Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Velaayi Veeraayi

From Lakshmi (1979) · 1979

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singers
S. Janaki, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Lakshmi (1979)
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
18 Mar 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haei…
Thandhaanaa thandhaanaa
Thaana thandhanthaanaanaa thandhanthaanaanaa
Thaanaanaa naanaanaa thandhanthaanaanaa
Velaayi veeraayi
Vetkam yenna poovaayi
Vandhu nillu raamaayi
Oorellaam kondaattam
Odi vaangadi mayilaattam
Velaayi veeraayi
Vetkam yenna poovaayi poovaayi
Muthu pola
Chorus :Pandhal
Female :Katta venum
Chorus :Thanga
Female :Vanna kolam veedhiyellaam
Poda venum
Maavilai thoranam aada venum
Manjal aalaathi thattu
Yendha venum
Female Chorus :Kattil vaaraadhu
Raagam paada venum
Raamaru vaara neram hoi
Velaayi veeraayi
Vetkam enna poovaayi poovaayi
Alli koottam
Female Chorus :Iva
Female :Kannam thotram
Female Chorus :Idai
Female :Asaindhaadi nadandhaalae
Sadhiraattam
Maappillaikku iva kanna koduppaa
Pudhu maappillai vandhaa
Kanna koduppaa
Velaayi veeraayi
Vetkam enna poovaayi poovaayi
Aathaadi
Female Chorus :Iva
Female :Poothaadi
Female Chorus :Malli
Female :Aathoram machaana paarthaadi
Aasaiyil ennenna padichaano
Avan anaichaano iva thudichaalo
Illa ariyaama iva nadichaalo
Female Chorus :Vetkatha paarungadi hoi
Velaayi veeraayi
Vetkam yenna poovaayi
Vandhu nillu raamaayi
Oorellaam kondaattam
Odi vaangadi mayilaattam
Velaayi veeraayi
Vetkam yenna poovaayi poovaayi
Hey...
Thanthana thanthana,
Thana thanthanthananna thanthanthananna,
Thananna nananna thanthanthananna!
Velayi, Veerayi,
Why are you so shy, Poovayi?
Come and stand with us, Ramayi!
The whole town is celebrating!
Come running, girls, dancing like peacocks!
Velayi, Veerayi,
Why are you so shy, Poovayi, Poovayi?
Like pearls,
Chorus: A festive canopy
Female: We must set up!
Chorus: In bright gold,
Female: Kolam (floor art patterns) along the entire street
We must draw!
Mango leaf garlands must sway in the breeze!
The auspicious turmeric blessing plate,
We must carry!
Female Chorus: Sleepless in bed,
Sweet tunes must be sung,
As her Rama arrives, hey!
Velayi, Veerayi,
Why are you so shy, Poovayi, Poovayi?
Like a cluster of lilies,
Female Chorus: Is how her
Female: Cheeks look!
Female Chorus: Her waist,
Female: When it sways as she walks,
Is like a graceful dance!
She will cast loving eyes on the bridegroom,
When the new groom arrives,
She will give him loving looks!
Velayi, Veerayi,
Why are you so shy, Poovayi, Poovayi?
Oh my goodness!
Female Chorus: She has
Female: Bloomed!
Female Chorus: Like sweet jasmine,
Female: She saw her sweetheart by the riverbank!
What all lessons did he learn in love?
Did he embrace her, and did her heart flutter?
Or did she pretend to know nothing?
Female Chorus: Look at her blushing shyness, girls, hoy!
Velayi, Veerayi,
Why are you so shy, Poovayi?
Come and stand with us, Ramayi!
The whole town is celebrating!
Come running, girls, dancing like peacocks!
Velayi, Veerayi,
Why are you so shy, Poovayi, Poovayi?
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This upbeat celebratory folk song from the 1979 movie 'Lakshmi' expresses the festive atmosphere of a rural wedding celebration. The lyrics call upon village girls named Velaayi, Veeraayi, Poovaayi, and Raamaayi to shed their shyness and join the festivities. It vividly details traditional wedding preparations, such as erecting decorative pandals, drawing colorful street rangolis (kolam), hanging mango leaf garlands, and raising auspicious turmeric aarti plates.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethiray / Rhyme Scheme

“Velaayi veeraayi / Vetkam yenna poovaayi / Vandhu nillu raamaayi”

The usage of matching end-rhymes (Iyaibo) across line ends like Velaayi, Veeraayi, Poovaayi, and Raamaayi creates a lively folk rhythm.

Simile (Upamai)

“Odi vaangadi mayilaattam”

Comparing the joy and dancing style of village girls to a graceful peacock dance ('mayilaattam').

Metaphor / Visual Imagery

“Alli koottam... Malli... Poothaadi”

Describing the bride and her friends as a group of water lilies ('Alli koottam') and blooming jasmine ('Malli').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track showcases traditional Tamil folk music traditions (Nattupura Paatu) embedded in mainstream 1970s Tamil cinema, characterized by call-and-response vocal delivery between a lead female singer and a female chorus.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Dum Dum Dum (Namma Veetu Kalyanam)2019
Paris ParisCelebrationCelebratory
Vaa Rasa1983
Adutha VarisuPlayful RomanceCourtship
Kumbam Karai Sertha1991
Kumbakarai ThangaiahCelebrationVillage Life
Deva Varaan Deva Varaan1995
DevaCelebrationCelebratory
Kuyilaga Naan1967
Selva MagalMusic And DanceBeauty
Maamoi Maamoi1984
Dhavani KanavugalFolk InfluencedConversational

From the same album

More songs from Lakshmi (1979)

View album
Melam Kotta1979
Lakshmi (1979)Romantic
Pandhaiyathula Kalandhirukkura1979
Lakshmi (1979)Playful
Thennamarathula Thendraladikkudhu1979
Lakshmi (1979)Romantic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.