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Mahalakshmi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vel Vellumaa

From Mahalakshmi · 1960

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Mahalakshmi
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
22 Oct 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vel vellumaa
En vizhi velluma
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Kadhai solluma
Vel vellumaa
En vizhi velluma
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Kadhai solluma
Kadhai solluma
Vaazhum vagai solluma
Kadal pola ezhundhinba
Karai thulluma
Kadhai solluma
Vaazhum vagai solluma
Kadal pola ezhundhinba
Karai thulluma
Vel vellumaa
En vizhi velluma
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Kadhai solluma
Kozhaikkum veerathai
Koduppaval mangai
Koiyaa kaniyaai
Iruppaval mangai
Vaazhvinil mogathai
Valarppaval mangai
Vaazhvinil mogathai
Valarppaval mangai
Aan manadhil veedukatti
Vasippaval mangai
Aan manadhil veedukatti
Vasippaval mangai
Mangai en paarvaiyil
Malaiyasaiyum
Mangai en paarvaiyil
Malaiyasaiyum
Padai vaazhum eetiyum enna seiyum
Padai vaazhum eetiyum enna seiyum
Vel vellumaa
En vizhi velluma
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Kadhai solluma
Vel vellumaa
En vizhi velluma
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Kadhai solluma
Kannagi pol naalai
Kazhikkavum theriyum
Kaadhalai maadhavipol
Rasikkavum theriyum
Mannanai sagunthalai pol
Madhikkavum theriyum
Mannanai sagunthalai pol
Madhikkavum theriyum
Manimeghalai pola
Verukkavum mudiyum
Vel vellumaa
En vizhi velluma
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Kadhai solluma
Vel vellumaa
En vizhi velluma
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Kadhai solluma
Will a spear win?
Or will my eyes win?
Can a spear, like eyes,
tell a story?
Will a spear win?
Or will my eyes win?
Can a spear, like eyes,
tell a story?
Can it tell a story?
Can it teach the way to live?
Rising like the ocean,
can it leap upon the shores of joy?
Can it tell a story?
Can it teach the way to live?
Rising like the ocean,
can it leap upon the shores of joy?
Will a spear win?
Or will my eyes win?
Can a spear, like eyes,
tell a story?
Giving courage even to a coward,
that is a woman.
Remaining an unpicked fruit,
that is a woman.
Nurturing love and desire in life,
that is a woman.
Nurturing love and desire in life,
that is a woman.
Building a home in a man's heart,
a woman makes her dwelling there.
Building a home in a man's heart,
a woman makes her dwelling there.
Before my gaze as a woman,
even a mountain will move.
Before my gaze as a woman,
even a mountain will move.
What can an army's sword and spear do?
What can an army's sword and spear do?
Will a spear win?
Or will my eyes win?
Can a spear, like eyes,
tell a story?
Will a spear win?
Or will my eyes win?
Can a spear, like eyes,
tell a story?
Like Kannagi, to pass the days,
I know how.
Like Madhavi, to savor love,
I know how.
Like Shakuntala, to honor my king,
I know how.
Like Shakuntala, to honor my king,
I know how.
And like Manimekalai,
I can also renounce it all.
Will a spear win?
Or will my eyes win?
Can a spear, like eyes,
tell a story?
Will a spear win?
Or will my eyes win?
Can a spear, like eyes,
tell a story?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Vel vellumaa is a celebrated classical composition from the movie Mahalakshmi (1960). The song presents a poetic duel between a physical weapon—the spear (vel)—and the expressive power of a woman's gaze. The protagonist asserts that a woman's eyes are far more potent than any weapon, capable of inspiring courage in cowards, captivating men, and even shaking mountains. Furthermore, the lyricist A. Maruthakasi weaves iconic characters from classic Indian literature into the verses—Kannagi (symbolizing virtue and endurance), Madhavi (romance and art), Shakuntala (regal love and devotion), and Manimekalai (renunciation and detachment)—to highlight the multifaceted nature and strength of womanhood.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Vel vandhu vizhi pola”

Comparing the expressiveness of eyes to a spear (Vel vandhu vizhi pola) and joy rising like the sea (Kadal pola ezhundhinba).

Rhetorical Question

“Vel vellumaa En vizhi velluma”

Asking whether a spear can conquer or express stories like a woman's eyes can.

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

“Kannagi pol naalai Kazhikkavum theriyum”

Referencing legendary characters from Tamil epics and classical literature: Kannagi, Madhavi, Shakuntala, and Manimekalai to showcase different facets of womanhood.

Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

“Vaazhvinil mogathai Valarppaval mangai”

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'V' across words in the line.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist A. Maruthakasi uniquely incorporates four major epic heroines—Kannagi and Madhavi from Silappatikaram, Manimekalai from Manimekalai, and Shakuntala from Abhijñana Shakuntalam—into a single verse, highlighting the diverse archetypes of Indian womanhood set to K. V. Mahadevan's melody.

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