Vasantha Kala Thendralil
From Konjum Salangai · 1962
- Lyricist
- V. Seetharaman
- Singer
- P. Suseelaa
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Konjum Salangai1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vasantha kaala thendralil oru vandu | In the springtime breeze, there was a beetle, |
| Vasantha kaala thendralil oru vandu | In the springtime breeze, there was a beetle, |
| Adhu malarnthu sirikkum thamarai malarkandu | Seeing a lotus flower blooming and smiling, |
| Kadhal geedham paadi kondu | Singing a song of love, |
| Mayangi irunthathu malar theanai undu | It swooned, drinking the floral nectar. |
| Aasai arupathu naal……Megam muppathu naal | Desire lasts sixty days... lust lasts thirty days. |
| Female | |
| Ilangaattril thavazhnthodi | Crawling and running in the gentle breeze, |
| Varum senthaazhai vaasam | Comes the fragrance of the red screw-pine flower, |
| Ilangaattril thavazhnthodi | Crawling and running in the gentle breeze, |
| Varum senthaazhai vaasam | Comes the fragrance of the red screw-pine flower, |
| Varum senthaazhai vaasam | Comes the fragrance of the red screw-pine flower, |
| Karuvandin manathaiellaam | To completely change the black beetle's mind, |
| Konjam konjam maatravae | Bit by bit, |
| Naesam ellam maranthathu vandu | The beetle forgot all its previous love. |
| Female | |
| Paranthu thaavi thaavi odi sendrathu | Flying, leaping, and running, it flew away. |
| Vandin nasam veli vaesam | The beetle's love was just a deceptive facade. |
| Enak kandaen kandaen kandaenae | I saw it, saw it, saw it! |
| Enthan kannaalae | With my very own eyes! |
| Female | |
| Aasai arupathu naal mogam muppathu naal | Desire lasts sixty days, lust lasts thirty days. |
| Aasai arupathu naal mogam muppathu naal | Desire lasts sixty days, lust lasts thirty days. |
| Female | |
| Thaazhampoovin azhagilae mathi thadumaari | Entangled and confused by the beauty of the screw-pine flower, |
| Aasaiyilae arugil sendrathu | Driven by desire, it went close. |
| Thazhuvi kaadhaludan | Embracing it passionately, |
| Maeni muththam thaanae thanthathu | It willingly gave a kiss upon its body. |
| Female | |
| Poo naagam seeriyae pon vandatheendavae | As the golden beetle touched it, the floral snake hissed! |
| Poo naagam seeriyae pon vandatheendavae | As the golden beetle touched it, the floral snake hissed! |
| Female | |
| Aaviyathai izhanththau vandu | The beetle lost its very life, |
| Antho paavam paavam aadi veezhnthathu | Alas, what a pity, it swayed and fell down! |
| Vandin naesam mathi mathi mosam | The beetle's affection was deceitful and treacherous. |
| Enak kandaen kandaen kandaenae | I saw it, saw it, saw it! |
| Enthan kannaalae | With my very own eyes! |
| Female | |
| Vasantha kaala thendralil oru vandu | In the springtime breeze, there was a beetle, |
| Adhu malarnthu sirikkum thamarai malarkandu | Seeing a lotus flower blooming and smiling, |
| Kadhal geedham paadi kondu | Singing a song of love, |
| Mayangi irunthathu malar theanai undu antha vandu | That beetle swooned, drinking the floral nectar. |
வசந்த காலத் தென்றலில் ஒரு வண்டு
வசந்த காலத் தென்றலில் ஒரு வண்டு
அது மலர்ந்து சிரிக்கும் தாமரை மலர்கண்டு
காதல் கீதம் பாடிக் கொண்டு
மயங்கி இருந்தது மலர் தேனை உண்டு
ஆசை அறுபது நாள்.......மோகம் முப்பது நாள்......
In the springtime breeze, there was a beetle,
In the springtime breeze, there was a beetle,
Seeing a lotus flower blooming and smiling,
Singing a song of love,
It swooned, drinking the floral nectar.
Desire lasts sixty days... lust lasts thirty days.
இளங்காற்றில் தவழ்ந்தோடி
வரும் செந்தாழை வாசம்
இளங்காற்றில் தவழ்ந்தோடி
வரும் செந்தாழை வாசம்
வரும் செந்தாழை வாசம்
கருவண்டின் மனதையெல்லாம்
கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சம் மாற்றவே
நேசம் எல்லாம் மறந்தது வண்டு
Crawling and running in the gentle breeze,
Comes the fragrance of the red screw-pine flower,
Crawling and running in the gentle breeze,
Comes the fragrance of the red screw-pine flower,
Comes the fragrance of the red screw-pine flower,
To completely change the black beetle's mind,
Bit by bit,
The beetle forgot all its previous love.
பறந்து தாவித் தாவி ஓடிச் சென்றது
வண்டின் நேசம் வெளி வேஷம்
எனக் கண்டேன் கண்டேன் கண்டேனே
எந்தன் கண்ணாலே
Flying, leaping, and running, it flew away.
The beetle's love was just a deceptive facade.
I saw it, saw it, saw it!
With my very own eyes!
ஆசை அறுபது நாள்.......மோகம் முப்பது நாள்......
ஆசை அறுபது நாள்.......மோகம் முப்பது நாள்......
Desire lasts sixty days, lust lasts thirty days.
Desire lasts sixty days, lust lasts thirty days.
தாழம்பூவின் அழகிலே மதி தடுமாறி
ஆசையிலே அருகில் சென்றது
தழுவி காதலுடன் மேனி முத்தம் தானே தந்தது
Entangled and confused by the beauty of the screw-pine flower,
Driven by desire, it went close.
Embracing it passionately,
It willingly gave a kiss upon its body.
பூ நாகம் சீறியே பொன் வண்டைத் தீண்டவே
பூ நாகம் சீறியே பொன் வண்டைத் தீண்டவே
As the golden beetle touched it, the floral snake hissed!
As the golden beetle touched it, the floral snake hissed!
ஆவியதை இழந்தது வண்டு
அந்தோ பாவம் பாவம் ஆடி வீழ்ந்தது
வண்டின் நேசம் மதி மதி மோசம்
எனக் கண்டேன் கண்டேன் கண்டேனே
எந்தன் கண்ணாலே
The beetle lost its very life,
Alas, what a pity, it swayed and fell down!
The beetle's affection was deceitful and treacherous.
I saw it, saw it, saw it!
With my very own eyes!
வசந்த காலத் தென்றலில் ஒரு வண்டு
அது மலர்ந்து சிரிக்கும் தாமரை மலர்கண்டு
காதல் கீதம் பாடிக் கொண்டு
மயங்கி இருந்தது மலர் தேனை உண்டு அந்த வண்டு
In the springtime breeze, there was a beetle,
Seeing a lotus flower blooming and smiling,
Singing a song of love,
That beetle swooned, drinking the floral nectar.
Vasantha kaala thendralil oru vandu
In the springtime breeze, there was a beetle,
Vasantha kaala thendralil oru vandu
In the springtime breeze, there was a beetle,
Adhu malarnthu sirikkum thamarai malarkandu
Seeing a lotus flower blooming and smiling,
Kadhal geedham paadi kondu
Singing a song of love,
Mayangi irunthathu malar theanai undu
It swooned, drinking the floral nectar.
Aasai arupathu naal……Megam muppathu naal
Desire lasts sixty days... lust lasts thirty days.
Ilangaattril thavazhnthodi
Crawling and running in the gentle breeze,
Varum senthaazhai vaasam
Comes the fragrance of the red screw-pine flower,
Ilangaattril thavazhnthodi
Crawling and running in the gentle breeze,
Varum senthaazhai vaasam
Comes the fragrance of the red screw-pine flower,
Varum senthaazhai vaasam
Comes the fragrance of the red screw-pine flower,
Karuvandin manathaiellaam
To completely change the black beetle's mind,
Konjam konjam maatravae
Bit by bit,
Naesam ellam maranthathu vandu
The beetle forgot all its previous love.
Paranthu thaavi thaavi odi sendrathu
Flying, leaping, and running, it flew away.
Vandin nasam veli vaesam
The beetle's love was just a deceptive facade.
Enak kandaen kandaen kandaenae
I saw it, saw it, saw it!
Enthan kannaalae
With my very own eyes!
Aasai arupathu naal mogam muppathu naal
Desire lasts sixty days, lust lasts thirty days.
Aasai arupathu naal mogam muppathu naal
Desire lasts sixty days, lust lasts thirty days.
Thaazhampoovin azhagilae mathi thadumaari
Entangled and confused by the beauty of the screw-pine flower,
Aasaiyilae arugil sendrathu
Driven by desire, it went close.
Thazhuvi kaadhaludan
Embracing it passionately,
Maeni muththam thaanae thanthathu
It willingly gave a kiss upon its body.
Poo naagam seeriyae pon vandatheendavae
As the golden beetle touched it, the floral snake hissed!
Poo naagam seeriyae pon vandatheendavae
As the golden beetle touched it, the floral snake hissed!
Aaviyathai izhanththau vandu
The beetle lost its very life,
Antho paavam paavam aadi veezhnthathu
Alas, what a pity, it swayed and fell down!
Vandin naesam mathi mathi mosam
The beetle's affection was deceitful and treacherous.
Enak kandaen kandaen kandaenae
I saw it, saw it, saw it!
Enthan kannaalae
With my very own eyes!
Vasantha kaala thendralil oru vandu
In the springtime breeze, there was a beetle,
Adhu malarnthu sirikkum thamarai malarkandu
Seeing a lotus flower blooming and smiling,
Kadhal geedham paadi kondu
Singing a song of love,
Mayangi irunthathu malar theanai undu antha vandu
That beetle swooned, drinking the floral nectar.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This allegorical song uses the imagery of a beetle (vandu) to reflect on fickle human desires and the dangers of superficial temptation. Initially, the beetle enjoys the gentle nectar of a lotus flower. However, lured away by the captivating aroma of a screw-pine flower (thaazhampoo), it completely forgets its past affection and leaps toward the new delight. The song invokes the traditional proverb 'Aasai arupathu naal, mogam muppathu naal' (Desire lasts 60 days, infatuation lasts 30) to highlight the temporary nature of lust. The narrative takes a tragic turn when the beetle's blind lust leads to its demise. Unbeknownst to the beetle, a snake lurked inside the screw-pine flower. As the beetle kisses the flower, the snake strikes, taking the beetle's life. The speaker reflects on having witnessed this downfall firsthand, serving as a cautionary tale against deceptive appearances and fleeting infatuations.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory / Metaphor
“Vasantha kaala thendralil oru vandu”
The beetle represents a fickle lover who abandons true affection for fleeting lust, only to face ruin.
Proverb Integration (Pazhamozhi)
“Aasai arupathu naal mogam muppathu naal”
Incorporates the classical Tamil proverb about the brevity of intense attachment and infatuation.
Repetition / Anaphora (Adukku Thodar)
“Enak kandaen kandaen kandaenae”
Emphasis on personal witness and emotional intensity through repeated words.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Poo naagam seeriyae pon vandatheendavae”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'P' in 'Poo' and 'Pon'.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from 'Konjum Salangai' (1962), composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu with lyrics by V. Seetharaman, cleverly weaves a traditional moral proverb into a lyrical dance narrative. The movie is famous for being the first Tamil film to be dubbed into Polish, titled 'W cieniu pagody'.
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