- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- C. S. Jayaraman, P. Leela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Sivagangai Seemai
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 18 Apr 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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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