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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
Details
Sattam1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaa vaa en veenaiyaeCome, come, my veena,
Female :Nananaa…Female : Nananaa…
Male :Viralodu kobamaaMale : Are you angry with my fingers?
Female :Nananaa…Female : Nananaa…
Male :Meettaamal kaadhal raagamMale : Without plucking, can love's melody
Yaavum vilaindhidumaaBlossom completely?
Male
Killaadha mullaiyaeO unplucked jasmine flower,
Kaatrodu kobamaaAre you angry with the breeze?
Ilam thendral thaedum podhuWhen the gentle breeze comes searching,
Oodalaagumaa…aaa…aaaIs it right to sulk?
Male
Vaa vaa en veenaiyaeCome, come, my veena,
Female :Nananaa…Female : Nananaa…
Male :Viralodu kobamaaMale : Are you angry with my fingers?
Female :Nananaa… nanan nananaaFemale : Nananaa… nanan nananaa
Female
Thandodu thaamarai aadaAs the lotus sways on its stem,
Vandodu moganam paadaAs the beetle sings a Mohanam raga,
Naan paarkkaiyil nenjilaeWhen I look, inside my heart,
Undhan nyaabagam koodaYour memories gather.
Female
Thandodu thaamarai aadaAs the lotus sways on its stem,
Vandodu moganam paadaAs the beetle sings a Mohanam raga,
Naan paarkkaiyil nenjilaeWhen I look, inside my heart,
Undhan nyaabagam koodaYour memories gather.
Male
Thunai thaedudhoIs it searching for companionship?
Thanimai thuyar koodudhoIs the sorrow of loneliness increasing?
Female
Anai meerudhoIs it overflowing the dam?
Unarchi alai paayudhoAre waves of emotion surging?
Male
Naal thorum raathiri medaiyilEvery day on the night's stage,
Ragasiya baashaiyil paadaTo sing in a secret language,
Female
Vaa vaa un veenai naanCome, come, I am your veena,
Male :Nananaa…Male : Nananaa…
Female :Viral meettum velai thaanFemale : It is the moment for fingers to pluck,
Male :Nananaa…Male : Nananaa…
Female
Meettaamal kaadhal raagamWithout plucking, will love's melody
Yaavum vilaindhidumoEver blossom?
Killaadha mullaiyaeO unplucked jasmine flower,
Vandhaal un ellaiyaeWhen it reaches your boundaries,
Ilam thendral thaedum podhuWhen the gentle breeze comes searching,
Oodalaagumo ooo…oooShould there be sulking?
Male
Sandhosha mandhiram odhaTo chant the mantra of happiness,
Sandharppam saadhagamaagaAs the opportunity turns favorable,
Naal paarppadho innamumAre we still looking for an auspicious day,
Inba naadagam podaTo perform this drama of joy?
Male
Sandhosha mandhiram odhaTo chant the mantra of happiness,
Sandharppam saadhagamaagaAs the opportunity turns favorable,
Naal paarppadho innamumAre we still looking for an auspicious day,
Inba naadagam podaTo perform this drama of joy?
Female
Iravaagalaam ilamai arangeralaamLet night arrive, let youth take center stage,
Male
Uravaadalaam iniya suram paadalaamLet us intimacy bloom, let us sing sweet notes,
Female
Ketkaadha vaathiya osaigalUnheard musical sounds,
Ketkaiyil aasaigal theerumWhen heard, all desires will be fulfilled.
Male
Vaa vaa en veenaiyaeCome, come, my veena,
Female :Lalalaa…Female : Lalalaa…
Male :Viralodu kobamaaMale : Are you angry with my fingers?
Female :Lalalaa…Female : Lalalaa…
Female
Meettaamal kaadhal raagamWithout plucking, will love's melody
Yaavum vilaindhidumoEver blossom?
Male
Killaadha mullaiyaeO unplucked jasmine flower,
Kaatrodu kobamaaAre you angry with the breeze?
Female
Ilam thendral thaedum podhuWhen the gentle breeze comes searching,
Oodalaagumo ooo …000Should there be sulking?
Male
Vaa vaa en veenaiyaeCome, come, my veena,
Female :Lalalaa…Female : Lalalaa…
Male :Viralodu kobamaaMale : Are you angry with my fingers?
Female :Lalalaa…Female : Lalalaa…
Female
Vaa vaa un veenai naanCome, come, I am your veena,
Male :Nananaa…Male : Nananaa…
Female :Viral meettum velai thaanFemale : It is the moment for fingers to pluck,
Male :Nananaa… nanan nananaaMale : Nananaa… nanan nananaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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