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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaigai Perugivara

From Sivagangai Seemai · 1959

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
C. S. Jayaraman, P. Leela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Sivagangai Seemai1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vaigai perugi varaAs the Vaigai river swells and flows,
Vanna manal oorndhu varaAnd colorful sand creeps along,
Oori vantha thanniyilaeIn the water that soaked and arrived,
Otti vantha katti muthuA solid pearl stuck and came along.
Oori vantha thanniyilaeIn the water that soaked and arrived,
Otti vantha katti muthuA solid pearl stuck and came along.
Male
Haa…aaa….aaa….haa…aaa…[Vocalizing]
Haa….aaa….aaaa….aaa…haaa….aaa[Vocalizing]
Female
Vaigai perugi varaAs the Vaigai river swells and flows,
Vanna manal oorndhu varaAnd colorful sand creeps along,
Oori vantha thanniyilaeIn the water that soaked and arrived,
Otti vantha katti muthuA solid pearl stuck and came along.
Male
Kai amarthi annam ittuWelcoming warmly and serving food,
Kaanikkai nooru veikkumOffering a hundred tributes,
Kai amarthi annam ittuWelcoming warmly and serving food,
Kaanikkai nooru veikkumOffering a hundred tributes,
Nenjamarthi aithai avalEmbracing in her heart, is she,
Eendredutha nithalamooA pure pearl borne by the aunt?
Nenjamarthi aithai avalEmbracing in her heart, is she,
Eendredutha nithalamooA pure pearl borne by the aunt?
Inaar thiru magaloWhose divine daughter is she?
Female :Amman marumagaloFemale: Is she the goddess's niece?
Male :Thanathaai vilaiyaadumMale: Is she the playfulness of our mother tongue,
Tamilo annakiliyooIs she Tamil or a graceful parrot bird?
Female
Hoo ooo oo[Vocalizing]
Vaigai perugi varaAs the Vaigai river swells and flows,
Vanna manal oorndhu varaAnd colorful sand creeps along,
Oori vantha thanniyilaeIn the water that soaked and arrived,
Otti vantha katti muthuA solid pearl stuck and came along.
Female
Haa…aaa….aaa….haa…aaa…[Vocalizing]
Haa….aaa….aaaa….aaa…haaa….aaa[Vocalizing]
Haa….aaa….aaaa….aaa…haaa….aaa[Vocalizing]
Female
Parathi magal irukkaWhile the chieftain's daughter is right here,
Manam pola uravu irukkaAnd a heart-matching relation exists,
Parathi magal irukkaWhile the chieftain's daughter is right here,
Manam pola uravu irukkaAnd a heart-matching relation exists,
Kurathi magalai enniThinking of the hunter girl,
Kuruvedam poondavarooDid you take on a teacher's disguise?
Kurathi magalai enniThinking of the hunter girl,
Kuruvedam poondavarooDid you take on a teacher's disguise?
Male
Poluthaal adi alanthuMeasuring time step by step as hours pass,
Poo pottu naal alanthuCounting days by placing flowers,
Poluthaal adi alanthuMeasuring time step by step as hours pass,
Poo pottu naal alanthuCounting days by placing flowers,
Thaali katta kaathirukkumWaiting to tie the sacred wedding thread,
Kaaviyidam santhegamoDo you have doubts about your epic lover?
Thaali katta kaathirukkumWaiting to tie the sacred wedding thread,
Kaaviyidam santhegamoDo you have doubts about your epic lover?
Male
Engo piranthirunthomWe were born somewhere far apart,
Female :Ingae kalanthu vittomFemale: But here we have blended together,
Both :Oru naal manam mudippomBoth: One day we will marry,
Thiru naal aninthiruppomAnd adorn ourselves on that sacred day.
Female
Haa…aaa….aaa….haa…aaa…[Vocalizing]
Male :Haa….aaa….aaaa….aaa…haaa….aaaMale: [Vocalizing]
Both :Haa….aaa….aaaa….aaa…haaa….aaaBoth: [Vocalizing]
Haa….aaa….aaaa….aaa…haaa….aaa[Vocalizing]

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vaigai Perugi Vara is a poetic duet from the film Sivagangai Seemai (1959), written by Kannadasan. The lyrics use the majestic flow of the Vaigai river as an extended metaphor for love, beauty, and destiny. The male protagonist admires his beloved, likening her arrival to a precious pearl brought by the river and describing her as the essence of sweet Tamil literature itself. The female protagonist responds with gentle teasing and references to mythological romantic themes. Together, the couple reflects on how two individuals born in different places were brought together by fate. They express their unshakeable belief that they will soon unite in sacred matrimony, looking forward to their auspicious wedding day.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Otti vantha katti muthu

Compares the beloved to a precious pearl ('katti muthu') carried down by the flowing waters of the Vaigai river.

Metaphor & Personification

Thanathaai vilaiyaadum Tamilo annakiliyoo

Compares the female lover's grace and voice directly to the playfulness of the Tamil language and a sweet bird ('annakili').

Initial Rhyme (Monai)

Vaigai perugi vara / Vanna manal oorndhu vara

Repetition of the initial sound 'Va' in consecutive lines creating lyrical harmony.

Mythological Allusion

Kurathi magalai enni Kuruvedam poondavaroo

Refers to mythological tales where a lord takes on disguises ('kuruvedam') for the sake of his beloved hunter maiden ('kurathi magal').

Did you know?

Trivia

Sivagangai Seemai (1959) was written and produced by the legendary poet Kannadasan himself as a historical drama celebrating Tamil heritage. The song 'Vaigai Perugi Vara', set to music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Leela, stands out for its rich classical Tamil diction and evocative river imagery.

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