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Lyrics & meaning

Vannakili Sonna

From Dheiva Thaai · 1964

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Dheiva Thaai1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vannakkilli sonnaWhat language is it that the colorful parrot spoke,
Mozhi enna mozhiyowhat sweet words are these?
Female :Vanji magal vaai thirandhuFemale: Is it the language spoken by the young maiden opening her mouth,
Sonna mozhiyothe words she spoke?
Male
Vannakkilli sonnaWhat language is it that the colorful parrot spoke,
Mozhi enna mozhiyowhat sweet words are these?
Female :Vanji magal vaai thirandhuFemale: Is it the language spoken by the young maiden opening her mouth,
Sonna mozhiyothe words she spoke?
Male
Pulli mayil punnagaiyilIn the smile of the spotted peacock,
Enna mayakkam..o..o..what intoxication is there?
Female :Alli alliFemale: To gather up in abundance
Kondu sella enna thayakkam..and take away, why the hesitation?
Male
Hmmm…pulli mayil punnagaiyilHmmm... In the smile of the spotted peacock,
Enna mayakkam..o..o..what intoxication is there?
Female :Alli alliFemale: To gather up in abundance
Kondu sella enna thayakkam..and take away, why the hesitation?
Male
Haa…vannakkilli sonnaAh... What language is it that the colorful parrot spoke,
Mozhi enna mozhiyowhat sweet words are these?
Female :Vanji magal vaai thirandhuFemale: Is it the language spoken by the young maiden opening her mouth,
Sonna mozhiyothe words she spoke?
Female
Pottu vaithaThe round face adorned with a bindi,
Vatta mugam enna mugamowhat kind of enchanting face is that?
Adhai thottu vidaTo touch it,
Thudippadhile enna sugamowhat joy is there in longing for it?
Female
Pottu vaithaThe round face adorned with a bindi,
Vatta mugam enna mugamowhat kind of enchanting face is that?
Adhai thottu vidaTo touch it,
Thudippadhile enna sugamowhat joy is there in longing for it?
Male
Kanni mana maaligaiyilIn the palace of the maiden's heart,
Kaaval nirkavaashall I stand guard?
Angae kaaval nindra mannavanaiTo hold the hand of the king who stands guard there,
Kaipidikka vaa..come now!
Male
Vannakkilli sonnaWhat language is it that the colorful parrot spoke,
Mozhi enna mozhiyowhat sweet words are these?
Female :Vanji magal vaai thirandhuFemale: Is it the language spoken by the young maiden opening her mouth,
Sonna mozhiyothe words she spoke?
Male
Aththipazha kannathilaeOn those soft, fig-like cheeks,
Killi vidavaashall I pinch gently?
Female :Indha ooraiyellaamFemale: Shall I call the whole town
Naan azhaithu solli vidavaa…aa…and tell them all about it?
Male
Aththipazha kannathilaeOn those soft, fig-like cheeks,
Killi vidavaashall I pinch gently?
Female :Indha ooraiyellaamFemale: Shall I call the whole town
Naan azhaithu solli vidavaaand tell them all about it?
Male
Alli vizhi thulli vizhaAs your lily-like eyes leap and shine,
Kobam ennavowhy this anger?
Female :Ingae anji anjiFemale: Here, trembling with hesitation,
Konjuvadhil laabam ennavo…what is the gain in flirting like this?
Male
Vannakkilli sonnaWhat language is it that the colorful parrot spoke,
Mozhi enna mozhiyowhat sweet words are these?
Female :Vanji magal vaai thirandhuFemale: Is it the language spoken by the young maiden opening her mouth,
Sonna mozhiyothe words she spoke?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vannakkilli Sonna is a classic romantic duet from the 1964 Tamil film Dheiva Thaai, picturized on M. G. Ramachandran and Saroja Devi. The song captures a lively conversation between two lovers engaging in romantic teasing. The hero compares the heroine's sweet voice to a parrot, her smile to a peacock, and her cheeks to soft figs, expressing his desire to hold her hand and guard her heart. The heroine responds playfully, teasing his hesitation and pretending to complain to the town if he gets too playful. Through rich imagery of nature and traditional Tamil metaphors, lyricist Vaali weaves a poetic exchange that reflects shy coy warmth and playful romance, elevated by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy's melodious composition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor/Simile)

Vannakkilli sonna Mozhi enna mozhiyo

Compares the heroine's speech to the sweet vocalizations of a colorful parrot ('Vannakkilli sonna mozhi') and her face to a fruit ('Aththipazha kannathilae').

Uvamai (Metaphor)

Alli vizhi thulli vizha Kobam ennavo

Compares the heroine's eyes to a lily flower ('Alli vizhi').

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for effect)

Alli alli Kondu sella enna thayakkam..

Repetition of words like 'Alli alli' and 'Anji anji' to add musical rhythm and emphasize emotion.

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

Vannakkilli sonna / Vanji magal vaai thirandhu

Rhyming of the second character across adjacent lines, such as 'Vannakkilli' and 'Vanji magal'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Dheiva Thaai (1964) was an important film in MGR's career, produced by RM Veerappan's Sathya Movies. Vaali penned all songs for this film, solidifying his role as MGR's primary lyricist for years to come. Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy created timeless melodies for the movie, with this track remaining an evergreen duet sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

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