Vaanathu Poongili
From Thiripura Sundari · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thiripura Sundari1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval | She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer |
| Mannil veezhndhaalammaa | Has now fallen onto the ground, alas! |
| Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa | She lived forever in tears, alas! |
| Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa | She lived forever in tears, alas! |
| Female | |
| Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval | She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer |
| Mannil veezhndhaalammaa | Has now fallen onto the ground, alas! |
| Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa | She lived forever in tears, alas! |
| Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa | She lived forever in tears, alas! |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal nambikkai kanavaaga aanaal | If faith in love turns out to be merely a dream, |
| Kadavul nambikkai ennaavadho | What will become of faith in God? |
| Vaedham solvorae pagaiyaagi ponaal | If those who preach the sacred Vedas turn into enemies, |
| Yaarai nambi thaan pen vaazhvadho | Relying on whom can a woman live her life? |
| Oruvanin kaaladi sugam endru nambi | Believing that happiness lay at one man's feet, |
| Sendraen nizhal polavae | I followed him just like a shadow. |
| Raaman ena urugi sonnaan | He spoke with melting devotion like Rama, |
| Raavananaai maari vittaan | But turned out to be Ravana in disguise. |
| Female | |
| Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval | She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer |
| Naalai vaazhvaalammaa | Will live a better life tomorrow, alas! |
| Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma | She will see the times change, alas! |
| Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma | She will see the times change, alas! |
| Female | |
| Naalai pozhudhendrum nalamaagum endru | Believing that tomorrow will always bring good health and prosperity, |
| Nambi vaazhndhaal thaan pen vaazhalaam | Only by living with hope can a woman survive. |
| Tholil azhagaaga manamaalai soodum | Wearing a beautiful wedding garland upon her shoulders, |
| Sorgam oru vaelai nee kaanalaam | You may witness a heaven on earth one day. |
| Ulagathu vaazhkkaiyil nadakkaadhadhenna | What is there that cannot happen in worldly life? |
| Thozhi kalangaadhiru | My dear friend, do not be disheartened. |
| Oru pozhudhu avarkku vandhaal | If one moment belongs to them, |
| Maru pozhudhu unakku varum | The very next moment will belong to you. |
| Female | |
| Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval | She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer |
| Naalai vaazhvaalammaa | Will live a better life tomorrow, alas! |
| Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma | She will see the times change, alas! |
| Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma | She will see the times change, alas! |
| Female | |
| Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval | She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer |
| Naalai vaazhvaal ammaa | Will live a better life tomorrow, alas! |
| Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma | She will see the times change, alas! |
வானத்து பூங்கிளி மானென வாழ்ந்தவள்
மண்ணில் வீழ்ந்தாளம்மா
என்றும் கண்ணீரில் வாழ்ந்தாளம்மா.....
என்றும் கண்ணீரில் வாழ்ந்தாளம்மா......
She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer
Has now fallen onto the ground, alas!
She lived forever in tears, alas!
She lived forever in tears, alas!
வானத்து பூங்கிளி மானென வாழ்ந்தவள்
மண்ணில் வீழ்ந்தாளம்மா
என்றும் கண்ணீரில் வாழ்ந்தாளம்மா.....
என்றும் கண்ணீரில் வாழ்ந்தாளம்மா......
She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer
Has now fallen onto the ground, alas!
She lived forever in tears, alas!
She lived forever in tears, alas!
காதல் நம்பிக்கை கனவாக ஆனால்
கடவுள் நம்பிக்கை என்னாவதோ
வேதம் சொல்வோனே பகையாகிப் போனால்
யாரை நம்பித்தான் பெண் வாழ்வதோ
ஒருவனின் காலடி சுகமென்று நம்பி
சென்றேன் நிழல் போலவே
ராமன் என உருகி சொன்னான்
ராவணனாய் மாறி விட்டான்
If faith in love turns out to be merely a dream,
What will become of faith in God?
If those who preach the sacred Vedas turn into enemies,
Relying on whom can a woman live her life?
Believing that happiness lay at one man's feet,
I followed him just like a shadow.
He spoke with melting devotion like Rama,
But turned out to be Ravana in disguise.
வானத்து பூங்கிளி மானென வாழ்ந்தவள்
நாளை வாழ்வாளம்மா
காலம் மாறிடக் காண்பாளம்மா.....
காலம் மாறிடக் காண்பாளம்மா.......
She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer
Will live a better life tomorrow, alas!
She will see the times change, alas!
She will see the times change, alas!
நாளைப் பொழுதென்றும் நலமாகுமென்று
நம்பி வாழ்ந்தால்தான் பெண் வாழலாம்
தோளில் அழகாக மணமாலை சூடும்
சொர்க்கம் ஒருவேளை நீ காணலாம்
உலகத்து வாழ்க்கையில் நடக்காததென்ன
தோழி கலங்காதிரு
ஒரு பொழுது அவர்க்கு வந்தால்
மறுபொழுது உனக்கு வரும்
Believing that tomorrow will always bring good health and prosperity,
Only by living with hope can a woman survive.
Wearing a beautiful wedding garland upon her shoulders,
You may witness a heaven on earth one day.
What is there that cannot happen in worldly life?
My dear friend, do not be disheartened.
If one moment belongs to them,
The very next moment will belong to you.
வானத்து பூங்கிளி மானென வாழ்ந்தவள்
நாளை வாழ்வாளம்மா
காலம் மாறிடக் காண்பாளம்மா.....
காலம் மாறிடக் காண்பாளம்மா.......
She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer
Will live a better life tomorrow, alas!
She will see the times change, alas!
She will see the times change, alas!
வானத்து பூங்கிளி மானென வாழ்ந்தவள்
நாளை வாழ்வாளம்மா
காலம் மாறிடக் காண்பாளம்மா.....
She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer
Will live a better life tomorrow, alas!
She will see the times change, alas!
Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval
She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer
Mannil veezhndhaalammaa
Has now fallen onto the ground, alas!
Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa
She lived forever in tears, alas!
Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa
She lived forever in tears, alas!
Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval
She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer
Mannil veezhndhaalammaa
Has now fallen onto the ground, alas!
Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa
She lived forever in tears, alas!
Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa
She lived forever in tears, alas!
Kaadhal nambikkai kanavaaga aanaal
If faith in love turns out to be merely a dream,
Kadavul nambikkai ennaavadho
What will become of faith in God?
Vaedham solvorae pagaiyaagi ponaal
If those who preach the sacred Vedas turn into enemies,
Yaarai nambi thaan pen vaazhvadho
Relying on whom can a woman live her life?
Oruvanin kaaladi sugam endru nambi
Believing that happiness lay at one man's feet,
Sendraen nizhal polavae
I followed him just like a shadow.
Raaman ena urugi sonnaan
He spoke with melting devotion like Rama,
Raavananaai maari vittaan
But turned out to be Ravana in disguise.
Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval
She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer
Naalai vaazhvaalammaa
Will live a better life tomorrow, alas!
Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma
She will see the times change, alas!
Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma
She will see the times change, alas!
Naalai pozhudhendrum nalamaagum endru
Believing that tomorrow will always bring good health and prosperity,
Nambi vaazhndhaal thaan pen vaazhalaam
Only by living with hope can a woman survive.
Tholil azhagaaga manamaalai soodum
Wearing a beautiful wedding garland upon her shoulders,
Sorgam oru vaelai nee kaanalaam
You may witness a heaven on earth one day.
Ulagathu vaazhkkaiyil nadakkaadhadhenna
What is there that cannot happen in worldly life?
Thozhi kalangaadhiru
My dear friend, do not be disheartened.
Oru pozhudhu avarkku vandhaal
If one moment belongs to them,
Maru pozhudhu unakku varum
The very next moment will belong to you.
Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval
She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer
Naalai vaazhvaalammaa
Will live a better life tomorrow, alas!
Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma
She will see the times change, alas!
Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma
She will see the times change, alas!
Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval
She who lived like a heavenly parrot and a gentle deer
Naalai vaazhvaal ammaa
Will live a better life tomorrow, alas!
Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma
She will see the times change, alas!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song depicts the tragic fall and eventual hope of an innocent woman who lived gracefully like a heavenly bird, only to be plunged into sorrow by betrayal. She laments how her trust was broken by a partner who feigned nobility like Lord Rama but revealed himself to be treacherous like Ravana, raising existential questions about trust, religion, and human nature. However, the song shifts from grief to comfort and optimism. It offers solace to the suffering woman, reminding her that times inevitably change and that endurance and hope are essential for survival. It assures her that fortunes fluctuate, and her day of happiness and justice will surely come.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval”
Compares the innocence and purity of the woman to a heavenly parrot ('poongili') and a deer ('maanena').
Contrast & Mythological Allusion
“Raaman ena urugi sonnaan / Raavananaai maari vittaan”
Contrasts the righteous ideal hero Rama with the antagonist Ravana to depict dramatic deception and betrayal by a lover.
Anaphora / Repetition (Erattai)
“Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma”
Repetition of chorus lines to emphasize both suffering initially ('Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa') and hope later ('Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary poet Kannadasan, this song showcases his signature philosophical style of using Ramayana references (Rama vs. Ravana) to explain real-life human betrayals and offering deep emotional solace through poetic lyricism.
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