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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Velli Meenum

From Orey Vazhi · 1959

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, A. M. Raja
Music director
R. Govarthanam
Details
Orey Vazhi1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Velli meenum thulli aadudhae en naerilA silver fish is leaping and dancing right before me
Vizhi irandum vannam paaduthuBoth eyes are singing in vibrant colors
Velli meenum thulli aadudhae en naerilA silver fish is leaping and dancing right before me
Vizhi irandum vannam paaduthuBoth eyes are singing in vibrant colors
Female
Thellamudhin vadivamaanadhu en naerilTaking the form of pure sweet nectar right before me
Sithiram pol kavidhai pesudhuSpeaks poetry like a living picture
Thellamudhin vadivamaanadhu en naerilTaking the form of pure sweet nectar right before me
Sithiram pol kavidhai pesudhuSpeaks poetry like a living picture
Male
Punnagaiyin saarathilaeIn the very essence of a smile
Porul vilangum nerathilaeAt the moment when meaning becomes clear
Female :Hoo oo oo oo ooFemale: Hoo oo oo oo oo
Male :Punnagaiyin saarathilaeMale: In the very essence of a smile
Porul vilangum nerathilaeAt the moment when meaning becomes clear
Ennangalil mayakkam thondruthaeAn intoxication arises within my thoughts
En nenjam …ilayamagal uravai naadudhaeMy heart seeks the bond of the young maiden
Velli meenum thulli aadudhae en naerilA silver fish is leaping and dancing right before me
Vizhi irandum vannam paaduthuBoth eyes are singing in vibrant colors
Female
Kan imaikkum nerathilaeIn the twinkling of an eye
Kaikattum thoorathilaeWithin a beckoning distance
Male :Hoo oo oo oo ooMale: Hoo oo oo oo oo
Female :Kan imaikkum nerathilaeFemale: In the twinkling of an eye
Kaikattum thoorathilaeWithin a beckoning distance
Odi varum paavaithaan idhuThis is the maiden running towards me
Ondraaga uravu kolla thamadham yedhuWhy is there any delay in uniting together?
Male :Velli meenum thulli aadudhae en naerilMale: A silver fish is leaping and dancing right before me
Female :Sithiram pol kavidhai pesudhuFemale: Speaks poetry like a living picture
Male
Vaanam pola nee irundhaaiYou were like the expansive sky
Vaiyam pola naan irundhenI was like the vast earth
Female :Hoo oo oo oo ooFemale: Hoo oo oo oo oo
Male :Vaanam pola nee irundhaaiMale: You were like the expansive sky
Vaiyam pola naan irundhenI was like the vast earth
Female :Mannil vilundha mazhaithuliFemale: Like a raindrop falling onto the soil
Polae namm vaazhkkaiSo is our life
Kann kalanthathu kaadhalinaalaeOur eyes met and mingled through pure love

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Velli Meenum Thulli Aadudhae is a classic romantic duet from the film Orey Vazhi (1959), written by Kannadasan and set to music by R. Govarthanam. The song captures the exhilaration of two lovers expressing their affection and attraction through poetically charged metaphors of nature. The lover visualizes the lady's expressive eyes as dancing silver fish and her presence as liquid nectar speaking poetry. As the song progresses, the lovers compare themselves to the sky and the earth, bound together naturally like raindrops merging into the fertile soil.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Velli meenum thulli aadudhae en naeril

Compares the expressive eyes of the beloved to a leaping silver fish (Velli meenum).

Simile (Uvamai)

Sithiram pol kavidhai pesudhu

Compares her artistic speech to poetry emerging from a portrait (Sithiram pol).

Simile (Uvamai)

Vaanam pola nee irundhaai

Compares the lovers to the sky (Vaanam) and the earth (Vaiyam).

Simile (Uvamai)

Female :Mannil vilundha mazhaithuli

Compares their union in life to raindrops merging into the soil (Mannil vilundha mazhaithuli polae).

Emoni / Alliteration

Vaiyam pola naan irundhen

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines (Vaanam / Vaiyam).

Did you know?

Trivia

Orey Vazhi (1959) featured memorable melodies composed by R. Govarthanam, who worked extensively in early Tamil cinema. Kannadasan's use of rich classical imagery such as comparing eyes to fish (Kayalvizhi) refreshed traditional Tamil literary conventions for modern film music lovers.

Keep listening

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