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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vellarikka

From Malaiyoor Mambattiyan · 1983

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Gangai Amaran, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Malaiyoor Mambattiyan1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oorukulla thanniyillaThere is no water in the village,
Urupadiyaa velaichchalillaeThere is no proper yield or harvest.
Chorus :Aaa…..ha…..aa….Chorus: Aaa...ha...aa...
Male :Pachcha vayal kaayuthammaaMale: The green fields are drying up, O mother,
Paarththa sanam vaaduthammaThe people who watch are suffering, O mother.
Chorus :Aaa…..ha…..aa….Chorus: Aaa...ha...aa...
Male
Panjam pasi theeththu vidaTo end the famine and hunger,
Paavigala kaaththu vidaTo protect us poor sinners,
Chorus :Aaa…..ha…..aa….Chorus: Aaa...ha...aa...
Male :Paarvathiyae eswariyaeMale: O Parvathi, O Eswari,
Manasu irangi vanthidammaaHave mercy and come down, O mother!
Chorus :Aaa…..ha…..aa….Chorus: Aaa...ha...aa...
Chorus
Aaa…..aaa….Aaa...aaa...
Female
Vellarikka pinju onnuA tender cucumber
Veedhiyilae aaduthadiIs dancing on the street!
Moththathilae kuththagaiyaaIs it a wholesale lease,
Mogaththukku oththigaiyaaOr a rehearsal for passion?
Vanthathellam vaangikkangaAccept whatever comes,
Vaarathellam thaangikkangaEndure whatever comes your way!
Female
Hae vellarikka pinju onnuHey, a tender cucumber
Veedhiyilae aaduthadiIs dancing on the street!
Chorus
…………………....
Female
Kaiyodu sugangalaPleasures in hands,
Kaalodu padhangal thanthenaiyaaRhythm and steps in feet, I gave you, sir!
Kannodu virunthida nenjoduTo feast with the eyes, and in the heart,
Arunthida vanthaenaiyaaTo drink and enjoy, I came, sir!
Female
Kaiyodu sugangalaPleasures in hands,
Kaalodu padhangal thanthenaiyaaRhythm and steps in feet, I gave you, sir!
Kannodu virunthida nenjoduTo feast with the eyes, and in the heart,
Arunthida vanthaenaiyaaTo drink and enjoy, I came, sir!
Female
Urpaththiya perukkaTo increase production,
Ada ungala kooda marakkaAh, to even forget yourselves,
Enna paththi nenaingaThink about me,
Vanthu istampola anaingaCome and embrace as you wish!
Kattalai idunga virunthu virunthuGive the order, a feast, a feast!
Kannukkul irukku marunthu marunthuIn the eyes lies the medicine, the medicine!
Female
Vellarikka pinju onnuA tender cucumber
Veedhiyilae aaduthadiIs dancing on the street!
Moththathilae kuththagaiyaaIs it a wholesale lease,
Mogaththukku oththigaiyaaOr a rehearsal for passion?
Vanthathellam vaangikkangaAccept whatever comes,
Vaarathellam thaangikkangaEndure whatever comes your way!
Female
Hae vellarikka pinju onnuHey, a tender cucumber
Veedhiyilae aaduthadiIs dancing on the street!
Chorus
…………………....
Female
Koththodu parichchathu kummunnuPlucked in clusters, brimming with joy,
Sirikkira ponnaanathuIt turned into a smiling maiden!
Pitthaana manangala pinaalaDazzling eyes that pull,
Izhukura kannaanathuInfatuated minds behind them!
Female
Koththodu parichchathu kummunnuPlucked in clusters, brimming with joy,
Sirikkira ponnaanathuIt turned into a smiling maiden!
Pitthaana manangala pinaalaDazzling eyes that pull,
Izhukura kannaanathuInfatuated minds behind them!
Female
Kattalaiya valakkumBending rules and orders,
Adhu kanniyoda pazhakkamThat is the habit of a maiden.
Kandapadi izhukkumDragging recklessly,
adhu kaama devan vazhakkamThat is the custom of the god of love!
Kattalai idunga virunthu virunthuGive the order, a feast, a feast!
Kannukkul irukku marunthu marunthuIn the eyes lies the medicine, the medicine!
Female
Vellarikka pinju onnuA tender cucumber
Veedhiyilae aaduthadiIs dancing on the street!
Moththathilae kuththagaiyaaIs it a wholesale lease,
Mogaththukku oththigaiyaaOr a rehearsal for passion?
Vanthathellam vaangikkangaAccept whatever comes,
Vaarathellam thaangikkangaEndure whatever comes your way!
Female
VellarikkaCucumber
Chorus :Pinju onnuChorus: A tender piece
Female :VeedhiyilaeFemale: On the street
Chorus :AaduthadiChorus: Dancing away!
Female :Moththathilae kuththagaiyaaFemale: Is it a wholesale lease,
Mogaththukku oththigaiyaaOr a rehearsal for passion?
Vanthathellam vaangikkangaAccept whatever comes,
Vaarathellam thaangikkangaEndure whatever comes your way!
Chorus
VellarikkaCucumber
Female :Hae haeFemale: Hae hae
Chorus :Pinju onnuChorus: A tender piece
Female :Hae haeFemale: Hae hae
Chorus :VeedhiyilaeChorus: On the street
Female :Hae haeFemale: Hae hae
Chorus :AaduthadiChorus: Dancing away!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Vellarikka Pinju' from Malaiyoor Mambattiyan begins with a dramatic folk invocation lamenting severe drought and famine, praying to Goddess Parvathi for divine rain to save the suffering villagers and parched fields. However, the tone quickly transitions into an energetic folk dance track where a dancer performs on the streets.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Vellarikka pinju onnu veedhiyilae aaduthadi

Comparing a beautiful young female dancer to a tender cucumber ('Vellarikka pinju').

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Pachcha vayal kaayuthammaa / Paarththa sanam vaaduthamma

Repetition of initial consonant sounds 'Pa' across line starts.

Rhyme / End Rhyme (Eyaippu)

Kattalai idunga virunthu virunthu / Kannukkul irukku marunthu marunthu

Repetition of identical words at line endings for rhythmic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

Malaiyoor Mambattiyan (1983) featured iconic music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran. The dance track featured Silk Smitha and was a massive popular hit in rural Tamil Nadu during the 1980s.

Keep listening

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