Vel Vellumaa
From Mahalakshmi · 1960
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- P. Leela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Mahalakshmi1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vel vellumaa | Will the spear win? |
| En vizhi velluma | Or will my eye win? |
| Vel vandhu vizhi pola | Can a spear tell stories |
| Kadhai solluma | Like an eye does? |
| Vel vellumaa | Will the spear win? |
| En vizhi velluma | Or will my eye win? |
| Vel vandhu vizhi pola | Can a spear tell stories |
| Kadhai solluma | Like an eye does? |
| Female | |
| Kadhai solluma | Will it tell stories? |
| Vaazhum vagai solluma | Will it show the way to live? |
| Kadal pola ezhundhinba | Rising like the ocean, joyous |
| Karai thulluma | Will the shore leap? |
| Kadhai solluma | Will it tell stories? |
| Vaazhum vagai solluma | Will it show the way to live? |
| Kadal pola ezhundhinba | Rising like the ocean, joyous |
| Karai thulluma | Will the shore leap? |
| Female | |
| Vel vellumaa | Will the spear win? |
| En vizhi velluma | Or will my eye win? |
| Vel vandhu vizhi pola | Can a spear tell stories |
| Kadhai solluma | Like an eye does? |
| Female | |
| Kozhaikkum veerathai | To a coward, courage |
| Koduppaval mangai | The woman gives! |
| Koiyaa kaniyaai | Like an unpicked fruit, |
| Iruppaval mangai | She remains intact! |
| Female | |
| Vaazhvinil mogathai | Desire in one's life, |
| Valarppaval mangai | The woman nurtures! |
| Vaazhvinil mogathai | Desire in one's life, |
| Valarppaval mangai | The woman nurtures! |
| Aan manadhil veedukatti | Building a home in a man's heart, |
| Vasippaval mangai | The woman resides! |
| Aan manadhil veedukatti | Building a home in a man's heart, |
| Vasippaval mangai | The woman resides! |
| Female | |
| Mangai en paarvaiyil | In the glance of a woman, |
| Malaiyasaiyum | Even a mountain moves! |
| Mangai en paarvaiyil | In the glance of a woman, |
| Malaiyasaiyum | Even a mountain moves! |
| Padai vaazhum eetiyum enna seiyum | What can a spear used by an army do? |
| Padai vaazhum eetiyum enna seiyum | What can a spear used by an army do? |
| Female | |
| Vel vellumaa | Will the spear win? |
| En vizhi velluma | Or will my eye win? |
| Vel vandhu vizhi pola | Can a spear tell stories |
| Kadhai solluma | Like an eye does? |
| Vel vellumaa | Will the spear win? |
| En vizhi velluma | Or will my eye win? |
| Vel vandhu vizhi pola | Can a spear tell stories |
| Kadhai solluma | Like an eye does? |
| Female | |
| Kannagi pol naalai | Like Kannagi, spend the days |
| Kazhikkavum theriyum | In patience, she knows how to! |
| Kaadhalai maadhavipol | Love, like Madhavi, |
| Rasikkavum theriyum | She knows how to relish! |
| Female | |
| Mannanai sagunthalai pol | A king, like Shakuntala, |
| Madhikkavum theriyum | She knows how to honor! |
| Mannanai sagunthalai pol | A king, like Shakuntala, |
| Madhikkavum theriyum | She knows how to honor! |
| Manimeghalai pola | Like Manimekalai, to renounce, |
| Verukkavum mudiyum | She is also capable! |
| Female | |
| Vel vellumaa | Will the spear win? |
| En vizhi velluma | Or will my eye win? |
| Vel vandhu vizhi pola | Can a spear tell stories |
| Kadhai solluma | Like an eye does? |
| Vel vellumaa | Will the spear win? |
| En vizhi velluma | Or will my eye win? |
| Vel vandhu vizhi pola | Can a spear tell stories |
| Kadhai solluma | Like an eye does? |
வேல் வெல்லுமா
என் விழி வெல்லுமா
வேல் வந்து விழி போலக்
கதை சொல்லுமா.....
வேல் வெல்லுமா
என் விழி வெல்லுமா
வேல் வந்து விழி போலக்
கதை சொல்லுமா....
Will the spear win?
Or will my eye win?
Can a spear tell stories
Like an eye does?
Will the spear win?
Or will my eye win?
Can a spear tell stories
Like an eye does?
கதை சொல்லுமா
வாழும் வகை சொல்லுமா
கடல் போல எழுந்தின்பக்
கரை துள்ளுமா........
கதை சொல்லுமா
வாழும் வகை சொல்லுமா
கடல் போல எழுந்தின்பக்
கரை துள்ளுமா......
Will it tell stories?
Will it show the way to live?
Rising like the ocean, joyous
Will the shore leap?
Will it tell stories?
Will it show the way to live?
Rising like the ocean, joyous
Will the shore leap?
வேல் வெல்லுமா
என் விழி வெல்லுமா
வேல் வந்து விழி போலக்
கதை சொல்லுமா....
Will the spear win?
Or will my eye win?
Can a spear tell stories
Like an eye does?
கோழைக்கும் வீரத்தைக்
கொடுப்பவள் மங்கை
கொய்யாக் கனியாய்
இருப்பவள் மங்கை
To a coward, courage
The woman gives!
Like an unpicked fruit,
She remains intact!
வாழ்வினில் மோகத்தை
வளர்ப்பவள் மங்கை
வாழ்வினில் மோகத்தை
வளர்ப்பவள் மங்கை
ஆண் மனதில் வீடுகட்டி
வசிப்பவள் மங்கை
ஆண் மனதில் வீடுகட்டி
வசிப்பவள் மங்கை
Desire in one's life,
The woman nurtures!
Desire in one's life,
The woman nurtures!
Building a home in a man's heart,
The woman resides!
Building a home in a man's heart,
The woman resides!
மங்கை என் பார்வையில்
மலையசையும்
மங்கை என் பார்வையில்
மலையசையும்
பகை வாளும் ஈட்டியும் என்ன செய்யும்?
பகை வாளும் ஈட்டியும் என்ன செய்யும்?
In the glance of a woman,
Even a mountain moves!
In the glance of a woman,
Even a mountain moves!
What can a spear used by an army do?
What can a spear used by an army do?
வேல் வெல்லுமா
என் விழி வெல்லுமா
வேல் வந்து விழி போலக்
வேல் வெல்லுமா
என் விழி வெல்லுமா
வேல் வந்து விழி போலக்
கதை சொல்லுமா....
Will the spear win?
Or will my eye win?
Can a spear tell stories
Like an eye does?
Will the spear win?
Or will my eye win?
Can a spear tell stories
Like an eye does?
கண்ணகி போல் நாளைக்
கழிக்கவும் தெரியும்
காதலை மாதவி போல்
ரசிக்கவும் தெரியும்
Like Kannagi, spend the days
In patience, she knows how to!
Love, like Madhavi,
She knows how to relish!
மன்னனைச் சகுந்தலை போல்
மதிக்கவும் தெரியும்
மன்னனைச் சகுந்தலை போல்
மதிக்கவும் தெரியும்
மணிமேகலை போல
வெறுக்கவும் முடியும்.........
A king, like Shakuntala,
She knows how to honor!
A king, like Shakuntala,
She knows how to honor!
Like Manimekalai, to renounce,
She is also capable!
வேல் வெல்லுமா
என் விழி வெல்லுமா
வேல் வந்து விழி போலக்
கதை சொல்லுமா....
வேல் வெல்லுமா
என் விழி வெல்லுமா
வேல் வந்து விழி போலக்
கதை சொல்லுமா....
Will the spear win?
Or will my eye win?
Can a spear tell stories
Like an eye does?
Will the spear win?
Or will my eye win?
Can a spear tell stories
Like an eye does?
Vel vellumaa
Will the spear win?
En vizhi velluma
Or will my eye win?
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Can a spear tell stories
Kadhai solluma
Like an eye does?
Vel vellumaa
Will the spear win?
En vizhi velluma
Or will my eye win?
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Can a spear tell stories
Kadhai solluma
Like an eye does?
Kadhai solluma
Will it tell stories?
Vaazhum vagai solluma
Will it show the way to live?
Kadal pola ezhundhinba
Rising like the ocean, joyous
Karai thulluma
Will the shore leap?
Kadhai solluma
Will it tell stories?
Vaazhum vagai solluma
Will it show the way to live?
Kadal pola ezhundhinba
Rising like the ocean, joyous
Karai thulluma
Will the shore leap?
Vel vellumaa
Will the spear win?
En vizhi velluma
Or will my eye win?
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Can a spear tell stories
Kadhai solluma
Like an eye does?
Kozhaikkum veerathai
To a coward, courage
Koduppaval mangai
The woman gives!
Koiyaa kaniyaai
Like an unpicked fruit,
Iruppaval mangai
She remains intact!
Vaazhvinil mogathai
Desire in one's life,
Valarppaval mangai
The woman nurtures!
Vaazhvinil mogathai
Desire in one's life,
Valarppaval mangai
The woman nurtures!
Aan manadhil veedukatti
Building a home in a man's heart,
Vasippaval mangai
The woman resides!
Aan manadhil veedukatti
Building a home in a man's heart,
Vasippaval mangai
The woman resides!
Mangai en paarvaiyil
In the glance of a woman,
Malaiyasaiyum
Even a mountain moves!
Mangai en paarvaiyil
In the glance of a woman,
Malaiyasaiyum
Even a mountain moves!
Padai vaazhum eetiyum enna seiyum
What can a spear used by an army do?
Padai vaazhum eetiyum enna seiyum
What can a spear used by an army do?
Vel vellumaa
Will the spear win?
En vizhi velluma
Or will my eye win?
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Can a spear tell stories
Kadhai solluma
Like an eye does?
Vel vellumaa
Will the spear win?
En vizhi velluma
Or will my eye win?
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Can a spear tell stories
Kadhai solluma
Like an eye does?
Kannagi pol naalai
Like Kannagi, spend the days
Kazhikkavum theriyum
In patience, she knows how to!
Kaadhalai maadhavipol
Love, like Madhavi,
Rasikkavum theriyum
She knows how to relish!
Mannanai sagunthalai pol
A king, like Shakuntala,
Madhikkavum theriyum
She knows how to honor!
Mannanai sagunthalai pol
A king, like Shakuntala,
Madhikkavum theriyum
She knows how to honor!
Manimeghalai pola
Like Manimekalai, to renounce,
Verukkavum mudiyum
She is also capable!
Vel vellumaa
Will the spear win?
En vizhi velluma
Or will my eye win?
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Can a spear tell stories
Kadhai solluma
Like an eye does?
Vel vellumaa
Will the spear win?
En vizhi velluma
Or will my eye win?
Vel vandhu vizhi pola
Can a spear tell stories
Kadhai solluma
Like an eye does?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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