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Isaimozhi
Jeevanadhi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vadai Vadai Ulundhu

From Jeevanadhi · 1986

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
S. P. Sailaja
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Jeevanadhi
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
3 Feb 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai
Sirisunnu paakkaathinga idhu seeragam kalantha vadai
Sirisunnu paakkaathinga idhu seeragam kalantha vadai
Nalla jeeranam aakkum vadai
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai
Soodae aaraama suvaiyae
Maaraama moodiyae vachcha vaddai
Idhu murugalaa sutta vadai
Soodae aaraama suvaiyae
Maaraama moodiyae vachcha vaddai
Idhu murugalaa sutta vadai
Otta alavaa potta vadai
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai
Paaththaa poraathu pasiyum theeraathu
Vaada pudikakaathinga
Adhukkum vaadagai ketpenunga haang
Paaththaa poraathu pasiyum theeraathu
Vaada pudikakaathinga
Adhukkum vaadagai ketpenunga
: Pallae illaatha kezhavanga kooda
Padhamaa kadikkum vadai
Milagaa pazhamaa niraincha vadai
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai
Elavam panjukkum medhuvai koduththathu
Engooru ulunthu vadai
Pasum neiyyaaga manakkum vadai
Kudichhcittu thallaadum manushana kooda
Kambaaga nimiththum vadai
Pudhu thembaaga maaththum vadai
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai
Kaase illaama aasaiyai vachchukittu
Thottukittu podaathinga
Kai pattuchchunnaa aagaathunga haang…
Kaase illaama aasaiyai vachchukittu
Thottukittu podaathinga
Kai pattuchchunnaa aagaathunga haang…
Idhu carla rail-u la kadarkarai manalula
Malivaa kedaikkum vadai
Ellaa manasaiyum mayangum vadai
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai
Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai
Velai rompa koranja vadai…..hoi….
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little!
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little!
Don't look down on its small size, it is seasoned with cumin!
Don't look down on its small size, it is seasoned with cumin!
A vada that aids your digestion well!
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little!
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little!
Without losing its warmth,
And kept covered so its flavor never fades!
This is a vada fried crisp!
Without losing its warmth,
And kept covered so its flavor never fades!
This is a vada fried crisp!
A vada shaped with the perfect hole!
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little!
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little!
Just staring won't do, nor will your hunger be cured!
Don't just try to catch its aroma!
I will charge you rent even for that, huh!
Just staring won't do, nor will your hunger be cured!
Don't just try to catch its aroma!
I will charge you rent even for that!
Even old folks who don't have any teeth,
Can easily bite into this soft vada!
A vada filled with ripe chillies!
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little!
Teaching even soft cotton about softness,
That is our town's urad dal vada!
A vada that smells rich like cow's ghee!
Even a drunken man stumbling around,
This vada makes him stand upright like a rod!
A vada that gives you brand-new strength!
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little!
Having no money and holding only desire,
Don't you dare touch and leave it!
If your hands touch it, that won't do, huh!
Having no money and holding only desire,
Don't you dare touch and leave it!
If your hands touch it, that won't do, huh!
In cars, on trains, or on the beach sands,
A vada you can get so cheap!
A vada that wins over every heart!
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little!
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little!
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little!
Vada, vada, ah... urad dal vada!
A vada that costs so very little... hoy!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful street-vendor song from 'Jeevanadhi' features a street hawker selling crispy urad dal vadas. The singer humorously pitches the qualities of her freshly made snacks, boasting about their low price, digestive benefits due to cumin, and softness that allows toothless elders to eat them easily. She teasingly warns onlookers not to smell the tempting aroma for free, threatening to charge rent for the scent. Through hyperbole, she claims her vadas lend softness to silk cotton and instantly sober up drunkards with a boost of fresh energy. The lyrics highlight the ubiquitous presence of vadas across trains, cars, and beach sands, serving as an irresistible, affordable delicacy loved by everyone.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Wordplay / Pun (Sledai)

“Vaada pudikakaathinga / Adhukkum vaadagai ketpenunga”

Clever phonetic play connecting 'Vaada' (aroma/scent) with 'Vaadagai' (rent).

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

“Elavam panjukkum medhuvai koduththathu Engooru ulunthu vadai”

Exaggerating the softness of the vada by stating it lent its softness to silk cotton.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

“Kudichhcittu thallaadum manushana kooda Kambaaga nimiththum vadai”

Humorously exaggerating that eating the vada will instantly sober up a drunk person and make them stand straight like a stick.

Initial Rhyme (Monai)

“Vadai vadai aa…..ulunthu vadai / Velai rompa koranja vadai”

Repetition of the initial 'Va' sound across words in the opening refrains.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Legendary maestro M. S. Viswanathan, this quirky promotional hawker song highlights S. P. Sailaja's versatile vocal range in performing upbeat, comedic Tamil folk numbers.

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