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Agni Sakshi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vanakkam Mudhal Variyai

From Agni Sakshi · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Agni Sakshi
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
17 Jan 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vanakkam
Mudhal variyai ezhuthum mun
En mugavariyai ezhutha enninaen
Piraguthaan vaazhththugindra idhayaththukku
Vishaalamthaan mukkiyamae thavira
Vilaasam mukkiyamalla endru vittu vittaen
Pushpangal kaithatti koopidaamalayae
Vandugal varuvathu pol
Unthan nadana arangai nokki nagar thaanaagavae
Nagarnthu nagarnthu varugirathu
Kaaranam abhinayam endra sollai
Neengal adhisayam endru arththapaduththukireergal
Kaattrukkooda kaarsalagai katti vidakkoodiya
Kettikaarar neengal
Male :Kaattrukkooda kaarsalagai katti vidakkoodiya
Kettikaarar neengal ahhaahhaa
Ungalai sirushtiththa karvaththil
Kalaimagalae thalaikanaththu nirkkiraal
Oho purigirathu
Oru paiththiyam endru ennai parikasikkireergalo
Aam paiththiyamthaan paiththiyamthaan
Naan oru tamil paiththiyam
Pin kurippu
Vittu vittu vantha en idhayaththai
Viraivil thiruppi anuppu
Padiththaen padiththaen kaditham
Adadaa varigal amutham
Padiththaen padiththaen kaditham
Adadaa varigal amutham
Paper arangam muzhuthum
Unthan pen-ah munaiyin nadanam
Pen- ah munaiyin nadanam
Un chiththiram kann muttrilum
Varainthaaa vendum neril vaa
Un chiththiram kann muttrilum
Varainthaaa vendum neril vaa
Soppanangal unnai theda
Suvaasanal ushnam yaera
Ninaikkum ninaippae karuga
Nee anaikkum padaiyaai varuga
Anaikkum padaiyaai varuga
En Snegitharae
Ungal ezhuththukkalin inippirkku
Erumbugal varakkoodum enbathaal kadithaththai
En maar siraiyil maraiththu vaiththirukkiraen
Thabaalgalaiyae thaamboolangalaaga kondu
Namakkul oru nichchiyathaarththamae
Nigazhunthu vittatho
Ini soppanagalill
Ennai theda vendaam
Viyaalan maalai varuvaen
Vizhikkor virunthai tharuvaen
Viyaalan maalai varuvaen
Vizhikkor virunthai tharuvaen
Bharathi silaiyin oram
Edhirpaarththirungal anthi neram
Edhirpaarththirungal anthi neram
Uppukkadal karpukkeda
Thoduvaanam theendum velaiyil
Uppukkadal karpukkeda
Thoduvaanam theendum velaiyil
Maiyitta kannaal neeyum
Kaiyoppam Ittaai kannae
Thanimai sugangal muzhukka
Nee thavanai muraiyil kodukka
Dhinamum dhinamum varuga
Thanalil mezhugaai uruga
Mudhumai varaiyil inimael
Intha padhumai adiyaen madiyil
Padhumai adiyaen madiyil
Greetings.
Before writing the first line,
I thought of writing my address.
Only then did I realize that for a heart that blesses,
a generous heart is what matters,
not a postal address, so I left it out.
Without flowers clapping hands to call them,
just as bees arrive,
towards your dance stage, the whole town on its own
moves closer and closer.
The reason is that the word 'abhinaya' (dance expression),
you redefine to mean a wonder.
Capable of tying ankle bells even to the wind,
you are so immensely gifted.
Male: Capable of tying ankle bells even to the wind,
you are so immensely gifted, ahaha!
In the pride of having created you,
even the Goddess of Arts stands with a proud head.
Oh, I understand.
Are you teasing me as a mad person?
Yes, I am mad, truly mad!
I am a person mad about Tamil.
Postscript:
The heart I left behind with you,
please send it back soon.
I read your letter, I read it!
Ah, every line is pure nectar!
I read your letter, I read it!
Ah, every line is pure nectar!
Across the whole stage of this paper,
dances the tip of your pen.
Dances the tip of your pen!
Must I only keep drawing your portrait
in my eyes? Come in person!
Must I only keep drawing your portrait
in my eyes? Come in person!
As my dreams search for you,
as the breath of my sighs turns burning hot,
as the very thoughts in my mind scorch,
come like an army to embrace and soothe the fire!
Come like an army to embrace and soothe the fire!
My dear friend,
for the sweetness of your words,
fearing ants might gather, this letter
I have kept hidden in the prison of my chest.
Taking these letters as ceremonial betel leaves,
has a wedding engagement between us
already taken place?
From now on, in dreams,
you do not need to look for me.
I will come this Thursday evening,
and give a feast to your eyes.
I will come this Thursday evening,
and give a feast to your eyes.
Beside the statue of poet Bharati,
wait for me at dusk.
Wait for me at dusk.
Where the salty sea meets the shield of virtue,
at the hour it touches the horizon,
Where the salty sea meets the shield of virtue,
at the hour it touches the horizon,
with your kohl-lined eyes,
you have placed your signature, my darling!
All the pleasures of our private moments,
as you offer them in sweet installments,
come to me day after day,
to melt like wax over burning embers.
From now until our old age,
this lovely doll shall rest on my lap.
This lovely doll shall rest on my lap.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic poetic song segment from the film Agni Sakshi (1982) captures a romantic exchange of love letters and poetic verses between two lovers deeply enamored with poetry, art, and Tamil literature. The dialogue opens with recitations acknowledging the artistic grace and expressive power of the artist, comparing her dance to something that can enchant even the wind, while the lover playfully admits to being 'mad for Tamil'. The female lover responds warmly, describing how reading his letter felt like watching a dance across paper. She shares her intimate habit of guarding his letter close to her heart, viewing their letter exchanges as a formal engagement. Setting up a romantic rendezvous by the Bharathi statue at dusk on Thursday evening, the song concludes with passionate promises of lifelong togetherness, warmth, and shared solitude.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvam (Metaphor)

“Paper arangam muzhuthum / Unthan pen-ah munaiyin nadanam”

'Paper arangam' compares the blank sheet of paper to a dance stage where the pen nib performs.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“En maar siraiyil maraiththu vaiththirukkiraen”

'Maar siraiyil' metaphorically describes the chest/breast area as a prison guarding the sweet letter.

Uvamai (Simile)

“Thanalil mezhugaai uruga”

'Thanalil mezhugaai uruga' compares melting in love and passion to wax melting over burning embers.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

“Kaattrukkooda kaarsalagai katti vidakkoodiya / Kettikaarar neengal”

Describing the dancer as clever enough to tie jingle anklets onto the wind itself is an evocative hyperbolic image.

Did you know?

Trivia

Agni Sakshi (1982) was directed by K. Balachander and featured Sivakumar and Saritha. The movie is known for its intense emotional plot and creative use of free-verse poetry (Pudhu Kavidhai) penned by lyricist Vaali to express intimacy between literate and artistic lovers.

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