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Lyrics & meaning

Selaiyila Veedu Kattava

From Aval Varuvala · 1998

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Unnikrishnan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
S. A. Rajkumar
Details
Aval Varuvala1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Selaiyilae veedu kattavaa serndhu vasikaShall I build a home in your saree for us to live together?
Female
Jannal vecha jacket podavaa thendral adikaShall I wear a jacket with windows so the breeze can blow in?
Male
Mookkuthiyin minnal oru deepam yetri vaithu pogaThe flash of your nose-ring lights a lamp as it passes
Female
Sokkugindra vetkam vandhu vanna kolam ondru podaAn intoxicating shyness arrives to draw a colorful rangoli pattern
Male
Ennai naan unnidam alli kodukaSo that I can gather myself up and offer myself completely to you
Selaiyilae veedu kattavaa serndhu vasikaShall I build a home in your saree for us to live together?
Female
Jannal vecha jacket podavaa thendral adika… aaaShall I wear a jacket with windows so the breeze can blow in? Ah...
Male
Dhavani nazhuvinaal idhayamum nazhuvudhaeWhen your half-saree slips, my heart slips away too
Female
Asandhadhum un vizhi azhaginai thirududhaeThe moment I am distracted, your eyes steal away my beauty
Male
Dhavani nazhuvinaal idhayamum nazhuvudhaeWhen your half-saree slips, my heart slips away too
Female
Asandhadhum un vizhi azhaginai thirududhaeThe moment I am distracted, your eyes steal away my beauty
Male
Oviyathai thirai maraivil olithu vaipadhenammaWhy hide a painting behind a curtain, my dear?
Female
Kaatru mazhai saralilae nanaiya vitaal nyayamaaIs it fair to leave it to get soaked in the windy rain spray?
Male
Rasika vandha rasiganin vizhigalai moodaadhaeDo not close the eyes of the admirer who came to admire you
Female
Vizhiyai moodum bodhilum viralgalalae thedaathaeEven if you close your eyes, do not search for me with your fingers
Male
Selaiyilae veedu kattavaa serndhu vasikaShall I build a home in your saree for us to live together?
Female
Hoo… jannal vecha jacket podavaa thendral adikaaaO... shall I wear a jacket with windows so the breeze can blow in?
Female
Haa …haa… haa…aah….haa haa …haa…. aahHaa... haa... haa... aah... haa haa... haa... aah
Haa ….aah …haa… aah …haa …haa… aah…haa…aahHaa... aah... haa... aah... haa... haa... aah... haa... aah
Female
Manmadhan sannidhi mudhanmurai paarkirenI am seeing the sanctum of Manmadha (God of Love) for the first time
Male
Adhanaal thaanadi paniyilum verkirenThat is why, my dear, I am sweating even in the freezing dew
Female
Manmadhan sannidhi mudhanmurai paarkirenI am seeing the sanctum of Manmadha (God of Love) for the first time
Male
Adhanaal thaanadi paniyilum verkirenThat is why, my dear, I am sweating even in the freezing dew
Female
Muthangalin osaigalae poojai mani aanadhaeThe sounds of kisses have turned into worship bells
Male
Sevidhazhin eerangalae theertham endru thonudhaeThe moisture of red lips feels like holy water
Female
Kaalaneramenbadhu kaadhalil illaiyaaIs there any concept of time in love?
Male
Kaama devan koyilil kadigaarangal thevaiyaaIn the temple of the God of Love, are clocks even necessary?
Selaiyilae veedu kattavaa serndhu vasikaShall I build a home in your saree for us to live together?
Female
Haa .. jannal vecha jacket podavaa thendral adikaHaa... shall I wear a jacket with windows so the breeze can blow in?
Male
Mookkuthiyin minnal oru deepam yetri vaithu pogaThe flash of your nose-ring lights a lamp as it passes
Female
Haa aaa aa .. sokkugindra vetkam vandhu vanna kolam ondru PodaHaa ah ah... an intoxicating shyness arrives to draw a colorful rangoli pattern
Male
Ennai naan unnidam alli kodukaSo that I can gather myself up and offer myself completely to you
Selaiyilae veedu kattavaa serndhu vasikaShall I build a home in your saree for us to live together?
Female
Jannal vecha jacket podavaa thendral adikaaa…Shall I wear a jacket with windows so the breeze can blow in?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Selaiyilae Veedu Kattavaa' is a celebrated romantic duet from the 1998 Tamil film 'Aval Varuvala'. The song captures playful intimacy and expressive love between the lead characters. Lyricist Pazhani Bharathi uses creative poetic imagery, framing everyday elements like sarees, nose-rings, and windows alongside sacred temple metaphors to convey intense passion and physical romantic attraction. The lovers express complete emotional and romantic surrender to each other, highlighting how love transcends the boundaries of time and physical environment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Selaiyilae veedu kattavaa serndhu vasika

Comparing a saree to a home ('Selaiyilae veedu') to express shelter and intimacy.

Hyperbole

Adhanaal thaanadi paniyilum verkiren

Exaggerating romantic warmth by claiming to sweat in freezing dew ('paniyilum verkiren').

Metaphor

Muthangalin osaigalae poojai mani aanadhae

Equating the sound of kisses to temple worship bells ('poojai mani').

Rhetorical Question

Kaama devan koyilil kadigaarangal thevaiyaa

Questioning the necessity of clocks in love to show timelessness.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Selaiyilae Veedu Kattavaa' was composed by S. A. Rajkumar and sung by Unnikrishnan and K. S. Chithra for the film 'Aval Varuvala' starring Ajith Kumar and Simran. The song became one of the biggest chartbusters of 1998 in Tamil cinema.

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