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Pudhu Kavithai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vellai Pura Ondru (Duet)

From Pudhu Kavithai · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pudhu Kavithai
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
15 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaa aaa aaa aaa aaa aaa aaa …
Vellai pura ondru yengudhu kaiyil varaamalae
Vellai pura ondru yengudhu kaiyil varaamalae
Namadhu kadhai pudhu kavidhai
Ilakanangal idharku illai
Naan undhan poo maalai oh oh
Vellai pura ondru yengudhu kaiyil varaamalae
Gangai vellam paayum bodhu karaigal enna veliyo
Aaviyodu serndha jothi paadhai maara koodumo
Manangalin niram paartha kaadhal
Mugangalin niram paarkumo
Nee kondu vaa kaadhal varam
Poo thoovumae panneer maram
Soodaana kanavugal kannodu thallaada
Vellai pura ondru yengudhu kaiyil varaamalae
Aaa aaa aaa
Poovil serndhu vaazhntha vaasam kaaval thanai meerumae
Kaalam maarum endra podhum kaadhal nadhi oorumae
Varaiyaraigalai maatrum bodhu thalaimuraigalum maarumae
Endrum undhan nenjoramae
Anbae undhan sanjaaramae
Kaarkaala silirpugal kannoram undaaga
Vellai pura ondru yengudhu kaiyil varaamalae
Namadhu kadhai pudhu kavidhai
Ilakanangal idharku illai
Naan undhan poo maalai oh oh
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...
A white dove yearns, staying out of reach...
A white dove yearns, staying out of reach...
Our story is a modern poem,
it has no rules of grammar.
I am your flower garland, oh...
A white dove yearns, staying out of reach...
When the flooded Ganges rushes, can riverbanks hold it back?
Can a light united with the soul ever lose its way?
Love that looks only at the color of hearts,
would it ever care about the color of faces?
Bring me the blessing of your love,
and the fragrant tree will shower its flowers.
As warm dreams sway gently in our eyes...
A white dove yearns, staying out of reach...
Ah, ah, ah...
The fragrance living inside a flower will break past any guard.
Even as times change, the river of love will keep flowing.
When old boundaries are rewritten, whole generations will change.
Always right beside your heart,
my love, is where your journey lies.
As the thrill of monsoon chills stirs at the corners of our eyes...
A white dove yearns, staying out of reach...
Our story is a modern poem,
it has no rules of grammar.
I am your flower garland, oh...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Vellai Pura Ondru' from the movie Pudhu Kavithai (1982) is a deeply romantic song about a love that transcends societal boundaries, physical looks, and traditional rules. The protagonist compares their relationship to modern poetry ('Pudhu Kavidhai'), which creates its own beauty without being constrained by rigid classical rules.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Vellai pura ondru yengudhu kaiyil varaamalae

The lover or pure longing heart is metaphorically represented as a longing white dove ('Vellai pura').

Metaphor

Namadhu kadhai pudhu kavidhai / Ilakanangal idharku illai

The relationship is compared to modern free-verse poetry that breaks free from conventional rules.

Rhetorical Question & Imagery

Gangai vellam paayum bodhu karaigal enna veliyo

Uses the powerful image of an overflowing Ganges river to illustrate how social boundaries cannot stop true love.

Antithesis / Contrast

Manangalin niram paartha kaadhal / Mugangalin niram paarkumo

Contrasts the deep character of the heart ('manangalin niram') against superficial physical beauty ('mugangalin niram').

Emonai / End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Nee kondu vaa kaadhal varam / Poo thoovumae panneer maram

Rhyming words 'varam' and 'maram' build rhythmic harmony across the lines.

Keep listening

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