Vaanathu Muzhu Mathiyo
From Kanniyin Kadhali · 1949
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. V. Janaki
- Music director
- C. R. Subbaraman
- Details
- Kanniyin Kadhali1949
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vaanathu muzhumadhiyoo | Is it the full moon of the sky? |
| Maanilathu oorvasiyoo | Is it the celestial nymph Oorvasi on earth? |
| Madhi mayakum karpanaiyoo | Is it a mind-enchanting imagination? |
| Karpanaiyin mudivuraiyoo | Is it the epilogue of poetic imagination? |
| Female | |
| Sithirai paavaiyamma | Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai! |
| Sithirai paavaiyamma | Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai! |
| Female | |
| Sithirai paavaiyamma | Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai! |
| Un mugam seedha kamalam amma | Your face is a cool lotus blossom, my lady! |
| Sithirai paavaiyamma | Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai! |
| Un mugam seedha kamalam amma | Your face is a cool lotus blossom, my lady! |
| Female | |
| Muthu varisaiendraal parkalai | If your teeth are compared to a row of pearls, |
| Muthu varisaiendraal amma | If one calls your teeth a row of pearls, my lady, |
| Mullai vaadi varundhaadhoo | Won't the jasmine flower wither away in sorrow? |
| Mullai vaadi varundhaadhoo amma neeyae | Won't the jasmine flower wither away in sorrow, my lady? |
| Female | |
| Pathiraimaatru thangam thannaiyae | Even pure twenty-four karat refined gold... |
| Pathiraimaatru thangam thannaiyae | Even pure twenty-four karat refined gold... |
| Pazhithidum un angam ellaam | All your lovely limbs put to shame! |
| Pathiraimaatru thangam thannaiyae | Even pure twenty-four karat refined gold... |
| Pazhithidum un angam ellaam | All your lovely limbs put to shame! |
| Sithirai paavaiyamma | Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai! |
| Female | |
| Sithirai paavaiyamma | Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai! |
வானத்து முழுமதியோ
மாநிலத்து ஊர்வசியோ
மதி மயக்கும் கற்பனையோ
கற்பனையின் முடிவுரையோ.........
Is it the full moon of the sky?
Is it the celestial nymph Oorvasi on earth?
Is it a mind-enchanting imagination?
Is it the epilogue of poetic imagination?
சித்திரப் பாவையம்மா
சித்திரப் பாவையம்மா
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
சித்திரப் பாவையம்மா
உன் முகம் சீதக் கமலம்மா
சித்திரப் பாவையம்மா
உன் முகம் சீதக் கமலம்மா நீயே.....
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
Your face is a cool lotus blossom, my lady!
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
Your face is a cool lotus blossom, my lady!
முத்து வரிசையென்றால் பற்களை
முத்து வரிசையென்றால் அம்மா
முல்லை வாடி வருந்தாதோ
முல்லை வாடி வருந்தாதோ அம்மா நீயே
If your teeth are compared to a row of pearls,
If one calls your teeth a row of pearls, my lady,
Won't the jasmine flower wither away in sorrow?
Won't the jasmine flower wither away in sorrow, my lady?
பத்தரை மாற்றுத் தங்கம் தன்னையே
பத்தரை மாற்றுத் தங்கம் தன்னையே
பழித்திடும் உன் அங்கமெல்லாம்
பத்தரை மாற்றுத் தங்கம் தன்னையே
பழித்திடும் உன் அங்கமெல்லாம்
சித்திரப் பாவையம்மா
Even pure twenty-four karat refined gold...
Even pure twenty-four karat refined gold...
All your lovely limbs put to shame!
Even pure twenty-four karat refined gold...
All your lovely limbs put to shame!
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
கர்நாடிக் :
.................
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
சித்திரப் பாவையம்மா
Vaanathu muzhumadhiyoo
Is it the full moon of the sky?
Maanilathu oorvasiyoo
Is it the celestial nymph Oorvasi on earth?
Madhi mayakum karpanaiyoo
Is it a mind-enchanting imagination?
Karpanaiyin mudivuraiyoo
Is it the epilogue of poetic imagination?
Sithirai paavaiyamma
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
Sithirai paavaiyamma
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
Sithirai paavaiyamma
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
Un mugam seedha kamalam amma
Your face is a cool lotus blossom, my lady!
Sithirai paavaiyamma
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
Un mugam seedha kamalam amma
Your face is a cool lotus blossom, my lady!
Muthu varisaiendraal parkalai
If your teeth are compared to a row of pearls,
Muthu varisaiendraal amma
If one calls your teeth a row of pearls, my lady,
Mullai vaadi varundhaadhoo
Won't the jasmine flower wither away in sorrow?
Mullai vaadi varundhaadhoo amma neeyae
Won't the jasmine flower wither away in sorrow, my lady?
Pathiraimaatru thangam thannaiyae
Even pure twenty-four karat refined gold...
Pathiraimaatru thangam thannaiyae
Even pure twenty-four karat refined gold...
Pazhithidum un angam ellaam
All your lovely limbs put to shame!
Pathiraimaatru thangam thannaiyae
Even pure twenty-four karat refined gold...
Pazhithidum un angam ellaam
All your lovely limbs put to shame!
Sithirai paavaiyamma
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
Sithirai paavaiyamma
Oh, exquisite painting-like maiden of Sithirai!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from 'Kanniyin Kadhali' is a poetic adoration of a woman's breathtaking beauty. The speaker wonders if she is the full moon in the sky, an earthly manifestation of the celestial nymph Oorvasi, or the pinnacle of a poet's imagination. Her face is praised as a cool lotus, her teeth outperform pearls and make jasmine flowers wither in envy, and her radiant limbs outshine pure refined gold. The song celebrates feminine grace through rich, traditional Tamil imagery.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Sandeha Alankaram (Rhetorical Questions / Doubt)
“Vaanathu muzhumadhiyoo”
The lyrics open with a series of poetic doubts asking if she is the moon, a nymph, or an imagination, highlighting her otherworldly perfection.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Un mugam seedha kamalam amma”
Directly equates the woman's face to a cool lotus blossom ('seedha kamalam').
Uyarnavu Navirtchi (Hyperbole)
“Mullai vaadi varundhaadhoo”
Exaggerates her beauty by stating that jasmine flowers would wither in sorrow when her teeth are compared to pearls, and that her body puts pure gold to shame.
Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Sithirai paavaiyamma”
Repeats 'Sithirai paavaiyamma' to establish the rhythmic refrain and emphasize her statue-like perfection.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kanniyin Kadhali' (1949) is a historically landmark film in Tamil cinema as it marked the debut of Kaviarasu Kannadasan as a lyricist. His poetic brilliance and rich classical metaphors immediately caught the attention of listeners, laying the foundation for his decades-long legendary career.
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