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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vera Vela Odumaa

From Unakkaagave Vaazhgiren · 1986

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Unakkaagave Vaazhgiren1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vera velai odumaWill any other work get done
Intha neram thaanAt a time like this?
Sela mela venumaDo you still want the saree draped over?
Romba baaram thaanIt feels so heavy indeed!
Male
Aala thooki poduthaeIt sweeps me off my feet,
Kundu malliyae hoiO round jasmine flower, hey!
Aasai melae poguthaeDesire keeps escalating,
Aaravalliyae aahhO fierce queen Aaravalli, ah!
Male
Vera velai odumaWill any other work get done
Intha neram thaanAt a time like this?
Sela mela venumaDo you still want the saree draped over?
Romba baaram thaanIt feels so heavy indeed!
Male
Yaaro paadaSomeone sang it,
Kaadhal paatuA love song,
Pottu pottu aluthu ponathu heiIt got worn out being played again and again, hey!
Neeyum naanum sernthu paadaFor you and me to sing together,
Aasai vera vanthu sernthathuA new desire has arrived to join.
Male
Kodi pera naanA crore people, I
Aati vaikkirenMake them dance,
Ennai mattum nee vaatturaYet you alone torment me!
Unakku thaanae en kaadhal raagamMy love melody is only for you,
Enakku eppothum nee thaan venumI always want only you.
Vittu pogathae maanae maanaeDo not leave and go, my dear deer-like girl!
Vetkam venaandi thaenae thaenaeDon't be shy, my honey!
Kaama devan thaan pollathavanLord of desire (Kama) is mischievous,
Kai yendhu indha velaiHold out your hands at this moment!
Male
Vera velai odumaWill any other work get done
Intha neram thaanAt a time like this?
Sela mela venumaDo you still want the saree draped over?
Romba baaram thaanIt feels so heavy indeed!
Male
Mogam vanthuLust arrived,
Vegam vanthuSpeed arrived,
Moodu ippo maari ponathu haanThe mood has shifted now, haan!
Raagam maariThe ragam changed,
Thaalam maariThe beat changed,
Paatu vera paadhai poguthuThe song goes on a different path!
Male
Aasai enbathu alla theerumaCan desire ever be completely scooped away and finished?
Aadi vellam thaan maarumaaWill the monsoon floods of Aadi month ever stop?
Neeyae sangeetha raagam thaanaeYou are the musical melody itself, aren't you?
Paada porenae naanae naanaeI am going to sing myself, myself!
Kathaiyai kelaaiyo maanae maanaeWon't you listen to the story, my deer-like girl?
Kaadhal thaaralam thaanae thaanaeLove is abundant, isn't it?
Paadum paatu thaan thalladhuThe song being sung stumbles,
Un mogam vantha velaiAt the moment when your passion arrived!
Male
Vera velai odumaWill any other work get done
Intha neram thaanAt a time like this?
Sela mela venumaDo you still want the saree draped over?
Romba baaram thaanIt feels so heavy indeed!
Hei hei heiHei hei hei
Male
Aala thooki poduthaeIt sweeps me off my feet,
Kundu malliyaeO round jasmine flower!
Hahahaha….Hahahaha...
Aasai melae poguthaeDesire keeps escalating,
Aaravalliyae heiiO fierce queen Aaravalli, heii!
Male
Vera velai odumaWill any other work get done
Intha neram thaanAt a time like this?
Sela mela venumaDo you still want the saree draped over?
Romba baaram thaanIt feels so heavy indeed!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and romantic song expresses the intense passion and irresistible attraction between two lovers. The lyrics highlight how all worldly work comes to a halt when love and intimacy take over. The protagonist playfully teases his partner, comparing her beauty to a round jasmine flower (Kundu Malli) and a bold, fiery queen (Aaravalli), while noting how her presence completely disarms him despite his ability to command crowds.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Sela mela venuma / Romba baaram thaan

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Vera' and 'Intha' / 'Sela', creating rhythmic flow.

Metaphor / Term of Endearment

Kundu malliyae hoi

Comparing the heroine to 'Kundu malli' (round jasmine) and 'Maane' (deer-like woman) to emphasize delicacy and beauty.

Rhetorical Question

Aasai enbathu alla theeruma

Asking 'Aasai enbathu alla theeruma?' (Can desire ever be exhausted by gathering it?) to convey the endless nature of desire.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is written by Gangai Amaran for the movie 'Unakkaagave Vaazhgiren' (1986), starring Sivakumar, Nadhiya, and Suresh. The track uses playful folk-pop cadence typical of mid-1980s Tamil cinema duets.

Keep listening

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