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Lyrics & meaning

Vanathai Vittu Vittu

From Raman Thediya Seethai · 2008

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Tippu
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Raman Thediya Seethai2008

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaanathai vittu vittuLeaving the sky behind,
Megangal povathennawhy do the clouds drift away?
Vaasathai vittu vittuLeaving fragrance behind,
Poovellaam poothathennawhy do all the flowers bloom?
Male
Paadhathai vittu vittuLeaving the feet behind,
Payangal neelvathennawhy do journeys stretch on?
Thaagathai vittu vittuLeaving thirst behind,
Thanneerin thevai ennawhat is the need for water?
Male
Ennai mattum vittu vittuLeaving only me behind,
Boomi ingu suththudhu ennawhy does the earth spin here?
Kangal rendai katti vittuBlindfolding both eyes,
Kaana sollum kaatchi ennawhat sight are you telling me to see?
Chorus
Kadal alai modhaCrashing like ocean waves,
Nigazhnthathu kedaiyadhuit never was subdued;
Kanavu alai polaLike a wave of dreams,
Ooyadhu..ohoo…it never ceases... ohoo...
Thunivugal polaLike acts of bravery,
Viral thodum nilamaghaas the land touched by fingertips,
Imaigal vandhu serumthe day when eyes close in final peace,
Naal edhu ethu…..which day will that be?
Male
Vaanathai vittu vittuLeaving the sky behind,
Megangal povathennawhy do the clouds drift away?
Vaasathai vittu vittuLeaving fragrance behind,
Poovellaam poothathennawhy do all the flowers bloom?
Male
Vaan oliyil paattu varumSongs play on the airwaves,
Enadhu paadal edhuvoowhich song belongs to me?
Veedhiyellaam poo kadaigalFlower shops line every street,
Enadhu poovum edhuvoowhich flower belongs to me?
Male
Kovililae dheeba vizhaaThe festival of lights at the temple,
Enadhu dheebam edhuvoowhich light belongs to me?
Maadhamellaam kadarkaraiyilEvery month on the seashore,
Enadhu thadamum edhuvoowhich footprint belongs to me?
Male
Thedi thedi theindhu ponenSearching and searching, I wore myself out;
Thedal endru theerumoowhen will this search finally end?
Kanal neeril aasai vidhaiSowing seeds of desire in a mirage,
Thedi enna laabamoo…what gain is there in searching?
Male
Vaanathai vittu vittuLeaving the sky behind,
Megangal povathennawhy do the clouds drift away?
Vaasathai vittu vittuLeaving fragrance behind,
Poovellaam poothathennawhy do all the flowers bloom?
Male
Kaagidhamaai naan iruntheanI remained like a piece of paper,
Kavidhai ezhidhi pazhagatrying to practice writing poetry;
Naan ezhudhum velaiyilaeWhile I was writing,
Mozhigal yaavum thayangaall languages hesitated;
Male
Thoorigaiyaai naan irunthenI remained like a artist's brush,
Azhagai naanum varaiyatrying to paint beauty;
Naan varaiyum velayilaeWhile I was painting,
Nirangal Odi ozhiyaall colors ran away and hid;
Male
Veru veru vesham pottenI put on many different guises,
Kaanavillai yaarumaeyet no one truly saw me;
Melum melum sorndhu ponenI grew more and more exhausted,
Maaravillai kolamaeyet my state did not change;
Male
Vaanathai vittu vittuLeaving the sky behind,
Megangal povathennawhy do the clouds drift away?
Vaasathai vittu vittuLeaving fragrance behind,
Poovellaam poothathennawhy do all the flowers bloom?
Male
Paadhathai vittu vittuLeaving the feet behind,
Payangal neelvathennawhy do journeys stretch on?
Thaagathai vittu vittuLeaving thirst behind,
Thanneerin thevai ennawhat is the need for water?
Male
Ennai mattum vittu vittuLeaving only me behind,
Boomi ingu suththudhu ennawhy does the earth spin here?
Kangal rendai katti vittuBlindfolding both eyes,
Kaana sollum kaatchi ennawhat sight are you telling me to see?
Chorus
Kadal alai modhaCrashing like ocean waves,
Nigazhnthathu kedaiyadhuit never was subdued;
Kanavu alai polaLike a wave of dreams,
Ooyadhu..ohoo…it never ceases... ohoo...
Thunivugal polaLike acts of bravery,
Viral thodum nilamaghaas the land touched by fingertips,
Imaigal vandhu serumthe day when eyes close in final peace,
Naal edhu ethu…..which day will that be?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses a deep existential crisis and a feeling of alienation from the surrounding world. The protagonist questions why natural processes continue around him—clouds moving away from the sky, flowers blooming without holding their fragrance, journeys stretching without feet—while he feels completely left behind and forgotten by life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Vaanathai vittu vittu / Vaasathai vittu vittu

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Vaanathai' and 'Vaasathai', creating a rhythmic cadence.

Anaphora / Repetition

Vaanathai vittu vittu / Megangal povathenna

The phrase 'vittu vittu' (leaving behind) and 'edhuvoo' (which one) are repeatedly used to emphasize themes of loss, abandonment, and questioning.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Kanal neeril aasai vidhai / Thedi enna laabamoo…

Comparing desire to seeds sown in a mirage ('Kanal neeril aasai vidhai'), symbolizing hopeless pursuit.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Vidyasagar for the 2008 film 'Raman Thediya Seethai', this melancholy track highlights Cheran's character and his inward struggles to find acceptance and identity.

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