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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vasanthangal Varum

From Lalitha · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Lalitha1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vasanthangal varum munbae veyil vanthathaeBefore spring could arrive, harsh summer heat appeared.
Mazhaikaala megangal kalaigindratheyThe rain clouds of the monsoon season are dispersing away.
Vasanthangal varum munbae veyil vanthathaeBefore spring could arrive, harsh summer heat appeared.
Mazhaikaala megangal kalaigindratheyThe rain clouds of the monsoon season are dispersing away.
Ponnaananaal vilai illaiEven if a day is made of gold, it holds no value.
Kannaanaal imai illaiEven if one has eyes, there are no eyelids for rest.
Female
Ilai undu malar undu kani illaiyaeThere are leaves and there are flowers, but there is no fruit.
Kani ondru kai vanthu kiliyillaiyaeA fruit came to hand, but there is no parrot to enjoy it.
Aval veenai tharum paadal orae raagamaeThe song produced by her Veena has only a single melody.
Anantham adhil illai orae sogamaeThere is no happiness in it, only unceasing sorrow.
Female
Ponnaananaal vilai illaiEven if a day is made of gold, it holds no value.
Kannaanaal imai illaiEven if one has eyes, there are no eyelids for rest.
Female
Kavi ondru varumendru yaedaanavalShe became a blank page expecting a poem to be written.
Sila naalil verum thaalil kodaanavalIn a few days, she became lines scribbled on a plain paper.
Pani kaalam kuyil paada koodaanavalShe became one unable to join the cuckoo singing in winter.
Padikkaamal mudikindra paattaanavalShe became a song that ends without ever being read.
Female
Ponnaananaal vilai illaiEven if a day is made of gold, it holds no value.
Kannaanaal imai illaiEven if one has eyes, there are no eyelids for rest.
Female
Mana chinnam kazhuththodu sirikkindrathaeThe symbol of marriage around the neck laughs in irony.
Malar kinnam nerupaaga kodhikkindrathaeThe cup of flowers boils hot like fire.
Ninaikkindra manam mattum ninaikkindrathaeOnly the contemplative mind continues to think.
Thadukkindra vidhi yaedho thadukindrathaeSome obstructing fate blocks the path ahead.
Female
Ponnaananaal vilai illaiEven if a day is made of gold, it holds no value.
Kannaanaal imai illaiEven if one has eyes, there are no eyelids for rest.
Vasanthangal varum munbae veyil vanthathaeBefore spring could arrive, harsh summer heat appeared.
Mazhaikaala megangal kalaigindratheyThe rain clouds of the monsoon season are dispersing away.
Aaaaa…..aaa…..aaa……aaa…..aaa…….ooo…..Aaaaa... vocalizing grief...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vasanthangal Varum Munbae is a profoundly melancholic song reflecting a woman's tragic life and unfulfilled hopes. The lyricist Kannadasan utilizes striking metaphors of nature—such as scorching heat arriving before spring, rain clouds dissolving without yielding rain, and trees bearing flowers but no fruit—to illustrate untimely misfortune, emotional emptiness, and intense grief despite external signs of prosperity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamm)

Vasanthangal varum munbae veyil vanthathae

Life's premature hardships are metaphorically compared to intense summer heat arriving before the pleasant spring season.

Etukai (Second letter rhyme)

Ponnaananaal vilai illai / Kannaanaal imai illai

The second consonant sound 'n' (ண்/ன்) rhymes between 'Ponnaananaal' and 'Kannaanaal'.

Iyaippu (End rhyme)

Kavi ondru varumendru yaedaanaval / Sila naalil verum thaalil kodaanaval

The suffix 'aanaval' repeats at the end of consecutive lines, creating a rhythmic cadence of tragedy.

Moonaikkam (Alliteration)

Vasanthangal varum munbae veyil vanthathae

Repetition of the 'V' sound across words ('Vasanthangal', 'varum', 'veyil', 'vanthathae').

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1976 Tamil film 'Lalitha' starring Gemini Ganesan, Sujatha, and Kamal Haasan, this song is regarded as one of Kannadasan and M.S. Viswanathan's iconic sorrowful collaborations, rendered with deep emotional nuance by P. Susheela.

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