Siraiyinil Veenai
From Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye · 1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai | A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll, |
| Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham | Because they joined together, sweet music emerged. |
| Female | |
| Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai | A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll, |
| Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham | Because they joined together, sweet music emerged. |
| Manam maarumaa thuyar theerumaa vazhi serumaa | Will the heart change? Will sorrow end? Will a path be found? |
| Koorammaa paadum paadal kettu palavitha paavangalo | Tell me, listening to the song sung, are there various expressions? |
| Female | |
| Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai | A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll, |
| Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham | Because they joined together, sweet music emerged. |
| Female | |
| Nenjam thedutho nizhaludan vilaiyaadutho | Is the heart searching? Is it playing with shadows? |
| Konjum paadalai ketkutho | Is it listening to the caressing song? |
| Nenjam thedutho nizhaludan vilaiyaadutho | Is the heart searching? Is it playing with shadows? |
| Konjum paadalai ketkutho | Is it listening to the caressing song? |
| Female | |
| Kal tharai meedhu neenthuvathu | Swimming upon hard stony ground, |
| Kaanalil kaigalai yaendhuvathu | Reaching out hands toward a mirage, |
| Kal tharai meedhu neenthuvathu | Swimming upon hard stony ground, |
| Kaanalil kaigalai yaendhuvathu | Reaching out hands toward a mirage, |
| Female | |
| Maari varum vaazhkkaiyilae | In this ever-changing life, |
| Idhu oru pudhuvidha anupavamo | Is this a whole new kind of experience? |
| Female | |
| Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai | A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll, |
| Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham | Because they joined together, sweet music emerged. |
| Female | |
| Megam paaduthu mella varum alai modhuthu | The cloud sings, the softly approaching wave crashes, |
| Yaarai thediyo oduthu | Running in search of someone, |
| Megam paaduthu mella varum alai modhuthu | The cloud sings, the softly approaching wave crashes, |
| Yaarai thediyo oduthu | Running in search of someone, |
| Female | |
| Alaigalum karaiyinai thazhuviyathaen | Why did the waves embrace the shore? |
| Thazhuviya alaigalum thirimbiyathaen | Why did the waves that embraced retreat back? |
| Alaigalum karaiyinai thazhuviyathaen | Why did the waves embrace the shore? |
| Thazhuviya alaigalum thirimbiyathaen | Why did the waves that embraced retreat back? |
| Female | |
| Mugil varumaa mazhai tharumaa | Will dark clouds arrive? Will they bring rain? |
| Marupadi oru thuli mazhai vizhumaa | Will a single drop of rain fall once more? |
| Female | |
| Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai | A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll, |
| Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham | Because they joined together, sweet music emerged. |
| Manam maarumaa thuyar theerumaa vazhi serumaa | Will the heart change? Will sorrow end? Will a path be found? |
| Koorammaa paadum paadal kettu palavitha paavangalo | Tell me, listening to the song sung, are there various expressions? |
| Female | |
| Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai | A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll, |
| Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham | Because they joined together, sweet music emerged. |
சிறையினில் வீணை சித்திரப் பூம்பாவை
இணைந்ததனாலே இனிய சங்கீதம்
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
சிறையினில் வீணை சித்திரப் பூம்பாவை
இணைந்ததனாலே இனிய சங்கீதம்
மனம் மாறுமா துயர் தீருமா வழி சேருமா
கூறம்மா பாடும் பாடல் கேட்டு பலவித பாவங்களோ
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
Will the heart change? Will sorrow end? Will a path be found?
Tell me, listening to the song sung, are there various expressions?
சிறையினில் வீணை சித்திரப் பூம்பாவை
இணைந்ததனாலே இனிய சங்கீதம்...
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
நெஞ்சம் தேடுதோ நிழலுடன் விளையாடுதோ
கொஞ்சும் பாடலை கேட்குதோ
நெஞ்சம் தேடுதோ நிழலுடன் விளையாடுதோ
கொஞ்சும் பாடலை கேட்குதோ
Is the heart searching? Is it playing with shadows?
Is it listening to the caressing song?
Is the heart searching? Is it playing with shadows?
Is it listening to the caressing song?
கல் தரை மீது நீந்துவதும்
கானலில் கைகளை ஏந்துவதும்
கல் தரை மீது நீந்துவதும்
கானலில் கைகளை ஏந்துவதும்
Swimming upon hard stony ground,
Reaching out hands toward a mirage,
Swimming upon hard stony ground,
Reaching out hands toward a mirage,
மாறி வரும் வாழ்க்கையிலே
இது ஒரு புதுவித அனுபவமோ
In this ever-changing life,
Is this a whole new kind of experience?
சிறையினில் வீணை சித்திரப் பூம்பாவை
இணைந்ததனாலே இனிய சங்கீதம்...
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
மேகம் பாடுது மெல்ல வரும் அலை மோதுது
யாரைத் தேடியோ ஓடுது
மேகம் பாடுது மெல்ல வரும் அலை மோதுது
யாரைத் தேடியோ ஓடுது
The cloud sings, the softly approaching wave crashes,
Running in search of someone,
The cloud sings, the softly approaching wave crashes,
Running in search of someone,
அலைகளும் கரையினை தழுவியதேன்
தழுவிய அலைகளும் திரும்பியதேன்
அலைகளும் கரையினை தழுவியதேன்
தழுவிய அலைகளும் திரும்பியதேன்
Why did the waves embrace the shore?
Why did the waves that embraced retreat back?
Why did the waves embrace the shore?
Why did the waves that embraced retreat back?
முகில் வருமா மழை தருமா
மறுபடி ஒரு துளி மழை விழுமா
Will dark clouds arrive? Will they bring rain?
Will a single drop of rain fall once more?
சிறையினில் வீணை சித்திரப் பூம்பாவை
இணைந்ததனாலே இனிய சங்கீதம்
மனம் மாறுமா துயர் தீருமா வழி சேருமா
கூறம்மா பாடும் பாடல் கேட்டு பலவித பாவங்களோ
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
Will the heart change? Will sorrow end? Will a path be found?
Tell me, listening to the song sung, are there various expressions?
சிறையினில் வீணை சித்திரப் பூம்பாவை
இணைந்ததனாலே இனிய சங்கீதம்...
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
Manam maarumaa thuyar theerumaa vazhi serumaa
Will the heart change? Will sorrow end? Will a path be found?
Koorammaa paadum paadal kettu palavitha paavangalo
Tell me, listening to the song sung, are there various expressions?
Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
Nenjam thedutho nizhaludan vilaiyaadutho
Is the heart searching? Is it playing with shadows?
Konjum paadalai ketkutho
Is it listening to the caressing song?
Nenjam thedutho nizhaludan vilaiyaadutho
Is the heart searching? Is it playing with shadows?
Konjum paadalai ketkutho
Is it listening to the caressing song?
Kal tharai meedhu neenthuvathu
Swimming upon hard stony ground,
Kaanalil kaigalai yaendhuvathu
Reaching out hands toward a mirage,
Kal tharai meedhu neenthuvathu
Swimming upon hard stony ground,
Kaanalil kaigalai yaendhuvathu
Reaching out hands toward a mirage,
Maari varum vaazhkkaiyilae
In this ever-changing life,
Idhu oru pudhuvidha anupavamo
Is this a whole new kind of experience?
Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
Megam paaduthu mella varum alai modhuthu
The cloud sings, the softly approaching wave crashes,
Yaarai thediyo oduthu
Running in search of someone,
Megam paaduthu mella varum alai modhuthu
The cloud sings, the softly approaching wave crashes,
Yaarai thediyo oduthu
Running in search of someone,
Alaigalum karaiyinai thazhuviyathaen
Why did the waves embrace the shore?
Thazhuviya alaigalum thirimbiyathaen
Why did the waves that embraced retreat back?
Alaigalum karaiyinai thazhuviyathaen
Why did the waves embrace the shore?
Thazhuviya alaigalum thirimbiyathaen
Why did the waves that embraced retreat back?
Mugil varumaa mazhai tharumaa
Will dark clouds arrive? Will they bring rain?
Marupadi oru thuli mazhai vizhumaa
Will a single drop of rain fall once more?
Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
Manam maarumaa thuyar theerumaa vazhi serumaa
Will the heart change? Will sorrow end? Will a path be found?
Koorammaa paadum paadal kettu palavitha paavangalo
Tell me, listening to the song sung, are there various expressions?
Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai
A veena in prison, a beautiful picture doll,
Inainthathanaalae iniya sangeetham
Because they joined together, sweet music emerged.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song uses deep allegorical metaphors to express emotional captivity, struggle, and longing. The central metaphor of a 'veena in a prison' represents a sensitive soul or beautiful art constrained by harsh realities, yet still capable of producing divine melody. The protagonist reflects on the futile efforts of life, comparing their struggles to swimming on stony ground or reaching out for a mirage. Through imagery of nature—clouds singing, restless waves embracing the shore only to retreat, and searching for rain—the lyrics capture the pain of uncertainty and the yearning for relief. Vaali's lyrics pose reflective questions about whether sorrow will ever cease, while maintaining an underlying sense of poetic resilience amid life's unpredictable changes.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvameyam)
“Siraiyinil veenai chiththira poompaavai”
Compares a trapped protagonist or art form to a veena kept inside a prison.
Hyperbole / Paradox (Uvamanai)
“Kal tharai meedhu neenthuvathu / Kaanalil kaigalai yaendhuvathu”
Uses imagery of impossible actions (swimming on stone, catching a mirage) to emphasize futility and struggle.
Personification
“Megam paaduthu mella varum alai modhuthu / Yaarai thediyo oduthu”
Attributes human behaviors such as singing and running in search of someone to clouds and ocean waves.
Eybbu (End Rhyme / Internal Rhyme)
“Manam maarumaa thuyar theerumaa vazhi serumaa”
Repetition of the rhythmic ending '-umaa' creates a sorrowful, questioning cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye (1988) features music composed by Devendran, who created several critically appreciated melodies in late 80s Tamil cinema, with lyrics written by legendary poet Vaali.
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