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Chinna Veedu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vellai Manam

From Chinna Veedu · 1985

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Sunandha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Chinna Veedu
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
12 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vella manam ulla machaan
Vizhiyoram eeram enna
Pakkathilae naanirundhum
Thukkathile nee irundhaal
Karaiserum kaalam yeppo
Vella manam ulla machaan
Vizhiyoram eeram enna
Kalla manam mullu thachchi
Kanneeril moozhguthadi
Vetkathilae naan azhuga
Thukkathilae nee azhuga
Karai serum kaalam yeppo
Kalla manam mullu thachchi
Kanneeril moozhguthadi
Sengarumba naan marandhu
Veli mullai yen kadichen
Poovukkullum naagam undu
Saamikkum thaan veedu rendu
Kallaiyum paalaa nee ninaicha
Mullaiyum poovaa nee mudicha
Ponathellaam pogattunga
Yaarumingae raamanillae
Vella manam ulla machaan
Female :Vilaiyaadi oonji vandhaan
Male :Pakkathilae nee irunthaa
Female :Sorgathilae naan midhappen
Male :Ennaalum sernthiruppen
Vella manam ulla machaan
Female :Vilaiyaadi oonji vandhaan
Koodu vittu ponakili
Jodi kittae sernthathammaa
Jodi vandhu serndha kili
Kodi sugam kaanuthammaa
Sippiya pola naanirundhu
Sinthiya thaena serthu vachen
Senkulathil paiyan vanthaal
Innum konjam thollaiyadi
Vella manam ulla machaan
Female :Vilaiyaadi oonji vandhaan
Male :Pakkathilae nee irunthaa
Female :Sorgathilae naan midhappen
Male :Ennaalum sernthiruppen
Vella manam ulla machaan
Female :Vilaiyaadi oonji vandhaan
My pure-hearted man,
why are there tears in the corners of your eyes?
Even with me by your side,
if you remain in sorrow,
when will our life reach the shore?
My pure-hearted man,
why are there tears in the corners of your eyes?
A guilty heart, pierced by a thorn,
is drowning in tears, my girl.
While I weep in shame,
and you weep in grief,
when will our life reach the shore?
A guilty heart, pierced by a thorn,
is drowning in tears, my girl.
Forgetting the sweet sugarcane,
why did I go bite the thorn on the fence?
Even inside a flower, a snake can hide.
Even God has two homes.
You mistook even a stone for sweet milk,
and wore even a thorn like a flower in your hair.
Let the past be forgotten,
no one in this world is a Rama.
My pure-hearted man,
has played around and returned weary.
If you are by my side,
I will float in heaven.
I will stay with you forever.
My pure-hearted man,
has played around and returned weary.
The parrot that flew away from the nest
has returned to its mate.
The parrot that reunited with its pair
now finds endless joy.
Like an oyster shell,
I gathered the spilled drops of honey.
If a baby boy arrives in Sengulam,
he will bring even more sweet trouble, my girl!
My pure-hearted man,
has played around and returned weary.
If you are by my side,
I will float in heaven.
I will stay with you forever.
My pure-hearted man,
has played around and returned weary.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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En Kaveriye1989
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Azhage Nee Azhalama2015
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Kanneerai Thudaippen1980
Kaalam Bathil SollumReconciliationRomantic Union
Azhage Azhugai Enna1987
VairagyamGriefReconciliation
Mannichidunga Manichidunga1995
Naan Petha MaganeReconciliationRomantic Union
Katti Thangame (Pathos)1989
SonthakkaranGriefReconciliation

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