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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vellai Manam

From Chinna Veedu · 1985

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Sunandha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinna Veedu1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vella manam ulla machaanOh pure-hearted husband
Vizhiyoram eeram ennaWhy is there moisture at the edge of your eyes?
Pakkathilae naanirundhumEven when I am right by your side
Thukkathile nee irundhaalIf you remain immersed in sorrow
Karaiserum kaalam yeppoWhen will the time come to reach the shore?
Female
Vella manam ulla machaanOh pure-hearted husband
Vizhiyoram eeram ennaWhy is there moisture at the edge of your eyes?
Male
Kalla manam mullu thachchiA deceitful heart got pricked by a thorn
Kanneeril moozhguthadiIt is drowning in tears, my dear
Vetkathilae naan azhugaAs I cry out of shame
Thukkathilae nee azhugaAs you cry out of grief
Karai serum kaalam yeppoWhen will the time come to reach the shore?
Male
Kalla manam mullu thachchiA deceitful heart got pricked by a thorn
Kanneeril moozhguthadiIt is drowning in tears, my dear
Male
Sengarumba naan marandhuForgetting the sweet red sugarcane
Veli mullai yen kadichenWhy did I bite the hedge thorn?
Female
Poovukkullum naagam unduEven inside a flower, there can be a snake
Saamikkum thaan veedu renduEven God has two homes
Male
Kallaiyum paalaa nee ninaichaYou thought of stone as milk
Mullaiyum poovaa nee mudichaYou wore thorns as if they were flowers
Female
Ponathellaam pogattungaLet bygones be bygones
Yaarumingae raamanillaeNobody here is a perfect Lord Rama
Male
Vella manam ulla machaanOh pure-hearted husband
Female :Vilaiyaadi oonji vandhaanFemale: He came back exhausted after playing
Male :Pakkathilae nee irunthaaMale: If you are by my side
Female :Sorgathilae naan midhappenFemale: I will float in heaven
Male :Ennaalum sernthiruppenMale: I will be united with you forever
Male
Vella manam ulla machaanOh pure-hearted husband
Female :Vilaiyaadi oonji vandhaanFemale: He came back exhausted after playing
Female
Koodu vittu ponakiliThe parrot that left its nest
Jodi kittae sernthathammaaHas rejoined its pair, my dear
Male
Jodi vandhu serndha kiliThe parrot that rejoined its mate
Kodi sugam kaanuthammaaIs experiencing endless happiness
Female
Sippiya pola naanirundhuBeing like an oyster shell
Sinthiya thaena serthu vachenI saved the spilled honey
Male
Senkulathil paiyan vanthaalIf a boy comes into the lotus pond
Innum konjam thollaiyadiIt is a bit more trouble, my dear
Male
Vella manam ulla machaanOh pure-hearted husband
Female :Vilaiyaadi oonji vandhaanFemale: He came back exhausted after playing
Male :Pakkathilae nee irunthaaMale: If you are by my side
Female :Sorgathilae naan midhappenFemale: I will float in heaven
Male :Ennaalum sernthiruppenMale: I will be united with you forever
Male
Vella manam ulla machaanOh pure-hearted husband
Female :Vilaiyaadi oonji vandhaanFemale: He came back exhausted after playing

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vella Manam Ulla Machaan from the film Chinna Veedu (1985) is an emotional duet centered around remorse, forgiveness, and marital reconciliation. The husband laments his past missteps and infidelity, comparing his mistake to choosing hedge thorns over sweet sugarcane. Expressing deep guilt, he drowns in tears of shame while his wife stands beside him in empathy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Sengarumba naan marandhu Veli mullai yen kadichen

Compares the sweet, pure wife to red sugarcane (Sengarumbu) and the illicit affair/temptation to a hedge thorn (Veli mullai).

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vetkathilae naan azhuga / Thukkathilae nee azhuga

Matching second consonants in consecutive lines ('tk' in Vetkathilae / Thukkathilae).

Mythological Allusion

Yaarumingae raamanillae

References Lord Rama, the ideal human, to emphasize that ordinary human beings are flawed and prone to errors.

Moonaam (Initial Alliteration)

Sippiya pola naanirundhu / Sinthiya thaena serthu vachen

Repetition of the 'S' sound at the beginning of consecutive words/lines (Sippiya / Sinthiya / Senkulathil).

Did you know?

Trivia

Chinna Veedu (1985) was written and directed by K. Bhagyaraj, who also starred in the lead role. The film's soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Pulamaipithan, and this particular duet was rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.

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