Vellai Kalai Uduthum
From Iraivan Kodutha Varam · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Iraivan Kodutha Varam1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vellai kalai uduththum kalaimagalae | O Goddess of arts clad in white garments, |
| Nee vithavaiyalla athai naan arivaen | I know that you are not a widow. |
| Ival illa kamalam adhil uraiyum idam | The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides, |
| Oruvarukko illai iruvarukko | Is it meant for one person or for two? |
| Male | |
| Vellai kalai uduththum kalaimagalae | O Goddess of arts clad in white garments, |
| Nee vithavaiyalla athai naan arivaen | I know that you are not a widow. |
| Ival illa kamalam adhil uraiyum idam | The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides, |
| Oruvarukko illai iruvarukko | Is it meant for one person or for two? |
| Male | |
| Oruvanukku maaliyittaal | She garlanded one man as her husband, |
| Avaraial kandaal | And saw him disappear from her life. |
| Matoruvarukku maalaiyittaal | She garlanded another man as her husband, |
| Izhanthuvittaal | And lost him as well. |
| Ival sumangaliyaa illai amangaliyaa | Is she a auspicious married woman or an ill-fated woman? |
| Male | |
| Sumangali enbatharkku ivan satchi | This man stands witness to her being married, |
| Amangali enbatharkku avan satchi | That man stands witness to her misfortune. |
| Kalanguthammaa ival manasatchi | Her conscience is troubled and grieves inside, |
| Nee kaatividu oru katchi…. | Oh Goddess, reveal a clear path and judgment. |
| Male | |
| Vellai kalai uduththum kalaimagalae | O Goddess of arts clad in white garments, |
| Nee vithavaiyalla athai naan arivaen | I know that you are not a widow. |
| Ival illa kamalam adhil uraiyum idam | The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides, |
| Oruvarukko illai iruvarukko | Is it meant for one person or for two? |
| Male | |
| Nangaiyar vaazhvil idhu pudhiya kadhai | This is a novel predicament in the lives of women, |
| Idhu nadaththinaaal ivalukku chithravathai | Sustaining this situation inflicts torture on her. |
| Kavalaiyil vaaduthammaa pachaikili | This gentle parrot-like woman is wilting in sorrow, |
| Nee kaatti vidu vaazhvil nalla vazhi | Please show her a righteous path in life! |
| Male | |
| Vellai kalai uduththum kalaimagalae | O Goddess of arts clad in white garments, |
| Nee vithavaiyalla adhai naan arivaen | I know that you are not a widow. |
| Ival ulla kamalam adhil uraiyum idam | The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides, |
| Oruvarukko illai iruvarukko | Is it meant for one person or for two? |
| Male | |
| Kattiyathumattumindri thottavarillai | Apart from tying the knot, no man has ever touched her, |
| Ival kanni kazhikka oru kaariyamillai | There was never a moment for her to lose her maidenhood. |
| Palliyaraiyilae avanai kaana ninaiththaal | When she hoped to meet him in the bedchamber, |
| Indru palliyilae avanai landu pidiththaal | She found him lying lifeless on the bed today. |
| Male | |
| Kelvi piranthathammaa bathil illai | A deep question has arisen, but there is no answer, |
| Oru kilarchchi ezhunthathammaa mudivu illai | An emotional turmoil has surged, but there is no resolution. |
| Vaazhvu kalanguthammaa vazhiyillai | Her life is tossed in confusion with no way ahead, |
| Vaai thiranthu solla mozhiyillai | She has no words to open her mouth and speak. |
| Male | |
| Vellai kalai uduththum kalaimagalae | O Goddess of arts clad in white garments, |
| Nee vithavaiyalla adhai naan arivaen | I know that you are not a widow. |
| Ival ulla kamalam adhil uraiyum idam | The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides, |
| Oruvarukko illai iruvarukko | Is it meant for one person or for two? |
வெள்ளை கலை உடுத்தும் கலைமகளே
நீ விதவையல்ல அதை நான் அறிவேன்
இவள் உள்ளக் கமலம் அதில் உறையும் இடம்
ஒருவருக்கோ இல்லை இருவருக்கோ
O Goddess of arts clad in white garments,
I know that you are not a widow.
The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides,
Is it meant for one person or for two?
வெள்ளை கலை உடுத்தும் கலைமகளே
நீ விதவையல்ல அதை நான் அறிவேன்
இவள் உள்ளக் கமலம் அதில் உறையும் இடம்
ஒருவருக்கோ இல்லை இருவருக்கோ
O Goddess of arts clad in white garments,
I know that you are not a widow.
The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides,
Is it meant for one person or for two?
ஒருவனுக்கு மாலையிட்டாள்
அவரைக் கண்டாள்
மற்றொருவருக்கு மாலையிட்டாள்
இழந்து விட்டாள்
இவள் சுமங்கலியா இல்லை அமங்கலியா
She garlanded one man as her husband,
And saw him disappear from her life.
She garlanded another man as her husband,
And lost him as well.
Is she a auspicious married woman or an ill-fated woman?
சுமங்கலி என்பதற்கு இவன் சாட்சி
அமங்கலி என்பதற்கு அவன் சாட்சி
கலங்குதம்மா இவள் மனசாட்சி
நீ காட்டிவிடு ஒரு காட்சி...........
This man stands witness to her being married,
That man stands witness to her misfortune.
Her conscience is troubled and grieves inside,
Oh Goddess, reveal a clear path and judgment.
வெள்ளை கலை உடுத்தும் கலைமகளே
நீ விதவையல்ல அதை நான் அறிவேன்
இவள் உள்ளக் கமலம் அதில் உறையும் இடம்
ஒருவருக்கோ இல்லை இருவருக்கோ
O Goddess of arts clad in white garments,
I know that you are not a widow.
The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides,
Is it meant for one person or for two?
நங்கையர் வாழ்வில் இது புதிய கதை
இது நடந்ததினால் இவளுக்கு சித்ரவதை
கவலையில் வாடுதம்மா பச்சைக்கிளி
நீ காட்டி விடு வாழ்வில் நல்ல வழி
This is a novel predicament in the lives of women,
Sustaining this situation inflicts torture on her.
This gentle parrot-like woman is wilting in sorrow,
Please show her a righteous path in life!
ஆண்
: வெள்ளை கலை உடுத்தும் கலைமகளே
நீ விதவையல்ல அதை நான் அறிவேன்
இவள் உள்ளக் கமலம் அதில் உறையும் இடம்
ஒருவருக்கோ இல்லை இருவருக்கோ
O Goddess of arts clad in white garments,
I know that you are not a widow.
The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides,
Is it meant for one person or for two?
கட்டியது மட்டுமன்றி தொட்டவரில்லை
இவள் கன்னி கழிக்க ஒரு காரியமில்லை
பள்ளியறையிலே அவனைக் காண நினைத்தாள்
இன்று பள்ளியிலே அவனைக் கண்டு பிடித்தாள்
Apart from tying the knot, no man has ever touched her,
There was never a moment for her to lose her maidenhood.
When she hoped to meet him in the bedchamber,
She found him lying lifeless on the bed today.
கேள்வி பிறந்ததம்மா பதில் இல்லை
ஒரு கிளர்ச்சி எழுந்ததம்மா முடிவு இல்லை
வாழ்வு கலங்குதம்மா வழியில்லை
வாய் திறந்து சொல்ல மொழியில்லை
A deep question has arisen, but there is no answer,
An emotional turmoil has surged, but there is no resolution.
Her life is tossed in confusion with no way ahead,
She has no words to open her mouth and speak.
வெள்ளை கலை உடுத்தும் கலைமகளே
நீ விதவையல்ல அதை நான் அறிவேன்
இவள் உள்ளக் கமலம் அதில் உறையும் இடம்
ஒருவருக்கோ இல்லை இருவருக்கோ
O Goddess of arts clad in white garments,
I know that you are not a widow.
The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides,
Is it meant for one person or for two?
Vellai kalai uduththum kalaimagalae
O Goddess of arts clad in white garments,
Nee vithavaiyalla athai naan arivaen
I know that you are not a widow.
Ival illa kamalam adhil uraiyum idam
The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides,
Oruvarukko illai iruvarukko
Is it meant for one person or for two?
Vellai kalai uduththum kalaimagalae
O Goddess of arts clad in white garments,
Nee vithavaiyalla athai naan arivaen
I know that you are not a widow.
Ival illa kamalam adhil uraiyum idam
The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides,
Oruvarukko illai iruvarukko
Is it meant for one person or for two?
Oruvanukku maaliyittaal
She garlanded one man as her husband,
Avaraial kandaal
And saw him disappear from her life.
Matoruvarukku maalaiyittaal
She garlanded another man as her husband,
Izhanthuvittaal
And lost him as well.
Ival sumangaliyaa illai amangaliyaa
Is she a auspicious married woman or an ill-fated woman?
Sumangali enbatharkku ivan satchi
This man stands witness to her being married,
Amangali enbatharkku avan satchi
That man stands witness to her misfortune.
Kalanguthammaa ival manasatchi
Her conscience is troubled and grieves inside,
Nee kaatividu oru katchi….
Oh Goddess, reveal a clear path and judgment.
Vellai kalai uduththum kalaimagalae
O Goddess of arts clad in white garments,
Nee vithavaiyalla athai naan arivaen
I know that you are not a widow.
Ival illa kamalam adhil uraiyum idam
The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides,
Oruvarukko illai iruvarukko
Is it meant for one person or for two?
Nangaiyar vaazhvil idhu pudhiya kadhai
This is a novel predicament in the lives of women,
Idhu nadaththinaaal ivalukku chithravathai
Sustaining this situation inflicts torture on her.
Kavalaiyil vaaduthammaa pachaikili
This gentle parrot-like woman is wilting in sorrow,
Nee kaatti vidu vaazhvil nalla vazhi
Please show her a righteous path in life!
Vellai kalai uduththum kalaimagalae
O Goddess of arts clad in white garments,
Nee vithavaiyalla adhai naan arivaen
I know that you are not a widow.
Ival ulla kamalam adhil uraiyum idam
The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides,
Oruvarukko illai iruvarukko
Is it meant for one person or for two?
Kattiyathumattumindri thottavarillai
Apart from tying the knot, no man has ever touched her,
Ival kanni kazhikka oru kaariyamillai
There was never a moment for her to lose her maidenhood.
Palliyaraiyilae avanai kaana ninaiththaal
When she hoped to meet him in the bedchamber,
Indru palliyilae avanai landu pidiththaal
She found him lying lifeless on the bed today.
Kelvi piranthathammaa bathil illai
A deep question has arisen, but there is no answer,
Oru kilarchchi ezhunthathammaa mudivu illai
An emotional turmoil has surged, but there is no resolution.
Vaazhvu kalanguthammaa vazhiyillai
Her life is tossed in confusion with no way ahead,
Vaai thiranthu solla mozhiyillai
She has no words to open her mouth and speak.
Vellai kalai uduththum kalaimagalae
O Goddess of arts clad in white garments,
Nee vithavaiyalla adhai naan arivaen
I know that you are not a widow.
Ival ulla kamalam adhil uraiyum idam
The lotus of her heart, the place where love resides,
Oruvarukko illai iruvarukko
Is it meant for one person or for two?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This dramatic philosophical song from Iraivan Kodutha Varam (1978) addresses Saraswati (Kalaimagal), the Goddess of Knowledge and Arts who wears white garments yet represents eternal divine purity rather than widowhood. The song explores the tragic plight of a woman trapped in an unusual social and personal dilemma after marrying twice under tragic circumstances without ever experiencing marital intimacy. It questions traditional definitions of auspiciousness ('sumangali') and misfortune ('amangali') in society. Through poignant lyrical imagery by Kannadasan and expressive vocal delivery by M. S. Vishwanathan, the song pleads to the divine for clarity, justice, and a moral path forward for a woman suffering through no fault of her own.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uruvagam)
“Vellai kalai uduththum kalaimagalae / Nee vithavaiyalla athai naan arivaen”
Saraswati dressed in white is invoked to metaphorically contrast divine purity with societal stigma around white garments associated with widowhood.
Emoni / Rhyme (Egbai / Anthaadhi-style end rhyme)
“Sumangali enbatharkku ivan satchi / Amangali enbatharkku avan satchi / Kalanguthammaa ival manasatchi”
Use of rhyming endings such as 'ivan satchi', 'avan satchi', 'manasatchi', and 'katchi' creates a powerful rhythmic resonance in expressing grief.
Metaphor (Pachaikili)
“Kavalaiyil vaaduthammaa pachaikili”
Comparing the innocent, fragile woman to a 'pachaikili' (green parrot) wilting in sorrow.
Contrast / Antithesis (Sileshai / Muran)
“Ival sumangaliyaa illai amangaliyaa”
Contrasting concepts of 'sumangali' (auspicious married woman) and 'amangali' (inauspicious/widow) to highlight her paradoxical societal status.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed and sung by the legendary M. S. Vishwanathan himself, this track stands out for its theatrical, emotive rendition and philosophical lyrics written by Kannadasan. The song frames a crucial narrative conflict in the film regarding societal attitudes towards women's chastity, remarriage, and fate.
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