Vellai Pura Ondru (Sad Version)
From Pudhu Kavithai · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Pudhu Kavithai1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aaa…aaaaahaaa… | Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...) |
| Aaa…aaaaahaaa… | Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...) |
| Aaa…aaaaahaaa… | Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...) |
| Aaa…aaaaahaaa… | Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...) |
| Aaa…aaaa…aaa…aaa… | Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaa...aaa...aaa...) |
| Aaaa…aaa…aaa…aaaa…. | Vocalizing (Aaaa...aaa...aaa...aaaa....) |
| Male | |
| Vellai pura ondru | A single white dove |
| Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae | Has flown away without reaching my hands |
| Vellai pura ondru | A single white dove |
| Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae | Has flown away without reaching my hands |
| Male | |
| Mudhal ezhuthu | The first letter |
| Thai mozhiyil | Is in my mother tongue |
| Thalai ezhuthu | But my destiny |
| Yaar mozhiyil | In whose language is it written? |
| En vazhkai vaan veliyil | My life is adrift in open space |
| Oh oh oh…. | Oh oh oh.... |
| Male | |
| Vellai pura ondru | A single white dove |
| Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae | Has flown away without reaching my hands |
| Male | |
| Pathachuvadu thedi thedi | Searching repeatedly for footprint trails |
| Kaalgal oindhu ponathae | My legs have grown weary |
| Nazhum azhuthu theerthathalae | Having cried until tears ran dry |
| Kangal ezhai annathae | My eyes have become poor and drained |
| Male | |
| Thalai vidhi ennum varthai indru | Today, the word named destiny |
| Kavalaikku marundhanathae | Has become the medicine for my sorrow |
| Vedhangalae vazhum varai | As long as the ancient Vedas endure |
| Sogangalae kaadhal kadhai | Sorrows will remain the true story of love |
| Kargala malargalum ennodu thalladum | Even the monsoon flowers stumble along with me |
| Male | |
| Vellai pura ondru | A single white dove |
| Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae | Has flown away without reaching my hands |
| Mudhal ezhuthu | The first letter |
| Thai mozhiyil | Is in my mother tongue |
| Thalai ezhuthu | But my destiny |
| Yaar mozhiyil | In whose language is it written? |
| En vazhkai vaan veliyil | My life is adrift in open space |
| Oh oh oh…. | Oh oh oh.... |
| Male | |
| Vellai pura ondru | A single white dove |
| Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae | Has flown away without reaching my hands |
| Male | |
| Neeyum naanum serndha podhu | When you and I were together |
| Kodai kooda maargazhi | Even hot summer felt like cool winter |
| Pirindha pinbu poovum ennai | After separating, even a soft flower |
| Suduvadhena kaadhali | Burns me like fire, my love |
| Male | |
| Thudup izhandhadhum kaadhal oddam | Having lost its oar, the boat of love |
| Dhisai marandhadhu paingili | Has forgotten its direction like a sweet parrot |
| Pogum vazhi nooranadhae | The paths to travel have become a hundred |
| Kanneerinaal seranadhae | But all merge together in tears |
| Illadha uruvukku naan seiyum abhishegam | This is an anointing ritual I perform for a non-existent form |
| Male | |
| Vellai pura ondru | A single white dove |
| Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae | Has flown away without reaching my hands |
| Mudhal ezhuthu | The first letter |
| Thai mozhiyil | Is in my mother tongue |
| Thalai ezhuthu | But my destiny |
| Yaar mozhiyil | In whose language is it written? |
| En vazhkai vaan veliyil | My life is adrift in open space |
| Oh oh oh…. | Oh oh oh.... |
| Male | |
| Vellai pura ondru | A single white dove |
| Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae | Has flown away without reaching my hands |
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆஆஆ
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆஆஆ
Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...)
Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...)
Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...)
Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...)
Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaa...aaa...aaa...)
Vocalizing (Aaaa...aaa...aaa...aaaa....)
வெள்ளைப் புறா ஒன்று
போனது கையில் வராமலே
வெள்ளைப் புறா ஒன்று
போனது கையில் வராமலே
A single white dove
Has flown away without reaching my hands
A single white dove
Has flown away without reaching my hands
முதல் எழுத்து தாய் மொழியில்
தலைஎழுத்து யார் மொழியில்
என் வாழ்க்கை வான் வெளியில்
ஓ ஓ ஓ................
The first letter
Is in my mother tongue
But my destiny
In whose language is it written?
My life is adrift in open space
Oh oh oh....
வெள்ளைப் புறா ஒன்று
போனது கையில் வராமலே
A single white dove
Has flown away without reaching my hands
பாதச்சுவடு தேடி தேடி
கால்கள் ஓய்ந்து போனதே
நாளும் அழுது தீர்த்ததாலே
கண்கள் ஏழை ஆனதே
Searching repeatedly for footprint trails
My legs have grown weary
Having cried until tears ran dry
My eyes have become poor and drained
தலைவிதி எனும் வார்த்தை இன்று
கவலைக்கு மருந்தானதே
வேதங்களே வாழும் வரை
சோகங்களே காதல் கதை
கார்கால மலர்களும் என்னோடு தள்ளாடும்
Today, the word named destiny
Has become the medicine for my sorrow
As long as the ancient Vedas endure
Sorrows will remain the true story of love
Even the monsoon flowers stumble along with me
வெள்ளைப் புறா ஒன்று
போனது கையில் வராமலே
முதல் எழுத்து தாய் மொழியில்
தலைஎழுத்து யார் மொழியில்
என் வாழ்க்கை வான் வெளியில்
ஓ ஓ ஓ................
A single white dove
Has flown away without reaching my hands
The first letter
Is in my mother tongue
But my destiny
In whose language is it written?
My life is adrift in open space
Oh oh oh....
வெள்ளைப் புறா ஒன்று
போனது கையில் வராமலே
A single white dove
Has flown away without reaching my hands
நீயும் நானும் சேர்ந்தபோது
கோடை கூட மார்கழி
பிரிந்த பின்பு பூவும் என்னை
சுடுவதென்ன காதலி
When you and I were together
Even hot summer felt like cool winter
After separating, even a soft flower
Burns me like fire, my love
துடுப்பிழந்ததும் காதல் ஓடம்
திசை மறந்தது பைங்கிளி
போகும் வழி நூறானதே
கண்ணீரினால் சேறானதே
இல்லாத உறவுக்கு நான் செய்யும் அபிஷேகம்
Having lost its oar, the boat of love
Has forgotten its direction like a sweet parrot
The paths to travel have become a hundred
But all merge together in tears
This is an anointing ritual I perform for a non-existent form
வெள்ளைப் புறா ஒன்று
போனது கையில் வராமலே
முதல் எழுத்து தாய் மொழியில்
தலைஎழுத்து யார் மொழியில்
என் வாழ்க்கை வான் வெளியில்
ஓ ஓ ஓ..........................
A single white dove
Has flown away without reaching my hands
The first letter
Is in my mother tongue
But my destiny
In whose language is it written?
My life is adrift in open space
Oh oh oh....
வெள்ளைப் புறா ஒன்று
போனது கையில் வராமலே
A single white dove
Has flown away without reaching my hands
Aaa…aaaaahaaa…
Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...)
Aaa…aaaaahaaa…
Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...)
Aaa…aaaaahaaa…
Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...)
Aaa…aaaaahaaa…
Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaaahaaa...)
Aaa…aaaa…aaa…aaa…
Vocalizing (Aaa...aaaa...aaa...aaa...)
Aaaa…aaa…aaa…aaaa….
Vocalizing (Aaaa...aaa...aaa...aaaa....)
Vellai pura ondru
A single white dove
Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae
Has flown away without reaching my hands
Vellai pura ondru
A single white dove
Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae
Has flown away without reaching my hands
Mudhal ezhuthu
The first letter
Thai mozhiyil
Is in my mother tongue
Thalai ezhuthu
But my destiny
Yaar mozhiyil
In whose language is it written?
En vazhkai vaan veliyil
My life is adrift in open space
Oh oh oh….
Oh oh oh....
Vellai pura ondru
A single white dove
Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae
Has flown away without reaching my hands
Pathachuvadu thedi thedi
Searching repeatedly for footprint trails
Kaalgal oindhu ponathae
My legs have grown weary
Nazhum azhuthu theerthathalae
Having cried until tears ran dry
Kangal ezhai annathae
My eyes have become poor and drained
Thalai vidhi ennum varthai indru
Today, the word named destiny
Kavalaikku marundhanathae
Has become the medicine for my sorrow
Vedhangalae vazhum varai
As long as the ancient Vedas endure
Sogangalae kaadhal kadhai
Sorrows will remain the true story of love
Kargala malargalum ennodu thalladum
Even the monsoon flowers stumble along with me
Vellai pura ondru
A single white dove
Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae
Has flown away without reaching my hands
Mudhal ezhuthu
The first letter
Thai mozhiyil
Is in my mother tongue
Thalai ezhuthu
But my destiny
Yaar mozhiyil
In whose language is it written?
En vazhkai vaan veliyil
My life is adrift in open space
Oh oh oh….
Oh oh oh....
Vellai pura ondru
A single white dove
Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae
Has flown away without reaching my hands
Neeyum naanum serndha podhu
When you and I were together
Kodai kooda maargazhi
Even hot summer felt like cool winter
Pirindha pinbu poovum ennai
After separating, even a soft flower
Suduvadhena kaadhali
Burns me like fire, my love
Thudup izhandhadhum kaadhal oddam
Having lost its oar, the boat of love
Dhisai marandhadhu paingili
Has forgotten its direction like a sweet parrot
Pogum vazhi nooranadhae
The paths to travel have become a hundred
Kanneerinaal seranadhae
But all merge together in tears
Illadha uruvukku naan seiyum abhishegam
This is an anointing ritual I perform for a non-existent form
Vellai pura ondru
A single white dove
Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae
Has flown away without reaching my hands
Mudhal ezhuthu
The first letter
Thai mozhiyil
Is in my mother tongue
Thalai ezhuthu
But my destiny
Yaar mozhiyil
In whose language is it written?
En vazhkai vaan veliyil
My life is adrift in open space
Oh oh oh….
Oh oh oh....
Vellai pura ondru
A single white dove
Ponadhu kaiyil varamalae
Has flown away without reaching my hands
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Vellai Pura Ondru is a deeply emotional, soulful track expressing heartbreak, loss, and existential questioning from the movie Pudhu Kavithai. The protagonist compares his lost love or peace to a delicate white dove that escaped his grasp before he could hold it. He ponders his tragic fate, questioning why his first words were learned in his native language, yet his destiny seems written in a cruel, unknowable cipher that leaves his life wandering aimlessly in the void. Throughout the song, he portrays physical and emotional grief—tired legs searching for lost tracks, eyes exhausted from crying, and the ironic realization that sweet memories now cause severe pain. Where togetherness once made hot summers feel like soothing winter nights, separation now makes delicate flowers feel like scorching embers, illustrating how sorrow forms the eternal soul of real love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vellai pura ondru / Ponadhu kaiyil varamalaepressions of grief and hope in separation context, referring to peaceful love as a white dove escaping reach.”
Wordplay / Juxtaposition (Edhurai)
“Mudhal ezhuthu Thai mozhiyil / Thalai ezhuthu Yaar mozhiyil”
Contrast / Imagery (Uvama Aani)
“Neeyum naanum serndha podhu / Kodai kooda maargazhi”
Hyperbole / Paradox (Maranilai)
“Pirindha pinbu poovum ennai / Suduvadhena kaadhali”
Did you know?
Trivia
Vellai Pura Ondru is an iconic classic composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K. J. Yesudas for the 1982 hit film Pudhu Kavithai, starring Rajinikanth and Saritha. Written by Vairamuthu, the song is renowned for its philosophical lyrics and soulful melody, remaining one of the hallmark tragic tracks in Tamil cinema history.
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