Vazhai Maram Katti
From Isai Paadum Thendral · 1976
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Isai Paadum Thendral1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vaazhai maram katti | Tying a banana tree for wedding decor |
| Vaazha ninaithadhenna hoi | Why did I dream of living together, oh? |
| Aalukkoru pakkam kaalam pirithadhenna | Why did time separate us to opposite sides? |
| Andhi neram vandha podhu | When dusk arrives |
| Thannanthanimaiyil paadum | Singing in complete solitude |
| Pudhu kuyil naan | I am a new cuckoo |
| Male | |
| Vaazhai maram katti | Tying a banana tree |
| Vaazha ninaithadhenna | Why did I dream of living together? |
| Female | |
| Kaadhalan avan | My lover... |
| Theettiya kadidhamo idhu maegamo | Is this cloud a letter written by him? |
| Male | |
| Vaanamo yenadhaagumo | Will the sky become mine? |
| Manadhilae alai oyumo | Will the waves in my heart ever subside? |
| Female | |
| Manadhellaam thudikkumae | My whole heart throbs with yearning |
| Unakkadhu ketkkumo | Can you hear it? |
| Male | |
| Ketkkumae ketkkumae | It will be heard, it will be heard |
| Kaadhalin geethamae | Oh song of love! |
| Female | |
| Idhaya nadhigal saerum | Where the rivers of hearts merge |
| Azhudha kadalin oram | On the shore of the weeping ocean |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal mazhai thanil | In the pouring rain of love |
| Dhegam nanaindhaen | I drenched my body |
| Female | |
| Vaazhai maram katti | Tying a banana tree |
| Vaazha ninaithadhenna…aa | Why did I dream of living together... ah |
| Aalukkoru pakkam | To each their own side |
| Kaalam pirithadhenna | Why did time separate us? |
| Andhi naeram vandha podhu | When dusk arrives |
| Thannanthanimaiyil vaadum | Withering away in utter solitude |
| Thani mayil naan | I am a lonely peacock |
| Female | |
| Vaazhai maram katti | Tying a banana tree |
| Vaazha ninaithadhenna | Why did I dream of living together? |
| Female | |
| Thoppilae kuyil koovinaal | When a cuckoo cooed in the grove |
| Dhurai yena ezhundhodinaen | I ran eagerly, thinking it was my lord calling |
| Male | |
| Kaatrilae maram aadinaal | When trees rustled in the wind |
| Kanindha un mugam thaedinaen | I searched for your sweet face |
| Female | |
| Nadhiyilae nadandhu | Walking in the river |
| Naan isaiyilae moozhginaen | I immersed myself in music |
| Male | |
| Nyaabagam vandhadhae | Memories returned |
| Vaedhanai thandhadhae | And brought deep pain |
| Female | |
| Idangal irukku angae | The familiar places are still there |
| Male | |
| Irundha kiliyum engae | But where is the parrot that lived there? |
| Female | |
| Jeevan pona | My life force has departed |
| Andha paadhai edhuvo | Which path did it take? |
| Male | |
| Vaazhai maram katti | Tying a banana tree |
| Vaazha ninaithadhenna hoi | Why did I dream of living together, oh? |
| Female | |
| Aalukkoru pakkam | To each their own side |
| Kaalam pirithadhenna | Why did time separate us? |
| Male | |
| Andhi naeram | Evening time |
| Female :Vandha podhu | Female: When it arrived |
| Male | |
| Thannanthanimaiyil paadum | Singing in complete solitude |
| Pudhu mayil naan | I am a new peacock |
| Female | |
| Vaazhai maram katti | Tying a banana tree |
| Vaazha ninaithadhenna…aa… | Why did I dream of living together... ah... |
| Male | |
| Aalukkoru pakkam | To each their own side |
| Kaalam pirithadhenna | Why did time separate us? |
வாழை மரம் கட்டி
வாழ நினைத்ததென்ன ஹோ
ஆளுக்கொரு பக்கம் காலம் பிரித்ததென்ன
அந்தி நேரம் வந்த போது
தன்னந்தனிமையில் பாடும்
புதுக் குயில் நான்
Tying a banana tree for wedding decor
Why did I dream of living together, oh?
Why did time separate us to opposite sides?
When dusk arrives
Singing in complete solitude
I am a new cuckoo
வாழை மரம் கட்டி
வாழ நினைத்ததென்ன
Tying a banana tree
Why did I dream of living together?
காதலன் அவன்
தீட்டிய கடிதமோ இது மேகமோ
My lover...
Is this cloud a letter written by him?
வானமும் எனதாகுமோ
மனதிலே அலை ஓயுமோ
Will the sky become mine?
Will the waves in my heart ever subside?
மனதெல்லாம் துடிக்குமே
உனக்கது கேட்குமோ
My whole heart throbs with yearning
Can you hear it?
கேட்குமே கேட்குமே
காதலின் கீதமே
It will be heard, it will be heard
Oh song of love!
இதய நதிகள் சேரும்
அழுத கடலின் ஓரம்
Where the rivers of hearts merge
On the shore of the weeping ocean
காதல் மழை தனில்
தேகம் நனைந்தேன்
In the pouring rain of love
I drenched my body
வாழை மரம் கட்டி
வாழ நினைத்ததென்ன....ஆ......
ஆளுக்கொரு பக்கம்
காலம் பிரித்ததென்ன
அந்தி நேரம் வந்த போது
தன்னந்தனிமையில் வாடும்
தனி மயில் நான்
Tying a banana tree
Why did I dream of living together... ah
To each their own side
Why did time separate us?
When dusk arrives
Withering away in utter solitude
I am a lonely peacock
வாழை மரம் கட்டி
வாழ நினைத்ததென்ன
Tying a banana tree
Why did I dream of living together?
தோப்பிலே குயில் கூவினால்
துரை என எழுந்தோடினேன்
When a cuckoo cooed in the grove
I ran eagerly, thinking it was my lord calling
காற்றிலே மரம் ஆடினால்
கனிந்த உன் முகம் தேடினேன்
When trees rustled in the wind
I searched for your sweet face
நதியிலே நடந்து
நான் இசையிலே மூழ்கினேன்
Walking in the river
I immersed myself in music
ஞாபகம் வந்ததே
வேதனை தந்ததே
Memories returned
And brought deep pain
இடங்கள் இருக்கு அங்கே
The familiar places are still there
இருந்த கிளியும் எங்கே
But where is the parrot that lived there?
ஜீவன் போன
அந்தப் பாதை எதுவோ
My life force has departed
Which path did it take?
வாழை மரம் கட்டி
வாழ நினைத்ததென்ன ஹோ
Tying a banana tree
Why did I dream of living together, oh?
ஆளுக்கொரு பக்கம்
காலம் பிரித்ததென்ன
To each their own side
Why did time separate us?
அந்தி நேரம்
Evening time
Female: When it arrived
வந்த போது
Singing in complete solitude
I am a new peacock
தன்னந்தனிமையில் பாடும்
புதுக் குயில் நான்
Tying a banana tree
Why did I dream of living together... ah...
வாழை மரம் கட்டி
வாழ நினைத்ததென்ன....ஆஅ.....
To each their own side
Why did time separate us?
ஆளுக்கொரு பக்கம்
காலம் பிரித்ததென்ன
Vaazhai maram katti
Tying a banana tree for wedding decor
Vaazha ninaithadhenna hoi
Why did I dream of living together, oh?
Aalukkoru pakkam kaalam pirithadhenna
Why did time separate us to opposite sides?
Andhi neram vandha podhu
When dusk arrives
Thannanthanimaiyil paadum
Singing in complete solitude
Pudhu kuyil naan
I am a new cuckoo
Vaazhai maram katti
Tying a banana tree
Vaazha ninaithadhenna
Why did I dream of living together?
Kaadhalan avan
My lover...
Theettiya kadidhamo idhu maegamo
Is this cloud a letter written by him?
Vaanamo yenadhaagumo
Will the sky become mine?
Manadhilae alai oyumo
Will the waves in my heart ever subside?
Manadhellaam thudikkumae
My whole heart throbs with yearning
Unakkadhu ketkkumo
Can you hear it?
Ketkkumae ketkkumae
It will be heard, it will be heard
Kaadhalin geethamae
Oh song of love!
Idhaya nadhigal saerum
Where the rivers of hearts merge
Azhudha kadalin oram
On the shore of the weeping ocean
Kaadhal mazhai thanil
In the pouring rain of love
Dhegam nanaindhaen
I drenched my body
Vaazhai maram katti
Tying a banana tree
Vaazha ninaithadhenna…aa
Why did I dream of living together... ah
Aalukkoru pakkam
To each their own side
Kaalam pirithadhenna
Why did time separate us?
Andhi naeram vandha podhu
When dusk arrives
Thannanthanimaiyil vaadum
Withering away in utter solitude
Thani mayil naan
I am a lonely peacock
Vaazhai maram katti
Tying a banana tree
Vaazha ninaithadhenna
Why did I dream of living together?
Thoppilae kuyil koovinaal
When a cuckoo cooed in the grove
Dhurai yena ezhundhodinaen
I ran eagerly, thinking it was my lord calling
Kaatrilae maram aadinaal
When trees rustled in the wind
Kanindha un mugam thaedinaen
I searched for your sweet face
Nadhiyilae nadandhu
Walking in the river
Naan isaiyilae moozhginaen
I immersed myself in music
Nyaabagam vandhadhae
Memories returned
Vaedhanai thandhadhae
And brought deep pain
Idangal irukku angae
The familiar places are still there
Irundha kiliyum engae
But where is the parrot that lived there?
Jeevan pona
My life force has departed
Andha paadhai edhuvo
Which path did it take?
Vaazhai maram katti
Tying a banana tree
Vaazha ninaithadhenna hoi
Why did I dream of living together, oh?
Aalukkoru pakkam
To each their own side
Kaalam pirithadhenna
Why did time separate us?
Andhi naeram
Evening time
Female :Vandha podhu
Female: When it arrived
Thannanthanimaiyil paadum
Singing in complete solitude
Pudhu mayil naan
I am a new peacock
Vaazhai maram katti
Tying a banana tree
Vaazha ninaithadhenna…aa…
Why did I dream of living together... ah...
Aalukkoru pakkam
To each their own side
Kaalam pirithadhenna
Why did time separate us?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This melancholic song portrays the deep sorrow and yearning of a woman separated from her lover by destiny. The opening metaphor of tying banana plants—a traditional Tamil wedding custom—symbolizes her unfulfilled dreams of matrimony and companionship. As dusk falls, her loneliness intensifies, turning her into a solitary bird singing her grief to the night. Throughout the verses, nature mirrors her internal anguish: a passing cloud resembles a love letter, rustling trees trick her into searching for her beloved, and rivers evoke lingering memories that bring pain. She questions destiny for tearing them apart and wonders where her lost happiness and life force have vanished, leaving behind only empty places and painful reminiscences.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Vaazhai maram katti / Vaazha ninaithadhenna”
The second consonant 'zha' rhymes across lines 1 and 2 ('Vaazhai' / 'Vaazha').
Metaphor (Uruvagamaakkal)
“Thannanthanimaiyil vaadum / Thani mayil naan”
Comparing herself to a lonely cuckoo ('Pudhu kuyil') and a lonely peacock ('Thani mayil') wandering in grief.
Rhetorical Question
“Aalukkoru pakkam kaalam pirithadhenna”
Expressing grief through unanswered questions to fate and time.
Personification
“Azhudha kadalin oram”
Attributing human emotions like crying to the ocean ('Azhudha kadal').
Did you know?
Trivia
Tying banana trees ('Vaazhai maram katti') is a symbolic Tamil custom used during auspicious events like weddings to represent fertility, prosperity, and endless growth. Lyricist Vairamuthu uses this traditional motif ironically to contrast the promise of wedded bliss with the harsh reality of painful separation.
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