Vennila Vellithattu (Male)
From Kali Kovil Kabali · 1979
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- R. Rajesh
- Details
- Kali Kovil Kabali1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vennilaa velli thattu | The white moon is a silver plate, |
| Vaanilae mullai mottu | A jasmine bud in the sky. |
| Annaithaanae vennilaa | The white moon is like a mother, |
| Thanthai ennaalum ponnaana vaanam | The golden sky is always like a father. |
| Male | |
| Vennilaa velli thattu | The white moon is a silver plate, |
| Vaanilae mullai mottu | A jasmine bud in the sky. |
| Male | |
| Kannan engae vaazhntha pothum | Wherever Lord Krishna lives, |
| Brinthavanam | It becomes Brindavan. |
| Kaadu vetti thottam pottaal | If you clear the forest and cultivate, |
| Poongaavanam | It becomes a lush flower garden. |
| Male | |
| Kannan engae vaazhntha pothum | Wherever Lord Krishna lives, |
| Brindhavanam | It becomes Brindavan. |
| Kaadu vetti thottam pottaal | If you clear the forest and cultivate, |
| Poongaavanam | It becomes a lush flower garden. |
| Paninthaal uyarum ungal manam | If you bow in humility, your heart will rise high. |
| Male | |
| Vennilaa velli thattu | The white moon is a silver plate, |
| Vaanilae mullai mottu | A jasmine bud in the sky. |
| Male | |
| Theemai seithaal theemai undu | If you do evil, evil will be written |
| Avan yaettilae | In the Almighty's ledger. |
| Nanmai seithaal nanmai undu | If you do good, goodness will dwell |
| Nam veettilae | In our very own home. |
| Vidhiyum mathiyum verallavae | Fate and human wisdom are not entirely separate. |
| Male | |
| Vennilaa velli thattu | The white moon is a silver plate, |
| Vaanilae mullai mottu | A jasmine bud in the sky. |
| Male | |
| Annam itta kaiyil endrum | To the hand that fed us food, |
| Neer oottranum | We should pour water in gratitude. |
| Kannam itta kaiyil endrum | To the hand that broke in to steal, |
| Thee moottanum | We should set fire in punishment. |
| Male | |
| Annam itta kaiyil endrum | To the hand that fed us food, |
| Neer oottranum | We should pour water in gratitude. |
| Kannam itta kaiyil endrum | To the hand that broke in to steal, |
| Thee moottanum | We should set fire in punishment. |
| Pugazhum pazhiyum nammaal varum | Both praise and blame come through our own choices. |
| Male | |
| Vaanilae mullai mottu | A jasmine bud in the sky. |
| Annaithaanae vennilaa | The white moon is like a mother, |
| Thanthai ennaalum ponnaana vaanam | The golden sky is always like a father. |
| Male | |
| Vennilaa velli thattu | The white moon is a silver plate, |
| Vaanilae mullai mottu | A jasmine bud in the sky. |
வெண்ணிலா வெள்ளித் தட்டு
வானிலே முல்லை மொட்டு
அன்னைதானே வெண்ணிலா
தந்தை எந்நாளும் பொன்னான வானம்
The white moon is a silver plate,
A jasmine bud in the sky.
The white moon is like a mother,
The golden sky is always like a father.
வெண்ணிலா வெள்ளித் தட்டு
வானிலே முல்லை மொட்டு
The white moon is a silver plate,
A jasmine bud in the sky.
கண்ணன் எங்கே வாழ்ந்த போதும்
பிருந்தாவனம்
காடு வெட்டி தோட்டம் போட்டால்
பூங்காவனம்
Wherever Lord Krishna lives,
It becomes Brindavan.
If you clear the forest and cultivate,
It becomes a lush flower garden.
கண்ணன் எங்கே வாழ்ந்த போதும்
பிருந்தாவனம்
காடு வெட்டி தோட்டம் போட்டால்
பூங்காவனம்
பணிந்தால் உயரும் உங்கள் மனம்
Wherever Lord Krishna lives,
It becomes Brindavan.
If you clear the forest and cultivate,
It becomes a lush flower garden.
If you bow in humility, your heart will rise high.
வெண்ணிலா வெள்ளித் தட்டு
வானிலே முல்லை மொட்டு
The white moon is a silver plate,
A jasmine bud in the sky.
தீமை செய்தால் தீமை உண்டு
அவன் ஏட்டிலே
நன்மை செய்தால் நன்மை உண்டு
நம் வீட்டிலே
If you do evil, evil will be written
In the Almighty's ledger.
If you do good, goodness will dwell
In our very own home.
Fate and human wisdom are not entirely separate.
தீமை செய்தால் தீமை உண்டு
அவன் ஏட்டிலே
நன்மை செய்தால் நன்மை உண்டு
நம் வீட்டிலே
விதியும் மதியும் வேறல்லவே
The white moon is a silver plate,
A jasmine bud in the sky.
வெண்ணிலா வெள்ளித் தட்டு
வானிலே முல்லை மொட்டு
To the hand that fed us food,
We should pour water in gratitude.
To the hand that broke in to steal,
We should set fire in punishment.
அன்னம் இட்ட கையில் என்றும்
நீர் ஊற்றணும்
கன்னம் இட்ட கையில் என்றும்
தீ மூட்டணும்
To the hand that fed us food,
We should pour water in gratitude.
To the hand that broke in to steal,
We should set fire in punishment.
Both praise and blame come through our own choices.
அன்னம் இட்ட கையில் என்றும்
நீர் ஊற்றணும்
கன்னம் இட்ட கையில் என்றும்
தீ மூட்டணும்
புகழும் பழியும் நம்மால் வரும்
A jasmine bud in the sky.
The white moon is like a mother,
The golden sky is always like a father.
வெண்ணிலா வெள்ளித் தட்டு
வானிலே முல்லை மொட்டு
அன்னைதானே வெண்ணிலா
தந்தை எந்நாளும் பொன்னான வானம்
The white moon is a silver plate,
A jasmine bud in the sky.
வெண்ணிலா வெள்ளித் தட்டு
வானிலே முல்லை மொட்டு
Vennilaa velli thattu
The white moon is a silver plate,
Vaanilae mullai mottu
A jasmine bud in the sky.
Annaithaanae vennilaa
The white moon is like a mother,
Thanthai ennaalum ponnaana vaanam
The golden sky is always like a father.
Vennilaa velli thattu
The white moon is a silver plate,
Vaanilae mullai mottu
A jasmine bud in the sky.
Kannan engae vaazhntha pothum
Wherever Lord Krishna lives,
Brinthavanam
It becomes Brindavan.
Kaadu vetti thottam pottaal
If you clear the forest and cultivate,
Poongaavanam
It becomes a lush flower garden.
Kannan engae vaazhntha pothum
Wherever Lord Krishna lives,
Brindhavanam
It becomes Brindavan.
Kaadu vetti thottam pottaal
If you clear the forest and cultivate,
Poongaavanam
It becomes a lush flower garden.
Paninthaal uyarum ungal manam
If you bow in humility, your heart will rise high.
Vennilaa velli thattu
The white moon is a silver plate,
Vaanilae mullai mottu
A jasmine bud in the sky.
Theemai seithaal theemai undu
If you do evil, evil will be written
Avan yaettilae
In the Almighty's ledger.
Nanmai seithaal nanmai undu
If you do good, goodness will dwell
Nam veettilae
In our very own home.
Vidhiyum mathiyum verallavae
Fate and human wisdom are not entirely separate.
Vennilaa velli thattu
The white moon is a silver plate,
Vaanilae mullai mottu
A jasmine bud in the sky.
Annam itta kaiyil endrum
To the hand that fed us food,
Neer oottranum
We should pour water in gratitude.
Kannam itta kaiyil endrum
To the hand that broke in to steal,
Thee moottanum
We should set fire in punishment.
Annam itta kaiyil endrum
To the hand that fed us food,
Neer oottranum
We should pour water in gratitude.
Kannam itta kaiyil endrum
To the hand that broke in to steal,
Thee moottanum
We should set fire in punishment.
Pugazhum pazhiyum nammaal varum
Both praise and blame come through our own choices.
Vaanilae mullai mottu
A jasmine bud in the sky.
Annaithaanae vennilaa
The white moon is like a mother,
Thanthai ennaalum ponnaana vaanam
The golden sky is always like a father.
Vennilaa velli thattu
The white moon is a silver plate,
Vaanilae mullai mottu
A jasmine bud in the sky.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from 'Kali Kovil Kabali' (1979) uses simple celestial imagery—the moon as a silver plate and the sky as a father figure—to deliver profound philosophical lessons on karma, gratitude, and moral responsibility. Lyricist Kannadasan emphasizes that sacredness is created by noble living, just as Krishna turns any space into Brindavan and hard work turns a forest into a garden. The song further underscores the law of cause and effect: good deeds bring joy into one's home while bad deeds are accounted for by divine justice. By contrasting gratitude towards benefactors with severe consequences for wrongdoers, the song serves as an uplifting moral guide on how self-respect, humility, and right action govern one's fate.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vennilaa velli thattu / Vaanilae mullai mottu”
Compares the white moon to a silver plate ('velli thattu') and a jasmine bud ('mullai mottu') without explicit comparative markers.
Second-letter Rhyme (Ethirai)
“Annam itta kaiyil endrum / Kannam itta kaiyil endrum”
The second letters 'nna' rhyme across consecutive lines ('Annam' and 'Kannam').
Antithesis (Contrast)
“Theemai seithaal theemai undu... / Nanmai seithaal nanmai undu...”
Contrasts evil deeds ('Theemai') leading to punishment in God's ledger with good deeds ('Nanmai') bringing prosperity to one's household.
Personification
“Annaithaanae vennilaa / Thanthai ennaalum ponnaana vaanam”
Attributes parental roles of mother and father to the moon and sky respectively.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by R. Rajesh and sung with characteristic vigor by Malaysia Vasudevan, this track stands out in the 1979 film 'Kali Kovil Kabali' for combining folk-infused melodies with Kannadasan's signature moral philosophy.
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