Thean Unnum Vandu
From Amara Deepam · 1956
- Lyricist
- K. P. Kamatchisundaram
- Singers
- A. M. Rajah, P. Susheela
- Music directors
- T. Chalapathi Rao, G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Amara Deepam1956
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thaen unnum vandu maamalarai kandu | The honey-sipping bee beholds the grand flower, |
| Thirinthalainthu paaduvathen reengaaram kondu | And wanders around singing with a gentle hum. |
| Poongodiyae nee solluvaai….oo….oo….oo….oo…. | O flowering vine, won't you tell me why... oo... oo... oo... |
| Poongodiyae nee solluvaai…. | O flowering vine, won't you tell me why... |
| Male | |
| Veenai inba naadham ezhunthidum vinotham | The miracle of sweet music arising from the Veena, |
| Viralaadum vidham polavae…ae….ae…. | Is just like the way delicate fingers move upon it... |
| Kaattrinilae thendral kaattrinilae | In the wind, in the soft breeze, |
| Salasalakkum poongodiyae kelaai | O rustling flowering vine, listen to me. |
| Pudhumai idhilthaan ennavo…oo…oo….oo… | What is the wonder hidden in this... oo... oo... oo... |
| Pudhumai idhilthaan ennavo… | What is the wonder hidden in this... |
| Male | |
| Meen nilavum vaanil venmathiyai kandu | Seeing the white moon in the starry sky, |
| Yaen alaigal aaduvathum aanantham kondu | Why do the ocean waves dance with such joy? |
| Men kaattrae nee solluvaai…oo…oo….oo… | O gentle breeze, won't you tell me... oo... oo... oo... |
| Men kaattrae nee solluvaai… | O gentle breeze, won't you tell me... |
| Female | |
| Thaen unnum vandu maamalarai kandu | The honey-sipping bee beholds the grand flower, |
| Thirinthalainthu paaduvathen reengaaram kondu | And wanders around singing with a gentle hum. |
| Poongodiyae nee solluvaai….oo….oo….oo….oo…. | O flowering vine, won't you tell me why... oo... oo... oo... |
| Poongodiyae nee solluvaai…. | O flowering vine, won't you tell me why... |
| Female | |
| Kaana mayil nindru vaan mugilai kandu | Seeing the dark rain clouds in the sky, the wild peacock stands, |
| Kaliththaadum vidham polavae…ae….ae… | And dances with ecstatic joy... |
| Kalaiyidhuvae vaazhvin kalaiyidhuvae | This is art, this indeed is the art of life! |
| Kalakalenum melliya poongaattru | The gentle floral breeze that rustles softly, |
| Kaanaathathum yaaen vaazhvilae…oo….oo….oo….oo…. | Why have I not witnessed this in my own life before... oo... oo... oo... |
| Kaanaathathum yaaen vaazhvilae… | Why have I not witnessed this in my own life before... |
தேன் உண்ணும் வண்டு மாமலரைக் கண்டு
திரிந்தலைந்து பாடுவதேன் ரீங்காரம் கொண்டு
பூங்கொடியே நீ சொல்லுவாய் ஓ......ஓ.....ஓ......ஓ.....
பூங்கொடியே நீ சொல்லுவாய்
The honey-sipping bee beholds the grand flower,
And wanders around singing with a gentle hum.
O flowering vine, won't you tell me why... oo... oo... oo...
O flowering vine, won't you tell me why...
வீணை இன்ப நாதம் எழுந்திடும் விநோதம்
விரலாடும் விதம் போலவே.....ஏ.....ஏ....
காற்றினிலே தென்றல் காற்றினிலே
சலசலக்கும் பூங்கொடியே கேளாய்
புதுமை இதில்தான் என்னவோ....ஓ......ஓ....ஓ.....
புதுமை இதில்தான் என்னவோ
The miracle of sweet music arising from the Veena,
Is just like the way delicate fingers move upon it...
In the wind, in the soft breeze,
O rustling flowering vine, listen to me.
What is the wonder hidden in this... oo... oo... oo...
What is the wonder hidden in this...
மீன் நிலவும் வானில் வெண்மதியைக் கண்டு
ஏன் அலைகள் ஆடுவதும் ஆனந்தம் கொண்டு
மென்காற்றே நீ சொல்லுவாய்.....ஓ......ஓ....ஓ.....
மென்காற்றே நீ சொல்லுவாய்
Seeing the white moon in the starry sky,
Why do the ocean waves dance with such joy?
O gentle breeze, won't you tell me... oo... oo... oo...
O gentle breeze, won't you tell me...
தேன் உண்ணும் வண்டு மாமலரைக் கண்டு
திரிந்தலைந்து பாடுவதேன் ரீங்காரம் கொண்டு
பூங்கொடியே நீ சொல்லுவாய் ஓ......ஓ.....ஓ......ஓ.....
பூங்கொடியே நீ சொல்லுவாய்
The honey-sipping bee beholds the grand flower,
And wanders around singing with a gentle hum.
O flowering vine, won't you tell me why... oo... oo... oo...
O flowering vine, won't you tell me why...
கான மயில் நின்று வான் முகிலைக் கண்டு
களித்தாடும் விதம் போலவே.....ஏ....ஏ.....
கலையிதுவே வாழ்வின் கலையிதுவே
கலகலெனும் மெல்லிய பூங்காற்றே
காணாததும் ஏன் வாழ்விலே......ஓ......ஓ....ஓ.....
காணாததும் ஏன் வாழ்விலே....
Seeing the dark rain clouds in the sky, the wild peacock stands,
And dances with ecstatic joy...
This is art, this indeed is the art of life!
The gentle floral breeze that rustles softly,
Why have I not witnessed this in my own life before... oo... oo... oo...
Why have I not witnessed this in my own life before...
கண்ணோடு கண்கள் பேசிய பின்னாலே
காதலின்பம் அறியாமல் வாழ்வதும் ஏனோ
கலைமதியே நீ சொல்லுவாய்
ஓ......ஓ....ஓ.....
இருவர் :
கலைமதியே நீ சொல்லுவாய்.....
ஓ......ஓ....ஓ.......ஓ......ஓ....ஓ.....
Thaen unnum vandu maamalarai kandu
The honey-sipping bee beholds the grand flower,
Thirinthalainthu paaduvathen reengaaram kondu
And wanders around singing with a gentle hum.
Poongodiyae nee solluvaai….oo….oo….oo….oo….
O flowering vine, won't you tell me why... oo... oo... oo...
Poongodiyae nee solluvaai….
O flowering vine, won't you tell me why...
Veenai inba naadham ezhunthidum vinotham
The miracle of sweet music arising from the Veena,
Viralaadum vidham polavae…ae….ae….
Is just like the way delicate fingers move upon it...
Kaattrinilae thendral kaattrinilae
In the wind, in the soft breeze,
Salasalakkum poongodiyae kelaai
O rustling flowering vine, listen to me.
Pudhumai idhilthaan ennavo…oo…oo….oo…
What is the wonder hidden in this... oo... oo... oo...
Pudhumai idhilthaan ennavo…
What is the wonder hidden in this...
Meen nilavum vaanil venmathiyai kandu
Seeing the white moon in the starry sky,
Yaen alaigal aaduvathum aanantham kondu
Why do the ocean waves dance with such joy?
Men kaattrae nee solluvaai…oo…oo….oo…
O gentle breeze, won't you tell me... oo... oo... oo...
Men kaattrae nee solluvaai…
O gentle breeze, won't you tell me...
Thaen unnum vandu maamalarai kandu
The honey-sipping bee beholds the grand flower,
Thirinthalainthu paaduvathen reengaaram kondu
And wanders around singing with a gentle hum.
Poongodiyae nee solluvaai….oo….oo….oo….oo….
O flowering vine, won't you tell me why... oo... oo... oo...
Poongodiyae nee solluvaai….
O flowering vine, won't you tell me why...
Kaana mayil nindru vaan mugilai kandu
Seeing the dark rain clouds in the sky, the wild peacock stands,
Kaliththaadum vidham polavae…ae….ae…
And dances with ecstatic joy...
Kalaiyidhuvae vaazhvin kalaiyidhuvae
This is art, this indeed is the art of life!
Kalakalenum melliya poongaattru
The gentle floral breeze that rustles softly,
Kaanaathathum yaaen vaazhvilae…oo….oo….oo….oo….
Why have I not witnessed this in my own life before... oo... oo... oo...
Kaanaathathum yaaen vaazhvilae…
Why have I not witnessed this in my own life before...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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