Ilavu Kaattha Kilipol
From Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal · 1959
- Lyricist
- Kavi Rajagopal
- Singer
- M. L. Vasanthakumari
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Details
- Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ilavu kaatha kili pol endhan | Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my |
| Aasai niraasai aachae | Desire turned into despair. |
| Ilavu kaatha kili pol endhan | Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my |
| Aasai niraasai aachae | Desire turned into despair. |
| Alai modhum kadalil | In the sea pounded by waves, |
| En vaazhai odam | My fragile plantain boat, |
| Nilai meeri dhisai maari pochae | Losing its stability and changing direction, drifted away. |
| Female | |
| Vinnodum nilavil panpaadi marakkum | In the sky and moon, singing melodies and forgetting, |
| Mei theendhi magizhavillai | It did not rejoice in physical touch. |
| Vinnodum nilavil panpaadi marakkum | In the sky and moon, singing melodies and forgetting, |
| Mei theendhi magizhavillai | It did not rejoice in physical touch. |
| Kannodu kalandhum nenjodu inaindhum | Though eyes met and hearts united, |
| Kannam sivandhadhillai vaazhvil | My cheeks never blushed with joy in life. |
| Female | |
| Ilavu kaatha kili pol endhan | Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my |
| Aasai niraasai aachae | Desire turned into despair. |
| Alai modhum kadalil | In the sea pounded by waves, |
| En vaazhai odam | My fragile plantain boat, |
| Nilai meeri dhisai maari pochae | Losing its stability and changing direction, drifted away. |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal vaanilae naan parandhen | I flew in the sky of love, |
| Puyal kaatralae en siragai izhandhen | By the stormy wind, I lost my wings. |
| Kaadhal vaanilae naan parandhen | I flew in the sky of love, |
| Puyal kaatralae en siragai izhandhen | By the stormy wind, I lost my wings. |
| Mana kottai idindhen | My castle of dreams collapsed, |
| Mann medaanadhae | And turned into a mound of earth. |
| Mana kottai idindhen | My castle of dreams collapsed, |
| Mann medaanadhae | And turned into a mound of earth. |
| Maaradha anbum veraandhae vaazhvil | Even my unyielding love withered from its roots in life. |
| Female | |
| Ilavu kaatha kili pol endhan | Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my |
| Aasai niraasai aachae | Desire turned into despair. |
| Aasai niraasai aachae | Desire turned into despair. |
| Aasai niraasai aachae… | Desire turned into despair... |
இலவு காத்த கிளி போல்
எந்தன் ஆசை நிராசை ஆச்சே
இலவு காத்த கிளி போல்
எந்தன் ஆசை நிராசை ஆச்சே
அலை மோதும் கடலில்
என் வாழை ஓடம்
நிலை மீறி திசை மாறி போச்சே
Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my
Desire turned into despair.
Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my
Desire turned into despair.
In the sea pounded by waves,
My fragile plantain boat,
Losing its stability and changing direction, drifted away.
விண்ணோடும் நிலவில்
பண்பாடி மறக்கும்
மெய் தீண்டி மகிழ்வில்லை
விண்ணோடும் நிலவில்
பண்பாடி மறக்கும்
மெய் தீண்டி மகிழ்வில்லை
கண்ணோடு கலந்து
நெஞ்சோடு இணைந்தும்
கன்னம் சிவந்ததில்லை வாழ்வில்
In the sky and moon, singing melodies and forgetting,
It did not rejoice in physical touch.
In the sky and moon, singing melodies and forgetting,
It did not rejoice in physical touch.
Though eyes met and hearts united,
My cheeks never blushed with joy in life.
இலவு காத்த கிளி போல்
எந்தன் ஆசை நிராசை ஆச்சே
இழவு காத்த கிளி போல்
எந்தன் ஆசை நிராசை ஆச்சே
அலை மோதும் கடலில்
என் வாழை ஓடம்
நிலை மீறி திசை மாறி போச்சே
Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my
Desire turned into despair.
In the sea pounded by waves,
My fragile plantain boat,
Losing its stability and changing direction, drifted away.
காதல் வானிலே நான் பறந்தேன்
புயல் காற்றிலே என் சிறகை இழந்தேன்
காதல் வானிலே நான் பறந்தேன்
புயல் காற்றிலே என் சிறகை இழந்தேன்
மன கோட்டை இடித்தேன்
மண் மேடானதே
மன கோட்டை இடித்தேன்
மண் மேடானதே
மாறாத அன்பும் வேறானதே வாழ்வில்
I flew in the sky of love,
By the stormy wind, I lost my wings.
I flew in the sky of love,
By the stormy wind, I lost my wings.
My castle of dreams collapsed,
And turned into a mound of earth.
My castle of dreams collapsed,
And turned into a mound of earth.
Even my unyielding love withered from its roots in life.
இலவு காத்த கிளி போல்
எந்தன் ஆசை நிராசை ஆச்சே
ஆசை நிராசை ஆச்சே
ஆசை நிராசை ஆச்சே
Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my
Desire turned into despair.
Desire turned into despair.
Desire turned into despair...
Ilavu kaatha kili pol endhan
Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my
Aasai niraasai aachae
Desire turned into despair.
Ilavu kaatha kili pol endhan
Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my
Aasai niraasai aachae
Desire turned into despair.
Alai modhum kadalil
In the sea pounded by waves,
En vaazhai odam
My fragile plantain boat,
Nilai meeri dhisai maari pochae
Losing its stability and changing direction, drifted away.
Vinnodum nilavil panpaadi marakkum
In the sky and moon, singing melodies and forgetting,
Mei theendhi magizhavillai
It did not rejoice in physical touch.
Vinnodum nilavil panpaadi marakkum
In the sky and moon, singing melodies and forgetting,
Mei theendhi magizhavillai
It did not rejoice in physical touch.
Kannodu kalandhum nenjodu inaindhum
Though eyes met and hearts united,
Kannam sivandhadhillai vaazhvil
My cheeks never blushed with joy in life.
Ilavu kaatha kili pol endhan
Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my
Aasai niraasai aachae
Desire turned into despair.
Alai modhum kadalil
In the sea pounded by waves,
En vaazhai odam
My fragile plantain boat,
Nilai meeri dhisai maari pochae
Losing its stability and changing direction, drifted away.
Kaadhal vaanilae naan parandhen
I flew in the sky of love,
Puyal kaatralae en siragai izhandhen
By the stormy wind, I lost my wings.
Kaadhal vaanilae naan parandhen
I flew in the sky of love,
Puyal kaatralae en siragai izhandhen
By the stormy wind, I lost my wings.
Mana kottai idindhen
My castle of dreams collapsed,
Mann medaanadhae
And turned into a mound of earth.
Mana kottai idindhen
My castle of dreams collapsed,
Mann medaanadhae
And turned into a mound of earth.
Maaradha anbum veraandhae vaazhvil
Even my unyielding love withered from its roots in life.
Ilavu kaatha kili pol endhan
Like the parrot that waited for the silk-cotton fruit, my
Aasai niraasai aachae
Desire turned into despair.
Aasai niraasai aachae
Desire turned into despair.
Aasai niraasai aachae…
Desire turned into despair...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant composition expresses profound grief, unfulfilled longing, and tragic heartbreak. The protagonist compares her patient wait for true love to the traditional Tamil proverb of a parrot waiting for a silk-cotton fruit to ripen, only to end up in despair when it bursts open into inedible cotton fluff. She metaphorically describes her life as a delicate boat made of plantain trunk drifting uncontrollably in a stormy ocean.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile)
“Ilavu kaatha kili pol endhan”
Compares her futile anticipation of love to a parrot waiting for the silk-cotton fruit to ripen ('Ilavu kaatha kili pol').
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Alai modhum kadalil En vaazhai odam”
Metaphorically compares life to a fragile boat ('vaazhai odam') battling a rough sea of troubles ('alai modhum kadalil').
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Kaadhal vaanilae naan parandhen / Puyal kaatralae en siragai izhandhen”
Compares love to the vast sky ('Kaadhal vaan') and sudden tragedy to a wing-destroying storm ('Puyal kaatralae').
Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kannodu kalandhum nenjodu inaindhum”
The second consonant 'n' aligns rhythmically in 'Kannodu' and 'nenjodu'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The idiom 'Ilavu kaatha kili' is a famous classical Tamil proverb rooted in ancient literature, representing futile expectation. Sung by the iconic Carnatic maestro M. L. Vasanthakumari, this track stands out in 1950s Tamil cinema for blending classical vocal nuances with deeply expressive literary lyrics by Kavi Rajagopal.
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