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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaanmathiye Vaanmathiye

From Aranmanai Kili · 1993

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Aranmanai Kili1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vaanmadhiyae.. vaanmadhiyae..Oh celestial moon... oh celestial moon...
Thoodhu sellu vaanmadhiyaeGo as a messenger, oh celestial moon.
Female
Vaanmadhiyae ohh vaanmadhiyaeOh celestial moon... oh celestial moon...
Thoodhu sellu vaanmadhiyaeGo as a messenger, oh celestial moon.
Maaligai ponn maadamThis palace and golden balcony,
Malligai poo manjamThis bed of jasmine flowers,
Yaavumae ineramAll of these at this moment,
Yerkumo en nenjamWill my heart accept them?
Kaadhalan vaasal vara vendumMy lover must come to my doorstep,
Neeyum en sedhi solla vendumAnd you must deliver my message to him.
Female
Vaanmadhiyae ohh vaanmadhiyaeOh celestial moon... oh celestial moon...
Thoodhu sellu vaanmadhiyaeGo as a messenger, oh celestial moon.
Female
Vaigai vandhu kai anaikkaAs the river Vaigai comes to embrace with its arms,
Velli alai mei anaikkaAs the silver waves embrace my body,
Vaadi nindra then madhurai naandhanoAm I the withered, sweet city of Madurai?
Female
Thendralukku aasai illaiThe southern breeze has no desire,
Thembiduthae vaasa mullaiThe fragrant jasmine flower is sobbing,
Ammamaa anbuthollai yen dhanoOh dear, why this torment of love?
Female
Vannapoovum ennai kanduEven the colorful flower, seeing me,
Vaai ithazhai moodi konduCloses its petal lips,
Punnagaika matten endru poraadudhuAnd struggles, refusing to smile.
Female
Andhi maalai varum noi konduCarrying the affliction brought by dusk,
Thannandhani naan endruKnowing that I am all alone,
Paavai nitham vaadum vidham paaraaiLook at how this maiden languishes every day.
Female
Vaanmadhiyae ohh vaanmadhiyaeOh celestial moon... oh celestial moon...
Thoodhu sellu vaanmadhiyaeGo as a messenger, oh celestial moon.
Female
Nenjukullae kotti vaithuPiled up deep inside my heart,
Nitham nitham naan alakkumAnd measured by me day after day,
Ennudaiya asaigalai koorayoWon't you express my desires?
Female
Unnaipola naanum mellaWaning slowly just like you,
Theivadhingu gnyayam allaIs not fair or just.
Vennnilavae thoodhu sella vaarayooOh white moon, won't you come to carry my message?
Female
Ethanaiyo solli vaithenI have expressed so many thoughts,
Ennangalai alli vittenI have poured out my feelings,
Innum andha mannanYet why hasn't that king's
Manam maaradhadhenHeart changed even now?
Female
Uyir kaadhal thunai vaaramalWithout my soulmate of love coming to me,
Kannai imai seraamalWithout my eyelids closing in sleep,
Paavai nitham vaadum vidham paaraaiLook at how this maiden languishes every day.
Female
Vaanmadhiyae ohh vaanmadhiyaeOh celestial moon... oh celestial moon...
Thoodhu sellu vaanmadhiyaeGo as a messenger, oh celestial moon.
Maaligai ponn maadamThis palace and golden balcony,
Malligai poo manjamThis bed of jasmine flowers,
Yaavumae ineramAll of these at this moment,
Yerkumo en nenjamWill my heart accept them?
Kaadhalan vaasal vara vendumMy lover must come to my doorstep,
Neeyum en sedhi solla vendumAnd you must deliver my message to him.
Female
Vaanmadhiyae ohh vaanmadhiyaeOh celestial moon... oh celestial moon...
Thoodhu sellu vaanmadhiyaeGo as a messenger, oh celestial moon.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vaanmadhiyae is a poignant Tamil song rooted in classical sangam love poetry where a longing maiden addresses the moon as her messenger (Thoodhu). Surrounded by opulent comforts like a golden balcony and a bed of jasmines, she finds no joy in them without her lover by her side. She pleads with the moon to carry her suffering and deep desires to her beloved king. Throughout the track, nature is depicted as empathizing with her plight—flowers close their petals in sorrow and the evening breeze brings pain rather than relief. She compares her gradual fading from grief to the waning phase of the moon, capturing the deep anguish of love in separation (Viraha).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Thoodhu (Messenger Motif) / Personification

Thoodhu sellu vaanmadhiyae

Addressing the inanimate moon as a conscious messenger and confidante to deliver a love message to her distant beloved.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Maaligai ponn maadam / Malligai poo manjam

The second letters of 'Maaligai' and 'Malligai' match ('l'), creating a rhythmic and musical flow in the stanza.

Simile / Analogy

Unnaipola naanum mella / Theivadhingu gnyayam alla

The singer compares her physical and emotional waning from heartbreak to the gradual waning phase of the moon.

Personification

Vannapoovum ennai kandu / Vaai ithazhai moodi kondu / Punnagaika matten endru poraadudhu

Attributing human emotions and actions to flowers, describing them as closing their lips and refusing to smile in grief.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song utilizes the traditional 'Thoodhu' poetic format—a classic Tamil literary device dating back to ancient Sangam literature where nature (moon, clouds, birds) is asked to act as an emissary between separated lovers. Composed by Ilaiyaraaja for Aranmanai Kili (1993), this track is widely appreciated for its soulful melody and expressive rendition.

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