Iravukku Aayiram
From Kulamagal Radhai · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kulamagal Radhai1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Iravukku aayiram kangal | The night has a thousand eyes, |
| Pagalukku ondrae ondru | ,And the day but one; |
| Iravukku aayiram kangal | The night has a thousand eyes, |
| Pagalukku ondrae ondru | And the day but one; |
| Arivukku aayiram kangal | Intellect has a thousand eyes, |
| Uravukku ondrae ondru | Yet love/relationship has only one; |
| Arivukku aayiram kangal | Intellect has a thousand eyes, |
| Uravukku ondrae ondru | Yet love/relationship has only one; |
| Female | |
| Iravukku aayiram kangal | The night has a thousand eyes, |
| Pagalukku ondrae ondru | And the day but one. |
| Female | |
| Kanakkinil kangal irandu | By count, the eyes are two, |
| Avai kaatchiyil ondrae ondru | Yet in their vision, they are only one; |
| Kanakkinil kangal irandu | By count, the eyes are two, |
| Avai kaatchiyil ondrae ondru | Yet in their vision, they are only one; |
| Penmaiyin paarvai oru kodi | A woman's gaze carries ten million meanings, |
| Avai pesidum vaarthai pala kodi | And the words they speak are many millions more; |
| Penmaiyin paarvai oru kodi | A woman's gaze carries ten million meanings, |
| Avai pesidum vaarthai pala kodi | And the words they speak are many millions more; |
| Female | |
| Iravukku aayiram kangal | The night has a thousand eyes, |
| Pagalukku ondrae ondru | And the day but one. |
| Female | |
| Angum ingum alai polae | Tossing back and forth like ocean waves, |
| Dhinam aadidum maanida vaazhvilae | In this human life that dances every day; |
| Angum ingum alai polae | Tossing back and forth like ocean waves, |
| Dhinam aadidum maanida vaazhvilae | In this human life that dances every day; |
| Engae nadakkum yedhu nadakkum | Where will things happen, what will happen, |
| Adhu engae mudiyum yaararivaar | Where will it end, who truly knows? |
| Engae nadakkum yedhu nadakkum | Where will things happen, what will happen, |
| Adhu engae mudiyum yaararivaar | Where will it end, who truly knows? |
| Female | |
| Iravukku aayiram kangal | The night has a thousand eyes, |
| Pagalukku ondrae ondru | And the day but one; |
| Arivukku aayiram kangal | Intellect has a thousand eyes, |
| Uravukku ondrae ondru | Yet love/relationship has only one; |
| Female | |
| Iravukku aayiram kangal | The night has a thousand eyes, |
| Pagalukku ondrae ondru | And the day but one. |
இரவுக்கு ஆயிரம் கண்கள்
பகலுக்கு ஒன்றே ஒன்று
இரவுக்கு ஆயிரம் கண்கள்
பகலுக்கு ஒன்றே ஒன்று
அறிவுக்கு ஆயிரம் கண்கள்
உறவுக்கு ஒன்றே ஒன்று
அறிவுக்கு ஆயிரம் கண்கள்
உறவுக்கு ஒன்றே ஒன்று
The night has a thousand eyes,
,And the day but one;
The night has a thousand eyes,
And the day but one;
Intellect has a thousand eyes,
Yet love/relationship has only one;
Intellect has a thousand eyes,
Yet love/relationship has only one;
இரவுக்கு ஆயிரம் கண்கள்
பகலுக்கு ஒன்றே ஒன்று
The night has a thousand eyes,
And the day but one.
கணக்கினில் கண்கள் இரண்டு
அவை காட்சியில் ஒன்றே ஒன்று
கணக்கினில் கண்கள் இரண்டு
அவை காட்சியில் ஒன்றே ஒன்று
பெண்மையின் பார்வை ஒரு கோடி
அவை பேசிடும் வார்த்தை பல கோடி
பெண்மையின் பார்வை ஒரு கோடி
அவை பேசிடும் வார்த்தை பல கோடி
By count, the eyes are two,
Yet in their vision, they are only one;
By count, the eyes are two,
Yet in their vision, they are only one;
A woman's gaze carries ten million meanings,
And the words they speak are many millions more;
A woman's gaze carries ten million meanings,
And the words they speak are many millions more;
இரவுக்கு ஆயிரம் கண்கள்
பகலுக்கு ஒன்றே ஒன்று
The night has a thousand eyes,
And the day but one.
அங்கும் இங்கும் அலை போலே
தினம் ஆடிடும் மானிட வாழ்விலே
அங்கும் இங்கும் அலை போலே
தினம் ஆடிடும் மானிட வாழ்விலே
எங்கே நடக்கும் எது நடக்கும்
அது எங்கே முடியும் யாரறிவார்
எங்கே நடக்கும் எது நடக்கும்
அது எங்கே முடியும் யாரறிவார்
Tossing back and forth like ocean waves,
In this human life that dances every day;
Tossing back and forth like ocean waves,
In this human life that dances every day;
Where will things happen, what will happen,
Where will it end, who truly knows?
Where will things happen, what will happen,
Where will it end, who truly knows?
இரவுக்கு ஆயிரம் கண்கள்
பகலுக்கு ஒன்றே ஒன்று
அறிவுக்கு ஆயிரம் கண்கள்
உறவுக்கு ஒன்றே ஒன்று
The night has a thousand eyes,
And the day but one;
Intellect has a thousand eyes,
Yet love/relationship has only one;
இரவுக்கு ஆயிரம் கண்கள்
பகலுக்கு ஒன்றே ஒன்று
The night has a thousand eyes,
And the day but one.
Iravukku aayiram kangal
The night has a thousand eyes,
Pagalukku ondrae ondru
,And the day but one;
Iravukku aayiram kangal
The night has a thousand eyes,
Pagalukku ondrae ondru
And the day but one;
Arivukku aayiram kangal
Intellect has a thousand eyes,
Uravukku ondrae ondru
Yet love/relationship has only one;
Arivukku aayiram kangal
Intellect has a thousand eyes,
Uravukku ondrae ondru
Yet love/relationship has only one;
Iravukku aayiram kangal
The night has a thousand eyes,
Pagalukku ondrae ondru
And the day but one.
Kanakkinil kangal irandu
By count, the eyes are two,
Avai kaatchiyil ondrae ondru
Yet in their vision, they are only one;
Kanakkinil kangal irandu
By count, the eyes are two,
Avai kaatchiyil ondrae ondru
Yet in their vision, they are only one;
Penmaiyin paarvai oru kodi
A woman's gaze carries ten million meanings,
Avai pesidum vaarthai pala kodi
And the words they speak are many millions more;
Penmaiyin paarvai oru kodi
A woman's gaze carries ten million meanings,
Avai pesidum vaarthai pala kodi
And the words they speak are many millions more;
Iravukku aayiram kangal
The night has a thousand eyes,
Pagalukku ondrae ondru
And the day but one.
Angum ingum alai polae
Tossing back and forth like ocean waves,
Dhinam aadidum maanida vaazhvilae
In this human life that dances every day;
Angum ingum alai polae
Tossing back and forth like ocean waves,
Dhinam aadidum maanida vaazhvilae
In this human life that dances every day;
Engae nadakkum yedhu nadakkum
Where will things happen, what will happen,
Adhu engae mudiyum yaararivaar
Where will it end, who truly knows?
Engae nadakkum yedhu nadakkum
Where will things happen, what will happen,
Adhu engae mudiyum yaararivaar
Where will it end, who truly knows?
Iravukku aayiram kangal
The night has a thousand eyes,
Pagalukku ondrae ondru
And the day but one;
Arivukku aayiram kangal
Intellect has a thousand eyes,
Uravukku ondrae ondru
Yet love/relationship has only one;
Iravukku aayiram kangal
The night has a thousand eyes,
Pagalukku ondrae ondru
And the day but one.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Written by Kannadasan, this philosophical track reflects on the dualities of life, intellect, emotion, and destiny. It contrasts the expansive, analytical mind with the singular focus of love and devotion. Just as the night sky is filled with thousands of stars while the day relies on a single sun, the mind considers countless doubts while a loving heart holds on to a singular truth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Contrast
“Iravukku aayiram kangal / Pagalukku ondrae ondru”
Contrasts the night (stars/intellect with countless perspectives) against the day (sun/love with a singular focus).
Simile (Upamai)
“Angum ingum alai polae”
Compares the constant changes and uncertainties in human life to the endless swaying of ocean waves (alai polae).
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Arivukku aayiram kangal / Uravukku ondrae ondru”
Matching second consonants in Tamil poetic structure ('ra' in Iravukku and Pagalukku / 'ri' in Arivukku and 'ra' in Uravukku).
Did you know?
Trivia
This song is inspired by Francis William Bourdillon's famous 1873 English poem 'The Night Has a Thousand Eyes'. Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully adapted the core romantic philosophy into Tamil philosophical film music. The song in Kulamagal Radhai (1963) was set to music by K. V. Mahadevan and famously sung by P. Susheela.
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