Alavuthan Oru Alavuthan
From Pudhu Vazhvu · 1957
- Lyricist
- Nadaraja Sundaram
- Singers
- N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Mathuram
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Pudhu Vazhvu1957
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Alavu thaan | There is a limit. |
| Female :Alavu thaan oru alavu thaan | Female: There is a limit, a limit indeed. |
| Aasai konda mana sneham enbathoru alavu thaan | The affection of a desire-filled heart has a limit. |
| Uyirai koduppen enbathellaam | Saying things like 'I will give my life for you'... |
| Verum udhavaakkarai pechu aana | Is nothing but useless, empty talk, but... |
| Unakkae seriyaachu adhu nalla urudhiyaayi pochu | It fits you perfectly, and that has been thoroughly proven! |
| Aasai konda mana sneham enbathoru alavu thaan | The affection of a desire-filled heart has a limit. |
| Male | |
| Paambai kandaal padai nadangum | Even an army trembles at the sight of a snake... |
| Endroru pazhamozhi undu | There is an old proverb that says so. |
| Andha pazhamozhi therinjum pagattaai | Even knowing that proverb, boastfully... |
| Veeram pesi thiriyum mandu | You wander around showing off fake courage, you fool! |
| Aasai konda mana sneham enbathoru alavuthaan | The affection of a desire-filled heart has a limit. |
| Male | |
| Kannaal unavai kandathum | As soon as it spots food with its eyes, |
| Kaakkai kaa kaa vendrae paadi | The crow caws 'kaa kaa' loudly, |
| Kaakai kaa kaa vendrae paadi than | It caws 'kaa kaa' loudly and then... |
| Kottatharaiyum thedi azhaithunna kaaranam | Searches for its flock to call them to eat together; the reason for this... |
| Sneham indri enna solvadhu ammadi | What else can we call it if not affection, oh my? |
| Female | |
| Kaagam karaindhu vaa endrazhaippadhu | A crow cawing to invite others... |
| Kalandhu unbatharkkalla | Is not out of a desire to share and eat together, |
| Than payathai pokki kollaa | It is only to drive away its own fear! |
| Idhai kandu kollavae venum innaa | You must understand this reality clearly; |
| Oru thundai pottu paar mella | Just try throwing a piece slowly. |
| Rotti thundai pottu paar mella | Try throwing a piece of bread slowly! |
| Male :Pottaa | Male: What if I throw it? |
| Female :Dabaarnu kothikkittu odiyae poiyidum | Female: It will snatch it with a bang and fly away! |
ஆண்
: அளவுதான்...
அளவுதான் ஒரு அளவுதான்
ஆசைக் கொண்ட மன ஸ்நேகம் என்பதொரு அளவுதான்
உயிரைக் கொடுப்பேன் என்பதெல்லாம்
வெறும் உதவாக்கரை பேச்சு ஆனா
உனக்கே சரியாச்சு அது நல்லா உறுதியாயிப் போச்சு
ஆசைக் கொண்ட மன ஸ்நேகம் என்பதொரு அளவுதான்...
There is a limit.
Female: There is a limit, a limit indeed.
The affection of a desire-filled heart has a limit.
Saying things like 'I will give my life for you'...
Is nothing but useless, empty talk, but...
It fits you perfectly, and that has been thoroughly proven!
The affection of a desire-filled heart has a limit.
ஆண்
: பாம்பைக் கண்டால் படை நடுங்கும்
என்றொரு பழமொழி உண்டு
அந்தப் பழமொழி தெரிஞ்சும் பகட்டாய்
வீரம் பேசித் திரியும் மண்டு
ஆசைக் கொண்ட மன ஸ்நேகம் என்பதொரு அளவுதான்
Even an army trembles at the sight of a snake...
There is an old proverb that says so.
Even knowing that proverb, boastfully...
You wander around showing off fake courage, you fool!
The affection of a desire-filled heart has a limit.
ஆண்
: கண்ணால் உணவை கண்டதும்
காக்கை கா கா வென்றே பாடி
காக்கை கா கா வென்றே பாடி தன்
கூட்டத்தாரையும் தேடி அழைத்துண்ண காரணம்
ஸ்நேகம் இன்றி என்ன சொல்லு அம்மாடி
As soon as it spots food with its eyes,
The crow caws 'kaa kaa' loudly,
It caws 'kaa kaa' loudly and then...
Searches for its flock to call them to eat together; the reason for this...
What else can we call it if not affection, oh my?
பெண்
: காகம் கரைந்து வா என்றழைப்பது
கலந்து உண்பதற்கல்ல
தன் பயத்தைப் போக்கிக் கொள்ள
இதைக் கண்டு கொள்ளவே வேணுமின்னா
ஒரு துண்டைப் போட்டுப் பார் மெல்ல
ரொட்டித் துண்டைப் போட்டுப் பார் மெல்ல
ஆண்
: போட்டா...
பெண்
: டபார்ன்னு கொத்திக்கிட்டு ஓடியே போயிடும்..
A crow cawing to invite others...
Is not out of a desire to share and eat together,
It is only to drive away its own fear!
You must understand this reality clearly;
Just try throwing a piece slowly.
Try throwing a piece of bread slowly!
Male: What if I throw it?
Female: It will snatch it with a bang and fly away!
Alavu thaan
There is a limit.
Female :Alavu thaan oru alavu thaan
Female: There is a limit, a limit indeed.
Aasai konda mana sneham enbathoru alavu thaan
The affection of a desire-filled heart has a limit.
Uyirai koduppen enbathellaam
Saying things like 'I will give my life for you'...
Verum udhavaakkarai pechu aana
Is nothing but useless, empty talk, but...
Unakkae seriyaachu adhu nalla urudhiyaayi pochu
It fits you perfectly, and that has been thoroughly proven!
Aasai konda mana sneham enbathoru alavu thaan
The affection of a desire-filled heart has a limit.
Paambai kandaal padai nadangum
Even an army trembles at the sight of a snake...
Endroru pazhamozhi undu
There is an old proverb that says so.
Andha pazhamozhi therinjum pagattaai
Even knowing that proverb, boastfully...
Veeram pesi thiriyum mandu
You wander around showing off fake courage, you fool!
Aasai konda mana sneham enbathoru alavuthaan
The affection of a desire-filled heart has a limit.
Kannaal unavai kandathum
As soon as it spots food with its eyes,
Kaakkai kaa kaa vendrae paadi
The crow caws 'kaa kaa' loudly,
Kaakai kaa kaa vendrae paadi than
It caws 'kaa kaa' loudly and then...
Kottatharaiyum thedi azhaithunna kaaranam
Searches for its flock to call them to eat together; the reason for this...
Sneham indri enna solvadhu ammadi
What else can we call it if not affection, oh my?
Kaagam karaindhu vaa endrazhaippadhu
A crow cawing to invite others...
Kalandhu unbatharkkalla
Is not out of a desire to share and eat together,
Than payathai pokki kollaa
It is only to drive away its own fear!
Idhai kandu kollavae venum innaa
You must understand this reality clearly;
Oru thundai pottu paar mella
Just try throwing a piece slowly.
Rotti thundai pottu paar mella
Try throwing a piece of bread slowly!
Male :Pottaa
Male: What if I throw it?
Female :Dabaarnu kothikkittu odiyae poiyidum
Female: It will snatch it with a bang and fly away!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic comedic track from Pudhu Vazhvu (1957) features a playful argument between the legendary comedy duo N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Mathuram. The song satirizes grand declarations of love, fake bravery, and idealized human nature, asserting that every emotion and affection has practical boundaries. Through witty allegories, the female singer mocks romantic melodrama as empty chatter and debunking romanticized notions of selflessness, even using a bird's behavioral fear as an example to show that self-preservation often lies behind seemingly affectionate acts.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Pazhamozhi (Proverb Usage)
“Paambai kandaal padai nadangum”
Incorporates the famous Tamil proverb 'Paambai kandaal padai nadangum' (Even an army trembles at the sight of a snake) to critique false bravado.
Onomatopoeia (Oli-kkurippu)
“Female :Dabaarnu kothikkittu odiyae poiyidum”
Uses sound-mimicking words like 'Kaa kaa' (crow's call) and 'Dabaarnu' (sudden snatching sound) for dramatic and comedic effect.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Female :Alavu thaan oru alavu thaan”
Repeats the phrase 'Alavu thaan' to emphasize the central theme that human emotions and promises have strict limits.
Did you know?
Trivia
N. S. Krishnan (known as Kalaivanar) and T. A. Mathuram were Tamil cinema's most celebrated real-life couple and comedic duo. Their songs were famous for embedding Dravidian movement rationalist ideas and social satire into entertaining, everyday conversational duets.
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