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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vasantham Paadi Vara

From Rail Payanangalil · 1981

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Vijaya T. Rajendar
Details
Rail Payanangalil1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thanna nanna nana thanana naanananaVocalizing beats (Thanna nanna nana...)
Laala laalalalaVocalizing notes (Laala laalalala)
Thaala lalala raa raa ra haa hmmVocalizing rhythm (Thaala lalala raa raa ra haa hmm)
Naa nnaa naaa…Vocalizing notes (Naa nnaa naaa…)
Male
Vasantham paadi vara vaigai odi varaAs spring arrives singing, and the Vaigai river flows running,
Ilamai koodi vara inimai thaedi varaAs youth comes together, seeking sweet delight,
Aaraadhanai seiyattumaa neerodaiyil neendhattumaaShall I perform worship, or swim in the water stream?
Male
Vasantham paadi vara vaigai odi varaAs spring arrives singing, and the Vaigai river flows running,
Ilamai koodi vara inimai thaedi varaAs youth comes together, seeking sweet delight,
Aaraadhanai seiyattumaa neerodaiyil neendhattumaaShall I perform worship, or swim in the water stream?
Male
Ni sari sa ni pa ma gagaSolfège notes (Ni sari sa ni pa ma gaga)
Pa paa pa paa pappaapa papaaRhythm vocalization (Pa paa pa paa pappaapa papaa)
Hou…dhana nana naanna naanaVocalizing rhythm (Hou…dhana nana naanna naana)
Naanna naana naanna naannaVocalizing rhythm (Naanna naana naanna naanna)
Male
Dhaevadhai pol mayakkumEnchanting like a goddess,
En raagam aval azhaippuMy melody is her call.
Poonkaaviri pol neliyumMeandering like the flower-rich Kaveri river,
En geetham aval sirippu hahahaa…hahahaaMy song is her laughter, hahaha... hahaha...
Raagamum geethamum saerndhidaAs melody and song unite,
Asaindhidum paadhamFeet sway gently in movement.
Naanamum mogamum kalandhidaAs shyness and passion blend together,
Maraindhidum thaalamThe rhythm vanishes into grace.
Vizhi adhan vaasalil ezhudhidum kolangalThe decorative patterns drawn at the doorstep of her eyes,
Puriyadhadho pudhiraanadhoAre they incomprehensible, or have they become a riddle?
Male
Vasantham paadi vara vaigai odi varaAs spring arrives singing, and the Vaigai river flows running,
Ilamai koodi vara inimai thaedi varaAs youth comes together, seeking sweet delight,
Aaraadhanai seiyattumaa neerodaiyil neendhattumaaShall I perform worship, or swim in the water stream?
Male
Oru muraiyae paarkka adhilLooking just once, in that singular moment,
Ulam thannai izhakkaLosing one's own heart completely,
Vizhi madal kondu maraikkaCovering it behind the fold of her eyelids,
En manam konjam kalangaMaking my heart feel a little restless.
Paa pa pa paa maadhaval sirippinilPaa pa pa paa... In the smile of the beautiful woman,
Maadhavam kalaindhadhu yaenoWhy did deep penance break?
Paedhaiyin vizhigalil bodhaiyum vilaindhadhu thaanoDid intoxication blossom within the naive girl's eyes?
Nenjinil aadida kurinjiyai polTo dance within the heart like the rare Kurinji,
Oru malar thaedavo haa magizhndhaadavoShall I search for such a flower, or dance in joy?
Male
Vasantham paadi vara vaigai odi varaAs spring arrives singing, and the Vaigai river flows running,
Ilamai koodi vara inimai thaedi varaAs youth comes together, seeking sweet delight,
Aaraadhanai seiyattumaa ha haa…Shall I perform worship, ha haa…
Neerodaiyil neendhattumaaOr swim in the water stream?
Pa baa baa tha na na na thanannaaVocalizing rhythm (Pa baa baa tha na na na thanannaa)
Pa pa pa pa pa pa baap paaaVocalizing rhythm (Pa pa pa pa pa pa baap paaa)
Thanananana pa baap paa…Vocalizing rhythm (Thanananana pa baap paa…)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vasantham Paadi Vara from the 1981 Tamil film Rail Payanangalil is a poetic romantic song composed and written by T. Rajendar. The lyrics frame the arrival of love and youth through natural metaphors—equating them to the gentle spring season and the flowing Vaigai river. The protagonist expresses awe at his beloved, describing her laugh as a song and her graceful demeanor as a winding river.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Dhaevadhai pol mayakkum

Compares the woman's enchanting presence to a goddess (Dhaevadhai pol) and her movement to the Kaveri river (Poonkaaviri pol).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En geetham aval sirippu hahahaa…hahahaa

Directly equates her laughter to music/song (En geetham aval sirippu).

Rhyme (Edukku & Monai)

Vasantham paadi vara vaigai odi vara

Use of matching internal rhyme and alliteration in adjacent phrases ('Vasantham'/'Vaigai', 'paadi vara'/'odi vara').

Sangam Cultural Allusion

Nenjinil aadida kurinjiyai pol

Refers to the Kurinji flower, which blooms once every 12 years in classical Tamil literature, symbolizing rarity and precious passion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Rail Payanangalil (1981) was a major musical hit written, composed, and directed by multi-talented filmmaker T. Rajendar. The song 'Vasantham Paadi Vara' features iconic vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, blending classical swaras with catchy rhythmic beats.

Keep listening

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