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Lyrics & meaning

Vizhudhu Vittu Thazhaithongi

From Rathna Kumar · 1949

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singer
P. Bhanumathi
Music directors
G. Ramanathan, C. R. Subbaraman
Details
Rathna Kumar1949

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vizhudhu vittu thazhai thongiLetting down aerial roots with lush foliage hanging,
Vinnuyara valar aalaeO banyan tree growing tall towards the sky!
Vizhudhu vittu thazhai thongiLetting down aerial roots with foliage hanging,
Vinnuyara valar aalae veenaeO banyan tree growing sky-high, all in vain!
Unnmun viruppudaiyaar polStanding before you, pretending to be filled with desire,
Urudhi pugandra avar neri engaeWhere are his principles now, the promises he once swore?
Viruppudaiyaar pol urudhiThe vow he swore like one filled with desire,
Pugandra avar neri yengaeWhere is his righteous path now?
Vimmi vimmi azhudhazhudhuSobbing bitterly and weeping endlessly,
Kanveengum en mugam paarLook at my face, my eyes swollen from tears.
Vimmi vimmi azhudhazhudhuSobbing bitterly and weeping endlessly,
Kanveengum en mugam paarLook at my face, my eyes swollen from tears.
Paedhai enpaal anbu mikkaTowards an innocent woman like me, with abundant affection,
Arundhunaiyae arasinoduO rare companion, along with the sacred peepal tree,
Inai piriyaa vaembaeO neem tree standing inseparable,
Unn aasi engaeWhere is your blessing now?
Female
Pazhudhil thirumaangalyaA flawless sacred wedding pendant,
Badhilidhu endran kazhuthilIs this ornament around my neck the substitute?
Pazhudhil thirumaangalyaA flawless sacred wedding pendant,
Badhilidhu endran kazhuthilIs this ornament around my neck the substitute?
Parindhanindha padhakkamae…O locket worn with such deep affection...
Ae….ae…..ae…..Ah... ah... ah...
Avarennai pirindhu sendraarHe has separated from me and departed,
Avarennai pirindhu sendraarHe has separated from me and departed.
Sirikkindraai paradhaiyaanaenYou laugh at me now that I have become helpless and destitute;
Female
Muzhudhum unai nambinaenI trusted you completely,
Unn munnandroWas it not right in front of you?
Muzhudhum unai nambinaen…I trusted you completely...
Ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Muzhudhum unai nambinaenI trusted you completely,
Unn munnandroWas it not right in front of you,
Avar urudhi mozhindhaarThat he made his solemn pledge?
Dhaevi… dhaevi…O Goddess... O Goddess...
Murai idhuvo….oo… kuraivindriIs this justice? May he live without any sorrow or flaw,
Avaraenum vaazhga naanLet him at least live well, while I
Moham theerndhaenAm freed from my infatuation.
Female
Aadavar kaadhal idhuthaanoIs this what men's love really is?
Aadavar kaadhal idhuthaanoIs this what men's love really is?
En aavalukku irudhi idhuthaanoIs this the tragic end to all my longing?
Aadavar kaadhal idhuthaanoIs this what men's love really is?
En aavalukku irudhi idhuthaanoIs this the tragic end to all my longing?
Anbenum poi vaesham idhuthaanoIs this false facade merely disguised as love?
Anbenum poi vaesham idhuthaanoIs this false facade merely disguised as love?
En annaiyae unn arulO my divine Mother, is your grace
ParisidhuthaanoThis prize awarded to me?
Annaiyae unn arul parisidhuthaanoO Mother, is this heartbreaking gift your blessing?
Aadavar kaadhal idhuthaanoIs this what men's love really is?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song depicts a woman's heartbreaking lament after being abandoned by her lover. She addresses nature—the towering banyan tree and the sacred neem tree tied to the peepal tree—which stood as silent witnesses when her lover vowed eternal commitment. Devastated by his betrayal, she cries until her eyes are swollen, questioning how a love that seemed so genuine could turn out to be a deceptive facade. Despite her immense sorrow and despair over her shattered life and mock marriage pendant, her nobility shines through. She selflessly prays for her unfaithful lover's well-being, hoping he lives a flawless life even as her own infatuation is extinguished. The song culminates in a existential interrogation of men's love and a painful plea to the Divine Mother, reflecting theme of feminine grief, dignity, and disillusionment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe (Addressing inanimate nature)

Vinnuyara valar aalae veenae

The protagonist directly addresses the majestic banyan tree, treating nature as a sentient witness to her lover's broken vows.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Vimmi vimmi azhudhazhudhu

The repetition of 'Vimmi' (sobbing) and 'azhudhu' (weeping) intensifies the emotional expression of inconsolable grief.

Rhetorical Question

Aadavar kaadhal idhuthaano

The repeated existential question ('Is this what men's love really is?') highlights her betrayal and loss of faith in romantic devotion.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Anbenum poi vaesham idhuthaano / Annaiyae unn arul parisidhuthaano

The repetition of the initial 'A' sound across lines creates melodic harmony typical of classical Tamil lyrical structure.

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Trivia

The song is from the 1949 Tamil historical drama 'Rathna Kumar', starring P. U. Chinnappa and P. Bhanumathi. The lyrics were composed by the legendary Carnatic composer and lyricist Papanasam Sivan, renowned for his devotional depth and emotive classical compositions in early Tamil cinema.

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