
Spotted deer stand longing
On the open ground soft as a mattress
Spotted deer stand longing
Aa....aa.....aa....aa....aa....
இனிக்கும் தனை மறக்கும்
இன்ப ஆசை நெஞ்சில் சுரக்கும்...
இனிக்கும் தனை மறக்கும்
இன்ப ஆசை நெஞ்சில் சுரக்கும்...
It is sweet and makes one forget oneself
Sweet desires spring forth in the heart
It is sweet and makes one forget oneself
Sweet desires spring forth in the heart
சேலாடும் வண்ண ஓடை
தனிலாடும் அன்னப் பேடை
சேலாடும் வண்ண ஓடை
தனிலாடும் அன்னப் பேடை
The colorful stream where fish dart about
The female swan playing in its waters
The colorful stream where fish dart about
The female swan playing in its waters
தென்றல் வந்து மேவும்
வண்டு மலர் தாவும்
தென்றல் வந்து மேவும்
வண்டு மலர் தாவும்
The gentle breeze comes and caresses
Bees hop from blossom to blossom
The gentle breeze comes and caresses
Bees hop from blossom to blossom
வெண் நிலவொளியில்
குளிர்சோலை யாவும் தூங்கும்
வெண் நிலவொளியில்
குளிர்சோலை யாவும் தூங்கும்
ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆ.....
In the white light of the moon
All the cool groves fall asleep
In the white light of the moon
All the cool groves fall asleep
Aaa....aaa....aa....aa....
இனிக்கும் தனை மறக்கும்
இன்ப ஆசை நெஞ்சில் சுரக்கும்...
இனிக்கும் தனை மறக்கும்
இன்ப ஆசை நெஞ்சில் சுரக்கும்...
It is sweet and makes one forget oneself
Sweet desires spring forth in the heart
It is sweet and makes one forget oneself
Sweet desires spring forth in the heart
சேலாடும் வண்ண ஓடை
தனிலாடும் அன்னப் பேடை
சேலாடும் வண்ண ஓடை
தனிலாடும் அன்னப் பேடை
The colorful stream where fish dart about
The female swan playing in its waters
The colorful stream where fish dart about
The female swan playing in its waters
……………
Selaadum vanna odai
The colorful stream where fish dart about
Thanilaadum anna pedai
The female swan playing in its waters
Selaadum vanna odai
The colorful stream where fish dart about
Thanilaadum anna pedai
The female swan playing in its waters
Senthamizh suvai pol
Like the sweet taste of pure Tamil
Thaen palaach sulai pol
Like honeyed jackfruit carpels
Senthamizh suvai pol
Like the sweet taste of pure Tamil
Thaen palaach sulai pol
Like honeyed jackfruit carpels
Selaadum vanna odai
The colorful stream where fish dart about
Thanilaadum anna pedai
The female swan playing in its waters
Selaadum vanna odai
The colorful stream where fish dart about
Thanilaadum anna pedai
The female swan playing in its waters
Manthi kilai thaavum
Monkeys leap across tree branches
Malar sinthum kaavum
In the groves scattering sweet blossoms
Manthi kilai thaavum
Monkeys leap across tree branches
Malar sinthum kaavum
In the groves scattering sweet blossoms
Panjanai thidalil
On the open ground soft as a mattress
Pulli maangal nindru yaengum
Spotted deer stand longing
Panjanai thidalil
On the open ground soft as a mattress
Pulli maangal nindru yaengum
Spotted deer stand longing
Aa….aa…..aa….aa….aa….
Aa....aa.....aa....aa....aa....
Inikkum thanai marakkum
It is sweet and makes one forget oneself
Inba aasai nenjil surakkum
Sweet desires spring forth in the heart
Inikkum thanai marakkum
It is sweet and makes one forget oneself
Inba aasai nenjil surakkum
Sweet desires spring forth in the heart
Selaadum vanna odai
The colorful stream where fish dart about
Thanilaadum anna pedai
The female swan playing in its waters
Selaadum vanna odai
The colorful stream where fish dart about
Thanilaadum anna pedai
The female swan playing in its waters
Thendral vanthu mevum
The gentle breeze comes and caresses
Vandu malar thaavum
Bees hop from blossom to blossom
Thendral vanthu mevum
The gentle breeze comes and caresses
Vandu malar thaavum
Bees hop from blossom to blossom
Venn nilavoliyil
In the white light of the moon
Kulircholai yaavum thoongum
All the cool groves fall asleep
Venn nilavoliyil
In the white light of the moon
Kulircholai yaavum thoongum
All the cool groves fall asleep
Aaa….aaa….aa….aa….
Aaa....aaa....aa....aa....
Inikkum thanai marakkum
It is sweet and makes one forget oneself
Inba aasai nenjil surakkum
Sweet desires spring forth in the heart
Inikkum thanai marakkum
It is sweet and makes one forget oneself
Inba aasai nenjil surakkum
Sweet desires spring forth in the heart
Selaadum vanna odai
The colorful stream where fish dart about
Thanilaadum anna pedai
The female swan playing in its waters
Selaadum vanna odai
The colorful stream where fish dart about
Thanilaadum anna pedai
The female swan playing in its waters
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
Keep listening
More from Azhagar Malai Kalvan
Azhagar Malai Kalvan
Azhagar Malai Kalvan
Azhagar Malai Kalvan
Azhagar Malai Kalvan
Azhagar Malai Kalvan
Azhagar Malai Kalvan