Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaa Antha Ulagathin

From Odumnadhi · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Odumnadhi1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaa andha ulagathin oru pakkam ingaeCome, one side of that world is here
Kaadhal paruvathin maruppakkam engaeWhere is the other side of youth and love?
Female :Andha ulagathin oru pakkam ingaeFemale: One side of that world is here
Kaadhal paruvathin maruppakkam engaeWhere is the other side of youth and love?
Male
Poovai paarppadhae vaasamaIs merely looking at a flower equivalent to enjoying its fragrance?
Aasai paarvaiyaal theerumaCan desire be quenched just by a passionate look?
Female :Poovai paarppadhae vaasamaFemale: Is merely looking at a flower equivalent to enjoying its fragrance?
Aasai paarvaiyaal theeruma…aa..aaCan desire be quenched just by a passionate look?
Female
Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaPaiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya (rhythmic vocal beat)
Male :Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaMale: Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya
Female :Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaFemale: Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya
Male :Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaMale: Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya
Female
Jannal illaadha maadi veetilaeIn an upper-floor house without windows
Mannan pandhaada vendumThe king must play with the ball
Jannal illaadha maadi veetilaeIn an upper-floor house without windows
Mannan pandhaada vendumThe king must play with the ball
Male
Saayum kannadi maeni meedhilaeUpon the leaning mirror-like physical body
Sangam kondaada vendumA sacred union should be celebrated
Saayum kannadi maeni meedhilaeUpon the leaning mirror-like physical body
Sangam kondaada vendumA sacred union should be celebrated
Female
Moodum kannilum munnaal varumEven in closed eyes, it appears right in front
Male :Moondru baashaiyum thannaal varumMale: The three languages will come naturally
Female :Moodum kannilum munnaal varumFemale: Even in closed eyes, it appears right in front
Male :Moondru baashaiyum thannaal varumMale: The three languages will come naturally
Both :Yoga maedaiyil mogha nadagamBoth: On the stage of yoga, a play of passion
Aadi paarkkalaam vaa….Come, let us perform and experience it...
Male
Vaa andha ulagathin oru pakkam ingaeCome, one side of that world is here
Kaadhal paruvathin maruppakkam engaeWhere is the other side of youth and love?
Female :Andha ulagathin oru pakkam ingaeFemale: One side of that world is here
Kaadhal paruvathin maruppakkam engaeWhere is the other side of youth and love?
Male
Poovai paarppadhae vaasamaIs merely looking at a flower equivalent to enjoying its fragrance?
Aasai paarvaiyaal theerumaCan desire be quenched just by a passionate look?
Female :Poovai paarppadhae vaasamaFemale: Is merely looking at a flower equivalent to enjoying its fragrance?
Aasai paarvaiyaal theeruma…aa..aaCan desire be quenched just by a passionate look?
Female
Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaPaiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya
Male :Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaMale: Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya
Female :Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaFemale: Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya
Male :Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaMale: Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya
Male
Konjum pennodu paesum velaiyilAt the moment of conversing with a coaxing woman
Manjam thindaada vendumThe bed should tremble in excitement
Konjum pennodu paesum velaiyilAt the moment of conversing with a coaxing woman
Manjam thindaada vendumThe bed should tremble in excitement
Female
Manjam illaamal vaadai kaatrilaeEven without a bed, in the cool northern breeze
Ondril ondraaga vendumTwo bodies must merge into one
Manjam illaamal vaadai kaatrilaeEven without a bed, in the cool northern breeze
Ondril ondraaga vendumTwo bodies must merge into one
Male
Kaelvi gyaanthil vaaradhadhuThis experience cannot be gained purely through intellectual questioning
Female :Kaettu paarthu pinn theeraadhuFemale: Nor is it exhausted by merely asking about it
Male :Kaelvi gyaanthil vaaradhadhuMale: This experience cannot be gained purely through intellectual questioning
Female :Kaettu paarthu pinn theeraadhuFemale: Nor is it exhausted by merely asking about it
Both :Porum enbadhae illai endru naamBoth: Believing that there is no such thing as 'enough'
Vaazhndhu paarkkalaam vaaCome, let us live and experience it
Female
Vaa andha ulagathin oru pakkam ingaeCome, one side of that world is here
Kaadhal paruvathin maruppakkam engaeWhere is the other side of youth and love?
Male :Andha ulagathin oru pakkam ingaeMale: One side of that world is here
Kaadhal paruvathin maruppakkam engaeWhere is the other side of youth and love?
Female
Poovai paarppadhae vaasamaIs merely looking at a flower equivalent to enjoying its fragrance?
Aasai paarvaiyaal theerumaCan desire be quenched just by a passionate look?
Male :Poovai paarppadhae vaasamaMale: Is merely looking at a flower equivalent to enjoying its fragrance?
Aasai paarvaiyaal theeruma…aa..aaCan desire be quenched just by a passionate look?
Female
Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaPaiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya
Male :Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaMale: Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya
Female :Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaFemale: Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya
Male :Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa payaMale: Paiyappa paiyappa paya paiyappa paiyappa paya

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Vaa Andha Ulagathin' from the film Odum Nadhi (1969) is a playful and sensual duet written by Kannadasan and composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The song captures a passionate dialogue between two lovers exploring intimacy, romance, and the deeper emotional and physical dimensions of love. Through rich metaphors—such as looking at a flower versus smelling it, or performing a 'play of desire on the stage of yoga'—the lovers express that romantic fulfillment cannot be derived merely from distant admiration or intellectual understanding; it must be fully lived and experienced. The lively composition features energetic vocal scatting ('paiyappa') and dynamic exchanges between T. M. Soundarajan and P. Susheela, blending classical poetic imagery with modern 1960s Tamil film music flair.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Uvamaani / Vinaa)

Poovai paarppadhae vaasama / Aasai paarvaiyaal theeruma

The lyricist uses rhetorical questions to emphasize that love cannot be satisfied through sight alone, contrasting looking at a flower with experiencing its fragrance.

Metaphor (Uruvagandhu)

Yoga maedaiyil mogha nadagam

'Yoga maedaiyil mogha nadagam' metaphorically compares the intimate physical and spiritual union of lovers to a dramatic play of desire performed on a stage of discipline/yoga.

Emoni / Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kaelvi gyaanthil vaaradhadhu / Kaettu paarthu pinn theeraadhu

Matching initial sounds in consecutive lines across stanzas, such as 'Kannadi' and 'Sangam', or 'Kaelvi' and 'Kaettu', creating a rhythmic cadence.

Apropos Double Entendre / Euphemism

Jannal illaadha maadi veetilae / Mannan pandhaada vendum

'Jannal illaadha maadi veetilae / Mannan pandhaada vendum' uses poetic symbolism (a windowless room, playing ball) as an elegant euphemism for private romantic intimacy.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Odum Nadhi' (1969) featured music by M. S. Viswanathan, who was famous for integrating Western rhythmic vocal scatting (like 'Paiyappa paiyappa') alongside classical Tamil poetic verse. Lyricist Kannadasan was adept at weaving philosophical undertones into overtly romantic duets, elevated by the vocal chemistry of T. M. Soundarajan and P. Susheela.

Keep listening

More from Odumnadhi