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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaa Veliyae Ilam Poonguyile

From Paadu Nilave · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paadu Nilave1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haa haa haah haa haaHaa haa haah haa haa
Haan haa haaHaan haa haa
Haa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa..haaa…aa…Haa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa..haaa…aa…
Male
1 2 3 41 2 3 4
Vaa veliyae ilam poonguyilaeCome out, young cuckoo bird
Un koottai vittu indha velaiyilaeLeaving your nest at this hour
Medai meethu paadum gaanamaeThe song sung on the stage
Medhai yaarthaan endru koorumae..ae…Will tell who the true genius is...
Male
Nee vaa veliyae ilam poonguyilaeYou come out, young cuckoo bird
Un koottai vittu indha velaiyilaeLeaving your nest at this hour
Female
Naan ariven ilam poonguyilaeI will know, young cuckoo bird
Vidai yaar arivaar indha pottiyilaeWho knows the answer in this contest?
Medai meethu paadum gaanamaeThe song sung on the stage
Medhai yaarthaan endru koorumae..ae…Will tell who the true genius is...
Female
Naan ariven ilam poonguyilaeI will know, young cuckoo bird
Vidai yaar arivaar indha pottiyilaeWho knows the answer in this contest?
Male
Swarangalil ullaAmong the musical notes
Sugangalai thoduvenI will touch the delights
Layangalil pala layangalai tharuvenIn rhythms, I will present many rhythmic variations
Female
Thalaikkanam varaTo harbor such arrogance
Unkenna madhamaWhy are you so boastful?
Enai vida undhan kural valam padhamaIs your vocal strength sound enough compared to mine?
Male
Thiramai irundhaalIf you have talent
Sabaiyil vilakkuDemonstrate it in this assembly
Female :Porumai irundhaalFemale: If you have patience
Puriyum unakkuYou will understand
Male
Raaga deepam yetri naanaeLighting the lamp of ragas
Gnyaanam enna kaattuvenI will show what true wisdom is
Female :Thalatthodu baavam serthuFemale: Combining emotion with rhythm
Kaaviyangal theettuvenI will paint grand poetic epics
Male
Ulaippaal thaanae uyarndhen naanaeI rose high purely through hard work
Ulaippaal thaanae uyarndhen naanaeI rose high purely through hard work
Iruvaril ini valakkukagal etharkkuWhy continue arguments between the two of us?
Mugavurai ini mudivurai irukkuThere is an introduction, and now a conclusion is near
Female
Naan ariven ilam poonguyilaeI will know, young cuckoo bird
Vidai yaar arivaar indha pottiyilaeWho knows the answer in this contest?
Medai meethu paadum gaanamaeThe song sung on the stage
Medhai yaarthaan endru koorumae..ae…Will tell who the true genius is...
Male
Nee vaa veliyae ilam poonguyilaeYou come out, young cuckoo bird
Un koottai vittu indha velaiyilaeLeaving your nest at this hour
Female
Avaiyinil ulla anaivarinIn the hearts of everyone
Idhayam mm mmm….Present in this audience...
Suvai migum endhanMy delightful music
Isaiyinil saranam mm mm..Will take refuge...
Male
Ninaivinil pala alaigalaiIn memory, many waves
Ezhuppum mm mmm….It will awaken...
Thani ragam endhan tamilA unique raga, my Tamil
Isai mulakkam mm mm…..Musical thunderous roar...
Female
Theliyum theliyumIt will clear, it will clear
Unadhu mayakkamYour trance and confusion
Male :Ha adharkkul unakkuMale: Ha, why are you
Etharkku nadukkamTrembling already?
Female
Oh tholvi endra vaarthai illaiThere is no word called defeat
Thogai endhan yettilaeIn my peacock-feathered ledger
Male :Vaarthai jaalam thevai illaiMale: Magic of words is not needed
Kaattu undhan paattilaeShow it in your singing
Female
Thodarndhaal thaanaeOnly if it continues
Jeyippaal maanaeWill the deer win
Thodarndhaal thaanaeOnly if it continues
Jeyippaal maanaeWill the deer win
Poruthiru konjam mudiyattum valakkuWait a little while, let the dispute end
Unakkalla vetri kidaippathu enakkuVictory will not belong to you, it belongs to me
Male
Sariga sariga mapa mapadhapasaSa-Ri-Ga Sa-Ri-Ga Ma-Pa Ma-Pa-Dha-Pa-Sa
Magari sa ni niMa-Ga-Ri Sa Ni Ni
Female :Sariga sariga padhapadhapaFemale: Sa-Ri-Ga Sa-Ri-Ga Pa-Dha-Pa-Dha-Pa
Sariga sa sa saSa-Ri-Ga Sa Sa Sa
Male :Gapagarisari sariga sarigaMale: Ga-Pa-Ga-Ri-Sa-Ri Sa-Ri-Ga Sa-Ri-Ga
Madhapa madhapasa magari sa ni niMa-Dha-Pa Ma-Dha-Pa-Sa Ma-Ga-Ri Sa Ni Ni
Female :Dhasadhapa gariFemale: Dha-Sa-Dha-Pa Ga-Ri
Sariga sariga pasadhapadhapaSa-Ri-Ga Sa-Ri-Ga Pa-Sa-Dha-Pa-Dha-Pa
Magari sa sa saMa-Ga-Ri Sa Sa Sa
Male :Thapadhapadha sariga sarigaMale: Tha-Pa-Dha-Pa-Dha Sa-Ri-Ga Sa-Ri-Ga
Female
Magasa magasaMa-Ga-Sa Ma-Ga-Sa
Male :Sariga rigamaMale: Sa-Ri-Ga Ri-Ga-Ma
Female :Sanipa sanipaFemale: Sa-Ni-Pa Sa-Ni-Pa
Male :Sariga sarigaMale: Sa-Ri-Ga Sa-Ri-Ga
Female :Magasa magasaFemale: Ma-Ga-Sa Ma-Ga-Sa
Male :Sariga rigamaMale: Sa-Ri-Ga Ri-Ga-Ma
Female :Sanipa sanipaFemale: Sa-Ni-Pa Sa-Ni-Pa
Male :Sa sa sasarisasa sasaMale: Sa Sa Sa-Sa-Ri-Sa-Sa Sa-Sa
Female :Papapa dhapadhama papaFemale: Pa-Pa-Pa Dha-Pa-Dha-Ma Pa-Pa
Male
Mm…aaa…..aaa…..Mm…aaa…..aaa…..
Female :Pa….aaa….aaa…aaa…Female: Pa….aaa….aaa…aaa…
Male :PadhaniMale: Pa-Dha-Ni
Female :PadhanisariFemale: Pa-Dha-Ni-Sa-Ri
Male :PadhanisarigaMale: Pa-Dha-Ni-Sa-Ri-Ga
Female :PadhanisarigamaFemale: Pa-Dha-Ni-Sa-Ri-Ga-Ma
Male :SarigamapadhaniMale: Sarigamapadhani
Female :Pa dha ni sa paFemale: Pa Dha Ni Sa Pa
Male :SarigamaMale: Sarigama
Male
Vaa veliyae ilam poonguyilaeCome out, young cuckoo bird
Un koottai vittu indha velaiyilaeLeaving your nest at this hour
Female :Medai meethu paadum gaanamaeFemale: The song sung on the stage
Medhai yaarthaan endru koorumae..ae…Will tell who the true genius is...
Male
Nee vaa veliyae ilam poonguyilaeYou come out, young cuckoo bird
Un koottai vittu indha velaiyilaeLeaving your nest at this hour

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Vaa Veliye Ilam Poonguyile' from the 1987 film Paadu Nilave is a iconic cinematic musical duel (jugalbandi) between male and female lead singers competing on a public stage. Written by Vaali, the lyrics capture the fierce competitive spirit, ego clashes, and mutual testing of musical knowledge between the two vocalists as they debate whether technical arrogance or patient discipline creates true artistic genius. As the song unfolds, verbal sparring transitions seamlessly into complex swara patterns, fast-paced solkattu improvisations, and intricate rhythmic trades. Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and performed by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, the track serves as both a high-stakes dramatic confrontation and a masterclass showcase of vocal virtuosity in South Indian film music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Vaa veliyae ilam poonguyilae

Addressing the opponent as 'ilam poonguyil' (young cuckoo bird), comparing her voice and artistic persona to a songbird.

Wordplay / Pun (Sledai / Ethirsol)

Medai meethu paadum gaanamae / Medhai yaarthaan endru koorumae

Clever paronomasia playing on the visual/spatial stage ('Medai') versus intellectual mastery/genius ('Medhai').

End Rhyme (Iyaibu Thodai)

Sabaiyil vilakku / Puriyum unakku

Matching end sounds in 'vilakku' and 'unakku' to create rhythmic punchiness in the verbal duel.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the film Paadu Nilave (1987), this iconic musical contest track was sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. The climax of the song features an elaborate, non-stop rapid swara exchange that is widely celebrated as one of the finest jugalbandi performances in Tamil cinema history.

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