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Lyrics & meaning

Vaanam Pesuma Sad

From Moodu Manthiram · 1989

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Moodu Manthiram1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaanam pesumaa adhu saatchi koorumaaWill the sky speak, will it bear witness?
Nenjil ulla ennangalThe thoughts hidden inside the heart,
Konjam indru sollungalPlease express them a little today,
Oo…..kangalaeOh... eyes.
Male
Vaanam pesumaa adhu saatchi koorumaaWill the sky speak, will it bear witness?
Nenjil ulla ennangalThe thoughts hidden inside the heart,
Konjam indru sollungalPlease express them a little today,
Oo…..kangalaeOh... eyes.
Male
Neeyae…..neeyae seitha paavamYou... it was you who committed this sin,
Yaarai solli laabamWhom can I blame, what is the gain?
Naanae…..naanae unthan sonthamI... I am your own relation,
Meendum vantha panthamA bond that has returned once again.
Male
Mullai charamae kannai kuththivitathuThe garland of jasmine flowers poked the eye,
Dheiva vilakkae nenjai suttu vittathuThe divine lamp burned the heart.
Engae pogum kaalgalWhere will these feet walk to?
Unna thedum kangalThese eyes are searching for you.
Male
Vaanam pesume oru saatchi koorumaeThe sky will indeed speak, it will bear witness.
Unnai thedi naan vanthaenI came searching for you,
Unthan ullam naan kandaenI have seen and understood your heart,
Oo….nenjamae…..Oh... my heart...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Moodu Manthiram' conveys intense emotional agony, regret, and ultimate spiritual reassurance. The protagonist appeals to nature (the sky) and his beloved's eyes to reveal the deep feelings harbored within the heart. He reflects on past actions, feeling betrayed by fate and circumstances, expressing how things intended to give peace and beauty ended up causing immense pain. In the concluding lines, the mood shifts to hope and realization as he finds solace in understanding his beloved's true heart, believing that nature itself will bear witness to their enduring bond.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Vaanam pesumaa adhu saatchi koorumaa

Attributing human traits like speaking and giving testimony to the sky ('Vaanam pesumaa').

Irony / Paradoxical Metaphor

Mullai charamae kannai kuththivitathu / Dheiva vilakkae nenjai suttu vittathu

Contrasting delicate, holy things (jasmine garland, sacred divine lamp) with actions of infliction and pain (poking the eye, burning the heart).

Emonai (Initial Rhyme) & Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Neeyae…..neeyae seitha paavam / Naanae…..naanae unthan sontham

Repetition of sound patterns at the beginning ('Neeyae' / 'Naanae') and end of poetic lines in Tamil prosody.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the famous musical duo Shankar-Ganesh and written by lyricist Pulamaipithan, 'Moodu Manthiram' (1989) features Malaysia Vasudevan's evocative vocals capturing grief and redemption. The imagery of a 'mullai charam' (jasmine string) poking an eye became a iconic Tamil poetic metaphor for unexpected hurt caused by something beautiful.

Keep listening

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