Chithiram Kalainthuvida
From Azhagar Malai Kalvan · 1959
- Lyricist
- Puratchi Dasan
- Singer
- Trichy Loganathan
- Music director
- B. Gopalam
- Details
- Azhagar Malai Kalvan1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Chiththiram kalainthuvida | When the painting got erased, |
| Silaiyai sethukki vaiththu | Having carved a statue instead, |
| Uththiraththai sollaamal | Without speaking the command, |
| Ooril ambalamaanaai | You became public gossip in the town, |
| Male | |
| Uththiranth therinthu unmai | Knowing the divine truth and order, |
| Oorellaamarintha pinnae | After the entire town came to know, |
| Chiththiraththin vazhi thondral | The descendant born of that art, |
| Silai endru theriyaatho nyaana pennae… | Doesn't she realize it is merely a statue, oh wise maiden? |
| Male | |
| Kaalillaa nettaiyan muttikkondaan | The legless tall man collided, |
| Karuththillaa kuttaiyan kattikkondaan | The mindless short man embraced, |
| Kaalillaa nettaiyan muttikkondaan | The legless tall man collided, |
| Karuththillaa kuttaiyan kattikkondaan | The mindless short man embraced, |
| Male | |
| Eeyillaatha thenai eduththu undu vittaan | He consumed the honey devoid of flies, |
| Aa….aa….aa…. | Aa....aa....aa.... |
| Eeyillaatha thenai eduththu undu vittaan | He consumed the honey devoid of flies, |
| Inikkuthillaiyae nyana pennae | Yet it isn't sweet at all, oh wise maiden! |
| Nyaana pennae…. | Oh wise maiden... |
| Nyaana pennae…. | Oh wise maiden... |
| Male | |
| Eriyuthu oru veedu ennaiyundu | A house burns, consumed by oil, |
| Anaikka thanni illai | There is no water to extinguish the flame, |
| Theriyuthu poga vazhiyumillai | No clear way to escape is seen, |
| Paathai dhisai pala kaattuthu nyaana pennae | The path points to many confusing directions, oh wise maiden, |
| Nyaana pennae…. | Oh wise maiden... |
| Nyaana pennae…. | Oh wise maiden... |
| Male | |
| Kaalillaa nettaiyan muttikkondaan | The legless tall man collided, |
| Karuththillaa kuttaiyan kattikkondaan | The mindless short man embraced, |
| Male | |
| Thondru thotta keni ondru undu | There is an ancient, timeless well, |
| Adhil thulli thirinthathae kendaiyondru | In it, a carp fish leaped around playfully, |
| Idhai kandu kuri vaiththa | Taking aim upon seeing this, |
| Idhai kandu kuri vaiththa paravai thannai thookka | To swoop down upon the bird that aimed at the fish, |
| Kazhugondru suttruthae nyaana pennae | An eagle circles above, oh wise maiden, |
| Kazhugondru suttruthae nyaana pennae | An eagle circles above, oh wise maiden, |
| Nyaana pennae…. | Oh wise maiden... |
சித்திரம் கலைந்துவிட
சிலையை செதுக்கி வைத்து
உத்திரத்தை சொல்லாமல்
ஊரில் அம்பலமானாய்...
When the painting got erased,
Having carved a statue instead,
Without speaking the command,
You became public gossip in the town,
உத்திரந் தெரிந்து உண்மை
ஊரெல்லாமறிந்த பின்னே
சித்திரத்தின் வழித் தோன்றல்
சிலை என்று தெரியாதோ ஞானப் பெண்ணே....
Knowing the divine truth and order,
After the entire town came to know,
The descendant born of that art,
Doesn't she realize it is merely a statue, oh wise maiden?
காலில்லா நெட்டையன் முட்டிக் கொண்டான்
கருத்தில்லா குட்டையன் கட்டிக் கொண்டான்
காலில்லா நெட்டையன் முட்டிக் கொண்டான்
கருத்தில்லா குட்டையன் கட்டிக் கொண்டான்
The legless tall man collided,
The mindless short man embraced,
The legless tall man collided,
The mindless short man embraced,
ஈயில்லாத தேனை எடுத்து உண்டு விட்டான்
ஆ....ஆ........ஆ.....
ஈயில்லாத தேனை எடுத்து உண்டு விட்டான்
இனிக்குதில்லையே ஞானப் பெண்ணே
ஞானப் பெண்ணே......
ஞானப் பெண்ணே.....
He consumed the honey devoid of flies,
Aa....aa....aa....
He consumed the honey devoid of flies,
Yet it isn't sweet at all, oh wise maiden!
Oh wise maiden...
Oh wise maiden...
எரியுது ஒரு வீடு எண்ணையுண்டு
அணைக்க தண்ணி இல்லை
தெரியுது போக வழியுமில்லை
பாதை திசை பல காட்டுது ஞானப் பெண்ணே
ஞானப் பெண்ணே.....
ஞானப் பெண்ணே.....
A house burns, consumed by oil,
There is no water to extinguish the flame,
No clear way to escape is seen,
The path points to many confusing directions, oh wise maiden,
Oh wise maiden...
Oh wise maiden...
காலில்லா நெட்டையன் முட்டிக் கொண்டான்
கருத்தில்லா குட்டையன் கட்டிக் கொண்டான்
The legless tall man collided,
The mindless short man embraced,
தொன்று தொட்ட கேணி ஒன்று உண்டு
அதில் துள்ளித் திரிந்ததே கெண்டையொன்று
இதைக் கண்டு குறி வைத்த
இதைக் கண்டு குறி வைத்த பறவை தன்னை தூக்க
கழுகொன்று சுற்றுதே ஞானப் பெண்ணே
கழுகொன்று சுற்றுதே ஞானப் பெண்ணே....
ஞானப் பெண்ணே....
There is an ancient, timeless well,
In it, a carp fish leaped around playfully,
Taking aim upon seeing this,
To swoop down upon the bird that aimed at the fish,
An eagle circles above, oh wise maiden,
An eagle circles above, oh wise maiden,
Oh wise maiden...
Chiththiram kalainthuvida
When the painting got erased,
Silaiyai sethukki vaiththu
Having carved a statue instead,
Uththiraththai sollaamal
Without speaking the command,
Ooril ambalamaanaai
You became public gossip in the town,
Uththiranth therinthu unmai
Knowing the divine truth and order,
Oorellaamarintha pinnae
After the entire town came to know,
Chiththiraththin vazhi thondral
The descendant born of that art,
Silai endru theriyaatho nyaana pennae…
Doesn't she realize it is merely a statue, oh wise maiden?
Kaalillaa nettaiyan muttikkondaan
The legless tall man collided,
Karuththillaa kuttaiyan kattikkondaan
The mindless short man embraced,
Kaalillaa nettaiyan muttikkondaan
The legless tall man collided,
Karuththillaa kuttaiyan kattikkondaan
The mindless short man embraced,
Eeyillaatha thenai eduththu undu vittaan
He consumed the honey devoid of flies,
Aa….aa….aa….
Aa....aa....aa....
Eeyillaatha thenai eduththu undu vittaan
He consumed the honey devoid of flies,
Inikkuthillaiyae nyana pennae
Yet it isn't sweet at all, oh wise maiden!
Nyaana pennae….
Oh wise maiden...
Nyaana pennae….
Oh wise maiden...
Eriyuthu oru veedu ennaiyundu
A house burns, consumed by oil,
Anaikka thanni illai
There is no water to extinguish the flame,
Theriyuthu poga vazhiyumillai
No clear way to escape is seen,
Paathai dhisai pala kaattuthu nyaana pennae
The path points to many confusing directions, oh wise maiden,
Nyaana pennae….
Oh wise maiden...
Nyaana pennae….
Oh wise maiden...
Kaalillaa nettaiyan muttikkondaan
The legless tall man collided,
Karuththillaa kuttaiyan kattikkondaan
The mindless short man embraced,
Thondru thotta keni ondru undu
There is an ancient, timeless well,
Adhil thulli thirinthathae kendaiyondru
In it, a carp fish leaped around playfully,
Idhai kandu kuri vaiththa
Taking aim upon seeing this,
Idhai kandu kuri vaiththa paravai thannai thookka
To swoop down upon the bird that aimed at the fish,
Kazhugondru suttruthae nyaana pennae
An eagle circles above, oh wise maiden,
Kazhugondru suttruthae nyaana pennae
An eagle circles above, oh wise maiden,
Nyaana pennae….
Oh wise maiden...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Azhagar Malai Kalvan' (1959) is written in the traditional style of Siddhar philosophical riddles, addressed to 'Nyaana Pen' (a personification of divine wisdom). Through paradoxical metaphors—such as a legless tall man, a mindless short man, honey without flies, and a burning house with no exit—lyricist Puratchi Dasan critiques human ignorance, worldly temptations, and false illusions.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Refrain (Madaku / Apostrophe)
“Nyaana pennae….”
The repeated address 'Nyaana Pennae' (Oh wise maiden) anchors the philosophical commentary in the style of traditional Tamil Siddhar poetry.
Allegory / Paradoxical Metaphor (Siddhar Riddles)
“Kaalillaa nettaiyan muttikkondaan / Karuththillaa kuttaiyan kattikkondaan”
Phrases like 'Kaalillaa nettaiyan' (legless tall man) and 'Eeyillaatha then' (fly-less honey) are allegorical riddles representing spiritual concepts, karma, and false material pleasures.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kaalillaa nettaiyan muttikkondaan / Karuththillaa kuttaiyan kattikkondaan”
Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds across line pairs, creating a rhythmic cadence standard in classical Tamil verse.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics strictly follow the classic Tamil Siddhar 'Gnaana Paattu' tradition, which uses enigmatic riddles and allegories about animals, nature, and impossible human conditions to impart moral lessons and spiritual wisdom.
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