Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Kadhal Oviyam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Velli Salangaigal

From Kadhal Oviyam · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kadhal Oviyam
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
21 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Velli salangaigal
Konda kalaimagal
Vanthu aadum kaalam idhu
Velli salangaigal
Konda kalaimagal
Vanthu aadum kaalam idhu
Velli salangaigal
Konda kalaimagal
Vanthu aadum kaalam idhu
Ivan natham tharum
Suga surangal
Enthan devi unthan
Samarpanangal
Velli salangaigal
Konda kalaimagal
Vanthu aadum kaalam idhu
Unthan sangeetha
Salangai oli…ee..
Intha ezhaiku geethanjali
Thanga paathangal
Asaiyum oli..ee..
Enthan poojaiku koil mani
Sevi rendum kannaga
Aagum ini
Uyirodu serum suruthi
Velli salangaigal konda kalaimagal
Vanthu aadum kaalam idhu
Ivan nnatham tharum
Suga surangal
Enthan devi unthan samarpanangal
Velli salangaigal konda kalaimagal
Thaga thajanu thajanu
Thathumi thathumi
Thaga dhitham thaga tham
Thagatham thagatham
Thatharitha janu
Thagatharitha janu
Thathathim thagathathim
Thajam thajam
Thathi thakadatha thakathimi
Thakathimi thakidatham
Tham tham tharigidathay
Tharikitatham tharikitathay
Tharikitatham tharikitathay
Tharikitatham tharikitathay
Tharikitathay
{Thannan thanimayil
Iru kili inaindhathu
Siragugal nanainthathu
Paniyilae} (2)
Nanaithathanaal sudugirathae
Nanaithathanaal sudugirathae
Ini oru nizhal kodu malarvanamae
Pagalil oli kodu ragasiya nilavil
Viralil kaditham uyirai urasum
Viralil kaditham uyirai urasum
Iru paruva raagangal
Suruthi serungal
Puthiya ganangal pozhiyavae
Amutha megangal
Pozhiya vaarungal
Ilaya dhegangal nanaiyavae
Anbil oru kaathal kolluthu
Pen nenjil oru mogam killuthu
Iruthayam kulipathu
Vizhyil theriya
Ilagi inayum iru manangal
Wearing silver anklets,
the goddess of art
has arrived to dance at this moment.
Wearing silver anklets,
the goddess of art
has arrived to dance at this moment.
Wearing silver anklets,
the goddess of art
has arrived to dance at this moment.
The sweet musical notes
created by his melody
are an offering to you,
my goddess!
Wearing silver anklets,
the goddess of art
has arrived to dance at this moment.
The musical sound
of your anklets
is a song offering to this poor soul.
The sound of your golden feet
moving in dance
is the temple bell for my worship.
Both my ears will become eyes
from this moment on,
as the melody blends into my soul.
The goddess of art wearing silver anklets,
has arrived to dance at this moment.
The sweet musical notes
created by his melody
are an offering to you, my goddess!
The goddess of art wearing silver anklets!
Thaka thajanu thajanu
Thathumi thathumi
Thaka thitham thaka tham
Thakatham thakatham
Thatharitha janu
Thakatharitha janu
Thathathim thakathathim
Thajam thajam
Thathi thakadatha thakathimi
Thakathimi thakidatham
Tham tham tharukidathey
Tharukidatham tharukidathey
Tharukidatham tharukidathey
Tharukidatham tharukidathey
Tharukidathey
In total solitude,
two parrots came together,
and their wings were drenched
in the cool dew.
Getting drenched only makes the warmth burn!
Getting drenched only makes the warmth burn!
Give us shade now, O garden of flowers!
Shine light by day under this secret moon,
as a letter traced by fingers touches the soul.
A letter traced by fingers touches the soul.
Two melodies of youth,
harmonize together,
so brand new songs may pour down!
Clouds of sweet nectar,
come shower down,
so young bodies may be drenched!
From deep affection, love takes hold,
and desire gently stirs in a woman's heart.
The heart bathing in joy
shines through the eyes,
as two softening hearts melt into one.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Velli Salangaigal from Kadhal Oviyam (1982) is a deeply devotional and romantic classical piece composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song depicts a blind musician who perceives the dancer as Kalaimagal (Goddess Saraswati). He offers his musical notes as a sacred gift (Samarpanam), expressing that his ears have now become his eyes as he experiences her dance through the sound of her silver anklets. As the melody progresses into rhythmic jathis and soulful verses, the lyrics evoke evocative imagery of intimate love—two parrots huddling in the cold dew, young hearts yearning for togetherness, and emotions expressing themselves visually through the eyes. The song stands as a classic fusion of Carnatic classical dance rhythms and cinematic romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Enthan poojaiku koil mani”

Comparing the sound of the dancer's golden feet to the temple bell rung during worship.

Hyperbole / Sensory Substitution

“Sevi rendum kannaga aagum ini”

The blind singer poetically declares that his ears will fulfill the role of eyes to visualize her dance through sound.

Visual and Tactile Imagery

“Thannan thanimayil iru kili inaindhathu siragugal nanainthathu paniyilae”

Poetic portrayal of two parrots drenched in dew seeking warmth, symbolizing intimate lovers.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Thannan thanimayil... Siragugal nanainthathu”

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'n' across lines (Thannan / Inaindhathu / Nanainthathu).

Did you know?

Trivia

Kadhal Oviyam (1982) was directed by P. Bharathiraja and features a iconic soundtrack by Ilaiyaraaja centered around classical Indian music and dance. The song features complex classical dance syllables (solkattu/jathis) sung alongside vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Ilaya Nila1982
Payanangal MudivathillaiBeautyNature
Androru Naal1962
Kudumba ThalaivanDevotionDevotional
Mouna Raagam1995
KolangalDevotionMusic And Dance
Kanava Idhu Unmaiya1986
Salangaiyil Oru SangeethamRomantic UnionBeauty
Chinna Kanangkuruvi1997
PorkkaalamCelebratoryDevotion
Thillana Thillana1995
MuthuBeautyDevotion

From the same album

More songs from Kadhal Oviyam

View album
Sangeetha Jaathi Mullai1982
Kadhal OviyamMelancholic
Poojaikkaga Vazhum1982
Kadhal OviyamMournful
Amma Azhage1982
Kadhal OviyamDevotional
Naatham En Jeevanae1982
Kadhal OviyamDevotional
Kuyile Kuyile1982
Kadhal OviyamMelancholic
Nadhiyil Aadum1982
Kadhal OviyamRomantic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.