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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vettaikku Vandhanaiyaa

From Arumai Magal Abirami · 1959

Lyricist
Kuyilan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Dakshinamurthy
Movie name
Arumai Magal Abirami
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
29 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa
Kanthaa nee….
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa
Kanthaa nee….} (3)
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa
Kanthaa nee….
Kaattilae vilangu
Koottangalai viduththu
Kaattilae vilangu
Koottangalai viduththu
Kanni kuraththi maanai
Enni kanai thoduththu
Kanni kuraththi maanai
Enni kanai thoduththu
{Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa
Kanthaa nee….
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa
Kanthaa nee….} (2)
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa
Kanthaa nee….
Yaedhum ariyaa bedhai
Aval unnai kandaal
Ennam puriyaathu
Unthan mun nindraal
Vaadham purinthu vellai
Manam kollai kondaan
Vanthathum edharkko
Thanthiram edharkko
Vanthathum edharkko
Thanthiram edharkko
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa…
Un thuyar kandu
Udhavikku vanthaal
Un thuyar kandu
Udhavikku vanthaal
Ullam parikoduththu
Thannaiyae thanthaal
Ullam parikoduththu
Thannaiyae thanthaal
Kann thuyil kollaathu
Kadhalumaanaal
Kai pidippaiyo kai viduvaayo
Kai pidippaiyo kai viduvaayo
{Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa
Kanthaa nee….
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa
Kanthaa nee….} (2)
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa….
Did you come to hunt...
Oh Kanda, did you?
Did you come to hunt...
Oh Kanda, did you?
Did you come to hunt...
Oh Kanda, did you?
Leaving behind the herds
of wild animals in the forest,
Leaving behind the herds
of wild animals in the forest,
thinking of the young Kurathi girl like a deer,
and aiming your arrow at her,
thinking of the young Kurathi girl like a deer,
and aiming your arrow at her,
Did you come to hunt...
Oh Kanda, did you?
Did you come to hunt...
Oh Kanda, did you?
Did you come to hunt...
Oh Kanda, did you?
She is an innocent girl who knows nothing;
when she saw you,
not understanding your intentions,
when she stood before you,
you argued with her and stole
her pure, innocent heart!
Why did you come here?
Why all these clever tricks?
Why did you come here?
Why all these clever tricks?
Did you come to hunt...
Seeing your distress,
when she came to help,
seeing your distress,
when she came to help,
she lost her heart to you
and gave herself completely.
she lost her heart to you
and gave herself completely.
Unable to close her eyes in sleep,
now that love has taken hold,
will you hold her hand, or will you forsake her?
Will you hold her hand, or will you forsake her?
Did you come to hunt...
Oh Kanda, did you?
Did you come to hunt...
Oh Kanda, did you?
Did you come to hunt...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song from the 1959 film 'Arumai Magal Abirami' draws heavily upon the mythological romance between Lord Murugan (Kanthan) and Valli, the Kurathi (tribal) maiden. The narrator playfully addresses Lord Murugan, asking whether he entered the forest under the pretext of hunting wild beasts or if his true target was to capture the heart of the innocent maiden Valli with his arrow of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Kanni kuraththi maanai Enni kanai thoduththu”

Compares the innocent tribal girl Valli to a maiden deer ('Kanni kuraththi maanai') targeted by Lord Murugan.

Emonai / Second-letter Rhyme (Ethirai)

Use of matching second consonants across adjacent lines ('Vettaikku' /

Rhetorical Question & Antithesis

“Kai pidippaiyo kai viduvaayo”

Posing contrasting questions about destiny and love, questioning if he will embrace her hand or abandon her.

Did you know?

Trivia

This composition by the esteemed musician V. Dakshinamoorthy features lyrics by poet Kuyilan and is rendered by legendary singer P. Susheela. The song captures the quintessential 1950s Tamil cinema style of blending Carnatic musical elements with folk narrative traditions of Lord Murugan's Valli Santhippu (meeting with Valli).

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