- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Muthal Mariyathai
- Movie release year
- 1985
- Lyrics added on
- 4 Feb 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Vetti Veru Vaasam is a deeply evocative folk ballad from the film Muthal Mariyathai, expressing the tender yet unspoken love between two individuals bound by rigid social structures. Through rustic imagery—such as vetiver roots, sparrows, and wild floods—the song highlights how natural, spontaneous affection cannot be suppressed or restricted by societal boundaries. The lyrics explicitly critique social prejudices, caste distinctions, and narrow-minded gossip, asserting that love is a divine and natural force as fundamental as the rotation of the earth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vetti veru vaasam vedala pulla nesam”
Repetition of the 'V' sound at the beginning of words in the line.
Ezhugai / Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Pacha kiliyo... / Icha kiliyo...”
Rhyming of the second letter 'cha' across consecutive lines.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Kaiya katti nikka sonna / Kaattu vellam nikaathu”
Comparing uncontrollable human emotion and love to a wild flood ('Kaattu vellam') that cannot be tied down.
Paradox / Imagery
“Panju kulla theeya vechu suthi vachavaga yaaru”
The image of 'fire wrapped in cotton' represents an intense passion or truth suppressed within fragile surroundings.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vairamuthu, Muthal Mariyathai (1985) won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, and Vairamuthu won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics for his poetic work across the album. This song was rendered by Malaysia Vasudevan and S. Janaki.
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