Vanjikodi Poovanathu
From Inimai Idho Idho · 1983
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Inimai Idho Idho1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vanjikodi…..poovaanathu | The slender creeper has blossomed into a flower |
| Yaarai kettu aalaanathu | Whose permission did it ask to come of age? |
| Vanjikodi…..poovaanathu | The slender creeper has blossomed into a flower |
| Yaarai kettu aalaanathu | Whose permission did it ask to come of age? |
| Sogam vanthu thazhuvum ivalai | Sorrow comes and embraces her |
| Pedhai nenjil dhinamum kavalai | Daily anxiety resides in her innocent heart |
| Female | |
| Vanjikodi….aa….ha….poovaanathu | The slender creeper... ah... ha... has blossomed into a flower |
| Yaarai kettu aalaanathu | Whose permission did it ask to come of age? |
| Female | |
| Thevaigal theerkkavaa | Was it to fulfill my needs |
| Naan unnai naadinaen | That I came seeking you? |
| Penmaiyin kaavalaai | As a guardian of womanhood |
| Aan thunai thedinaen | I searched for a male companion |
| Kai koduththaal…..kannagi naan | If you hold my hand, I am Kannagi |
| Kai viriththaal maathavithaan | If you spread your arms away, I become Madhavi |
| Female | |
| Poonkodikku thunaiyirunthaal | If a tender vine has proper support |
| Vaeru pakkam saayaathu | It will not lean towards any other side |
| Kaaverikku anaiyirunthaal | If a dam restrains the Cauvery river |
| Vaeru thisai paayaathu | It will not divert into another direction |
| Maelaadai pookkal kandaal | If lustful eyes catch sight of flowers on her upper garment |
| Kaamak kangal thaalaathu | They cannot control their desires |
| Female | |
| Vanjikodi…aa….poovaanathu | The slender creeper... ah... has blossomed into a flower |
| Yaarai kettu aalaanathu | Whose permission did it ask to come of age? |
| Sogam vanthu thazhuvum ivalai | Sorrow comes and embraces her |
| Pedhai nenjil dhinamum kavalai | Daily anxiety resides in her innocent heart |
| Female | |
| Vanjikodi….haha….poovaanathu | The slender creeper... haha... has blossomed into a flower |
| Yaarai kettu aalaanathu | Whose permission did it ask to come of age? |
| Female | |
| Paadhaiyindri yaaththiraigal | Pathless journeys continue |
| Vidintha pinnnum aalaanathu | Even after the day has dawned |
| Female | |
| Kalyaanam illamal | Without a formal marriage |
| Kai serkka aalundu | There is someone to hold hands with |
| Pon thegam theendaamal | Without touching the golden body |
| Poochchooda yaarundu | Who is there to adorn her with flowers? |
| Thaenunna vandu vanthaal | If a bee arrives to sip honey |
| Kelvi ketkkum poovindru | The flower today raises a question |
| Female | |
| Vanjikodi…..poovaanathu | The slender creeper has blossomed into a flower |
| Yaarai kettu aalaanathu | Whose permission did it ask to come of age? |
| Sogam vanthu thazhuvum ivalai | Sorrow comes and embraces her |
| Pedhai nenjil dhinamum kavalai | Daily anxiety resides in her innocent heart |
| Female | |
| Vanjikodi….aa…haha….poovaanathu | The slender creeper... ah... haha... has blossomed into a flower |
| Yaarai kettu aalaanathu | Whose permission did it ask to come of age? |
வஞ்சிக்கொடி.......பூவானது
யாரைக் கேட்டு ஆளானது
வஞ்சிக்கொடி.......பூவானது
யாரைக் கேட்டு ஆளானது
சோகம் வந்து தழுவும் இவளை
பேதை நெஞ்சில் தினமும் கவலை
The slender creeper has blossomed into a flower
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
The slender creeper has blossomed into a flower
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
Sorrow comes and embraces her
Daily anxiety resides in her innocent heart
பெண்
: வஞ்சிக்கொடி... ஆ...ஹ...பூவானது
யாரைக் கேட்டு ஆளானது
The slender creeper... ah... ha... has blossomed into a flower
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
தேவைகள் தீர்க்கவா
நான் உன்னை நாடினேன்
பெண்மையின் காவலாய்
ஆண் துணை தேடினேன்
கைக் கொடுத்தால்......கண்ணகி நான்
கை விரித்தால் மாதவிதான்
Was it to fulfill my needs
That I came seeking you?
As a guardian of womanhood
I searched for a male companion
If you hold my hand, I am Kannagi
If you spread your arms away, I become Madhavi
பூங்கொடிக்கு துணையிருந்தால்
வேறு பக்கம் சாயாது
காவிரிக்கு அணையிருந்தால்
வேறு திசை பாயாது
மேலாடை பூக்கள் கண்டால்
காமக் கண்கள் தாளாது
If a tender vine has proper support
It will not lean towards any other side
If a dam restrains the Cauvery river
It will not divert into another direction
If lustful eyes catch sight of flowers on her upper garment
They cannot control their desires
வஞ்சிக்கொடி...ஆ......பூவானது
யாரைக் கேட்டு ஆளானது
சோகம் வந்து தழுவும் இவளை
பேதை நெஞ்சில் தினமும் கவலை
The slender creeper... ah... has blossomed into a flower
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
Sorrow comes and embraces her
Daily anxiety resides in her innocent heart
வஞ்சிக்கொடி...ஹஹ...பூவானது
யாரைக் கேட்டு ஆளானது
The slender creeper... haha... has blossomed into a flower
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
பாதையின்றி யாத்திரைகள்
விடிந்த பின்னும் ராத்திரிகள்
Pathless journeys continue
Even after the day has dawned
கல்யாணம் இல்லாமல்
கைச்சேர்க்க ஆளுண்டு
பொன்தேகம் தீண்டாமல்
பூச்சூட யாருண்டு
தேனுண்ண வண்டு வந்தால்
கேள்வி கேட்கும் பூவின்று
Without a formal marriage
There is someone to hold hands with
Without touching the golden body
Who is there to adorn her with flowers?
If a bee arrives to sip honey
The flower today raises a question
வஞ்சிக்கொடி.......பூவானது
யாரைக் கேட்டு ஆளானது
சோகம் வந்து தழுவும் இவளை
பேதை நெஞ்சில் தினமும் கவலை
The slender creeper has blossomed into a flower
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
Sorrow comes and embraces her
Daily anxiety resides in her innocent heart
வஞ்சிக்கொடி... ஆ...ஹஹ...பூவானது
யாரைக் கேட்டு ஆளானது.....
The slender creeper... ah... haha... has blossomed into a flower
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
Vanjikodi…..poovaanathu
The slender creeper has blossomed into a flower
Yaarai kettu aalaanathu
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
Vanjikodi…..poovaanathu
The slender creeper has blossomed into a flower
Yaarai kettu aalaanathu
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
Sogam vanthu thazhuvum ivalai
Sorrow comes and embraces her
Pedhai nenjil dhinamum kavalai
Daily anxiety resides in her innocent heart
Vanjikodi….aa….ha….poovaanathu
The slender creeper... ah... ha... has blossomed into a flower
Yaarai kettu aalaanathu
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
Thevaigal theerkkavaa
Was it to fulfill my needs
Naan unnai naadinaen
That I came seeking you?
Penmaiyin kaavalaai
As a guardian of womanhood
Aan thunai thedinaen
I searched for a male companion
Kai koduththaal…..kannagi naan
If you hold my hand, I am Kannagi
Kai viriththaal maathavithaan
If you spread your arms away, I become Madhavi
Poonkodikku thunaiyirunthaal
If a tender vine has proper support
Vaeru pakkam saayaathu
It will not lean towards any other side
Kaaverikku anaiyirunthaal
If a dam restrains the Cauvery river
Vaeru thisai paayaathu
It will not divert into another direction
Maelaadai pookkal kandaal
If lustful eyes catch sight of flowers on her upper garment
Kaamak kangal thaalaathu
They cannot control their desires
Vanjikodi…aa….poovaanathu
The slender creeper... ah... has blossomed into a flower
Yaarai kettu aalaanathu
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
Sogam vanthu thazhuvum ivalai
Sorrow comes and embraces her
Pedhai nenjil dhinamum kavalai
Daily anxiety resides in her innocent heart
Vanjikodi….haha….poovaanathu
The slender creeper... haha... has blossomed into a flower
Yaarai kettu aalaanathu
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
Paadhaiyindri yaaththiraigal
Pathless journeys continue
Vidintha pinnnum aalaanathu
Even after the day has dawned
Kalyaanam illamal
Without a formal marriage
Kai serkka aalundu
There is someone to hold hands with
Pon thegam theendaamal
Without touching the golden body
Poochchooda yaarundu
Who is there to adorn her with flowers?
Thaenunna vandu vanthaal
If a bee arrives to sip honey
Kelvi ketkkum poovindru
The flower today raises a question
Vanjikodi…..poovaanathu
The slender creeper has blossomed into a flower
Yaarai kettu aalaanathu
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
Sogam vanthu thazhuvum ivalai
Sorrow comes and embraces her
Pedhai nenjil dhinamum kavalai
Daily anxiety resides in her innocent heart
Vanjikodi….aa…haha….poovaanathu
The slender creeper... ah... haha... has blossomed into a flower
Yaarai kettu aalaanathu
Whose permission did it ask to come of age?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Inimai Idho Idho' expresses the internal struggle, vulnerability, and complex emotional state of a woman navigating societal expectations, romance, and moral dilemmas. Using metaphoric imagery like a creeper blossoming into a flower and the flow of the Cauvery river, lyricist Vairamuthu articulates her longing for true protection and stability rather than mere transient desire.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை)
“Vanjikodi…..poovaanathu”
Compares a young woman coming of age to a slender creeper vine ('vanjikodi') blossoming into a flower.
Allusion / Cultural Reference (இலக்கியக் குறிப்பு)
“Kai koduththaal…..kannagi naan / Kai viriththaal maathavithaan”
References Kannagi (the ideal chaste wife) and Madhavi (the courtesan/performer) from the Tamil epic Silappatikaram to highlight the dual roles forced upon womanhood based on male commitment.
Emoni / Rhyme (எதுகை)
“Poonkodikku thunaiyirunthaal / Kaaverikku anaiyirunthaal”
The second letter rhyme ('Poonkodikku' / 'Kaaverikku') adds musicality and rhythmic balance to the couplet.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track features evocative poetry by Vairamuthu written during the early 1980s, an era when Tamil cinema frequently explored nuanced themes of women's agency, moral conflicts, and classical literary allusions in film music.
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