Vettrilai Podamaley Vaai Sivantha
From Amarakavi · 1952
- Lyricist
- Suratha
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Amarakavi1952
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Paadharasam polae venmaiyaana nilaa | The white moon bright like liquid mercury |
| Vaanithilae irukkum | Exists up in the sky. |
| Vaditha saadham polae irukkum mullai poovu | The jasmine flower that looks like cooked white rice |
| Kodiyil irukkum paadham poale | Resides on the creeper like a gentle lotus foot, |
| Thaamarai poo….. thaamarai poo….. | A lotus flower... a lotus flower... |
| Male | |
| Vettrilai podamalae vaai sivandha | Red-mouthed without even chewing betel leaves, |
| Pachai pasungiligal | The green, vibrant parrots. |
| Vettrilai podamalae vaai sivandha | Red-mouthed without even chewing betel leaves, |
| Pachai pasungiligal….haaa..aaa.. | The green, vibrant parrots... ah... |
| Suttri thiriyum indha keerthivarman dhesathilae | Wandering about in this land of Keerthivarman, |
| Suttri thiriyum indha keerthivarman dhesathilae | Wandering about in this land of Keerthivarman, |
| Dhesathilae…ye ye ye | In this land... yeah... |
| Male | |
| Angathai thanga kannadiyakki | Making their bodies like golden mirrors, |
| Angathai thanga kannadiyakki | Making their bodies like golden mirrors, |
| Sathiraadum thoghai mayilai | Like dancing peacocks displaying their plumage, |
| Thangal saayalaal jeyikkum pengal | Women who conquer everyone with their graceful beauty, |
| Vaai ellaam kovai palam | Whose mouths are like bright red ivy gourd fruits, |
| Vaai ellaam kovai palam | Whose mouths are like bright red ivy gourd fruits. |
வசனம் :
.................
The white moon bright like liquid mercury
Exists up in the sky.
The jasmine flower that looks like cooked white rice
Resides on the creeper like a gentle lotus foot,
A lotus flower... a lotus flower...
பாதரசம் போலே வெண்மையான நிலா
வானத்திலே இருக்கும்
வடித்த சாதம் போலே இருக்கும் முல்லைப் பூவு
கொடியிலிருக்கும் பாதம் போலே
தாமரைப்பூ.........தாமரைப்பூ......
Red-mouthed without even chewing betel leaves,
The green, vibrant parrots.
Red-mouthed without even chewing betel leaves,
The green, vibrant parrots... ah...
Wandering about in this land of Keerthivarman,
Wandering about in this land of Keerthivarman,
In this land... yeah...
வசனம் :
.............
Making their bodies like golden mirrors,
Making their bodies like golden mirrors,
Like dancing peacocks displaying their plumage,
Women who conquer everyone with their graceful beauty,
Whose mouths are like bright red ivy gourd fruits,
Whose mouths are like bright red ivy gourd fruits.
வெற்றிலை போடாமலே வாய் சிவந்த
பச்சைப் பசுங்கிளிகள்
வெற்றிலை போடாமலே வாய் சிவந்த
பச்சைப் பசுங்கிளிகள்..ஹா ..ஆஅ
சுற்றித் திரியும் இந்தக் கீர்த்திவர்மன் தேசத்திலே..ஏ
சுற்றித் திரியும் இந்தக் கீர்த்திவர்மன் தேசத்திலே..
தேசத்திலே..ஏ ...ஏ ..ஏ
அங்கத்தை தங்கக் கண்ணாடியாக்கி
அங்கத்தை தங்கக் கண்ணாடியாக்கி
சதிராடும் தோகை மயிலை
தங்கள் சாயலால் ஜெயிக்கும் பெண்கள்
வாயெல்லாம் கோவைப்பழம்...
வாயெல்லாம் கோவைப்பழம்..
Paadharasam polae venmaiyaana nilaa
The white moon bright like liquid mercury
Vaanithilae irukkum
Exists up in the sky.
Vaditha saadham polae irukkum mullai poovu
The jasmine flower that looks like cooked white rice
Kodiyil irukkum paadham poale
Resides on the creeper like a gentle lotus foot,
Thaamarai poo….. thaamarai poo…..
A lotus flower... a lotus flower...
Vettrilai podamalae vaai sivandha
Red-mouthed without even chewing betel leaves,
Pachai pasungiligal
The green, vibrant parrots.
Vettrilai podamalae vaai sivandha
Red-mouthed without even chewing betel leaves,
Pachai pasungiligal….haaa..aaa..
The green, vibrant parrots... ah...
Suttri thiriyum indha keerthivarman dhesathilae
Wandering about in this land of Keerthivarman,
Suttri thiriyum indha keerthivarman dhesathilae
Wandering about in this land of Keerthivarman,
Dhesathilae…ye ye ye
In this land... yeah...
Angathai thanga kannadiyakki
Making their bodies like golden mirrors,
Angathai thanga kannadiyakki
Making their bodies like golden mirrors,
Sathiraadum thoghai mayilai
Like dancing peacocks displaying their plumage,
Thangal saayalaal jeyikkum pengal
Women who conquer everyone with their graceful beauty,
Vaai ellaam kovai palam
Whose mouths are like bright red ivy gourd fruits,
Vaai ellaam kovai palam
Whose mouths are like bright red ivy gourd fruits.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In this classic song from Amarakavi (1952), the lyricist Suratha uses vivid poetic comparisons to describe the serene beauty of nature and the enchanting women of King Keerthivarman's kingdom. The verse begins with vivid depictions of nature: the silvery white moon shining like mercury, jasmine blossoms resembling soft cooked rice, and green parrots whose natural red beaks look as though they have been stained by betel leaves. The poetry then transitions to praise the beauty of the women in the realm. With skin gleaming like polished golden mirrors, they surpass even dancing peacocks in charm and grace. Their lips are as naturally vibrant and red as ripe ivy gourds (Kovai palam), capturing the romantic and aesthetic elegance characteristic of classic Tamil cinema.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uwamai)
“Paadharasam polae venmaiyaana nilaa”
Compares the brilliant white glow of the moon to liquid mercury ('paadharasam') using the comparison marker 'polae'.
Simile (Uwamai)
“Vaditha saadham polae irukkum mullai poovu”
Compares the delicate white jasmine flower to freshly cooked white rice using 'polae'.
Hyperbole / Visual Imagery
“Vettrilai podamalae vaai sivandha Pachai pasungiligal”
Paints a poetic picture of green parrots whose naturally red beaks are playfully described as if they became red without chewing betel leaves.
Metaphor / Simile
“Vaai ellaam kovai palam”
Compares the naturally red lips/mouths of women to ripe red ivy gourd fruit ('kovai palam').
Did you know?
Trivia
This song was penned by the celebrated poet Suratha, who earned the nickname 'Uwamai Kavingnar' (The Poet of Similes) in Tamil literature due to his extraordinary flair for analogies, as brilliantly demonstrated in this track. Sung by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT), one of Tamil cinema's first iconic superstars, Amarakavi (1952) was among his notable late-career films.
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