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Vazhvu En Pakkam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Veenai Pesum

From Vazhvu En Pakkam · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Vazhvu En Pakkam
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
28 Sept 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Veenai pesum athai meettum
Viralgalai kandu
Thendral pesum adhu mothum
Malargalil nindru…
Veenai pesum athai meettum
Viralgalai kandu
Thendral pesum adhu mothum
Malargalil nindru…
Naanam oru vagai kalaiyin sugam
Mounam oruvagai mozhiyin patham
Naanam oru vagai kalaiyin sugam
Mounam oruvagai mozhiyin patham
Deepam eppothu pesum kannae
Thondrum deivaththin munnae
Deepam eppothu pesum kannae
Thondrum deivaththin munnae
Deivam sollaatha vaarththaigal ellaam
Deepam sollaatho kannae
Deivam sollaatha vaarththaigal ellaam
Deepam sollaatho kannae
Veenai pesum athai meettum
Viralgalai kandu
Thendral pesum adhu mothum
Malargalil nindru…
Kadhal tharuvathu radhiyin kathai
Kannil varuvathu kavithai kalai
Kadhal tharuvathu radhiyin kathai
Kannil varuvathu kavithai kalai
Vaarththai illaatha sarasam kannae
Vaazhvil ondraana pinnae
Vaarththai illaatha sarasam kannae
Vaazhvil ondraana pinnae
Thaaimai kondaadu pillaiyum naanae
Nenjil thaalaattu kannae
Thaaimai kondaadu pillaiyum naanae
Nenjil thaalaattu kannae
Mmm mhheem mm mmmheem
………………….
The veena speaks when it meets
the fingers that pluck its strings,
The gentle breeze speaks as it rests
upon the flowers it touches...
The veena speaks when it meets
the fingers that pluck its strings,
The gentle breeze speaks as it rests
upon the flowers it touches...
Shyness is a joyful kind of art,
Silence is a gentle form of language.
Shyness is a joyful kind of art,
Silence is a gentle form of language.
When does the lamp speak, my love?
Before the deity when it appears!
When does the lamp speak, my love?
Before the deity when it appears!
All the words left unsaid by God,
wouldn't the lamp speak them, my love?
All the words left unsaid by God,
wouldn't the lamp speak them, my love?
The veena speaks when it meets
the fingers that pluck its strings,
The gentle breeze speaks as it rests
upon the flowers it touches...
Love brings the tale of Rati (the goddess of love),
What shines in the eyes is the art of poetry.
Love brings the tale of Rati (the goddess of love),
What shines in the eyes is the art of poetry.
Romance needs no words, my love,
once we become one in life.
Romance needs no words, my love,
once we become one in life.
Celebrate your motherhood, for I am your child too,
sing me a lullaby against your heart, my love...
Celebrate your motherhood, for I am your child too,
sing me a lullaby against your heart, my love...
Mmm mhmm mm mmhmm
...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In this classic romantic song 'Veenai Pesum' from Vazhvu En Pakkam (1975), Kannadasan beautifully articulates how profound emotions transcend spoken words. Just as a veena expresses music when touched by skilled fingers or a gentle breeze speaks when rustling through blossoms, intimate romantic feelings communicate through non-verbal gazes, silence, and subtle gestures.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagam / Uyirthinai Aakkal)

“Veenai pesum athai meettum”

Inanimate and natural entities like the Veena, breeze, and temple lamp are given human qualities of speech ('Veenai pesum', 'Thendral pesum', 'Deepam pesum').

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Mounam oruvagai mozhiyin patham”

Equating silence to a specific form/state of language ('Mounam oruvagai mozhiyin patham') and shyness to artistic joy.

Monaai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

“Kadhal tharuvathu radhiyin kathai”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across paired lines ('Kadhal' and 'Kannil', 'Vaarththai' and 'Vaazhvil').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan and rendered by K. J. Yesudas, this song is celebrated for its soothing classical instrumentation featuring the Veena, matching the lyric's central motif of musical resonance.

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