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Kattu Roja album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vandondru Vanthathu

From Kattu Roja · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kattu Roja
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
23 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vandondru vanthathu
Vaavendru sonnadhu
Ennendru naanum ketten
Kannendru sonnadhu
Vandondru vanthathu
Vaavendru sonnadhu
Ennendru naanum ketten
Kannendru sonnadhu
Kannondru vanthathu
Kaanendru sonnathu
Pennendru naanum sonnen
Pesaamal nindrathu
Kannondru vanthathu
Kaanendru sonnathu
Pennendru naanum sonnen
Pesaamal nindrathu
{Paatondru vanthathu
Paruvathai kettadhu
Kaattirkkul naan ponnen
Kani angae nindrathu} (2)
Kani angae nindrathu
Kaigalil saainthathu
Kani angae nindrathu
Kaigalil saainthathu
Ini endhan kaalangal
Ingae thaan endrathu
Ini endhan kaalangal
Ingae thaan endrathu
Vandondru vanthathu
Vaavendru sonnadhu
Female :Pennendru naanum sonnen
Pesaamal nindrathu
Yar endru kandathu
Yaar solli vanthathu
Neeer konda megam pol
Nenjathil nindrathu
Nenjathil nindrathu
Konjathil maarumoo
Vanjikku vaazhvellam
Thanjam un paadhamae
Vandondru vanthathu
Vaavendru sonnadhu
Female :Pennendru naanum sonnen
Pesaamal nindrathu….hmm mm mmm
A bee came by,
And called me to come.
When I asked what it wanted,
It called me its darling.
A bee came by,
And called me to come.
When I asked what it wanted,
It called me its darling.
A pair of eyes arrived,
And told me to look.
I said, "I am a woman,"
And it stood there in silence.
A pair of eyes arrived,
And told me to look.
I said, "I am a woman,"
And it stood there in silence.
{A song came along,
Asking for my youth.
I walked into the forest,
And a sweet fruit stood waiting there.} (2)
A sweet fruit stood waiting there,
And leaned into my hands.
A sweet fruit stood waiting there,
And leaned into my hands.
"From now on, all my days
Belong right here," it said.
"From now on, all my days
Belong right here," it said.
A bee came by,
And called me to come.
Female: I said, "I am a woman,"
And it stood there in silence.
It recognized who I was,
On whose word did it come?
Like a cloud filled with rain,
It settled in my heart.
It settled in my heart,
Could it ever change so easily?
For this young woman, all through life,
Your feet are her only shelter.
A bee came by,
And called me to come.
Female: I said, "I am a woman,"
And it stood there in silence... hmm mm mmm
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Vandondru Vanthathu' is a enchanting romantic duet written by Kannadasan for the 1963 film 'Kattu Roja'. Through rich poetic metaphors involving nature—such as beetles, blossoms, ripe fruits, and rain-laden clouds—the song captures the timid beginnings of romance and blossoming passion between two lovers. The heroine describes how love approached her innocently, overcame her bashfulness, and ultimately took permanent root in her heart, leading to complete devotion. Kannadasan masterfully weaves traditional Tamil poetic tropes into modern film music, delivering a timeless melody of love and surrender.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Vandondru vanthathu / Vaavendru sonnadhu”

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Va' in 'Vandondru' and 'Vaavendru'.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Vandondru vanthathu / Kannondru vanthathu”

Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in 'Vandondru', 'Kannondru', and 'Paatondru'.

Upamai (Simile)

“Neeer konda megam pol / Nenjathil nindrathu”

Comparing the overwhelming presence of love in the heart to a rain-laden cloud ('Neeer konda megam pol').

Uruvagathil Nature Metaphor

“Kaattirkkul naan ponnen / Kani angae nindrathu”

Using 'Vandu' (beetle) to symbolize the persistent lover and 'Kani' (fruit) to represent sweet fulfilled romance.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1963 Tamil film 'Kattu Roja' starring S. S. Rajendran and Devika. The film's musical score was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and this famous duet was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela with lyrics penned by Kaviarasu Kannadasan.

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