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Amara Deepam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thean Unnum Vandu

From Amara Deepam · 1956

Lyricist
K. P. Kamatchisundaram
Singers
A. M. Rajah, P. Susheela
Music directors
T. Chalapathi Rao, G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Amara Deepam
Movie release year
1956
Lyrics added on
20 Aug 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaen unnum vandu maamalarai kandu
Thirinthalainthu paaduvathen reengaaram kondu
Poongodiyae nee solluvaai….oo….oo….oo….oo….
Poongodiyae nee solluvaai….
Veenai inba naadham ezhunthidum vinotham
Viralaadum vidham polavae…ae….ae….
Kaattrinilae thendral kaattrinilae
Salasalakkum poongodiyae kelaai
Pudhumai idhilthaan ennavo…oo…oo….oo…
Pudhumai idhilthaan ennavo…
Meen nilavum vaanil venmathiyai kandu
Yaen alaigal aaduvathum aanantham kondu
Men kaattrae nee solluvaai…oo…oo….oo…
Men kaattrae nee solluvaai…
Thaen unnum vandu maamalarai kandu
Thirinthalainthu paaduvathen reengaaram kondu
Poongodiyae nee solluvaai….oo….oo….oo….oo….
Poongodiyae nee solluvaai….
Kaana mayil nindru vaan mugilai kandu
Kaliththaadum vidham polavae…ae….ae…
Kalaiyidhuvae vaazhvin kalaiyidhuvae
Kalakalenum melliya poongaattru
Kaanaathathum yaaen vaazhvilae…oo….oo….oo….oo….
Kaanaathathum yaaen vaazhvilae…
When a honeybee sees a lovely blossom,
why does it hover around, humming its song?
Tell me, tender flowering vine... ooh...
Tell me, tender flowering vine...
Just like the wonder of sweet music rising from the veena (lute),
as gentle fingers dance upon its strings...
In the breeze, in the gentle southern breeze,
listen, O softly rustling flowering vine!
What is so surprising about this?... ooh...
What is so surprising about this?...
Seeing the glowing white moon in the starry sky,
why do the ocean waves dance with delight?
Tell me, gentle breeze... ooh...
Tell me, gentle breeze...
When a honeybee sees a lovely blossom,
why does it hover around, humming its song?
Tell me, tender flowering vine... ooh...
Tell me, tender flowering vine...
Just like a forest peacock watching the dark clouds
and dancing with pure joy...
This is the art, the true art of life!
Like a soft and whispering flower breeze,
why has this never been seen before in life?... ooh...
Why has this never been seen before in life?...
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song from Amara Deepam is a romantic and philosophical ode to nature's spontaneous joy and beauty. The singer observes various wonders of the natural world—a bee humming around a blossom, ocean waves leaping toward the moon, and a peacock dancing at the sight of rain clouds. Seeking answers, the protagonist addresses elements of nature like the flowering vine and the breeze, asking what drives these joyous expressions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Poongodiyae nee solluvaai

Addressing the flowering vine ('Poongodiyae') and gentle breeze ('Men kaattrae') as conscious listeners who can answer questions about life and nature.

Simile (Upamai)

Veenai inba naadham ezhunthidum vinotham / Viralaadum vidham polavae

Comparing the mysterious emergence of nature's music to the fluid movement of fingers playing a Veena.

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi / Oli Kurippu)

Salasalakkum poongodiyae kelaai

Use of sound-imitative words like 'Reengaaram' (humming sound) and 'Salasalakkum' / 'Kalakalenum' (rustling/tinkling sounds) to bring sensory depth.

Alliteration (Monai)

Kaana mayil nindru vaan mugilai kandu

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Ka' ('Kaana', 'Kaliththaadum', 'Kalaiyidhuvae', 'Kalakalenum') creating a rhythmic musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Amara Deepam (1956), starring Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, and Savitri, featured music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao and G. Ramanathan. The film was a bilingual remake of the Hindi hit Amar (1954) and was well-remembered for its nature-rich, classical lyricism written by K. P. Kamatchisundaram.

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