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Lyrics & meaning

Veettuku Veedu Vaasappadi

From Veettuku Veedu Vasapadi · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
Rajan Nagendra
Details
Veettuku Veedu Vasapadi1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Veettukku veedu vaasappadiEvery house has a threshold,
Vishayangal aasaippadiMatters unfold according to desires.
Engengum poraattandhaanEverywhere there is a struggle,
Ellaarum onnaattandhaanEveryone is in the same boat.
Female
Veettukku veedu vaasappadiEvery house has a threshold,
Vishayangal aasaippadiMatters unfold according to desires.
Engengum poraattandhaanEverywhere there is a struggle,
Ellaarum onnaattandhaanEveryone is in the same boat.
Male
Kalyaanam kadavul seyalMarriage is God's doing,
Female :Kanneerum avan seyalaeFemale: Tears too are His doing.
Both :Nadandhadhu marappadhu nalladhammaaBoth: It is good to forget what has passed, my dear.
Female
Seethaikkum thunbam unduEven Sita had sorrow,
Raadhaikkum thunbam unduEven Radha had sorrow.
Eppodhum thaangi kondaalIf one bears it at all times,
Ellorkkum maenmai unduGreatness awaits everyone.
Male
………………………....
Aasaigal kodi unduThere are millions of desires,
Aanaalum ellai unduYet there is a limit to them.
Paadhaigal nooru unduThere are a hundred paths,
Payanangal veru veruAnd the journeys are all different.
Both :Payanangal veru veruBoth: And the journeys are all different.
Male
Adadadadadadada ahaa…Adadadadadada ahaa...
Male
AiyaavumFemale :AmmaavumSir and Female: Madam
Both :Onnaaga koodunga kannaaga vaazhungaBoth: Come together as one, live like precious eyes,
Anbaaga panbaagaWith love and with good character.
Serndhu nadappadhu samsaaramWalking together is family life,
Serndhu padippadhu sangeethamLearning together is music.
Male
Mysooril thangam unduMysore has gold,
Malainaattil rubber unduThe hill country has rubber.
Engengae enna undoWhatever exists wherever,
Adhiledhaan vaazhkkai unduLife is found right within that.
Female
Aaa…..aaa…..aaa….aaa….Aaa.....aaa.....aaa....aaa....
Male :Haiyo haiyo haiyoo haiyooMale: Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my!
Female
Yedhedho ennam konduHarboring all kinds of thoughts,
Ennaalum sandaiyittaalIf you fight every single day,
Vaadhaada neram pogumTime will slip away in arguing;
Vaazhvukku neram edhuWhen will there be time to actually live?
Both :Vaazhvukku neram edhuBoth: When will there be time to actually live?
Female
Thanneeril neendhum meenaiA fish that swims in the water,
Tharaimeedhu podalaamaaCan you throw it onto the dry land?
Pennaaga vandha pinnaeHaving been born as a woman,
Pirivaagi vaazhalaamaaCan she live in separation?
Male
Pendaatti aasai kondaalIf a wife yearns for affection,
Kondaada neram vendumThere must be time to cherish her.
Ennaalum velai endraalIf every single day is filled with work,
Engaedhaan thaaram selvaalWhere else will the wife go?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song composed around the themes of domestic life offers practical wisdom and consolation regarding married life and human suffering. It asserts that every household faces challenges and that hardships are universal—even divine figures like Sita and Radha endured pain. The song emphasizes that life is best lived by letting go of past grief and accepting reality. Furthermore, the lyricist highlights the importance of harmony, quality time, and mutual affection between partners. It compares marital companionship to music and cautions against losing precious time in endless arguments or workaholic routines, reminding husbands that wives require affection and togetherness to thrive.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Veettukku veedu vaasappadi / Vishayangal aasaippadi

Rhyming line endings created by '-ppadi' and '-andhaan' in the refrain to build a catchy, rhythmic cadence.

Allusion (Purana/Epic Reference)

Seethaikkum thunbam undu / Raadhaikkum thunbam undu

Reference to Sita and Radha from Hindu epics/traditions to normalise hardship as an inescapable aspect of life.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Serndhu nadappadhu samsaaram / Serndhu padippadhu sangeetham

Comparing family harmony to making music together ('Serndhu padippadhu sangeetham').

Analogy

Thanneeril neendhum meenai / Tharaimeedhu podalaamaa

Comparing a married woman forced into emotional separation to a fish pulled out of water onto land.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary poet Kannadasan, 'Veettukku Veedu Vaasappadi' is well remembered for its pragmatic philosophical commentary on family dynamics, blending conversational Tamil with profound life wisdom that became a staple trope in 1970s Tamil cinema.

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