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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaadi Amma Vaadi

From Ponnazhagi · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Ponnazhagi1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaadi amma vaadi vangaala kuruviCome my girl, come, my beautiful sparrow
Vaadi amma vaadi vangaala kuruviCome my girl, come, my beautiful sparrow
Machaan vilaiyaadum kuththaala aruviLike the Courtallam waterfall where your cousin plays
Machaan vilaiyaadum kuththaala aruviLike the Courtallam waterfall where your cousin plays
Female
Sevaththa chittu sirikka vittuMaking the fair bird smile
Kayiththeth thottu eduththu kattaTouching her hand to bind her in marriage
Achchaaram thanthaayo machaan rasavaeDid you give the token of commitment, my beloved cousin?
Sevaththa chittu sirikka vittuMaking the fair bird smile
Kayiththeth thottu eduththu kattaTouching her hand to bind her in marriage
Achchaaram thanthaayo machaan rasavaeDid you give the token of commitment, my beloved cousin?
Male
Vaadi amma vaadi vangaala kuruviCome my girl, come, my beautiful sparrow
Machaan vilaiyaadum kuththaala aruviLike the Courtallam waterfall where your cousin plays
Kuththaala aruvi……Courtallam waterfall...
Male
Oru maangaa rendu thengaaOne mango, two coconuts
Kuththu velakkaa onnai enakkuA traditional brass lamp, you are all mine
Parisham panna idhu varisaiyadiThese are the customary gifts to fix our wedding, my dear
Female
Kannae thottaachchu appothuI touched your eyes back then
Kaiyai thottaachchu ippothuI held your hands right now
Ini kalyaanam eppo vaippothuSo when are we setting the wedding date?
Male
Vaadi ammaa vaada vangaala kuruviCome my girl, come, my beautiful sparrow
Machaan vilaiyaadum kuththaala aruviLike the Courtallam waterfall where your cousin plays
Kuththaala aruvi……Courtallam waterfall...
Female
Poomaalai ponnolaiA flower garland, a golden leaf token
Pudhu selai poonjcholaiA new saree, a blooming garden
Enni enni rompa naalaachchuCounting and waiting, many days have gone by
Pinnae edhukku machaan idhu aalaachchuWhy then, my cousin, has this become so delayed?
Female
Poomaalai ponnolaiA flower garland, a golden leaf token
Pudhu selai poonjcholaiA new saree, a blooming garden
Enni enni rompa naalaachchuCounting and waiting, many days have gone by
Pinnae edhukku machaan idhu aalaachchuWhy then, my cousin, has this become so delayed?
Male
Ponnae thottaenaa munnaadiDid I touch pure gold earlier?
Poveth thottaenaa ammaadiDid I touch a delicate flower, oh my?
Naan mogam paarkka neethaan kannaadiYou are the mirror for me to see my own passion
Male
Vaadi amma vaadi vangaala kuruviCome my girl, come, my beautiful sparrow
Machaan vilaiyaadum kuththaala aruviLike the Courtallam waterfall where your cousin plays
Kuththaala aruvi……Courtallam waterfall...
Male
Adi rathiyae ilam kiliyaeOh my beautiful Rathi, my young parrot
Sirumaniyae maanganiyaeMy precious little gem, my sweet mango
Vetkkamellaam ippa ennaachchuWhere did all your shyness go now?
Adi rathiyae ilam kiliyaeOh my beautiful Rathi, my young parrot
Sirumaniyae maanganiyaeMy precious little gem, my sweet mango
Vetkkamellaam ippa ennaachchuWhere did all your shyness go now?
Female
Vetkam vanthathu appothuShyness visited me back then
Vegam vanthathu ippothuPassion has taken over right now
Ini vellakku vachcha aasai vidaathuOnce the lamp of desire is lit, it will never die down
Male
Vaadi amma vaadi vangaala kuruviCome my girl, come, my beautiful sparrow
Machaan vilaiyaadum kuththaala aruviLike the Courtallam waterfall where your cousin plays
Kuththaala aruvi……Courtallam waterfall...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and romantic duet expresses the flirtatious exchange between two lovers eagerly anticipating their upcoming marriage. The hero playfully calls his beloved a sweet bird and compliments her beauty, while the heroine teases him about finalizing the wedding arrangements, dowry rituals, and token gifts. They reminisce about their evolving intimacy—from shy touches and glances to passionate eager anticipation for their marital union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mondai / Monnai (Alliteration)

Poomaalai ponnolai / Pudhu selai poonjcholai

Repetition of initial phonetic sounds in adjacent lines or words, such as 'Vaadi' / 'Machaan' or 'Poomaalai' / 'Pudhu selai'.

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyming)

Vetkam vanthathu appothu / Vegam vanthathu ippothu

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, seen in 'Kannae' / 'Kaiyai' or 'Vetkam' / 'Vegam'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Vaadi amma vaadi vangaala kuruvi

Comparing the heroine to a sparrow ('vangaala kuruvi') and a sweet mango ('maanganiyae').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Shankar Ganesh, 'Vaadi Amma Vaadi' features the lively vocal chemistry between Malaysia Vasudevan and Vani Jairam. The song blends traditional rural romantic imagery with upbeat late 70s / early 80s Tamil folk-pop orchestration.

Keep listening

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