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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanji Ilam Kodiye

From Iravu Pookkal · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Gangai Amaran, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Iravu Pookkal1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………………...
Chorus
Vanji ilam kodiyae vanthirukku thoraiyaeThe young vine-like maiden, the master has arrived
Male :Vanji ilam kodiyaeMale: The young vine-like maiden
Chorus :Haei haei….Chorus: Hey hey...
Male
Ponnaaga poranthva yaarukkuFor whom is the golden girl born?
Chorus :Onnaattam payalukkuththaanChorus: Only for a guy like you
Male :Haei….haei….Male: Hey... hey...
Male :Kanmaaya thorappathu yaarukkuMale: For whom is the lake sluice opened?
Chorus :Onnoda vayalukkuththaanChorus: Only for your field
Male :Haei…..haei….Male: Hey... hey...
Male
Pondaatti irunthaa vappaatti edhukkuIf you have a wife, why do you need a mistress?
Ellaamae adhukku thaandaaEverything is meant for that, my man
Vappaatti irunthaa pondaatti edhukkuIf you have a mistress, why do you need a wife?
Ellaamae idhukku thaandaaEverything is meant for this, my man
Male
Annan sonnatha keludaaListen to what your elder brother says
Annanukku veeduthaan naaludaaBrother has four houses of his own
Enna venumo keludaa vedikka paarudaaAsk whatever you want and watch the show
Naalu nalla naaluthaandaa deiLife is just four good days, hey man!
Male
Vanji ilam kodiyae vanthirukku thoraiyaeThe young vine-like maiden, the master has arrived
Chorus :PoonthuChorus: Enter
Male :Chinna veedu kattudaaMale: Build a small second home
Chorus :PudichchaaChorus: If you like her
Male :Oru thaali kattudaa rasa haei haeiMale: Tie the sacred thread, my king, hey hey
Male
Vanji ilam kodiyae vanthirukku thoraiyaeThe young vine-like maiden, the master has arrived
Vanji ilam kodiyaeThe young vine-like maiden
Male
Podaama irukkura vote-kkuFor a vote that is never cast
Eppothum palanum illaeThere is never any benefit
Chorus :Haei…..haei….Chorus: Hey... hey...
Male :Koodaama irukkura maattukkuMale: For a cow that does not mate
Eppothum madhippu illaeThere is never any value
Chorus :Haei…..haei….Chorus: Hey... hey...
Male
Mann paaththu vedhachchaaIf you sow according to the soil condition
Muppogam velainjjaaAnd harvest three crops a year
Nallaathaan irukkum ooruThe village will surely prosper well
Tharisu nelaththa velachchalaakkaTo make barren land yield crops
Podaendaa kalappa yaeruGet up and drive the plow, my man
Male
Innum aayiram saedhithaanThere are a thousand more things to tell
Aanaa sonnathu paadhithaanBut what was said is only half
Male
Naanum solluraen meedhithaanI shall tell the remaining half
Sonnavan saamithaanThe one who said it is God Himself
Solvathenna senju kaattu deiWhy just talk? Demonstrate it in action, hey!
Male
Vanji ilam kodiyae vanthirukku thoraiyaeThe young vine-like maiden, the master has arrived
Chorus :Vanji ilam kodiyae vanthirukku thoraiyaeChorus: The young vine-like maiden, the master has arrived
Male :Poonthu chinna veedu kattudaaMale: Enter and set up a small second house
Male :Pudichchaa oru thaali kattudaa rasa haei haeiMale: If you like her, tie the sacred thread, my king, hey hey
Male
Vanji ilam kodiyaeThe young vine-like maiden
Chorus :Ae….Chorus: Hey...
Male :Vanthirukku thoraiyaeMale: The master has arrived
Chorus :Ae….Chorus: Hey...
Male :Vanji ilam kodiyaeMale: The young vine-like maiden

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk track from the 1985 movie 'Iravu Pookkal' is filled with playful banter, rustic humor, and double entendres written by Gangai Amaran. The song uses vivid agricultural and rural metaphors—such as opening lake sluices for irrigation, plowing barren land, and casting votes—to comment humorously on relationships, desires, and taking active initiative in life. The singers exchange cheeky advice on love, marriage, and practical living, emphasizing that life is short ('just four good days') so one should act decisively rather than merely talk.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor)

Vanji ilam kodiyae vanthirukku thoraiyae

Compares a young, graceful woman to a delicate creeper vine ('Vanji ilam kodi').

Edhukai (Second letter rhyming)

Innum aayiram saedhithaan / Aanaa sonnathu paadhithaan / Naanum solluraen meedhithaan

Rhyming of the second character 'dh/th' across consecutive lines (saedhi / paadhi / meedhi).

Metaphor / Agricultural Allegory

Kanmaaya thorappathu yaarukku / Onnoda vayalukkuththaan

Uses agricultural plowing ('kalappa yaeru') and opening sluice gates ('kanmaaya thorappathu') as allegories for romantic and physical relationships.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Iravu Pookkal' (1985) features lyrics by Gangai Amaran, who frequently infused Tamil film tracks with rich rural dialect and playful folk idioms.

Keep listening

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