Vanna Tamizh Sornakili
From Kaveriyin Kanavan · 1959
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singer
- M. L. Vasanthakumari
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kaveriyin Kanavan1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vanna tamizh sornakili | The colorful Tamil golden parrot |
| Vaai thirandhaal | Opened her mouth |
| Valluvan sol thellamudhai | The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words |
| Mella mozhindhaal | Softly uttered |
| Female | |
| Vanna tamizh sornakili | The colorful Tamil golden parrot |
| Vaai thirandhaal | Opened her mouth |
| Valluvan sol thellamudhai | The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words |
| Mella mozhindhaal | Softly uttered |
| Female | |
| Kannaladu paagumalar | Sugarcane juice, syrup, and flowers, |
| Kallai veruthaen | I loathed ordinary nectar or liquor, |
| Kannaladu paagumalar | Sugarcane juice, syrup, and flowers, |
| Kallai veruthaen | I loathed ordinary nectar or liquor, |
| Aval gaanarasa thaenai undu | By drinking the nectar of her musical essence, |
| Gyaanam padaithen | I attained true wisdom. |
| Gaanarasa thaenai undu | By drinking the nectar of musical essence, |
| Gyaanam padaithen | I attained true wisdom. |
| Female | |
| Inba vanna tamizh sornakili | The blissful colorful Tamil golden parrot |
| Vaai thirandhaal | Opened her mouth |
| Valluvan sol thellamudhai | The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words |
| Mella mozhindhaal | Softly uttered |
| Female | |
| Mannum sevikkunavu illadhapodhu | When there is no food for the ears on this earth, |
| Mannum sevikkunavu illadhapodhu | When there is no food for the ears on this earth, |
| Sirithu vayittrukkum eeyapadum yenavodhum | A little food shall also be offered to the stomach - as stated, |
| Ponneluthu yeduthanai puvi meedhu | By the golden written words upon this earth, |
| Ponneluthu yeduthanai puvi meedhu | By the golden written words upon this earth, |
| Konda kanni ezhil maradha kalaimaadhu | The Goddess of Arts with unfading youthful beauty, |
| Female | |
| Engal vanna tamizh sornakili | Our colorful Tamil golden parrot |
| Vaai thirandhaal | Opened her mouth |
| Valluvan sol thellamudhai | The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words |
| Mella mozhindhaal | Softly uttered |
| Female | |
| Kuzhalinidhu yaazhinidhu enbar thammakkal | "The flute is sweet, the lute is sweet," say those |
| Mazhalai sol keladhaavar | Who have not heard the babbling words of their children, |
| Endrae amazhdhinum iniyadhoru | Thus declaring a praised golden phrase sweeter than ambrosia, |
| Pugalsol pon mozhiyai | A golden word of praise, |
| Amazhdhinum iniyadhoru | Sweeter than ambrosia, |
| Pugalsol pon mozhiyai | A golden word of praise, |
| Vazhangi vattardha valam pettraal | She bestowed it and gained boundless spiritual wealth. |
| Female | |
| Engal vanna tamizh sornakili | Our colorful Tamil golden parrot |
| Vaai thirandhaal | Opened her mouth |
| Valluvan sol thellamudhai | The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words |
| Mella mozhindhaal | Softly uttered |
வண்ணத் தமிழ் சொர்ணக்கிளி
வாய் திறந்தாள்
வள்ளுவன் சொல் தெள்ளமுதை
மெல்ல மொழிந்தாள்.......
The colorful Tamil golden parrot
Opened her mouth
The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words
Softly uttered
வண்ணத் தமிழ் சொர்ணக்கிளி
வாய் திறந்தாள்
வள்ளுவன் சொல் தெள்ளமுதை
மெல்ல மொழிந்தாள்.......
The colorful Tamil golden parrot
Opened her mouth
The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words
Softly uttered
கன்னலடு பாகுமலர்க்
கள்ளை வெறுத்தேன்
கன்னலடு பாகுமலர்க்
கள்ளை வெறுத்தேன்
அவள் கானரசத் தேனையுண்டு
ஞானம் படைத்தேன்
கானரசத் தேனையுண்டு
ஞானம் படைத்தேன்
Sugarcane juice, syrup, and flowers,
I loathed ordinary nectar or liquor,
Sugarcane juice, syrup, and flowers,
I loathed ordinary nectar or liquor,
By drinking the nectar of her musical essence,
I attained true wisdom.
By drinking the nectar of musical essence,
I attained true wisdom.
இன்ப வண்ணத் தமிழ் சொர்ணக்கிளி
வாய் திறந்தாள்
வள்ளுவன் சொல் தெள்ளமுதை
மெல்ல மொழிந்தாள்.......
The blissful colorful Tamil golden parrot
Opened her mouth
The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words
Softly uttered
மன்னும் செவிக்குணவு இல்லாதபோது
மன்னும் செவிக்குணவு இல்லாதபோது
சிறிது வயிற்றுக்கும் ஈயப்படும் எனவோதும்
பொன்னெழுத்து ஏடுதனை புவிமீது
மன்னும் செவிக்குணவு இல்லாதபோது
கொண்ட கன்னி எழில் மாறாத கலைமாது
When there is no food for the ears on this earth,
When there is no food for the ears on this earth,
A little food shall also be offered to the stomach - as stated,
By the golden written words upon this earth,
By the golden written words upon this earth,
The Goddess of Arts with unfading youthful beauty,
எங்கள் வண்ணத் தமிழ் சொர்ணக்கிளி
வாய் திறந்தாள்
வள்ளுவன் சொல் தெள்ளமுதை
மெல்ல மொழிந்தாள்.......
Our colorful Tamil golden parrot
Opened her mouth
The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words
Softly uttered
குழலினிது யாழினிது என்பர் தம்மக்கள்
மழலை சொல் கேளாதவர்
என்றே அமிழ்தினும் இனியதொரு
புகழ்சால் பொன்மொழியை
அமிழ்தினும் இனியதொரு
புகழ்சால் பொன்மொழியை
வழங்கி வற்றாத வளம் பெற்றாள்
"The flute is sweet, the lute is sweet," say those
Who have not heard the babbling words of their children,
Thus declaring a praised golden phrase sweeter than ambrosia,
A golden word of praise,
Sweeter than ambrosia,
A golden word of praise,
She bestowed it and gained boundless spiritual wealth.
எங்கள் வண்ணத் தமிழ் சொர்ணக்கிளி
வாய் திறந்தாள்
வள்ளுவன் சொல் தெள்ளமுதை
மெல்ல மொழிந்தாள்.......
Our colorful Tamil golden parrot
Opened her mouth
The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words
Softly uttered
Vanna tamizh sornakili
The colorful Tamil golden parrot
Vaai thirandhaal
Opened her mouth
Valluvan sol thellamudhai
The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words
Mella mozhindhaal
Softly uttered
Vanna tamizh sornakili
The colorful Tamil golden parrot
Vaai thirandhaal
Opened her mouth
Valluvan sol thellamudhai
The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words
Mella mozhindhaal
Softly uttered
Kannaladu paagumalar
Sugarcane juice, syrup, and flowers,
Kallai veruthaen
I loathed ordinary nectar or liquor,
Kannaladu paagumalar
Sugarcane juice, syrup, and flowers,
Kallai veruthaen
I loathed ordinary nectar or liquor,
Aval gaanarasa thaenai undu
By drinking the nectar of her musical essence,
Gyaanam padaithen
I attained true wisdom.
Gaanarasa thaenai undu
By drinking the nectar of musical essence,
Gyaanam padaithen
I attained true wisdom.
Inba vanna tamizh sornakili
The blissful colorful Tamil golden parrot
Vaai thirandhaal
Opened her mouth
Valluvan sol thellamudhai
The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words
Mella mozhindhaal
Softly uttered
Mannum sevikkunavu illadhapodhu
When there is no food for the ears on this earth,
Mannum sevikkunavu illadhapodhu
When there is no food for the ears on this earth,
Sirithu vayittrukkum eeyapadum yenavodhum
A little food shall also be offered to the stomach - as stated,
Ponneluthu yeduthanai puvi meedhu
By the golden written words upon this earth,
Ponneluthu yeduthanai puvi meedhu
By the golden written words upon this earth,
Konda kanni ezhil maradha kalaimaadhu
The Goddess of Arts with unfading youthful beauty,
Engal vanna tamizh sornakili
Our colorful Tamil golden parrot
Vaai thirandhaal
Opened her mouth
Valluvan sol thellamudhai
The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words
Mella mozhindhaal
Softly uttered
Kuzhalinidhu yaazhinidhu enbar thammakkal
"The flute is sweet, the lute is sweet," say those
Mazhalai sol keladhaavar
Who have not heard the babbling words of their children,
Endrae amazhdhinum iniyadhoru
Thus declaring a praised golden phrase sweeter than ambrosia,
Pugalsol pon mozhiyai
A golden word of praise,
Amazhdhinum iniyadhoru
Sweeter than ambrosia,
Pugalsol pon mozhiyai
A golden word of praise,
Vazhangi vattardha valam pettraal
She bestowed it and gained boundless spiritual wealth.
Engal vanna tamizh sornakili
Our colorful Tamil golden parrot
Vaai thirandhaal
Opened her mouth
Valluvan sol thellamudhai
The sweet nectar of Valluvar's words
Mella mozhindhaal
Softly uttered
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song celebrates the beauty of the Tamil language and the timeless wisdom of Tirukkural by Thiruvalluvar. The song likens a sweet Tamil songstress to a golden parrot who bestows the nectar of wisdom through her melodious singing. It explicitly incorporates couplets from Tirukkural, emphasizing how spiritual and intellectual nourishment (food for the ears) surpasses material food, and how the sweet words of Tamil are sweeter than ambrosia or musical instruments like the flute and veena.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Alliteration)
“Vanna tamizh sornakili / Vaai thirandhaal”
Repetition of initial consonants across words in a line (e.g., 'Vanna' and 'Vaai').
Edhugai (Rhyming second letter)
“Vanna tamizh sornakili / Valluvan sol thellamudhai”
Matching second letter across consecutive lines ('Vanna' and 'Valluvan').
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Valluvan sol thellamudhai”
Comparing Tamil/words of Tirukkural to 'Thellamudhu' (clear nectar) and the singer to a 'Sornakili' (golden parrot).
Direct Quotation / Allusion
“Kuzhalinidhu yaazhinidhu enbar thammakkal”
Incorporation of actual Tirukkural verses ('Kuzhalinidhu yaazhinidhu...' and 'Sevikkunavu illadha podhu...').
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyricist Udumalai Narayanakavi was famous for weaving rationalist ideals and ancient Tamil literature, particularly Tirukkural, into film songs. Rendered by the legendary Carnatic vocalist M. L. Vasanthakumari, this song remains a celebrated tribute to Tamil literature in early Tamil cinema.
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