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Selva Magal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vennila Mugam

From Selva Magal · 1967

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Selva Magal
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
16 Jul 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vennilaa mugam kungumam perum
Nalla naal tharum mangalam varum
Vennilaa mugam kungumam perum
Nalla naal tharum mangalam varum
Kannil oor sugam pongave varum
Kannil oor sugam pongave varum
Ponnaana naal allavo
Ponnaana naal allavo
Vennilaa mugam kungumam perum
Nalla naal tharum mangalam varum
Aan kuyil varum varai aasaigal tharum varai
Aan kuyil varum varai aasaigal tharum varai
Poonguyil kaaththirunthaalo
Inge azhagiya ponnudal mezhugena urugida
Vaasalai paarththirunthaalo
Vaasalai paarththirunthaalo
Mannavan thoda maiyalil vizha
Siththirak kili konjum maalini
Kaivalai kuzhungida kaaloli nalangida
Kaivalai kuzhungida kaaloli nalangida
Maivizhi thiranthiruppaalo
Inge naayagan varugaiyil naanaththil vizhugaiyil
Kaalaththai maranthiruppaalo
Kaalaththai maranthiruppaalo
Valluvan kural sollidum porul
Nallaram tharum illaram varum
Vennilaa mugam
Male :Aahh……
Female :Kungumam perum
Male :Aahh……
Female :Nalla naal tharum mangalam varum
This moon-like face will be adorned with kumkum,
bringing a good day and auspicious joy.
This moon-like face will be adorned with kumkum,
bringing a good day and auspicious joy.
A sweet pleasure will well up in the eyes,
a sweet pleasure will well up in the eyes.
Isn't this a golden day?
Isn't this a golden day?
This moon-like face will be adorned with kumkum,
bringing a good day and auspicious joy.
Until the male cuckoo arrives, until he brings sweet desires,
until the male cuckoo arrives, until he brings sweet desires,
did the gentle songbird wait?
With her lovely golden body melting like wax here,
did she keep watching the doorway?
did she keep watching the doorway?
To fall in love as her king touches her,
Malini coos like a lovely painted parrot.
With her bangles jingling and her footsteps softening,
with her bangles jingling and her footsteps softening,
did she keep her kohl-lined eyes open?
When her beloved arrives here and she melts in shyness,
would she have forgotten all sense of time?
would she have forgotten all sense of time?
Fulfilling the wisdom told in Valluvar's verses,
a virtuous married life will begin.
This moon-like face...
Male: Ah...
Female: ...will be adorned with kumkum.
Male: Ah...
Female: Bringing a good day and auspicious joy.
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic track celebrates the sweet anticipation and joy of union, marriage, and wedded bliss. The song describes a young woman with a full moon-like face awaiting her lover's arrival. Her heart and body melt like wax out of deep affection as she eagerly watches the doorway, imagining the romantic moments, the tinkling of bangles, and the shy bliss of being touched by her beloved. Vaali seamlessly connects romantic longing with traditional Tamil cultural values, framing domestic life as a virtuous path endorsed by Thiruvalluvar's timeless wisdom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Simile)

“Inge azhagiya ponnudal mezhugena urugida”

Compares her body melting in emotional longing to melting wax ('mezhugena urugida').

Uvameyam (Metaphor)

“Vennilaa mugam kungumam perum”

Compares the heroine's bright, radiant face to the full moon ('Vennilaa mugam').

Emonai / Monai (Alliteration & Rhyme)

“Kaivalai kuzhungida kaaloli nalangida”

Repetition of sound patterns in 'Kaivalai kuzhungida kaaloli nalangida' creates a rhythmic, musical quality echoing the sound of bangles and anklets.

Literary Allusion

“Valluvan kural sollidum porul”

Refers to the moral authority of Thiruvalluvar ('Valluvan kural') to sanctify the concept of righteous wedded life ('illaram').

Did you know?

Trivia

Selva Magal (1967) starred Jaishankar and Rajasree in the lead roles. The film's musical score was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics written by Vaali and vocals performed by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

Keep listening

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