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Lyrics & meaning

Suttum Vizhi Sudarthan

From Pudhu Vazhvu · 1957

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Pudhu Vazhvu1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Suttum vizhi sudar thaan kannammaThe light in your piercing eyes, Kannamma,
Sooriya chandhirarooAre they the Sun and the Moon?
Suttum vizhi sudar thaan kannammaThe light in your piercing eyes, Kannamma,
Sooriya chandhirarooAre they the Sun and the Moon?
Vatta kariya vizhiYour round black eyes,
Vatta kariya vizhi kannamma vaana karumai kolloYour round black eyes, Kannamma, do they possess the darkness of the sky?
Vatta kariya vizhi kannamma vaana karumai kolloYour round black eyes, Kannamma, do they possess the darkness of the sky?
Suttum vizhi sudar thaan kannammaThe light in your piercing eyes, Kannamma,
Sooriya chandhirarooAre they the Sun and the Moon?
Male
Pattu karunela pudavai padhitha nall vairamFine diamonds embedded on a dark blue silk saree,
Pattu karunela pudavai padhitha nall vairamFine diamonds embedded on a dark blue silk saree,
Natta nadunisiyil theriyum natchathirangaladiAre like the stars that appear in the deep dead of night.
Male
Solai malar oliyoo unadhu sundhara punnagaithaanIs it the radiance of garden flowers, or your beautiful smile?
Solai malar oliyoo unadhu sundhara punnagaithaanIs it the radiance of garden flowers, or your beautiful smile?
Neelakadal alaiyooIs it the waves of the blue ocean?
Neelakadal alaiyoo undhan nenjil alaigaladiIs it the waves of the blue ocean, or the waves of emotion in your heart?
Neelakadal alaiyoo undhan nenjil alaigaladiIs it the waves of the blue ocean, or the waves of emotion in your heart?
Kola kuyil osai unadhu kural inimaiyadiIs your voice sweet like the song of a beautiful cuckoo?
Kola kuyil osai unadhu kural inimaiyadiIs your voice sweet like the song of a beautiful cuckoo?
Vaalai kumariyadi kannamma.. kannamma.. kannammaYou are a youthful maiden, Kannamma.. Kannamma.. Kannamma
Vaalai kumariyadi kannamma..You are a youthful maiden, Kannamma..
Maruva kaadhal konden naanI have fallen in deep love with you,
Vaalai kumariyadi kannamma..You are a youthful maiden, Kannamma..
Maruva kaadhal konden kannammaI have fallen in deep love with you, Kannamma.
Male
Suttum vizhi sudar thaan kannammaThe light in your piercing eyes, Kannamma,
Sooriya chandhirarooAre they the Sun and the Moon?
Sooriya chandhirarooAre they the Sun and the Moon?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Suttum Vizhi Sudar Thaan is a iconic romantic poem written by Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, expressing profound admiration and love for his beloved deity-figure, Kannamma. In this piece, Bharati glorifies her beauty by drawing vibrant comparisons with elements of nature and the cosmos—likening her glowing eyes to the sun and moon, her dark irises to the night sky, and the stars at midnight to diamonds studded on a blue silk saree. He further envisions her charming smile as blooming garden blossoms, her voice as the melodic song of a cuckoo, and the inner feelings of her heart as the boundless ocean waves, concluding with a poetic confession of eternal love for her youthful charm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Cosmic Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Pattu karunela pudavai padhitha nall vairam

The starry midnight sky is vividly pictured as fine diamonds studded on a deep blue silk garment.

Alliteration (Monai)

Suttum vizhi sudar thaan kannamma Sooriya chandhiraroo

Repetition of initial phonetic sounds with Suttum, Sudar, and Sooriya creating a musical rhythmic flow.

Rhetorical Questioning (Vinaa Ani)

Solai malar oliyoo unadhu sundhara punnagaithaan

The poet asks rhetorical questions comparing her smile to flowers and her voice to a cuckoo bird to heighten her divine beauty.

Did you know?

Trivia

This famous song is an adaptation of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar's classic poem. Rendered by Tamil cinema's first superstar M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT) for the 1957 film Pudhu Vazhvu, the music was set by G. Ramanathan. MKT's soulful Carnatic music rendition made this one of the most recognized and timeless musical adaptations of Bharatiyar's literary works.

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