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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaanam Keezhe Vanthal Enna

From Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thararaa..tururururuThararaa..tururururu (Vocal scatting)
Thararaa..tururururuThararaa..tururururu (Vocal scatting)
LalalalalalalalalalalalalalaLalalalalalalalalalalalalala (Vocalizing)
Male
Vaanam keezhe vanthaal ennaWhat if the sky comes down?
Ada boomi melae ponaal ennaOh, what if the earth goes up?
Maayam elaam maayamEverything is an illusion, all illusion.
Ithil manithan nilai ennaWhat is the true status of man in this?
Vaada raja vaa vaaCome, my king, come, come!
Ithil muthalum mudivennaWhat is the beginning and the end in this?
Vaanam keezhe vanthaal ennaWhat if the sky comes down?
Ada boomi melae ponaal enna..haaOh, what if the earth goes up? Haa...
Male
Iravum pagalum enakkoru mayakamNight and day, there is an intoxication within me.
Iravum pagalum enakkoru mayakamNight and day, there is an intoxication within me.
Ninaivum manamum kuthiraiyil parakkumMy thoughts and mind fly high like a horse.
Oonjal pola ennaalum aadaSwinging endlessly like a cradle,
Male
Melum melum vegam koodaWith speed increasing more and more,
Melum melum vegam koodaWith speed increasing more and more.
Naanum ingae kaanum inbamThe joy that I witness here,
Nijamo nizhalo kadhaiyo kanavoIs it reality, shadow, story, or a dream?
Male
Vaanam keezhe vanthaal ennaWhat if the sky comes down?
Ha ha ha haHa ha ha ha
Ada boomi melae ponaal ennaOh, what if the earth goes up?
Maayam elaam maayamEverything is an illusion, all illusion.
Ithil manithan nilai ennaWhat is the true status of man in this?
Vaada raja vaa vaaCome, my king, come, come!
Ithil muthalum mudivennaWhat is the beginning and the end in this?
Vaanam keezhe hey hey hey heyWhat if the sky... hey hey hey hey...
Vanthaal enna...comes down?
Ada boomi melae ponaal enna..Oh, what if the earth goes up?
Male
Paravai mirugam aluvathu illaiBirds and beasts do not cry.
Paravai mirugam aluvathu illaiBirds and beasts do not cry.
Kavalai kadalil viluvathu illaiThey do not fall into the ocean of worries.
Kaneer pookal en vazhvil illaiTearful flowers do not exist in my life.
Male
Naanum kuda paravai jaathiI too belong to the species of birds.
Naanum kuda paravai jaathiI too belong to the species of birds.
Palagi paarthaal theriyudhu sedhiIf you interact and see, you will know this truth.
Thinamum manam pol thiriyum kuruviA sparrow wandering daily as its heart desires.
Male
Vaanam keezhe vanthaal ennaWhat if the sky comes down?
Ada boomi melae ponaal ennaAda, what if the earth goes up?
Maayam elaam maayamEverything is an illusion, all illusion.
Ithil manithan nilai ennaWhat is the true status of man in this?
Vaada raja vaa vaaCome, my king, come, come!
Ithil muthalum mudivennaWhat is the beginning and the end in this?
Vaanam keezhe vanthaal ennaWhat if the sky comes down?
Ada boomi melae ponaal enna..haaOh, what if the earth goes up? Haa...
Chorus
……………………………….....
Male
Adadaa vizhi mel azhagugal theriyaAh, when beauties unfold before my eyes,
Adadaa vizhi mel azhagugal theriyaAh, when beauties unfold before my eyes,
Arugil irunthae abinayam puriyaExpressing subtle gestures staying right beside,
Penno poovo pon vennilaavooIs she a woman, a flower, or a golden moon?
Male
Aadai soodum vaadai kaatroOr the chilly northern breeze clad in garments?
Aadai soodum vaadai kaatroOr the chilly northern breeze clad in garments?
Meendum meendum thenda theendaAs it caresses over and over again,
Idhamo padhamo indho pudhidhoIs it comfort, delicacy, or something brand new?
Male
Vaanam keezhe vanthaal ennaWhat if the sky comes down?
HahaHaha
Ada boomi melae ponaal ennaOh, what if the earth goes up?
Maayam elaam maayamEverything is an illusion, all illusion.
Ithil manithan nilai enna..haWhat is the true status of man in this? Ha...
Vaada raja vaa vaaCome, my king, come, come!
Ithil muthalum mudivennaWhat is the beginning and the end in this?
Vaanam keezhe vanthaal ennaWhat if the sky comes down?
Ada boomi melae ponaal enna..Oh, what if the earth goes up?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Vaanam Keezhe Vanthaal Enna' is a carefree, philosophical yet energetic tracks celebrating freedom, living in the present, and accepting the illusory nature of life (Maya). The protagonist expresses an intoxicated sense of joy where ordinary boundaries—like sky and earth—do not matter. By comparing human life to nature, birds, and animals that do not dwell on sorrow or drown in worries, the lyrics encourage embracing a carefree existence without getting weighed down by life's complexities or existential dilemmas.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vaanam keezhe vanthaal enna / Ada boomi melae ponaal enna

In Tamil prosody, Etukai / Emonai involves agreement of second letters or initial alliteration across lines, such as Vaanam / Boomi creating rhythmic harmony.

Rhetorical Questioning

Nijamo nizhalo kadhaiyo kanavo

The lyrics rely heavily on rhetorical questions about life, reality, and dreams, highlighting philosophical uncertainty and carefree detachment.

Metaphor

Kavalai kadalil viluvathu illai

Comparing worries to an ocean ('Kavalai kadal') to depict the depth of human sorrow which animals naturally avoid.

Simile / Personification

Thinamum manam pol thiriyum kuruvi

Comparing oneself to a free bird wandering at heart's rhythm, personifying human freedom through nature.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic track from 'Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey' (1983) features Kamal Haasan in a dual role. The music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with playback vocals delivered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Vaali's lyrics famously blend philosophical concepts of Maya (illusion) with upbeat, energetic disco rhythms.

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