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Lyrics & meaning

Vanampadi Ondru Vazhvizhanthe

From Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali · 1959

Lyricist
K. D. Santhanam
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kodumaiyada kodumaiyidhuOh, it is a cruelty, a terrible cruelty!
Kodumaiyada kodumaiyidhuOh, it is a cruelty, a terrible cruelty!
Kudi keduppor seigai idhuThis is the act of those who ruin families,
Konjamum adukkadhuIt is not appropriate in the slightest.
Kumurudhudaa nenjamadhuMy heart is churning with agony, oh friend!
Kumurudhudaa nenjamadhuMy heart is churning with agony, oh friend!
Male
Vaanampaadi ondruA lark bird (skylark)
Vaazhvizhandhae poguthadaIs losing its life and perishing, oh friend!
Vaanampaadi ondruA lark bird (skylark)
Vaazhvizhandhae poguthadaIs losing its life and perishing, oh friend!
Maanam kaathidavaeTo protect its honor,
Maanam kaathidavae vazhiyum yedhadaTo protect its honor, what way is there, my friend?
Veru vazhiyum yedhudaWhat other way is there, my friend?
Vaanampaadi ondruA lark bird (skylark)
Vaazhvizhandhae poguthadaIs losing its life and perishing, oh friend!
Male
Gaanam paadi vandhaThe precious pair of lovers who came singing melodies,
Kannaana jodi indruToday, look at their distressed state, oh friend!
Kalangum nilaiyai paaradaLook at their tearful and agonizing state!
Gaanam paadi vandhaThe precious pair of lovers who came singing melodies,
Kannaana jodi indruToday, look at their distressed state, oh friend!
Kalangum nilaiyai paaradaLook at their tearful and agonizing state!
Veenae vanjagaraal vaedhanaiUnnecessarily, due to deceitful people, pain
Thee soozhndhadhadaAnd a fire of sorrow has surrounded them, oh friend!
Vazhiyum yedhudaWhat way is there, my friend?
Veru vazhiyum yedhu daaWhat other way is there, my friend?
Male
Vaanampaadi ondruA lark bird (skylark)
Vaazhvizhandhae poguthadaIs losing its life and perishing, oh friend!
Maanam kaathidavaeTo protect its honor,
Maanam kaathidavae vazhiyum yedhadaTo protect its honor, what way is there, my friend?
Veru vazhiyum yedhudaWhat other way is there, my friend?
Male
Punna malar solaiyilaeIn the garden of Punnai flowers,
Thennal varum vaelaiyilaeAt the time when the gentle southern breeze blows,
Ondrupatta ullam adhai pirithathenadaa…Why was that united heart separated, oh friend?
Punna malar solaiyilaeIn the garden of Punnai flowers,
Thennal varum vaelaiyilaeAt the time when the gentle southern breeze blows,
Ondrupatta ullam adhai pirithathenadaa…Why was that united heart separated, oh friend?
Pollangu nerndhadhanaalBecause evil/calamity occurred,
Sollaamal odudhadaIt runs away without saying a word, oh friend!
Vazhiyum yedhudaWhat way is there, my friend?
Veru vazhiyum yedhu daaWhat other way is there, my friend?
Male
Vaanampaadi ondruA lark bird (skylark)
Vaazhvizhandhae poguthadaIs losing its life impacts and perishing, oh friend!
Maanam kaathidavaeTo protect its honor,
Maanam kaathidavae vazhiyum yedhadaTo protect its honor, what way is there, my friend?
Veru vazhiyum yedhudaWhat other way is there, my friend?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional song from 'Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali' (1959) expresses deep despair and sorrow over a tragedy caused by deceitful, villainous individuals. The singer compares a suffering, beloved pair of soulmates to a 'Vaanampaadi' (skylark) losing its life and joy. The song laments how cruelty and malice have destroyed innocent lives, forcing a righteous person to flee in shame or agony to protect their honor, leaving the speaker questioning what path or refuge remains for the innocent.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Vaanampaadi ondru / Vaazhvizhandhae poguthada

Comparing the innocent, loving pair to a singing skylark ('Vaanampaadi') that loses its life when hit by tragic circumstance.

Anaphora / Repetition (Erattai Kilavi / Repetition for emphasis)

Kodumaiyada kodumaiyidhu

The word 'Kodumaiyada' is repeated sequentially to heighten the dramatic distress and gravity of the tragedy.

Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kodumaiyada kodumaiyidhu / Kudi keduppor seigai idhu / Konjamum adukkadhu / Kumurudhudaa nenjamadhu

Matching initial consonant sounds such as 'Kodumaiyada', 'Kudi', 'Konjamum', 'Kumurudhudaa'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali' (1959) starred S. S. Rajendran and Jamuna, with music scored by T. R. Pappa. Seerkazhi Govindarajan's resonant, theatrical vocal delivery was instrumental in carrying the heavy emotional drama in classic Tamil cinema of this era.

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