Vanamellam Shenbagapoo Duet
From Nadodi Pattukkaran · 1992
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nadodi Pattukkaran1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vanamellaam shenbagappoo | The forest is full of Champak flowers |
| Vaanellaam kungumappoo | The sky is full of vermilion flowers |
| Female | |
| Vanamellaam shenbagappoo | The forest is full of Champak flowers |
| Vaanellaam kungumappoo | The sky is full of vermilion flowers |
| Thean ellaam sindhi varum | Spilling sweetness like honey, comes |
| Sendhoorapoo | The vermilion flower |
| Then podhigai kaatrinilae | In the sweet breeze of the Podhigai hills |
| Sendhazhampoo | The red screw-pine flower |
| Female | |
| Vanamellaam shenbagappoo | The forest is full of Champak flowers |
| Vaanellaam kungumappoo | The sky is full of vermilion flowers |
| Female | |
| Aathoram poongarumbu | A flowering sugarcane by the riverbank |
| Kaaththirukkum siru erumbu | A tiny ant waiting nearby |
| Akkaraiyil aayiram poo poo poo | A thousand flowers bloom on the opposite bank |
| Pooththirukku thaamarai poo | Lotus flowers have bloomed |
| Ponniraththu kaanjarampoo | Golden-colored Kaanjaram flowers |
| Putham pudhu poonjirupu toppu | Brand new smiling flower groves |
| Female | |
| Eppodhum maaraappu | Always wearing a drape |
| Eduppaana poondhoppu | An attractive flower garden |
| Enna enna engum thiththipp poo poo | What sweetness everywhere, flower flower |
| Ottaadha oodhappoo | A non-sticking violet flower |
| Udhiraadha veerappu | An unfading pride and courage |
| Vanna vanna inbam rettipp poo poo | Colorful joy doubles, flower flower |
| Female | |
| Vazhi muzhudhum vanappu | Beauty all along the path |
| Enakkazhaippu | An invitation for me |
| Pudhu thogupu vaguppu | A new collection and class |
| Kanakkeduppu…………… | Taking account... |
| Female | |
| Vanamellaam shenbagappoo | The forest is full of Champak flowers |
| Vaanellaam kungumappoo | The sky is full of vermilion flowers |
| Thean ellaam sindhi varum | Spilling sweetness like honey, comes |
| Sendhoorapoo | The vermilion flower |
| Then podhigai kaatrinilae | In the sweet breeze of the Podhigai hills |
| Sendhazhampoo | The red screw-pine flower |
| Female | |
| Vanamellaam ……..laam…..mm…. | All over the forest... forest... mm... |
| Male | |
| Kettavarkku manam irumbu | For the wicked, the heart is made of iron |
| Nallavarai nee virumbu | You should love the good people |
| Ellorkkum varuvadhindha mooppu | Old age comes to everyone eventually |
| Ezhaigalin nalluzhaippu | The hard work of the poor |
| Enna ingu avar pizhaippu | What is their livelihood here? |
| Vaazhvu varum endru ethir paarppu | Waiting with expectation that a good life will arrive |
| Male | |
| Veenaaga ilukkum vambu | Unnecessary troubles pulled in vain |
| Vinaiyaagum kaikalappu | Clashes that turn into disaster |
| Vittu vidu chinna thambi yeippu | Leave behind deception, little brother |
| Kaiyyodu edu silambu | Take the anklets in your hands |
| Kalandhaada nimirndhezhumbu | Stand tall and rise to dance along |
| Kaiyil varum nalla nalla vaaippu | Great opportunities will come right into your hands |
| Male | |
| Viruviruppu irukku | Excitement is present |
| Surusuruppu | Energetic enthusiasm |
| Aruvaruppu othukku | Set aside disgust |
| Varum sirappu | Greatness will come |
| Male | |
| {Vanamellaam shenbagappoo | The forest is full of Champak flowers |
| Vaanellaam kungumappoo | The sky is full of vermilion flowers |
| Then podhigai kaatrinilae | In the sweet breeze of the Podhigai hills |
| Sendhazhampoo} (2) | The red screw-pine flower |
வனமெல்லாம் செண்பகப்பூ
வானெல்லாம் குங்குமப்பூ
The forest is full of Champak flowers
The sky is full of vermilion flowers
வனமெல்லாம் செண்பகப்பூ
வானெல்லாம் குங்குமப்பூ
தேன் எல்லாம் சிந்தி வரும்
செந்தூரப்பூ
தென் பொதிகை
காற்றினிலே செந்தாழம்பூ
The forest is full of Champak flowers
The sky is full of vermilion flowers
Spilling sweetness like honey, comes
The vermilion flower
In the sweet breeze of the Podhigai hills
The red screw-pine flower
வனமெல்லாம் செண்பகப்பூ
வானெல்லாம் குங்குமப்பூ
The forest is full of Champak flowers
The sky is full of vermilion flowers
ஆத்தோரம் பூங்கரும்பு
காத்திருக்கும் சிறு எறும்பு
அக்கறையில் ஆயிரம் பூ பூ பூ
பூத்திருக்கு தாமரைப்பூ
பொன்னிறத்து காஞ்சறம்பூ
புத்தம் புது பூஞ்சிரிப்பு டாப்பு
A flowering sugarcane by the riverbank
A tiny ant waiting nearby
A thousand flowers bloom on the opposite bank
Lotus flowers have bloomed
Golden-colored Kaanjaram flowers
Brand new smiling flower groves
எப்போதும் மாராப்பு
எடுப்பான பூந்தோப்பு
என்ன என்ன
எங்கும் தித்திப்பூ...பூ
Always wearing a drape
An attractive flower garden
What sweetness everywhere, flower flower
A non-sticking violet flower
An unfading pride and courage
Colorful joy doubles, flower flower
ஒட்டாத ஊதாப்பூ
உதிராத வீராப்பூ வண்ண
வண்ண இன்பம் ரெட்டிப்பூ...பூ
வழி முழுதும் வனப்பு
எனக்கழைப்பு
புது தொகுப்பு வகுப்பு
கணக்கெடுப்பு....
Beauty all along the path
An invitation for me
A new collection and class
Taking account...
வனமெல்லாம் செண்பகப்பூ
வானெல்லாம் குங்குமப்பூ
தென் பொதிகை
காற்றினிலே செந்தாழம்பூ
The forest is full of Champak flowers
The sky is full of vermilion flowers
Spilling sweetness like honey, comes
The vermilion flower
In the sweet breeze of the Podhigai hills
The red screw-pine flower
வனமெல்லாம் லாம்
All over the forest... forest... mm...
கெட்டவர்க்கு மனம் இரும்பு
நல்லவரை நீ விரும்பு
எல்லோர்க்கும் வருவதிந்த மூப்பு
For the wicked, the heart is made of iron
You should love the good people
Old age comes to everyone eventually
The hard work of the poor
What is their livelihood here?
Waiting with expectation that a good life will arrive
ஏழைகளின் நல்லுழைப்பு
என்ன இங்கு அவர் பிழைப்பு
வாழ்வு வரும் என்று எதிர்ப்பார்ப்பு
Unnecessary troubles pulled in vain
Clashes that turn into disaster
Leave behind deception, little brother
Take the anklets in your hands
Stand tall and rise to dance along
Great opportunities will come right into your hands
வீணாக இழுக்கும் வம்பு
வினையாகும் கைகலப்பு
விட்டு விடு சின்ன தம்பி எயிப்பு
Excitement is present
Energetic enthusiasm
Set aside disgust
Greatness will come
கையோடு எடு சிலம்பு
கலந்தாட நிமிர்ந்தெழும்பு
கையில் வரும் நல்ல நல்ல வாய்ப்பு
விறுவிறுப்பு இருக்கு சுறுசுறுப்பு
அருவருப்பு ஒதுக்கு வரும் சிறப்பு
The forest is full of Champak flowers
The sky is full of vermilion flowers
In the sweet breeze of the Podhigai hills
The red screw-pine flower
வனமெல்லாம் செண்பகப்பூ
வானெல்லாம் குங்குமப்பூ
தென் பொதிகை
காற்றினிலே செந்தாழம்பூ
வனமெல்லாம் செண்பகப்பூ
வானெல்லாம் குங்குமப்பூ
தென் பொதிகை
காற்றினிலே செந்தாழம்பூ
Vanamellaam shenbagappoo
The forest is full of Champak flowers
Vaanellaam kungumappoo
The sky is full of vermilion flowers
Vanamellaam shenbagappoo
The forest is full of Champak flowers
Vaanellaam kungumappoo
The sky is full of vermilion flowers
Thean ellaam sindhi varum
Spilling sweetness like honey, comes
Sendhoorapoo
The vermilion flower
Then podhigai kaatrinilae
In the sweet breeze of the Podhigai hills
Sendhazhampoo
The red screw-pine flower
Vanamellaam shenbagappoo
The forest is full of Champak flowers
Vaanellaam kungumappoo
The sky is full of vermilion flowers
Aathoram poongarumbu
A flowering sugarcane by the riverbank
Kaaththirukkum siru erumbu
A tiny ant waiting nearby
Akkaraiyil aayiram poo poo poo
A thousand flowers bloom on the opposite bank
Pooththirukku thaamarai poo
Lotus flowers have bloomed
Ponniraththu kaanjarampoo
Golden-colored Kaanjaram flowers
Putham pudhu poonjirupu toppu
Brand new smiling flower groves
Eppodhum maaraappu
Always wearing a drape
Eduppaana poondhoppu
An attractive flower garden
Enna enna engum thiththipp poo poo
What sweetness everywhere, flower flower
Ottaadha oodhappoo
A non-sticking violet flower
Udhiraadha veerappu
An unfading pride and courage
Vanna vanna inbam rettipp poo poo
Colorful joy doubles, flower flower
Vazhi muzhudhum vanappu
Beauty all along the path
Enakkazhaippu
An invitation for me
Pudhu thogupu vaguppu
A new collection and class
Kanakkeduppu……………
Taking account...
Vanamellaam shenbagappoo
The forest is full of Champak flowers
Vaanellaam kungumappoo
The sky is full of vermilion flowers
Thean ellaam sindhi varum
Spilling sweetness like honey, comes
Sendhoorapoo
The vermilion flower
Then podhigai kaatrinilae
In the sweet breeze of the Podhigai hills
Sendhazhampoo
The red screw-pine flower
Vanamellaam ……..laam…..mm….
All over the forest... forest... mm...
Kettavarkku manam irumbu
For the wicked, the heart is made of iron
Nallavarai nee virumbu
You should love the good people
Ellorkkum varuvadhindha mooppu
Old age comes to everyone eventually
Ezhaigalin nalluzhaippu
The hard work of the poor
Enna ingu avar pizhaippu
What is their livelihood here?
Vaazhvu varum endru ethir paarppu
Waiting with expectation that a good life will arrive
Veenaaga ilukkum vambu
Unnecessary troubles pulled in vain
Vinaiyaagum kaikalappu
Clashes that turn into disaster
Vittu vidu chinna thambi yeippu
Leave behind deception, little brother
Kaiyyodu edu silambu
Take the anklets in your hands
Kalandhaada nimirndhezhumbu
Stand tall and rise to dance along
Kaiyil varum nalla nalla vaaippu
Great opportunities will come right into your hands
Viruviruppu irukku
Excitement is present
Surusuruppu
Energetic enthusiasm
Aruvaruppu othukku
Set aside disgust
Varum sirappu
Greatness will come
{Vanamellaam shenbagappoo
The forest is full of Champak flowers
Vaanellaam kungumappoo
The sky is full of vermilion flowers
Then podhigai kaatrinilae
In the sweet breeze of the Podhigai hills
Sendhazhampoo} (2)
The red screw-pine flower
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Vanamellaam shenbagappoo is a rhythmic and visually rich Tamil song from the movie Nadodi Pattukkaran (1992). The song opens with vivid imagery of nature, celebrating a landscape overflowing with colorful flowers, sweet honey, and breezes originating from the sacred Podhigai mountains. The lush floral descriptions metaphorically reflect abundance, natural harmony, and the joy of life. As the song progresses, Gangai Amaran's lyrics shift toward reflective life philosophy. The song advises listeners on morality—reminding us that old age comes to all, advocating for kindness toward good-hearted people, validating the hard labor of the poor, and urging youth to abandon deceit and trivial disputes in favor of active, enthusiastic, and upright living.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vanamellaam shenbagappoo / Vaanellaam kungumappoo”
The initial letter 'Va' is repeated across lines for rhythmic beat ('Vanamellaam' and 'Vaanellaam').
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Viruviruppu irukku / Surusuruppu / Aruvaruppu othukku”
Words ending in '-ruppu' rhyme consecutively, creating a rapid folk cadence.
Metaphor
“Vaanellaam kungumappoo”
Comparing the red hues of the sky to 'kungumappoo' (vermilion/saffron flowers).
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Kettavarkku manam irumbu / Nallavarai nee virumbu”
Harmonizing the second consonant sound 'tt' and 'll' in adjacent instructional couplets.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Nadodi Pattukkaran (1992) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, starring Karthik and Kanaka. Gangai Amaran's lyrics use extensive Tamil botanical names (Shenbagam, Kungumam, Kaanjaram, Lotus, Sendhazham) to ground the song in traditional rural folklore aesthetics.
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