Ilavu Kaatha Kili
From Panchali · 1959
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Panchali1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ilavu kaatha kilithaano naan | Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit? |
| Ilavu kaatha kilithaano | Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit? |
| Enadhu vaazhvil indha yemattram yaeno | Why is there such disappointment in my life? |
| Ilavu kaatha kilithaano | Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit? |
| Ilavu kaatha kilithaano | Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit? |
| Enadhu vaazhvil indha yemattram yaeno | Why is there such disappointment in my life? |
| Ilavu kaatha kilithaano | Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit? |
| Female | |
| Ennamellaam pagal kanavu aanadhae | All my thoughts have turned into a daydream, |
| Ennamellaam pagal kanavu aanadhae | All my thoughts have turned into a daydream, |
| Idhuvarai naan konda aanandham ponadhae | The happiness I possessed until now is gone, |
| Idhuvarai naan konda aanandham ponadhae | The happiness I possessed until now is gone, |
| Female | |
| Kilaiyinilae kodi padarum podhilae | When the vine begins to spread across the branch, |
| Kilaiyinilae kodi padarum podhilae | When the vine begins to spread across the branch, |
| Valarthavarae adhai padaraamal seivadha | Should the one who nurtured it prevent it from spreading? |
| Valarthavarae adhai padaraamal seivadha | Should the one who nurtured it prevent it from spreading? |
| Female | |
| Ilavu kaatha kilithaano | Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit? |
| Enadhu vaazhvil indha yemattram yaeno | Why is there such disappointment in my life? |
| Ilavu kaatha kilithaano | Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit? |
| Female | |
| Isaipadhellaam ini thunbha geethamae | Everything that plays now is a song of sorrow, |
| Isaipadhellaam ini thunbha geethamae | Everything that plays now is a song of sorrow, |
| Ezhuvadhum yedhini meiyinbha naadhamae | Where can any sound of true joy arise from now? |
| Ezhuvadhum yedhini meiyinbha naadhamae | Where can any sound of true joy arise from now? |
| Female | |
| En idhayam sumaithaanghi aavadha | Must my heart become a burden-bearing stone? |
| En idhayam sumaithaanghi aavadha | Must my heart become a burden-bearing stone? |
| Yekkathudan dhinam poraadi saavadhaa | Or die struggling daily with longing and grief? |
| Yekkathudan dhinam poraadi saavadhaa | Or die struggling daily with longing and grief? |
| Female | |
| Ilavu kaatha kilithaano | Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit? |
| Enadhu vaazhvil indha yemattram yaeno | Why is there such disappointment in my life? |
| Ilavu kaatha kilithaano | Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit? |
இலவு காத்த கிளிதானோ நான்
இலவு காத்த கிளிதானோ
எனது வாழ்வில் இந்த ஏமாற்றம் ஏனோ
இலவு காத்த கிளிதானோ
இலவு காத்த கிளிதானோ
எனது வாழ்வில் இந்த ஏமாற்றம் ஏனோ
இலவு காத்த கிளிதானோ
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Why is there such disappointment in my life?
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Why is there such disappointment in my life?
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
எண்ணமெல்லாம் பகல் கனவு ஆனதே
எண்ணமெல்லாம் பகல் கனவு ஆனதே
இதுவரை நான் கொண்ட ஆனந்தம் போனதே
இதுவரை நான் கொண்ட ஆனந்தம் போனதே
All my thoughts have turned into a daydream,
All my thoughts have turned into a daydream,
The happiness I possessed until now is gone,
The happiness I possessed until now is gone,
கிளையினிலே கொடி படரும் போதிலே
கிளையினிலே கொடி படரும் போதிலே
வளர்த்தவரே அதை படராமல் செய்வதா
வளர்த்தவரே அதை படராமல் செய்வதா
When the vine begins to spread across the branch,
When the vine begins to spread across the branch,
Should the one who nurtured it prevent it from spreading?
Should the one who nurtured it prevent it from spreading?
இலவு காத்த கிளிதானோ
எனது வாழ்வில் இந்த ஏமாற்றம் ஏனோ
இலவு காத்த கிளிதானோ
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Why is there such disappointment in my life?
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
இசைப்பதெல்லாம் இனி துன்ப கீதமே
இசைப்பதெல்லாம் இனி துன்ப கீதமே
எழுவதும் ஏதினி மெய்யின்ப நாதமே
எழுவதும் ஏதினி மெய்யின்ப நாதமே..
Everything that plays now is a song of sorrow,
Everything that plays now is a song of sorrow,
Where can any sound of true joy arise from now?
Where can any sound of true joy arise from now?
என் இதயம் சுமைதாங்கி ஆவதா
என் இதயம் சுமைதாங்கி ஆவதா
ஏக்கத்துடன் தினம் போராடிச் சாவதா
ஏக்கத்துடன் தினம் போராடிச் சாவதா
Must my heart become a burden-bearing stone?
Must my heart become a burden-bearing stone?
Or die struggling daily with longing and grief?
Or die struggling daily with longing and grief?
இலவு காத்த கிளிதானோ
எனது வாழ்வில் இந்த ஏமாற்றம் ஏனோ
இலவு காத்த கிளிதானோ
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Why is there such disappointment in my life?
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Ilavu kaatha kilithaano naan
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Ilavu kaatha kilithaano
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Enadhu vaazhvil indha yemattram yaeno
Why is there such disappointment in my life?
Ilavu kaatha kilithaano
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Ilavu kaatha kilithaano
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Enadhu vaazhvil indha yemattram yaeno
Why is there such disappointment in my life?
Ilavu kaatha kilithaano
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Ennamellaam pagal kanavu aanadhae
All my thoughts have turned into a daydream,
Ennamellaam pagal kanavu aanadhae
All my thoughts have turned into a daydream,
Idhuvarai naan konda aanandham ponadhae
The happiness I possessed until now is gone,
Idhuvarai naan konda aanandham ponadhae
The happiness I possessed until now is gone,
Kilaiyinilae kodi padarum podhilae
When the vine begins to spread across the branch,
Kilaiyinilae kodi padarum podhilae
When the vine begins to spread across the branch,
Valarthavarae adhai padaraamal seivadha
Should the one who nurtured it prevent it from spreading?
Valarthavarae adhai padaraamal seivadha
Should the one who nurtured it prevent it from spreading?
Ilavu kaatha kilithaano
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Enadhu vaazhvil indha yemattram yaeno
Why is there such disappointment in my life?
Ilavu kaatha kilithaano
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Isaipadhellaam ini thunbha geethamae
Everything that plays now is a song of sorrow,
Isaipadhellaam ini thunbha geethamae
Everything that plays now is a song of sorrow,
Ezhuvadhum yedhini meiyinbha naadhamae
Where can any sound of true joy arise from now?
Ezhuvadhum yedhini meiyinbha naadhamae
Where can any sound of true joy arise from now?
En idhayam sumaithaanghi aavadha
Must my heart become a burden-bearing stone?
En idhayam sumaithaanghi aavadha
Must my heart become a burden-bearing stone?
Yekkathudan dhinam poraadi saavadhaa
Or die struggling daily with longing and grief?
Yekkathudan dhinam poraadi saavadhaa
Or die struggling daily with longing and grief?
Ilavu kaatha kilithaano
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Enadhu vaazhvil indha yemattram yaeno
Why is there such disappointment in my life?
Ilavu kaatha kilithaano
Am I like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses deep emotional pain and disappointment through the classic Tamil proverb of 'Ilavu kaatha kili'—a parrot that patiently waits for the bright red fruit of a silk-cotton tree to ripen, only for it to burst into inedible fluff. The protagonist laments how her life's expectations have turned out to be futile daydreams, questioning why heartbreak has been dealt to her after experiencing prior bliss. The lyrics use poetic imagery of nature to depict betrayal and despair, asking if the very person who nurtured a vine's growth would cut it off from spreading. Feeling completely overwhelmed, the protagonist describes her inner world as devoid of joy, where every tune feels like a dirge and her heart struggles under a heavy burden of daily longing.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory / Proverbial Metaphor (Ilavu Kaatha Kili)
“Ilavu kaatha kilithaano naan”
Refers to the ancient Tamil idiom representing patient waiting that leads to bitter disappointment, comparing the speaker to a hopeful parrot.
Metaphor (Kodi and Kilai)
“Kilaiyinilae kodi padarum podhilae / Valarthavarae adhai padaraamal seivadha”
Compares a growing relationship or life to a vine spreading on a tree branch, and the person who breaks it to a nurturer restricting its natural path.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Ilavu kaatha kilithaano / Enadhu vaazhvil indha yemattram yaeno”
Repeated phrasing across multiple stanzas emphasizes the lingering grief and questioning nature of the song.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Isaipadhellaam ini thunbha geethamae”
Assonance and initial letter harmony in Tamil prosody ('Isaipadhellaam' / 'Ezhuvadhum' / 'En idhayam' / 'Yekkathudan').
Did you know?
Trivia
The phrase 'Ilavu kaatha kili' is one of the most famous allegorical idioms in Tamil literature, commonly used by lyricist A. Maruthakasi and other classical poets to express unfulfilled hope and heartbreak.
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