Venam Machan Venam
From Oru Kal Oru Kannadi · 2012
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singers
- Naresh Iyer, Velmurugan
- Music director
- Harris Jayaraj
- Details
- Oru Kal Oru Kannadi2012
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Vanjaram meenu vavaalu | King fish, pomfret fish |
| Kidacha keluthi viraalu | Catfish or murrel if you catch them |
| Iruku meesai yeraalu | Whiskered prawns are present |
| Irangi kalaku gopaalu } (2) | Step in and mix it up, Gopalu! |
| Male | |
| { Venam machan venam | Don't want it, friend, don't want it |
| Indha ponnunga kaadhalu | This love from girls |
| Adhu moodi thorakum podhae | Just as you open the bottle cap |
| Unna kavukum quaterru } (2) | It knocks you down like a quarter of liquor |
| Male | |
| Kadala polae kaadhal | Love is like the sea |
| Oru saltu wateru | It is just salt water |
| Adhu konjam karikum podhae | When it tastes too salty |
| Nee thooki potudu | You should just throw it away |
| Male | |
| { Mummy sonna ponna | If you marry the girl your mother suggests |
| Katina torcher illada | There will be no torture, bro |
| Neeyum davadikum ponna | If you marry the girl you courted |
| Katina trouser avurunda } (2) | You will end up losing your pants, bro |
| Male | |
| Kanna kalanga vaikum | A girl who brings tears to your eyes |
| Figureu venanda | We don't need such a girl |
| Namaku kanneer anjali poster | A friend who puts up a tribute poster for us |
| Ottum nanban pothunda | That friend is enough |
| Female | |
| { Vanjaram meenu vavaalu | King fish, pomfret fish |
| Kidacha keluthi viraalu | Catfish or murrel if you catch them |
| Iruku meesai yeraalu | Whiskered prawns are present |
| Irangi kalaku gopaalu } (2) | Step in and mix it up, Gopalu! |
| Male | |
| { Bikela thinamum onnaa ponom | We used to ride together on the bike every day |
| Backla ippo avala kaanom | Now she is nowhere to be seen on the back seat |
| Beachla sugama kadala potom | We happily spent time by the beach |
| Kadalukum ippo kanneer mutum } (2) | Now even the sea is welling up with tears |
| Male | |
| Kaadhalikum bodhu | When you are in love |
| Ada kannu theriyadhu | Hey, love is blind |
| Un kanna muzhichikita | If you open your eyes wide |
| Anga kaadhal kidaiyathu | There is no love to be found there |
| Male | |
| Ava ponaalae pona | She left and vanished like water leaving a fish |
| Thanneera vitu meena | Like a fish out of water |
| Naan kaayam patta maina | I am a wounded myna bird |
| Ippo paaduren gaana | Now singing a street gaana song |
| Male | |
| Figureu sugaru maathiri | A girl is like high blood sugar / diabetes |
| Female | |
| Janaku janaku vavaalu | Rhythm beats and pomfret fish |
| Male | |
| Natpu thadupu ooseeda | Friendship is like a protective vaccine shot |
| Female | |
| Janaku jaanu gopalu | Rhythm beats, Gopalu |
| Male | |
| Figureu sugaru maathari | A girl is like high blood sugar |
| Pasanga odamba urukidum | It melts away a guy's body |
| Natpu thadupu ooseeda | Friendship is like a protective vaccine shot |
| Odancha manasa thethidum | It heals a broken heart |
| Male | |
| Venam machan venam | Don't want it, friend, don't want it |
| Indha ponnunga kaadhalu | This love from girls |
| Adhu moodi thorakum podhae | Just as you open the bottle cap |
| Unna kavukum quaterru | It knocks you down like a quarter of liquor |
| Male | |
| Kadala polae kaadhal | Love is like the sea |
| Oru saltu wateru | It is just salt water |
| Adhu konjam karikum podhae | When it tastes too salty |
| Nee thooki potudu | You should just throw it away |
| Male | |
| Paadhiyil vandha ponna nambi | Trusting a girl who came midway in life |
| Aadhiyil valarntha natpa viten | I abandoned the friendship that grew from the beginning |
| Thethiya polae kizhichi putta | She tore me apart like a daily calendar leaf |
| Devathai avala nambi ketten | Believing in that angel, I got ruined |
| Male | |
| Tholu matum vella | Only her skin is fair |
| Unna kavuthuputa mella | She slowly overthrew you |
| Yenna panni yenna ada | What is the use of doing anything now, hey |
| Appavae naan sonnen | I told you back then itself |
| Male | |
| Ava potaalae potaa | She locked me up tight |
| Nalla dhindukallu poota | With a solid Dindigul lock |
| Oru chaavi kondu vaada | Bring a key, bro |
| Enna thorandhu vedenda | Unlock me and set me free |
| Male | |
| Kannula maiya veipaada | She puts kohl in her eyes, bro |
| Adhula poiya veipaada | She hides lies inside it, bro |
| Udhatil saayam veipaada | She puts color on her lips, bro |
| Unaku kaayam veipaada | She inflicts wounds on you, bro |
| Male | |
| Kannula maiya veipaada | She puts kohl in her eyes, bro |
| Female | |
| Adhula poiyo poiyaiyo | Inside it, it is lies and pure lies |
| Male | |
| Udhatil saayam veipaada | She puts color on her lips, bro |
| Female | |
| Unaku kaiyo kaiyaiyo | Leaving you with wounds and pain |
| Male | |
| Venam machan venam | Don't want it, friend, don't want it |
| Indha ponnunga kaadhalu | This love from girls |
| Adhu moodi thorakum podhae | Just as you open the bottle cap |
| Unna kavukum quaterru | It knocks you down like a quarter of liquor |
| Male | |
| Kadala polae kaadhal | Love is like the sea |
| Oru saltu wateru | It is just salt water |
| Adhu konjam karikum podhae | When it tastes too salty |
| Nee thooki potudu | You should just throw it away |
| Male | |
| { Mummy sonna ponna | If you marry the girl your mother suggests |
| Katina torcher illada | There will be no torture, bro |
| Neeyum davadikum ponna | If you marry the girl you courted |
| Katina trouser avurunda } (2) | You will end up losing your pants, bro |
| Male | |
| Kanna kalanga vaikum | A girl who brings tears to your eyes |
| Figureu venanda | We don't need such a girl |
| Enaku kanneer anjali poster | A friend who puts up a tribute poster for me |
| Ottum nanban pothunda | That friend is enough |
{ வஞ்சரம் மீனு
வவ்வாலு கிடைச்சா
கெளுத்தி விராலு
இருக்கு மீசை ஏராலு
இறங்கி கலக்கு கோபாலு } (2)
King fish, pomfret fish
Catfish or murrel if you catch them
Whiskered prawns are present
Step in and mix it up, Gopalu!
{ வேணாம் மச்சான்
வேணாம் இந்த பொண்ணுங்க
காதலு அது மூடி தொறக்கும்
போதே உன்ன கவுக்கும்
குவாட்டரு } (2)
Don't want it, friend, don't want it
This love from girls
Just as you open the bottle cap
It knocks you down like a quarter of liquor
கடல போல
காதல் ஒரு சால்ட்டு
வாட்டரு அது கொஞ்சம்
கரிக்கும்போதே நீ துாக்கி
போட்டுடு
Love is like the sea
It is just salt water
When it tastes too salty
You should just throw it away
{ மம்மி சொன்ன
பொண்ண கட்டினா
டார்ச்சர் இல்லடா
நீயும் டாவடிக்கும்
பொண்ண கட்டினா
ட்ரௌசர் அவுருண்டா } (2)
If you marry the girl your mother suggests
There will be no torture, bro
If you marry the girl you courted
You will end up losing your pants, bro
கண்ண கலங்க
வைக்கும் பிகரு வேணான்டா
நமக்கு கண்ணீர் அஞ்சலி
போஸ்டர் ஒட்டும் நண்பன்
போதுன்டா
A girl who brings tears to your eyes
We don't need such a girl
A friend who puts up a tribute poster for us
That friend is enough
{ வஞ்சரம் மீனு
வவ்வாலு கிடைச்சா
கெளுத்தி விராலு
இருக்கு மீசை ஏராலு
இறங்கி கலக்கு கோபாலு } (2)
King fish, pomfret fish
Catfish or murrel if you catch them
Whiskered prawns are present
Step in and mix it up, Gopalu!
{ பைக்குல தினமும்
ஒன்னா போனோம் பேக்குல
இப்போ அவள காணோம்
பீச்ல சுகமா கடல போட்டோம்
கடலுக்கும் இப்போ கண்ணீர்
முட்டும் } (2)
We used to ride together on the bike every day
Now she is nowhere to be seen on the back seat
We happily spent time by the beach
Now even the sea is welling up with tears
காதலிக்கும் போது
அட கண்ணு தெரியாது
உன் கண்ண முழிச்சிக்கிட்டா
அங்க காதல் கிடையாது
When you are in love
Hey, love is blind
If you open your eyes wide
There is no love to be found there
அவ போனாலே
போனா தண்ணீர விட்டு
மீனா நான் காயம் பட்ட
மைனா இப்போ பாடுறேன்
கானா
She left and vanished like water leaving a fish
Like a fish out of water
I am a wounded myna bird
Now singing a street gaana song
பிகரு
சுகரு மாதிரி
ஜனக்கு
ஜனக்கு வவ்வாலு
நட்பு
தடுப்பு ஊசிடா
ஜனக்கு
ஜானு கோபாலு
A girl is like high blood sugar / diabetes
பிகரு சுகரு
மாதிரி பசங்க உடம்ப
உருக்கிடும் நட்பு தடுப்பு
ஊசிடா ஒடஞ்சா மனச
தேத்திடும்
Rhythm beats and pomfret fish
வேணாம் மச்சான்
வேணாம் இந்த பொண்ணுங்க
காதலு அது மூடி தொறக்கும்
போதே உன்ன கவுக்கும்
குவாட்டரு
Friendship is like a protective vaccine shot
கடல போல
காதல் ஒரு சால்ட்டு
வாட்டரு அது கொஞ்சம்
கரிக்கும்போதே நீ துாக்கி
போட்டுடு
Rhythm beats, Gopalu
பாதியில் வந்த
பொண்ண நம்பி ஆதியில்
வளர்ந்த நட்பை விட்டேன்
தேதிய போல கிழிச்சிப் புட்டா
தேவதை அவள நம்பி
கெட்டேன்
A girl is like high blood sugar
It melts away a guy's body
Friendship is like a protective vaccine shot
It heals a broken heart
தோலு மட்டும்
வெள்ள உன்ன கவுத்துப்புட்டா
மெல்ல என்ன பண்ணி என்ன
அட அப்பவே நான் சொன்னேன்
Don't want it, friend, don't want it
This love from girls
Just as you open the bottle cap
It knocks you down like a quarter of liquor
அவ போட்டாளே
போட்டா நல்ல திண்டுகல்லு
பூட்டா ஒரு சாவி கொண்டு
வாடா என்ன தொறந்து
விடேண்டா
Love is like the sea
It is just salt water
When it tastes too salty
You should just throw it away
கண்ணுல மைய
வெப்பாடா அதுல பொய்ய
வெப்பாடா உதட்டில் சாயம்
வெப்பாடா உனக்கு காயம்
வெப்பாடா
Trusting a girl who came midway in life
I abandoned the friendship that grew from the beginning
She tore me apart like a daily calendar leaf
Believing in that angel, I got ruined
கண்ணுல மைய
வெப்பாடா
அதுல பொய்யோ
பொய்யயோ
உதட்டில் சாயம்
வெப்பாடா
உனக்கு கையோ
கையயோ
Only her skin is fair
She slowly overthrew you
What is the use of doing anything now, hey
I told you back then itself
வேணாம் மச்சான்
வேணாம் இந்த பொண்ணுங்க
காதலு அது மூடி தொறக்கும்
போதே உன்ன கவுக்கும்
குவாட்டரு
She locked me up tight
With a solid Dindigul lock
Bring a key, bro
Unlock me and set me free
கடல போல
காதல் ஒரு சால்ட்டு
வாட்டரு அது கொஞ்சம்
கரிக்கும்போதே நீ துாக்கி
போட்டுடு
She puts kohl in her eyes, bro
She hides lies inside it, bro
She puts color on her lips, bro
She inflicts wounds on you, bro
{ மம்மி சொன்ன
பொண்ண கட்டினா
டார்ச்சர் இல்லடா
நீயும் டாவடிக்கும்
பொண்ண கட்டினா
ட்ரௌசர் அவுருண்டா } (2)
She puts kohl in her eyes, bro
கண்ண கலங்க
வைக்கும் பிகரு வேணான்டா
நமக்கு கண்ணீர் அஞ்சலி
போஸ்டர் ஒட்டும் நண்பன்
போதுன்டா
Inside it, it is lies and pure lies
She puts color on her lips, bro
Leaving you with wounds and pain
Don't want it, friend, don't want it
This love from girls
Just as you open the bottle cap
It knocks you down like a quarter of liquor
Love is like the sea
It is just salt water
When it tastes too salty
You should just throw it away
If you marry the girl your mother suggests
There will be no torture, bro
If you marry the girl you courted
You will end up losing your pants, bro
A girl who brings tears to your eyes
We don't need such a girl
A friend who puts up a tribute poster for me
That friend is enough
{ Vanjaram meenu vavaalu
King fish, pomfret fish
Kidacha keluthi viraalu
Catfish or murrel if you catch them
Iruku meesai yeraalu
Whiskered prawns are present
Irangi kalaku gopaalu } (2)
Step in and mix it up, Gopalu!
{ Venam machan venam
Don't want it, friend, don't want it
Indha ponnunga kaadhalu
This love from girls
Adhu moodi thorakum podhae
Just as you open the bottle cap
Unna kavukum quaterru } (2)
It knocks you down like a quarter of liquor
Kadala polae kaadhal
Love is like the sea
Oru saltu wateru
It is just salt water
Adhu konjam karikum podhae
When it tastes too salty
Nee thooki potudu
You should just throw it away
{ Mummy sonna ponna
If you marry the girl your mother suggests
Katina torcher illada
There will be no torture, bro
Neeyum davadikum ponna
If you marry the girl you courted
Katina trouser avurunda } (2)
You will end up losing your pants, bro
Kanna kalanga vaikum
A girl who brings tears to your eyes
Figureu venanda
We don't need such a girl
Namaku kanneer anjali poster
A friend who puts up a tribute poster for us
Ottum nanban pothunda
That friend is enough
{ Vanjaram meenu vavaalu
King fish, pomfret fish
Kidacha keluthi viraalu
Catfish or murrel if you catch them
Iruku meesai yeraalu
Whiskered prawns are present
Irangi kalaku gopaalu } (2)
Step in and mix it up, Gopalu!
{ Bikela thinamum onnaa ponom
We used to ride together on the bike every day
Backla ippo avala kaanom
Now she is nowhere to be seen on the back seat
Beachla sugama kadala potom
We happily spent time by the beach
Kadalukum ippo kanneer mutum } (2)
Now even the sea is welling up with tears
Kaadhalikum bodhu
When you are in love
Ada kannu theriyadhu
Hey, love is blind
Un kanna muzhichikita
If you open your eyes wide
Anga kaadhal kidaiyathu
There is no love to be found there
Ava ponaalae pona
She left and vanished like water leaving a fish
Thanneera vitu meena
Like a fish out of water
Naan kaayam patta maina
I am a wounded myna bird
Ippo paaduren gaana
Now singing a street gaana song
Figureu sugaru maathiri
A girl is like high blood sugar / diabetes
Janaku janaku vavaalu
Rhythm beats and pomfret fish
Natpu thadupu ooseeda
Friendship is like a protective vaccine shot
Janaku jaanu gopalu
Rhythm beats, Gopalu
Figureu sugaru maathari
A girl is like high blood sugar
Pasanga odamba urukidum
It melts away a guy's body
Natpu thadupu ooseeda
Friendship is like a protective vaccine shot
Odancha manasa thethidum
It heals a broken heart
Venam machan venam
Don't want it, friend, don't want it
Indha ponnunga kaadhalu
This love from girls
Adhu moodi thorakum podhae
Just as you open the bottle cap
Unna kavukum quaterru
It knocks you down like a quarter of liquor
Kadala polae kaadhal
Love is like the sea
Oru saltu wateru
It is just salt water
Adhu konjam karikum podhae
When it tastes too salty
Nee thooki potudu
You should just throw it away
Paadhiyil vandha ponna nambi
Trusting a girl who came midway in life
Aadhiyil valarntha natpa viten
I abandoned the friendship that grew from the beginning
Thethiya polae kizhichi putta
She tore me apart like a daily calendar leaf
Devathai avala nambi ketten
Believing in that angel, I got ruined
Tholu matum vella
Only her skin is fair
Unna kavuthuputa mella
She slowly overthrew you
Yenna panni yenna ada
What is the use of doing anything now, hey
Appavae naan sonnen
I told you back then itself
Ava potaalae potaa
She locked me up tight
Nalla dhindukallu poota
With a solid Dindigul lock
Oru chaavi kondu vaada
Bring a key, bro
Enna thorandhu vedenda
Unlock me and set me free
Kannula maiya veipaada
She puts kohl in her eyes, bro
Adhula poiya veipaada
She hides lies inside it, bro
Udhatil saayam veipaada
She puts color on her lips, bro
Unaku kaayam veipaada
She inflicts wounds on you, bro
Kannula maiya veipaada
She puts kohl in her eyes, bro
Adhula poiyo poiyaiyo
Inside it, it is lies and pure lies
Udhatil saayam veipaada
She puts color on her lips, bro
Unaku kaiyo kaiyaiyo
Leaving you with wounds and pain
Venam machan venam
Don't want it, friend, don't want it
Indha ponnunga kaadhalu
This love from girls
Adhu moodi thorakum podhae
Just as you open the bottle cap
Unna kavukum quaterru
It knocks you down like a quarter of liquor
Kadala polae kaadhal
Love is like the sea
Oru saltu wateru
It is just salt water
Adhu konjam karikum podhae
When it tastes too salty
Nee thooki potudu
You should just throw it away
{ Mummy sonna ponna
If you marry the girl your mother suggests
Katina torcher illada
There will be no torture, bro
Neeyum davadikum ponna
If you marry the girl you courted
Katina trouser avurunda } (2)
You will end up losing your pants, bro
Kanna kalanga vaikum
A girl who brings tears to your eyes
Figureu venanda
We don't need such a girl
Enaku kanneer anjali poster
A friend who puts up a tribute poster for me
Ottum nanban pothunda
That friend is enough
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Venam Machan' from 'Oru Kal Oru Kannadi' (2012) is a popular, upbeat Tamil 'soup song' (heartbreak anthem) celebrating male friendship over romantic heartbreak. The lyrics deliver lighthearted warning advice to men about the perils of falling in love with untrustworthy women and forgetting lifelong friendships. Using vibrant local Chennai slang, food metaphors, and street wisdom, the song argues that romance often brings pain and confusion, whereas true friends stick by you through thick and thin.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uwamai)
“Kadala polae kaadhal / Oru saltu wateru”
Compares romantic heartbreak to consuming salty seawater or drinking a strong quarter bottle of liquor.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Figureu sugaru maathari / Pasanga odamba urukidum / Natpu thadupu ooseeda”
Compares a girl's deceptive nature to high blood sugar (diabetes) that slowly wears down a man's health, while friendship is metaphorically called a protective vaccine shot.
Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Ethirai)
“Thanneera vitu meena / Naan kaayam patta maina / Ippo paaduren gaana”
Features folk/gaana rhyme schemes and wordplay common in Chennai street music (e.g., 'meena', 'maina', 'gaana').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Harris Jayaraj and sung by popular folk singer Velmurugan along with Naresh Iyer, this song became an instant chartbuster among youth upon release in 2012. It popularized Chennai street gaana imagery inside mainstream Tamil cinema and prominently features dynamic comic interactions between actors Udhayanidhi Stalin and Santhanam.
Keep listening
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