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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vettaikku Vandhanaiyaa

From Arumai Magal Abirami · 1959

Lyricist
Kuyilan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Dakshinamurthy
Details
Arumai Magal Abirami1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{Vettaikku vanthanaiyaaDid you come to hunt,
Kanthaa nee….O Lord Kantha?...
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaaDid you come to hunt,
Kanthaa nee….} (3)O Lord Kantha?... (3)
Female
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaaDid you come to hunt,
Kanthaa nee….O Lord Kantha?...
Female
Kaattilae vilanguIn the forest, the wild animals,
Koottangalai viduththuleaving the herds behind,
Kaattilae vilanguIn the forest, the wild animals,
Koottangalai viduththuleaving the herds behind,
Female
Kanni kuraththi maanaiAt the innocent Kurathi maiden deer,
Enni kanai thoduththudeliberately aiming your arrow?
Kanni kuraththi maanaiAt the innocent Kurathi maiden deer,
Enni kanai thoduththudeliberately aiming your arrow?
Female
{Vettaikku vanthanaiyaaDid you come to hunt,
Kanthaa nee….O Lord Kantha?...
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaaDid you come to hunt,
Kanthaa nee….} (2)O Lord Kantha?... (2)
Female
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaaDid you come to hunt,
Kanthaa nee….O Lord Kantha?...
Female
Yaedhum ariyaa bedhaiAn innocent and naive girl,
Aval unnai kandaalwhen she saw you,
Ennam puriyaathuUnable to comprehend your thoughts,
Unthan mun nindraalshe stood before you.
Female
Vaadham purinthu vellaiEngaging in debate, her pure,
Manam kollai kondaanwhite heart you stole away.
Female
Vanthathum edharkkoFor what reason did you come?
Thanthiram edharkkoFor what reason this trickery?
Vanthathum edharkkoFor what reason did you come?
Thanthiram edharkkoFor what reason this trickery?
Female
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa…Did you come to hunt...
Female
Un thuyar kanduSeeing your sorrow,
Udhavikku vanthaalwhen she came to offer help,
Un thuyar kanduSeeing your sorrow,
Udhavikku vanthaalwhen she came to offer help,
Female
Ullam parikoduththuSurrendering her heart,
Thannaiyae thanthaalshe gave herself entirely.
Ullam parikoduththuSurrendering her heart,
Thannaiyae thanthaalshe gave herself entirely.
Female
Kann thuyil kollaathuLosing all her sleep,
Kadhalumaanaalshe fell deeply in love.
Kai pidippaiyo kai viduvaayoWill you hold her hand or will you forsake her?
Kai pidippaiyo kai viduvaayoWill you hold her hand or will you forsake her?
Female
{Vettaikku vanthanaiyaaDid you come to hunt,
Kanthaa nee….O Lord Kantha?...
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaaDid you come to hunt,
Kanthaa nee….} (2)O Lord Kantha?... (2)
Female
Vettaikku vanthanaiyaa….Did you come to hunt?...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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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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