Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Velalavu Kangal

From Pasamum Nesamum · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Details
Pasamum Nesamum1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Velalavu kangalEyes as sharp as a spearhead
Velalavu kangal kaal alavu koondhalEyes as sharp as a spearhead, hair reaching down to the feet
Velalavu kangal kaal alavu koondhalEyes as sharp as a spearhead, hair reaching down to the feet
Nool alavu chinna idaiA tiny waist as thin as a thread
Kondavargal pengalWomen possess all these traits
Kolamayil pola avar odivarum bodhuWhen she comes running like a beautiful peacock
Komali pol avarai paarpavar neengalYou look at her like a clueless clown
Komali …komaliClown... clown
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown
Female
Velalavu kangal kaal alavu koondhalEyes as sharp as a spearhead, hair reaching down to the feet
Nool alavu chinna idaiA tiny waist as thin as a thread
Kondavargal pengalWomen possess all these traits
Kolamayil pola avar odivarum bodhuWhen she comes running like a beautiful peacock
Verum komali polLike a mere clown
Avarai paarpavar neengalYou look at her that way
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown
Female
Sevvaaiyil muthuthira paadivarum thaeniA honeybee singing while dropping pearls from red lips
Sendhazhai malarpola thaenoorum maeniA body dripping honey like the red screwpine flower
Kannara kanda manam kaadhalae pazhagumA heart that beholds fully will practice love
Kannara kanda manam kaadhalae pazhagumA heart that beholds fully will practice love
Andha kalaiyennaWhat art is that?
Andha kalaiyenna kalaiyendru sollava mudiyumCan anyone even describe what kind of art that is?
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown
Female
Vaavendru solla oru vaarthaiyaa illaiIs there no word to say 'Come'?
Mangai naan sonnaalum theriyavae illaiEven though I, a young maiden, said it, he does not understand
Kaithottu vilaiyaada theriyaadha pillaiLike an innocent child who does not know how to play holding hands
Kaithottu vilaiyaada theriyaadha pillaiLike an innocent child who does not know how to play holding hands
Ivar kallaagaHe stands like a stone
Ivar kallaaga nirkkiraar puriyavae illaiHe stands like a stone, I cannot comprehend why
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown
Female
Paruvangal vandhadhum thaanaga malarumWhen youth arrives, it blooms naturally on its own
Paarkkindra porul ellaam kaadhala puriyumDoes everything one beholds feel like love?
Paarkkiraar paarkkiraar kannalae meendumHe looks, he looks again with his eyes
Paarkkiraar paarkkiraar kannalae meendumHe looks, he looks again with his eyes
Idhai palliyilaeIn school
Idhai palliyilae marubadiyum padikkava vendumMust this be studied once again at school?
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown
Female
Velalavu kangal kaal alavu koondhalEyes as sharp as a spearhead, hair reaching down to the feet
Nool alavu chinna idaiA tiny waist as thin as a thread
Kondavargal pengalWomen possess all these traits
Kolamayil pola avar odivarum bodhuWhen she comes running like a beautiful peacock
Verum komali polLike a mere clown
Avarai paarpavar neengalYou look at her that way
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown
Komali neeyoru komaliClown, you are a clown

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful song from 'Pasamum Nesamum' (1964) features a heroine teasing her beloved for his utter innocence and shyness in romance. She describes classical benchmarks of female beauty—spear-sharp eyes, long hair reaching the feet, and a thread-thin waist—and compares a woman's graceful entrance to a dancing peacock. Despite her beauty and clear romantic signals, the hero stands frozen like a stone, unable to respond to her flirtations. She playfully calls him a 'komali' (clown or fool) for staring cluelessly instead of initiating romance. She wonders if he needs to return to school to learn the basics of courtship, lamenting humorously about his complete ignorance of love's gestures.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uwamai (Simile)

Kolamayil pola avar odivarum bodhu

Compares feminine traits to natural objects: 'Velalavu kangal' (eyes as sharp as a spearhead), 'Nool alavu' (waist thin as thread), and 'Kolamayil pola' (graceful like a peacock).

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Komali neeyoru komali

The word 'Komali' and phrase 'Paarkkiraar paarkkiraar' are repeated for rhythmic emphasis and comedic tease.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Sevvaaiyil muthuthira paadivarum thaeni

Compares speech to pearls and sweet voice to a honeybee ('Sevvaaiyil muthuthira paadivarum thaeni').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kannara kanda manam kaadhalae pazhagum

Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds in words within the same line, such as 'Kannara' and 'Kaadhalae'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Pasamum Nesamum' (1964) featured a musical score by S. Vedhachalam. This song is celebrated for P. Susheela's lively and expressive rendition, perfectly capturing Kannadasan's lighthearted and humorous lyrics.

Keep listening

More from Pasamum Nesamum