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Pudhu Kavithai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vaarey Vaa

From Pudhu Kavithai · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pudhu Kavithai
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
8 Nov 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Arae vaarae vaa
Karumpoovae vaa
Arae vaarae vaa
Karumpoovae vaa
Karuppu kannam thottaal
Kidaikkum netri pottu
Karuppu kannam thottaal
Kidaikkum netri pottu
Maarbil maalaippol aada
Vaarae vaa
Ilampoovae vaa
Arae vaarae vaa
Ilampoovae vaa
Karuppu kannam thottu
Ittukkol netri pottu
Karuppu kannam thottu
Ittukkol netri pottu
Maarbil maalaippol aada
Vaarae vaa ilampoovae vaa
Meesai yevvannam
Adhuvae un vannam verillai
Yaanai endrunnai sonnaal
En vaakku poiyillai…
Raappaapaapaa
Meesai yevvannam
Adhuvae un vannam verillai
Yaanai endrunnai sonnaal
En vaakku poiyillai
Raappaapaapaa
Kannan kooda en vamsam
Vaanil paaru en amsam
Female :Vaanil pogum megangal
Vannam enna paarungal
Vellai megam vannam maari
Vanthaalthaanae peiyum maari
Vaarae vaarae vaa
Ilam poovae poovae vaa
Arae vaarae vaarae vaarae vaa
Karum poovae poovae vaa
Kannae unperai sonnaal
Nenjengum naadhangal
Poovin thesangal
Engum ullaasa oonjalgal
Raappaapaapaa
Kannae unperai sonnaal
Nenjengum naadhangal
Poovin thesangal
Engum ullaasa oonjalgal
Raappaapaapaa
Raavil vaadum pookkaadu
Neram paarththu neerootru
Male :Madiyil serththu thaalaattu
Thaagam theerkkum thaenoottu
Tholil serththu kannai moodu
Kaalai neram aadai thaedu
Vaarae vaarae vaa
Karumpoovae poovae vaa
Arae vaarae vaarae vaarae vaa
Ilam poovae poovae vaa
Karuppu kannam thottu
Male :Ittukkol netrippottu
Female :Karuppu kannam thottu
Male :Ittukkol netrippottu
Maarbil maalai polaada
Male :Vaarae vaarae vaa
Female :Karum poovae poovae vaa
Male :Arae vaarae vaarae vaarae vaa
Female :Arae vaarae vaarae vaarae vaa
Oh, come on, come!
Come, my dark flower!
Oh, come on, come!
Come, my dark flower!
If you touch my dark cheek,
you will get a bindi on your forehead!
If you touch my dark cheek,
you will get a bindi on your forehead!
To sway like a garland upon my chest,
come on, come!
Come, tender flower!
Oh, come on, come!
Come, tender flower!
Touch my dark cheek,
and put a bindi on your forehead!
Touch my dark cheek,
and put a bindi on your forehead!
To sway like a garland upon my chest,
come on, come, tender flower, come!
Whatever color your mustache is,
that is your true color, nothing else!
If I call you a dark elephant,
my words are not a lie...
Ra pa pa pa
Whatever color your mustache is,
that is your true color, nothing else!
If I call you a dark elephant,
my words are not a lie.
Ra pa pa pa
Even Lord Krishna shares my dark skin!
Look at the sky, it carries my shade!
Look at the clouds drifting in the sky,
look at what color they are!
Only when white clouds turn dark
does the rain begin to fall!
Come on, come on!
Come, tender flower, flower, come!
Oh, come on, come on, come on!
Come, dark flower, flower, come!
My darling, whenever I say your name,
sweet music echoes in my heart!
Lands of blooming flowers,
and joyful swings sway everywhere!
Ra pa pa pa
My darling, whenever I say your name,
sweet music echoes in my heart!
Lands of blooming flowers,
and joyful swings sway everywhere!
Ra pa pa pa
The flower garden withers in the night,
shower it with water at the right time!
Hold me in your lap and sing a lullaby,
feed me sweet honey to quench my thirst!
Rest against my shoulder and close your eyes,
and look for your clothes only when morning comes!
Come on, come on!
Come, dark flower, flower, come!
Oh, come on, come on, come on!
Come, tender flower, flower, come!
Touch my dark cheek,
and put a bindi on your forehead!
Touch my dark cheek,
and put a bindi on your forehead!
To sway like a garland upon my chest,
come on, come on!
Come, dark flower, flower, come!
Oh, come on, come on, come on!
Oh, come on, come on, come on!
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and romantic duet expresses the passionate banter and deep affection between two lovers who celebrate each other's unique charms and dark complexions. Through metaphorical language, the lovers compare complexions to dark flowers, rain-bearing dark clouds, and Lord Krishna's divine dark hue, transforming perceived physical traits into romantic ideals. The song moves into an intimate exchange filled with imagery of cozy embraces, lullabies, and nighttime romance, concluding with a harmonious call-and-response refrain that underscores their mutual attraction and deep bond.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

“Maarbil maalaippol aada”

Comparing embracing tightly across the chest to a garland resting on the chest ('Maarbil maalaippol aada').

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Karumpoovae vaa”

Addressing the beloved affectionately as 'Karumpoovae' (dark flower) and 'Ilampoovae' (tender flower).

Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Karuppu kannam thottaal / Kidaikkum netri pottu”

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'k' in 'Karuppu' and 'Kidaikkum'.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

“Vaanil pogum megangal / Vannam enna paarungal”

Rhyming second letters in 'Meesai' and 'Adhuvae' or 'Vaanil' and 'Vannam'.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is featured in the 1982 Tamil romantic drama film 'Pudhu Kavithai', starring Rajinikanth and Jyothi. The film's musical score was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu, and vocals performed by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.

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From the same album

More songs from Pudhu Kavithai

View album
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