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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaa Vaa En Veenaiyae

From Sattam · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Sattam
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
15 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaa vaa en veenaiyae
Female :Nananaa…
Male :Viralodu kobamaa
Female :Nananaa…
Male :Meettaamal kaadhal raagam
Yaavum vilaindhidumaa
Killaadha mullaiyae
Kaatrodu kobamaa
Ilam thendral thaedum podhu
Oodalaagumaa…aaa…aaa
Vaa vaa en veenaiyae
Female :Nananaa…
Male :Viralodu kobamaa
Female :Nananaa… nanan nananaa
Thandodu thaamarai aada
Vandodu moganam paada
Naan paarkkaiyil nenjilae
Undhan nyaabagam kooda
Thandodu thaamarai aada
Vandodu moganam paada
Naan paarkkaiyil nenjilae
Undhan nyaabagam kooda
Thunai thaedudho
Thanimai thuyar koodudho
Anai meerudho
Unarchi alai paayudho
Naal thorum raathiri medaiyil
Ragasiya baashaiyil paada
Vaa vaa un veenai naan
Male :Nananaa…
Female :Viral meettum velai thaan
Male :Nananaa…
Meettaamal kaadhal raagam
Yaavum vilaindhidumo
Killaadha mullaiyae
Vandhaal un ellaiyae
Ilam thendral thaedum podhu
Oodalaagumo ooo…ooo
Sandhosha mandhiram odha
Sandharppam saadhagamaaga
Naal paarppadho innamum
Inba naadagam poda
Sandhosha mandhiram odha
Sandharppam saadhagamaaga
Naal paarppadho innamum
Inba naadagam poda
Iravaagalaam ilamai arangeralaam
Uravaadalaam iniya suram paadalaam
Ketkaadha vaathiya osaigal
Ketkaiyil aasaigal theerum
Vaa vaa en veenaiyae
Female :Lalalaa…
Male :Viralodu kobamaa
Female :Lalalaa…
Meettaamal kaadhal raagam
Yaavum vilaindhidumo
Killaadha mullaiyae
Kaatrodu kobamaa
Ilam thendral thaedum podhu
Oodalaagumo ooo …000
Vaa vaa en veenaiyae
Female :Lalalaa…
Male :Viralodu kobamaa
Female :Lalalaa…
Vaa vaa un veenai naan
Male :Nananaa…
Female :Viral meettum velai thaan
Male :Nananaa… nanan nananaa
Come, come, my veena!
Female: Na-na-na...
Male: Are you angry with my fingers?
Female: Na-na-na...
Male: Without strumming, can all the melodies of love
ever come alive?
Unplucked jasmine flower,
are you angry with the breeze?
When the gentle breeze comes seeking you,
is it right to sulk in love? Aah...
Come, come, my veena!
Female: Na-na-na...
Male: Are you angry with my fingers?
Female: Na-na-na... na-nan na-na-na...
As the lotus sways on its stem,
and bees sing sweet melodies of love,
as I watch them, in my heart,
thoughts of you grow deeper.
As the lotus sways on its stem,
and bees sing sweet melodies of love,
as I watch them, in my heart,
thoughts of you grow deeper.
Is it longing for a companion?
Is the ache of loneliness deepening?
Are the floodgates breaking?
Are waves of emotion surging?
Every night on this stage,
to sing in a secret language...
Come, come, I am your veena!
Male: Na-na-na...
Female: It is time for your fingers to play!
Male: Na-na-na...
Without strumming, can all the melodies of love
ever come alive?
Unplucked jasmine flower,
if I arrive at your doorstep,
when the gentle breeze comes seeking,
should there be a lover's sulk? Oh...
To chant the mantra of happiness,
when the moment is so perfect,
why still wait for an auspicious day
to stage this sweet play of love?
To chant the mantra of happiness,
when the moment is so perfect,
why still wait for an auspicious day
to stage this sweet play of love?
Let night fall, let our youth take the stage!
Let us be intimate, let us sing sweet melodies!
Music never heard before—
when heard, all our desires will be met!
Come, come, my veena!
Female: La-la-la...
Male: Are you angry with my fingers?
Female: La-la-la...
Without strumming, can all the melodies of love
ever come alive?
Unplucked jasmine flower,
are you angry with the breeze?
When the gentle breeze comes seeking you,
should there be a lover's sulk? Oh...
Come, come, my veena!
Female: La-la-la...
Male: Are you angry with my fingers?
Female: La-la-la...
Come, come, I am your veena!
Male: Na-na-na...
Female: It is time for your fingers to play!
Male: Na-na-na... na-nan na-na-na...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic duet from the film Sattam uses classical music and nature metaphors to express the intimate playfulness between lovers. The male protagonist compares his beloved to a veena (a traditional stringed instrument) and a jasmine flower, playfully asking if she is sulking like a musical instrument waiting for fingers to pluck its strings. The female lover responds in kind, yielding to the rhythm of love and declaring herself as his veena ready to be played.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Vaa vaa en veenaiyae

Comparing the female beloved to a veena instrument ('Vaa vaa en veenaiyae' / 'Vaa vaa un veenai naan').

Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhugai)

Thandodu thaamarai aada / Vandodu moganam paada

Rhyming second letters across adjacent lines ('Thandodu' / 'Vandodu').

Personification

Killaadha mullaiyae / Kaatrodu kobamaa

Attributing human anger/sulking (oodal) to the interaction between the breeze and the jasmine flower.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sattam (1983) is a Tamil action drama directed by K. Vijayan starring Kamal Haasan, Sarath Babu, and Madhavi. The music was composed by Gangai Amaran, and this soulful melody remains one of the standout duets from his collaboration with lyricist Vaali.

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