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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaa Vaa Vaa Sugumaari

From Ketti Melam · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Kovai Soundararajan, Manjula
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ketti Melam1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaa vaa vaa sukumaariCome, come, come, delicate beauty!
Vaa vaa vaa sukumaariCome, come, come, delicate beauty!
Malar muga naariLady with a flower-like face,
Madhana kumaariYoung maiden of Cupid,
Nalina singaariGraceful and stylish woman,
Nadai alangaariOne with an elegant walk,
Male
Kaiyal meedhu migaIn your hands, immensely,
Maiyal aaginenI became infatuated!
Dhani dhani dhani dhaniDhani dhani dhani dhani (Carnatic Swaras)
Sani dhapa sani dhapaSani dhapa sani dhapa (Carnatic Swaras)
Veyil meedhu vaithaLike butter kept under,
Vennai aaginenThe scorching sun, I melted!
Sani sani sani saniSani sani sani sani (Carnatic Swaras)
Sani dhapa sani dhapaSani dhapa sani dhapa (Carnatic Swaras)
Male
Kaiyal meedhu migaIn your hands, immensely,
Maiyal aaginenI became infatuated!
Veyil meedhu vaithaLike butter kept under,
Vennai aaginenThe scorching sun, I melted!
Male
Vaa vaa vaa sukumaariCome, come, come, delicate beauty!
Female
Vandhen vandhen sukumaaraaI have come, I have come, handsome prince!
Vandhen vandhen sukumaaraaI have come, I have come, handsome prince!
Ambuja vadhanaaOne with a lotus-like face,
Azhagiya madhanaaHandsome Cupid-like man,
Pangaja nayanaaOne with lotus-like eyes,
Pannaga sayanaaOne who rests on the divine serpent,
Female
Ellai meerudhoruA yearning heat of separation,
Viraga dhaabamaeThat crosses all boundaries!
Dhani dhani dhani dhaniDhani dhani dhani dhani (Carnatic Swaras)
Sani dhapa sani dhapaSani dhapa sani dhapa (Carnatic Swaras)
Thollai aana ilamThis troublesome youthful,
Paruva kaalamaePhase of life!
Sani sani sani saniSani sani sani sani (Carnatic Swaras)
Sani dhapa sani dhapaSani dhapa sani dhapa (Carnatic Swaras)
Female
Ellai meerudhoruA yearning heat of separation,
Viraga dhaabamaeThat crosses all boundaries!
Thollai aana ilamThis troublesome youthful,
Paruva kaalamaePhase of life!
Female
Vandhen vandhen sukumaaraaI have come, I have come, handsome prince!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a classical-style romantic duet between lovers expressing their intense mutual attraction, longing, and infatuation. The hero beckons his beloved using poetically ornate epithets, comparing his melting heart to butter left under the hot sun. The heroine responds affectionately, describing her lover using classical imagery such as lotus-faced and lotus-eyed, while describing the overwhelming passion of youth that crosses boundaries. Incorporating classical Carnatic swara passages, Vaali's lyrics blend Sanskrit-influenced Tamil poetic descriptors with rhythmic musical structures.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Malar muga naari / Madhana kumaari / Nalina singaari / Nadai alangaari

The second consonant 'da/la' rhymes rhythmically across adjacent lines creating euphonic lyricism.

Upamai (Simile)

Veyil meedhu vaitha vennai aaginen

The male protagonist compares his helpless surrender to love to butter melting in the hot sun.

Metaphorical Classical Epithets

Ambuja vadhanaa / Pangaja nayanaa

Use of traditional imagery such as 'Ambuja vadhanaa' (lotus-faced) and 'Pangaja nayanaa' (lotus-eyed).

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Trivia

The lyrics by Vaali combine classical Sanskritized Tamil (Manipravalam influence) with Carnatic swaras (solfege), a popular technique in 1980s Tamil cinema to give film songs an authentic classical kutcheri feel.

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