Vaanmathi Nee
From Avan Amaran · 1958
- Lyricist
- Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
- Singers
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Jikki
- Music director
- T. M. Ibrahim
- Details
- Avan Amaran1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vaanmathi neeyarivaai | O moon in the sky, you know this, |
| Vaanmathi neeyarivaai | O moon in the sky, you know this. |
| Vanjamillaa kadhaliyaal | Because of my guileless beloved, |
| Vaadugindrean vedhanaiyaal | I am wilting in agony. |
| Male | |
| Vaanmathi neeyarivaai | O moon in the sky, you know this, |
| Vanjamillaa kadhaliyaal | Because of my guileless beloved, |
| Vaadugindrean vedhanaiyaal | I am wilting in agony. |
| Male | |
| Vaanmathi neeyarivaai | O moon in the sky, you know this. |
| Male | |
| Vaadaatha kadhal vasamana naanae | I, who am captured by an unfading love, |
| Koodaathu seemaan kulamenpathaalae | Cannot unite with her because she belongs to a noble family. |
| Vaadaatha kadhal vasamana naanae | I, who am captured by an unfading love, |
| Koodaathu seemaan kulamenpathaalae | Cannot unite with her because she belongs to a noble family. |
| Kalangugiren vedhanaiyaal | I am deeply distressed with pain. |
| Male | |
| Vaanmathi neeyarivaai | O moon in the sky, you know this. |
| Female | |
| ……………… | |
| Female | |
| Alai paadum kadal melae | Upon the ocean where waves sing, |
| Vilaiyaadum nilaa polae | Like the moonlight playing on the water, |
| Nam kadhalum seraatho | Will our love not unite as well? |
| Veen pedhamum theeraatho | Will this futile social division never end? |
| Female | |
| Yaezhaigal pol pedhai enpaal | Towards an innocent and poor man like me, |
| Irakkamillaathathum yaeno | Why is there no mercy shown by society? |
| Thaazhvuyarvennum soozhnilai endrum | Will the social barrier of high and low status |
| Vaazhvinilae thadathano…… | Always remain an obstacle in our lives? |
| Male | |
| ……………….. | |
| Male | |
| Pasunjolaiyin poongodithaan | A delicate flowering creeper from a lush garden, |
| Kadumpaalaiyil vaadaatho | Will it not wither in a harsh desert? |
| Perumaaligai moginiyaal | Is that enchantress from the grand mansion |
| Theru moolaiyil yaenguvatho | Now yearning and suffering at a street corner? |
| Male | |
| Maan vizhiyaal neer pozhivaal | That deer-eyed maiden sheds endless tears, |
| Varumaiyil vaadumennaalae | Because I am suffering in deep poverty. |
| Thaazhvuyarvennum soozhnilai endrum | Will the social barrier of high and low status |
| Vaazhvinilae thadathano…… | Always remain an obstacle in our lives? |
வான்மதி நீயறிவாய்
வான்மதி நீயறிவாய்
வஞ்சமில்லா காதலியால்
வாடுகின்றேன் வேதனையால்
O moon in the sky, you know this,
O moon in the sky, you know this.
Because of my guileless beloved,
I am wilting in agony.
வான்மதி நீயறிவாய்
வஞ்சமில்லா காதலியால்
வாடுகின்றேன் வேதனையால்
O moon in the sky, you know this,
Because of my guileless beloved,
I am wilting in agony.
வான்மதி நீயறிவாய்
O moon in the sky, you know this.
வாடாத காதல் வசமான நானே
கூடாது சீமான் குலமென்பதாலே
வாடாத காதல் வசமான நானே
கூடாது சீமான் குலமென்பதாலே
கலங்குகிறேன் வேதனையால்.....
I, who am captured by an unfading love,
Cannot unite with her because she belongs to a noble family.
I, who am captured by an unfading love,
Cannot unite with her because she belongs to a noble family.
I am deeply distressed with pain.
வான்மதி நீயறிவாய்
O moon in the sky, you know this.
................................
அலை பாடும் கடல் மேலே
விளையாடும் நிலா போலே
நம் காதலும் சேராதோ
வீண் பேதமும் தீராதோ
Upon the ocean where waves sing,
Like the moonlight playing on the water,
Will our love not unite as well?
Will this futile social division never end?
ஏழைகள் போல் பேதை என்பால்
இரக்கமில்லாததும் ஏனோ
தாழ்வுயர்வென்னும் சூழ்நிலை என்றும்
வாழ்வினிலே தடைதானோ.......
Towards an innocent and poor man like me,
Why is there no mercy shown by society?
Will the social barrier of high and low status
Always remain an obstacle in our lives?
...............................
பசுஞ்சோலையின் பூங்கொடிதான்
கடும்பாலையில் வாடாதோ
பெருமாளிகை மோகினியாள்
தெரு மூலையில் ஏங்குவதோ
A delicate flowering creeper from a lush garden,
Will it not wither in a harsh desert?
Is that enchantress from the grand mansion
Now yearning and suffering at a street corner?
மான் விழியால் நீர் பொழிவாள்
வறுமையில் வாடுமென்னாலே
தாழ்வுயர்வென்னும் சூழ்நிலை என்றும்
வாழ்வினிலே தடைதானோ....
That deer-eyed maiden sheds endless tears,
Because I am suffering in deep poverty.
Will the social barrier of high and low status
Always remain an obstacle in our lives?
.....................................
Vaanmathi neeyarivaai
O moon in the sky, you know this,
Vaanmathi neeyarivaai
O moon in the sky, you know this.
Vanjamillaa kadhaliyaal
Because of my guileless beloved,
Vaadugindrean vedhanaiyaal
I am wilting in agony.
Vaanmathi neeyarivaai
O moon in the sky, you know this,
Vanjamillaa kadhaliyaal
Because of my guileless beloved,
Vaadugindrean vedhanaiyaal
I am wilting in agony.
Vaanmathi neeyarivaai
O moon in the sky, you know this.
Vaadaatha kadhal vasamana naanae
I, who am captured by an unfading love,
Koodaathu seemaan kulamenpathaalae
Cannot unite with her because she belongs to a noble family.
Vaadaatha kadhal vasamana naanae
I, who am captured by an unfading love,
Koodaathu seemaan kulamenpathaalae
Cannot unite with her because she belongs to a noble family.
Kalangugiren vedhanaiyaal
I am deeply distressed with pain.
Vaanmathi neeyarivaai
O moon in the sky, you know this.
………………
Alai paadum kadal melae
Upon the ocean where waves sing,
Vilaiyaadum nilaa polae
Like the moonlight playing on the water,
Nam kadhalum seraatho
Will our love not unite as well?
Veen pedhamum theeraatho
Will this futile social division never end?
Yaezhaigal pol pedhai enpaal
Towards an innocent and poor man like me,
Irakkamillaathathum yaeno
Why is there no mercy shown by society?
Thaazhvuyarvennum soozhnilai endrum
Will the social barrier of high and low status
Vaazhvinilae thadathano……
Always remain an obstacle in our lives?
………………..
Pasunjolaiyin poongodithaan
A delicate flowering creeper from a lush garden,
Kadumpaalaiyil vaadaatho
Will it not wither in a harsh desert?
Perumaaligai moginiyaal
Is that enchantress from the grand mansion
Theru moolaiyil yaenguvatho
Now yearning and suffering at a street corner?
Maan vizhiyaal neer pozhivaal
That deer-eyed maiden sheds endless tears,
Varumaiyil vaadumennaalae
Because I am suffering in deep poverty.
Thaazhvuyarvennum soozhnilai endrum
Will the social barrier of high and low status
Vaazhvinilae thadathano……
Always remain an obstacle in our lives?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Vaanmathi Neeyarivaai' from the 1958 film 'Avan Amaran' is a soulful lament on class divide and the tragic pain of unfulfilled love. The protagonist confides in the moon, calling it as a witness to his pure and guileless devotion. Although their love is genuine and unfading, societal status and differences in wealth prevent the lovers from being together, as the woman hails from a wealthy, noble lineage while he lives in poverty. Through poetic imagery, he reflects on the unfairness of social hierarchy. He compares his beloved to a delicate garden vine struggling to survive in a desert, weeping over his impoverished state. The song passionately questions whether the artificial barriers of rich and poor will forever destroy human happiness and true affection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaib (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Vaanmathi neeyarivaai / Vanjamillaa kadhaliyaal / Vaadugindrean vedhanaiyaal”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines, such as 'Vaanmathi', 'Vanjamillaa', and 'Vaadugindrean'.
Upamai (Simile)
“Vilaiyaadum nilaa polae / Nam kadhalum seraatho”
Comparing the expected gentle union of their love to moonlight dancing over ocean waves ('Vilaiyaadum nilaa polae').
Uruvagaimai (Metaphor)
“Pasunjolaiyin poongodithaan / Kadumpaalaiyil vaadaatho”
Metaphorically describing the rich, pampered woman as a flowering creeper from a lush garden ('Pasunjolaiyin poongodi') forced into a desert.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Nam kadhalum seraatho / Veen pedhamum theeraatho”
Matching ending rhyming words across lines such as 'seraatho' and 'theeraatho', as well as 'vaadaatho' and 'yaenguvatho'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Avan Amaran' (1958) was directed by S. Balachander and featured music composed by T. M. Ibrahim. Lyricist Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam was renowned for embedding strong socialist themes and critiques of class discrimination into romantic duets and solos during the golden age of Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
More from Avan Amaran
Avan Amaran
Avan Amaran
Avan Amaran
Avan Amaran
Avan Amaran