Anbu Thalaivan Kaladi
From Kadavulin Theerpu · 1981
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- R. Govarthanam
- Details
- Kadavulin Theerpu1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Anbu thalaivan kaaladi suvattil | In the footsteps of the beloved leader |
| Ondru kalanthaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I merge as one? |
| Inba mugaththai nenjil niruththi | Holding his blissful face in my heart |
| Enni magizhnthaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice? |
| Female | |
| Anbu thalaivan kaaladi suvattil | In the footsteps of the beloved leader |
| Ondru kalanthaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I merge as one? |
| Inba mugaththai nenjil niruththi | Holding his blissful face in my heart |
| Enni magizhnthaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice? |
| Male | |
| Maadhulam pazhaththinil irukkum | Like the tiny seeds inside a pomegranate |
| Siru maniyena un idhazh jolikkum | Your lips shine like little gems |
| Idhazh jolikkum | Lips shine |
| Maadhulam pazhaththinil irukkum | Like the tiny seeds inside a pomegranate |
| Siru maniyena un idhazh jolikkum | Your lips shine like little gems |
| Female | |
| Maadhin ulam antha pazhamae | A woman's heart is like that fruit |
| Intha maanidam paarppathu kulamae | Yet humanity looks only at caste and clan |
| Male | |
| Kungumamidugindra pothu | When applying sacred vermilion (kumkum) |
| Adhu kulaththinai ketppathu illai | It does not ask for one's clan |
| Female :Sangamam aagindra velai | Female: At the moment of divine union |
| Adhu jaadhiyai paarppathu illai | It does not look at caste distinctions |
| Illai illai illai…… | No, no, no... |
| Male | |
| Nalla manathai sonthamaakki | Making a good heart my own |
| Naanum kalanthaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I too blend with it? |
| Ullam sollum anbin vazhiyai | Following the path of love shown by the heart |
| Uravu kondaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I form a relationship? |
| Female | |
| Anbu thalaivan kaaladi suvattil | In the footsteps of the beloved leader |
| Ondru kalanthaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I merge as one? |
| Inba mugaththai nenjil niruththi | Holding his blissful face in my heart |
| Enni magizhnthaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice? |
| Female | |
| Allikku anantha iravu | For the lily, night brings endless bliss |
| Adhai anaikkindrathae antha nilavu | And that moon lovingly embraces it |
| Antha nilavu | That moon |
| Allikku anantha iravu | For the lily, night brings endless bliss |
| Adhai anaikkindrathae antha nilavu | And that moon lovingly embraces it |
| Male | |
| Solli varaathathu uravu | A relationship does not arrive with advance notice |
| Idhu sorkkaththil ezhuthiya varavu | It is a destiny written in heaven |
| Female | |
| Kodiyudan saernthathu mullai | The jasmine flower joined with the vine |
| Antha kootturavil thavirillai | There is no fault in that union |
| Male :Kodiyudan naan vanthu saernthaen | Male: I came and joined like the vine |
| Antha kunaththinilae thavarillai | There is no fault in that noble nature |
| Illai illai illai…… | No, no, no... |
| Female | |
| Anbu thalaivan kaaladi suvattil | In the footsteps of the beloved leader |
| Ondru kalanthaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I merge as one? |
| Inba mugaththai nenjil niruththi | Holding his blissful face in my heart |
| Enni magizhnthaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice? |
| Male | |
| Nalla manathai sonthamaakki | Making a good heart my own |
| Naanum kalanthaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I too blend with it? |
| Ullam sollum anbin vazhiyai | Following the path of love shown by the heart |
| Uravu kondaal enna thavaru | What is wrong if I form a relationship? |
அன்பு தலைவன் காலடி சுவட்டில்
ஒன்று கலந்தால் என்ன தவறு
இன்ப முகத்தை நெஞ்சில் நிறுத்தி
எண்ணி மகிழ்ந்தால் என்ன தவறு
In the footsteps of the beloved leader
What is wrong if I merge as one?
Holding his blissful face in my heart
What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice?
அன்பு தலைவன் காலடி சுவட்டில்
ஒன்று கலந்தால் என்ன தவறு
இன்ப முகத்தை நெஞ்சில் நிறுத்தி
எண்ணி மகிழ்ந்தால் என்ன தவறு
In the footsteps of the beloved leader
What is wrong if I merge as one?
Holding his blissful face in my heart
What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice?
மாதுளம் பழத்தினில் இருக்கும்
சிறு மணியென உன் இதழ் ஜொலிக்கும்
இதழ் ஜொலிக்கும்
மாதுளம் பழத்தினில் இருக்கும்
சிறு மணியென உன் இதழ் ஜொலிக்கும்
மாதின் உளம் அந்த பழமே
இந்த மானிடம் பார்ப்பது குலமே
Like the tiny seeds inside a pomegranate
Your lips shine like little gems
Lips shine
Like the tiny seeds inside a pomegranate
Your lips shine like little gems
குங்குமம் இடுகின்ற போது
அது குலத்தினை கேட்பது இல்லை
சங்கமம் ஆகின்ற வேளை
அது ஜாதியை பார்ப்பது இல்லை
இல்லை இல்லை இல்லை.....
A woman's heart is like that fruit
Yet humanity looks only at caste and clan
நல்ல மனதை சொந்தமாக்கி
நானும் கலந்தால் என்ன தவறு
உள்ளம் சொல்லும் அன்பின் வழியை
உறவு கொண்டால் என்ன தவறு
When applying sacred vermilion (kumkum)
It does not ask for one's clan
Female: At the moment of divine union
It does not look at caste distinctions
No, no, no...
அன்பு தலைவன் காலடி சுவட்டில்
ஒன்று கலந்தால் என்ன தவறு
இன்ப முகத்தை நெஞ்சில் நிறுத்தி
எண்ணி மகிழ்ந்தால் என்ன தவறு
Making a good heart my own
What is wrong if I too blend with it?
Following the path of love shown by the heart
What is wrong if I form a relationship?
அல்லிக்கு ஆனந்த இரவு
அதை அணைக்கின்றதே அந்த நிலவு
அந்த நிலவு
அல்லிக்கு ஆனந்த இரவு
அதை அணைக்கின்றதே அந்த நிலவு
In the footsteps of the beloved leader
What is wrong if I merge as one?
Holding his blissful face in my heart
What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice?
சொல்லி வராதது உறவு
இது சொர்க்கத்தில் எழுதிய வரவு
For the lily, night brings endless bliss
And that moon lovingly embraces it
That moon
For the lily, night brings endless bliss
And that moon lovingly embraces it
கொடியுடன் சேர்ந்தது முல்லை
அந்த கூட்டுறவில் தவறில்லை
கொடியுடன் நான் வந்து சேர்ந்தேன்
அந்த குணத்தினிலே தவறில்லை
இல்லை இல்லை இல்லை
A relationship does not arrive with advance notice
It is a destiny written in heaven
அன்பு தலைவன் காலடி சுவட்டில்
ஒன்று கலந்தால் என்ன தவறு
இன்ப முகத்தை நெஞ்சில் நிறுத்தி
எண்ணி மகிழ்ந்தால் என்ன தவறு
The jasmine flower joined with the vine
There is no fault in that union
Male: I came and joined like the vine
There is no fault in that noble nature
No, no, no...
நல்ல மனதை சொந்தமாக்கி
நானும் கலந்தால் என்ன தவறு
உள்ளம் சொல்லும் அன்பின் வழியை
உறவு கொண்டால் என்ன தவறு
In the footsteps of the beloved leader
What is wrong if I merge as one?
Holding his blissful face in my heart
What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice?
Making a good heart my own
What is wrong if I too blend with it?
Following the path of love shown by the heart
What is wrong if I form a relationship?
Anbu thalaivan kaaladi suvattil
In the footsteps of the beloved leader
Ondru kalanthaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I merge as one?
Inba mugaththai nenjil niruththi
Holding his blissful face in my heart
Enni magizhnthaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice?
Anbu thalaivan kaaladi suvattil
In the footsteps of the beloved leader
Ondru kalanthaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I merge as one?
Inba mugaththai nenjil niruththi
Holding his blissful face in my heart
Enni magizhnthaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice?
Maadhulam pazhaththinil irukkum
Like the tiny seeds inside a pomegranate
Siru maniyena un idhazh jolikkum
Your lips shine like little gems
Idhazh jolikkum
Lips shine
Maadhulam pazhaththinil irukkum
Like the tiny seeds inside a pomegranate
Siru maniyena un idhazh jolikkum
Your lips shine like little gems
Maadhin ulam antha pazhamae
A woman's heart is like that fruit
Intha maanidam paarppathu kulamae
Yet humanity looks only at caste and clan
Kungumamidugindra pothu
When applying sacred vermilion (kumkum)
Adhu kulaththinai ketppathu illai
It does not ask for one's clan
Female :Sangamam aagindra velai
Female: At the moment of divine union
Adhu jaadhiyai paarppathu illai
It does not look at caste distinctions
Illai illai illai……
No, no, no...
Nalla manathai sonthamaakki
Making a good heart my own
Naanum kalanthaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I too blend with it?
Ullam sollum anbin vazhiyai
Following the path of love shown by the heart
Uravu kondaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I form a relationship?
Anbu thalaivan kaaladi suvattil
In the footsteps of the beloved leader
Ondru kalanthaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I merge as one?
Inba mugaththai nenjil niruththi
Holding his blissful face in my heart
Enni magizhnthaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice?
Allikku anantha iravu
For the lily, night brings endless bliss
Adhai anaikkindrathae antha nilavu
And that moon lovingly embraces it
Antha nilavu
That moon
Allikku anantha iravu
For the lily, night brings endless bliss
Adhai anaikkindrathae antha nilavu
And that moon lovingly embraces it
Solli varaathathu uravu
A relationship does not arrive with advance notice
Idhu sorkkaththil ezhuthiya varavu
It is a destiny written in heaven
Kodiyudan saernthathu mullai
The jasmine flower joined with the vine
Antha kootturavil thavirillai
There is no fault in that union
Male :Kodiyudan naan vanthu saernthaen
Male: I came and joined like the vine
Antha kunaththinilae thavarillai
There is no fault in that noble nature
Illai illai illai……
No, no, no...
Anbu thalaivan kaaladi suvattil
In the footsteps of the beloved leader
Ondru kalanthaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I merge as one?
Inba mugaththai nenjil niruththi
Holding his blissful face in my heart
Enni magizhnthaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I cherish and rejoice?
Nalla manathai sonthamaakki
Making a good heart my own
Naanum kalanthaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I too blend with it?
Ullam sollum anbin vazhiyai
Following the path of love shown by the heart
Uravu kondaal enna thavaru
What is wrong if I form a relationship?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic duet from 'Kadavulin Theerpu' (1981), penned by Kannadasan and set to music by R. Govarthanam, is a tender reflection on love transcending societal barriers like caste and class. The song presents a passionate dialogue between lovers who question social prejudices, asserting that true love is an innate, heavenly decree that requires no validation from rigid social hierarchies. Through beautiful metaphors drawn from nature—such as the moon embracing the night lotus, or sacred kumkum not asking for clan identity—the lyrics emphasize that genuine affection arises from character and inner goodness rather than lineage. The recurring refrain 'enna thavaru' (what is wrong?) serves as a poignant rhetorical questioning of conservative social norms.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Wordplay / Pun (Sledai)
“Maadhulam pazhaththinil irukkum / Maadhin ulam antha pazhamae”
Kannadasan cleverly plays on the phonetic similarity between 'Maadhulam' (pomegranate) and 'Maadhin ulam' (a woman's heart).
Simile (Upamai)
“Siru maniyena un idhazh jolikkum”
Compares the shine of a woman's lips to the glistening red seeds inside a pomegranate fruit.
Rhetorical Question & Refrain
“Ondru kalanthaal enna thavaru”
The repeated phrase 'enna thavaru' (what is wrong?) is used to forcefully question social norms and emphasize the innocence of love.
Second-letter Assonance (Edhukai)
“Kungumamidugindra pothu / Sangamam aagindra velai”
Matching second consonants across lines ('Kungumamidugindra' and 'Sangamam aagindra').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Idhu sorkkaththil ezhuthiya varavu”
Equating human relationships pre-destined by love to entries written in heaven ('sorkkaththil ezhuthiya varavu').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kadavulin Theerpu' (1981) features music by R. Govarthanam, a talented composer who worked closely as a music assistant to veterans like M. S. Viswanathan before composing independently. Lyricist Kannadasan used this song to seamlessly interweave social reform ideas with romantic poetry.
Keep listening
More from Kadavulin Theerpu
Kadavulin Theerpu
Kadavulin Theerpu
Kadavulin Theerpu
Kadavulin Theerpu