Vanakkam
From Avan Oru Sarithiram · 1977
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Avan Oru Sarithiram1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| ………………………… | ... |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… |
| Vanakkam vanakkam vanakkam | Welcome, welcome, welcome! |
| Female | |
| Vanakkam pala murai sonnen | I offer my greetings many times over, |
| Sabaiyinar munnae thamizh magal kannae | Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter! |
| Vanakkam pala murai sonnen | I offer my greetings many times over, |
| Sabaiyinar munnae thamizh magal kannae | Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter! |
| Konda panpaadu maravaadha penmai | A womanhood that never forgets its rooted culture and values, |
| Indha thennaattin vazhi kaakkum menmai | The gentle elegance that preserves the traditional way of this southern land. |
| Female | |
| Vanakkam pala murai sonnen | I offer my greetings many times over, |
| Sabaiyinar munnae thamizh magal kannae | Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter! |
| Female | |
| Melai naadengum vinjaana kalaigal | Across Western lands lie scientific arts and accomplishments, |
| Angu vilaiyaadum alangaara nilaigal | Where glamorous displays and modern scenes play out. |
| Melai naadengum vinjaana kalaigal | Across Western lands lie scientific arts and accomplishments, |
| Angu vilaiyaadum alangaara nilaigal | Where glamorous displays and modern scenes play out. |
| Angu pen illai paesum kan illai | Yet true womanhood is absent there, with no eyes that speak deep emotion. |
| Angu pen illai paesum kan illai | Yet true womanhood is absent there, with no eyes that speak deep emotion. |
| Enna alangolamo enna pudhu mogamo | What disorder is this, what strange new obsession? |
| Female | |
| Vanakkam pala murai sonnen | I offer my greetings many times over, |
| Sabaiyinar munnae thamizh magal kannae | Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter! |
| Male | |
| Vanna thilagangal oli veesum mugangal | Radiant faces glowing with colorful tilaks, |
| Engal thirunaattu kulamaadhar nalangal | The nobility and grace of virtues belonging to women of our holy land. |
| Vanna thilagangal oli veesum mugangal | Radiant faces glowing with colorful tilaks, |
| Engal thirunaattu kulamaadhar nalangal | The nobility and grace of virtues belonging to women of our holy land. |
| Anbu dheivangal inba chelvangal | They are divine goddesses of love, precious treasures of bliss, |
| Anbu dheivangal inba chelvangal | They are divine goddesses of love, precious treasures of bliss, |
| Aadum kalai aagumo paadum thamizhaagumo | Can dance as an art compare, or can sweet Tamil song equal them? |
| Male | |
| Vanakkam pala murai sonnen | I offer my greetings many times over, |
| Sabaiyinar munnae thamizh magal kannae | Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter! |
| Female | |
| Annai thaai paalai pillaikku koduthu | Nourishing her child with maternal mother's milk, |
| Anbu thaalaattu paattondru padithu | Singing a heartfelt lullaby filled with affection, |
| Annai thaai paalai pillaikku koduthu | Nourishing her child with maternal mother's milk, |
| Anbu thaalaattu paattondru padithu | Singing a heartfelt lullaby filled with affection, |
| Kaanum azhagenna thaedum sugam enna | What sublime beauty to behold, what deep happiness to discover! |
| Kaanum azhagenna thaedum sugam enna | What sublime beauty to behold, what deep happiness to discover! |
| Male | |
| Solla mozhi illaiyae paesa vilai illaiyae | No words exist to express it, and no price can buy such grace! |
.....................................
...
ஆ.......ஆ......ஆ.....
ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....
வணக்கம் வணக்கம் வணக்கம்
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Welcome, welcome, welcome!
வணக்கம் பல முறை சொன்னேன்
சபையினர் முன்னே தமிழ்மகள் கண்ணே
வணக்கம் பல முறை சொன்னேன்
சபையினர் முன்னே தமிழ்மகள் கண்ணே
கொண்ட பண்பாடு மறவாத பெண்மை
இந்த தென்னாட்டின் வழி காக்கும் மென்மை
I offer my greetings many times over,
Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter!
I offer my greetings many times over,
Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter!
A womanhood that never forgets its rooted culture and values,
The gentle elegance that preserves the traditional way of this southern land.
வணக்கம் பல முறை சொன்னேன்
சபையினர் முன்னே தமிழ்மகள் கண்ணே
I offer my greetings many times over,
Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter!
மேலை நாடெங்கும் விஞ்ஞானக் கலைகள்
அங்கு விளையாடும் அலங்கார நிலைகள்
மேலை நாடெங்கும் விஞ்ஞானக் கலைகள்
அங்கு விளையாடும் அலங்கார நிலைகள்
அங்கு பெண் இல்லை பேசும் கண் இல்லை
அங்கு பெண் இல்லை பேசும் கண் இல்லை
என்ன அலங்கோலமோ என்ன புது மோகமோ
Across Western lands lie scientific arts and accomplishments,
Where glamorous displays and modern scenes play out.
Across Western lands lie scientific arts and accomplishments,
Where glamorous displays and modern scenes play out.
Yet true womanhood is absent there, with no eyes that speak deep emotion.
Yet true womanhood is absent there, with no eyes that speak deep emotion.
What disorder is this, what strange new obsession?
வணக்கம் பல முறை சொன்னேன்
சபையினர் முன்னே தமிழ்மகள் கண்ணே
I offer my greetings many times over,
Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter!
வண்ணத் திலகங்கள் ஒளி வீசும் முகங்கள்
எங்கள் திருநாட்டுக் குலமாதர் நலங்கள்
வண்ணத் திலகங்கள் ஒளி வீசும் முகங்கள்
எங்கள் திருநாட்டுக் குலமாதர் நலங்கள்
அன்பு தெய்வங்கள் இன்பச் செல்வங்கள்
அன்பு தெய்வங்கள் இன்பச் செல்வங்கள்
ஆடும் கலை ஆகுமோ பாடும் தமிழாகுமோ
Radiant faces glowing with colorful tilaks,
The nobility and grace of virtues belonging to women of our holy land.
Radiant faces glowing with colorful tilaks,
The nobility and grace of virtues belonging to women of our holy land.
They are divine goddesses of love, precious treasures of bliss,
They are divine goddesses of love, precious treasures of bliss,
Can dance as an art compare, or can sweet Tamil song equal them?
வணக்கம் பல முறை சொன்னேன்
சபையினர் முன்னே தமிழ்மகள் கண்ணே
I offer my greetings many times over,
Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter!
அன்னை தாய்ப் பாலை பிள்ளைக்குக் கொடுத்து
அன்பு தாலாட்டுப் பாட்டொன்று படித்து
அன்னை தாய்ப் பாலை பிள்ளைக்குக் கொடுத்து
அன்பு தாலாட்டுப் பாட்டொன்று படித்து
காணும் அழகென்ன தேடும் சுகம் என்ன
காணும் அழகென்ன தேடும் சுகம் என்ன
Nourishing her child with maternal mother's milk,
Singing a heartfelt lullaby filled with affection,
Nourishing her child with maternal mother's milk,
Singing a heartfelt lullaby filled with affection,
What sublime beauty to behold, what deep happiness to discover!
What sublime beauty to behold, what deep happiness to discover!
சொல்ல மொழி இல்லையே
பேச விலை இல்லையே
No words exist to express it, and no price can buy such grace!
வணக்கம் பல முறை சொன்னேன்
சபையினர் முன்னே தமிழ்மகள் கண்ணே
கொண்ட பண்பாடு மறவாத பெண்மை
இந்த தென்னாட்டின் வழி காக்கும் மென்மை
வணக்கம் பல முறை சொன்னேன்
சபையினர் முன்னே தமிழ்மகள் கண்ணே
…………………………
...
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Vanakkam vanakkam vanakkam
Welcome, welcome, welcome!
Vanakkam pala murai sonnen
I offer my greetings many times over,
Sabaiyinar munnae thamizh magal kannae
Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter!
Vanakkam pala murai sonnen
I offer my greetings many times over,
Sabaiyinar munnae thamizh magal kannae
Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter!
Konda panpaadu maravaadha penmai
A womanhood that never forgets its rooted culture and values,
Indha thennaattin vazhi kaakkum menmai
The gentle elegance that preserves the traditional way of this southern land.
Vanakkam pala murai sonnen
I offer my greetings many times over,
Sabaiyinar munnae thamizh magal kannae
Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter!
Melai naadengum vinjaana kalaigal
Across Western lands lie scientific arts and accomplishments,
Angu vilaiyaadum alangaara nilaigal
Where glamorous displays and modern scenes play out.
Melai naadengum vinjaana kalaigal
Across Western lands lie scientific arts and accomplishments,
Angu vilaiyaadum alangaara nilaigal
Where glamorous displays and modern scenes play out.
Angu pen illai paesum kan illai
Yet true womanhood is absent there, with no eyes that speak deep emotion.
Angu pen illai paesum kan illai
Yet true womanhood is absent there, with no eyes that speak deep emotion.
Enna alangolamo enna pudhu mogamo
What disorder is this, what strange new obsession?
Vanakkam pala murai sonnen
I offer my greetings many times over,
Sabaiyinar munnae thamizh magal kannae
Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter!
Vanna thilagangal oli veesum mugangal
Radiant faces glowing with colorful tilaks,
Engal thirunaattu kulamaadhar nalangal
The nobility and grace of virtues belonging to women of our holy land.
Vanna thilagangal oli veesum mugangal
Radiant faces glowing with colorful tilaks,
Engal thirunaattu kulamaadhar nalangal
The nobility and grace of virtues belonging to women of our holy land.
Anbu dheivangal inba chelvangal
They are divine goddesses of love, precious treasures of bliss,
Anbu dheivangal inba chelvangal
They are divine goddesses of love, precious treasures of bliss,
Aadum kalai aagumo paadum thamizhaagumo
Can dance as an art compare, or can sweet Tamil song equal them?
Vanakkam pala murai sonnen
I offer my greetings many times over,
Sabaiyinar munnae thamizh magal kannae
Before this august assembly, O beloved Tamil daughter!
Annai thaai paalai pillaikku koduthu
Nourishing her child with maternal mother's milk,
Anbu thaalaattu paattondru padithu
Singing a heartfelt lullaby filled with affection,
Annai thaai paalai pillaikku koduthu
Nourishing her child with maternal mother's milk,
Anbu thaalaattu paattondru padithu
Singing a heartfelt lullaby filled with affection,
Kaanum azhagenna thaedum sugam enna
What sublime beauty to behold, what deep happiness to discover!
Kaanum azhagenna thaedum sugam enna
What sublime beauty to behold, what deep happiness to discover!
Solla mozhi illaiyae paesa vilai illaiyae
No words exist to express it, and no price can buy such grace!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Avan Oru Sarithiram' (1977) is a grand celebration of traditional Tamil womanhood, virtue, and cultural heritage. Sung as a stage performance before a revered audience, the speaker begins with respectful greetings and praises Tamil women for preserving their cultural roots and modesty across generations. The lyrics contrast Western technological advancement and external glamor with the deep emotional warmth, expressive gaze, and maternal love characteristic of Tamil tradition. Kannadasan highlights symbolic elements like the pottu (tilak), maternal affection, and lullabies as irreplaceable treasures of Tamil culture.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodai (Repetition)
“Vanakkam vanakkam vanakkam”
The word 'Vanakkam' is repeated sequentially for emphasis and emotional warmth.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Konda panpaadu maravaadha penmai / Indha thennaattin vazhi kaakkum menmai”
The second consonant 'n' creates a rhythmic harmony between 'Konda' and 'Indha'.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Anbu dheivangal inba chelvangal”
Women are metaphorically portrayed as 'deivangal' (goddesses) and 'chelvangal' (treasures).
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Annai thaai paalai pillaikku koduthu / Anbu thaalaattu paattondru padithu”
The repeating initial vowel sound 'A' forms a pleasing auditory rhythm across the lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Avan Oru Sarithiram' (1977) starred Sivaji Ganesan and Manjula. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Kavinar Kannadasan, showcasing his characteristic flair for praising Tamil heritage and moral values.
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