Vettunda Kaiyum
From Orey Vazhi · 1959
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Leela
- Music director
- R. Govarthanam
- Details
- Orey Vazhi1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vettunda kaiyum | A severed hand |
| Veezhndhu vitta poongodiyum | And a fallen tender creeper |
| Kattunduthaan vanangum | Bound together in devotion, worshipping |
| Kanniyargal ponadiyai | The golden feet of young maidens, |
| Female | |
| Koon vilundha maanidargal | Humpbacked and stooped human beings, |
| Kuvindhirukkum samudhayam | A society gathered together, |
| Thaan vilundhu vanangum naal | Will the day they fall and bow down |
| Thalaimuraiyil vaarathatho | Not arrive in this generation? |
| Female | |
| Poluthu vidiyaadho | Will the day not dawn? |
| Pudhu paadhai thondratho | Will a new path not emerge? |
| Azhuthazhudhu kanniyargal | The day when weeping young women |
| Alarum naal maaradhadho | Scream in distress, will it not change? |
| Female | |
| Pazhudhupadaa uthamanae | Oh flawless and virtuous man! |
| Panbumigum kanniyanae | Oh youth full of good character! |
| Viludhu vida veitha maram | A tree nurtured to grow aerial roots, |
| Vilunthuvittaal sammadhamo | If it falls down, is that acceptable? |
| Female | |
| Maalaiyitta mangaiyarukku | For women who have been wedded with a garland, |
| Vaazhvil orae vazhithaan | There is only one true path in life. |
| Thaal pidithu ketpaayoo | Will you beg holding her feet? |
| Thalai kunindhu azhaipaayoo | Will you bow your head and invite her? |
| Thangaiyinai vaazha vaikka | To make your sister live a good life, |
| Thayangaadhae purapattu nee | Do not hesitate, set forth now! |
| Female | |
| Vettunda kaiyum | A severed hand |
| Veezhndhu vitta poongodiyum | And a fallen tender creeper |
| Kattunduthaan vanangum | Bound together in devotion, worshipping |
| Kanniyargal ponadiyai | The golden feet of young maidens, |
| Female | |
| Koon vilundha maanidargal | Humpbacked and stooped human beings, |
| Kuvindhirukkum samudhayam | A society gathered together, |
| Thaan vilundhu vanangum naal | Will the day they fall and bow down |
| Thalaimuraiyil vaarathatho | Not arrive in this generation? |
வெட்டுண்ட கையும்
வீழ்ந்துவிட்ட பூங்கொடியும்
கட்டுண்டுதான் வணங்கும்
கன்னியர்கள் பொன்னடியை
A severed hand
And a fallen tender creeper
Bound together in devotion, worshipping
The golden feet of young maidens,
கூன் விழுந்த மானிடர்கள்
குவிந்திருக்கும் சமுதாயம்
தான் விழுந்து வணங்கும் நாள்
தலைமுறையில் வாராதோ.....
Humpbacked and stooped human beings,
A society gathered together,
Will the day they fall and bow down
Not arrive in this generation?
பொழுது விடியாதோ
புதுப்பாதை தோன்றாதோ
அழுதழுது கன்னியர்கள்
அலறும் நாள் மாறாதோ
Will the day not dawn?
Will a new path not emerge?
The day when weeping young women
Scream in distress, will it not change?
பழுதுபடா உத்தமனே
பண்புமிகும் கண்ணியனே
விழுது விட வைத்த மரம்
விழுந்துவிட்டால் சம்மதமோ.....
Oh flawless and virtuous man!
Oh youth full of good character!
A tree nurtured to grow aerial roots,
If it falls down, is that acceptable?
மாலையிட்ட மங்கையர்க்கு
வாழ்வில் ஒரேவழிதான்
தாள் பிடித்துக் கேட்பாயோ
தலை குனிந்து அழைப்பாயோ
தங்கையினை வாழ வைக்கத்
தயங்காதே புறப்பட்டு நீ.......
For women who have been wedded with a garland,
There is only one true path in life.
Will you beg holding her feet?
Will you bow your head and invite her?
To make your sister live a good life,
Do not hesitate, set forth now!
வெட்டுண்ட கையும்
வீழ்ந்துவிட்ட பூங்கொடியும்
கட்டுண்டுதான் வணங்கும்
கன்னியர்கள் பொன்னடியை
A severed hand
And a fallen tender creeper
Bound together in devotion, worshipping
The golden feet of young maidens,
கூன் விழுந்த மானிடர்கள்
குவிந்திருக்கும் சமுதாயம்
தான் விழுந்து வணங்கும் நாள்
தலைமுறையில் வாராதோ.....
Humpbacked and stooped human beings,
A society gathered together,
Will the day they fall and bow down
Not arrive in this generation?
Vettunda kaiyum
A severed hand
Veezhndhu vitta poongodiyum
And a fallen tender creeper
Kattunduthaan vanangum
Bound together in devotion, worshipping
Kanniyargal ponadiyai
The golden feet of young maidens,
Koon vilundha maanidargal
Humpbacked and stooped human beings,
Kuvindhirukkum samudhayam
A society gathered together,
Thaan vilundhu vanangum naal
Will the day they fall and bow down
Thalaimuraiyil vaarathatho
Not arrive in this generation?
Poluthu vidiyaadho
Will the day not dawn?
Pudhu paadhai thondratho
Will a new path not emerge?
Azhuthazhudhu kanniyargal
The day when weeping young women
Alarum naal maaradhadho
Scream in distress, will it not change?
Pazhudhupadaa uthamanae
Oh flawless and virtuous man!
Panbumigum kanniyanae
Oh youth full of good character!
Viludhu vida veitha maram
A tree nurtured to grow aerial roots,
Vilunthuvittaal sammadhamo
If it falls down, is that acceptable?
Maalaiyitta mangaiyarukku
For women who have been wedded with a garland,
Vaazhvil orae vazhithaan
There is only one true path in life.
Thaal pidithu ketpaayoo
Will you beg holding her feet?
Thalai kunindhu azhaipaayoo
Will you bow your head and invite her?
Thangaiyinai vaazha vaikka
To make your sister live a good life,
Thayangaadhae purapattu nee
Do not hesitate, set forth now!
Vettunda kaiyum
A severed hand
Veezhndhu vitta poongodiyum
And a fallen tender creeper
Kattunduthaan vanangum
Bound together in devotion, worshipping
Kanniyargal ponadiyai
The golden feet of young maidens,
Koon vilundha maanidargal
Humpbacked and stooped human beings,
Kuvindhirukkum samudhayam
A society gathered together,
Thaan vilundhu vanangum naal
Will the day they fall and bow down
Thalaimuraiyil vaarathatho
Not arrive in this generation?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This emotionally charged song from the 1959 movie 'Orey Vazhi' questions the societal injustices, suffering, and subjugation faced by women. Lyricist Kannadasan asks whether a dawn of transformation will ever arrive where society treats women with golden respect rather than letting them suffer in tears. The song serves as a passionate plea to noble, virtuous young men to rise up, break regressive traditions, and safeguard the dignity and future of women—be it a wife or a sister.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Veezhndhu vitta poongodiyum”
Compares a delicate, suffering woman to a 'poongodi' (fallen flowering creeper) and a family protector to a rooted tree ('maram').
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Poluthu vidiyaadho / Pudhu paadhai thondratho”
Repetition of initial consonant sound 'P' across consecutive lines (Poluthu / Pudhu).
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Thangaiyinai vaazha vaikka / Thayangaadhae purapattu nee”
Repetition of initial 'Th' sound across lines to emphasize urgency and duty towards one's sister.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)
“Thalaimuraiyil vaarathatho”
Using repeated rhetorical questioning (-o suffix) to evoke strong emotion regarding social reform.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Orey Vazhi' (1959) was directed by K. Shankar and featured music composed by R. Govarthanam. The song is rendered by P. Leela, known for her classical depth, bringing Kannadasan's reformist lyrics to life during a pivotal era of socialistic themes in Tamil cinema.
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