Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaanathu Poongili

From Thiripura Sundari · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. Janaki, Jency
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thiripura Sundari
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
14 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval
Mannil veezhndhaalammaa
Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa
Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa
Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval
Mannil veezhndhaalammaa
Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa
Endrum kanneeril vaazhndhaalammaa
Kaadhal nambikkai kanavaaga aanaal
Kadavul nambikkai ennaavadho
Vaedham solvorae pagaiyaagi ponaal
Yaarai nambi thaan pen vaazhvadho
Oruvanin kaaladi sugam endru nambi
Sendraen nizhal polavae
Raaman ena urugi sonnaan
Raavananaai maari vittaan
Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval
Naalai vaazhvaalammaa
Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma
Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma
Naalai pozhudhendrum nalamaagum endru
Nambi vaazhndhaal thaan pen vaazhalaam
Tholil azhagaaga manamaalai soodum
Sorgam oru vaelai nee kaanalaam
Ulagathu vaazhkkaiyil nadakkaadhadhenna
Thozhi kalangaadhiru
Oru pozhudhu avarkku vandhaal
Maru pozhudhu unakku varum
Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval
Naalai vaazhvaalammaa
Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma
Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma
Vaanathu poongili maanena vaazhndhaval
Naalai vaazhvaal ammaa
Kaalam maarida kaanbaal amma
She who lived like a gentle bird of the sky and a deer,
Has fallen down to the earth,
She has lived her life in tears...
She has lived her life in tears...
She who lived like a gentle bird of the sky and a deer,
Has fallen down to the earth,
She has lived her life in tears...
She has lived her life in tears...
If faith in love turns into just a dream,
What will become of faith in God?
If the one who preaches sacred truth turns into an enemy,
Whom can a woman trust to live?
Believing there was peace at one man's feet,
I followed behind him like a shadow.
With tender words he claimed to be Rama,
Yet he turned into Ravana.
She who lived like a gentle bird of the sky and a deer,
Will live happily tomorrow,
She will see the times change...
She will see the times change...
Believing that tomorrow will bring better days,
Only with such hope can a woman live.
Wearing a lovely wedding garland upon your shoulders,
You may yet see that heaven.
What is impossible in this worldly life?
Do not lose heart, my dear friend.
If this day belongs to them,
The next day will belong to you.
She who lived like a gentle bird of the sky and a deer,
Will live happily tomorrow,
She will see the times change...
She will see the times change...
She who lived like a gentle bird of the sky and a deer,
Will live happily tomorrow,
She will see the times change...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Thiripura Sundari

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.