Kaadu Kodutha Kaniyirukku
From Needhikku Pin Paasam · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Needhikku Pin Paasam1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku… | There are fruits given by the forest... |
| Kazhani velanja nellirukku… oo…oo ooo | There is paddy grown in the fertile fields... oo...oo ooo |
| Female | |
| Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku… | There are fruits given by the forest... |
| Kazhani velanja nellirukku… | There is paddy grown in the fertile fields... |
| Odu thirandha panjirukku | There is cotton from the opened pod |
| Unna udutha vagaiyirukku | There are ways to dress and wear it |
| Female | |
| Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku… | There are fruits given by the forest... |
| Kazhani velanja nellirukku… | There is paddy grown in the fertile fields... |
| Odu thirandha panjirukku | There is cotton from the opened pod |
| Unna udutha vagaiyirukku | There are ways to dress and wear it |
| O..oo… oho… | O..oo… oho… |
| Female | |
| Sindhiya vervai nilathil odi | The spilled sweat ran upon the earth |
| Siruga siruga aaraachu | And slowly, gradually became a river |
| Aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa…aa… | Aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa…aa… |
| Female | |
| Sindhiya vervai nilathil odi | The spilled sweat ran upon the earth |
| Siruga siruga aaraachu | And slowly, gradually became a river |
| Adhai nambiya pergal vaazhndhaalae | When the people who trusted it lived prosperously |
| Naadu nagaram ooraachu | Countries, cities, and villages were formed |
| Nambiya pergal vaazhndhaalae | When the people who trusted it lived prosperously |
| Naadu nagaram ooraachu | Countries, cities, and villages were formed |
| Naadu nagaram ooraachu | Countries, cities, and villages were formed |
| Female | |
| Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku… | There are fruits given by the forest... |
| Kazhani velanja nellirukku… | There is paddy grown in the fertile fields... |
| Odu thirandha panjirukku | There is cotton from the opened pod |
| Unna udutha vagaiyirukku | There are ways to dress and wear it |
| O..oo… oho… | O..oo… oho… |
| Female | |
| Thaekku sandhanam paakku moongil | Teak, sandalwood, areca nut, and bamboo |
| Thaengi nikkudhu boomiyilae | Stand abundant upon the earth |
| Aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa…aa… | Aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa…aa… |
| Female | |
| Thaekku sandhanam paakku moongil | Teak, sandalwood, areca nut, and bamboo |
| Thaengi nikkudhu boomiyilae | Stand abundant upon the earth |
| Idhai kaakka therinju kaathu vandhaa | If we know how to protect and preserve these resources |
| Kadanum udanum thaevaiyillai | There will be no need for debts or borrowings |
| Kaakka therinju kaathu vandhaa | If we know how to protect and preserve them |
| Kadanum udanum thaevaiyillai | There will be no need for debts or borrowings |
| Kadanum udanum thaevaiyillai | There will be no need for debts or borrowings |
| Female | |
| Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku… | There are fruits given by the forest... |
| Kazhani velanja nellirukku… | There is paddy grown in the fertile fields... |
| Odu thirandha panjirukku | There is cotton from the opened pod |
| Unna udutha vagaiyirukku | There are ways to dress and wear it |
| Female | |
| Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku… | There are fruits given by the forest... |
| Kazhani velanja nellirukku… | There is paddy grown in the fertile fields... |
| Odu thirandha panjirukku | There is cotton from the opened pod |
| Unna udutha vagaiyirukku | There are ways to dress and wear it |
| O..oo… oho… | O..oo… oho… |
காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு.....
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு.....ஓ......ஓஓஒ
There are fruits given by the forest...
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields... oo...oo ooo
காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு.....
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு.....
ஓடு திறந்த பஞ்சிருக்கு
உண்ண உடுத்த வகையிருக்கு
There are fruits given by the forest...
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields...
There is cotton from the opened pod
There are ways to dress and wear it
காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு.....
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு.....
ஓடு திறந்த பஞ்சிருக்கு
உண்ண உடுத்த வகையிருக்கு
ஓ......ஓஒ.....ஓஹோ.....
There are fruits given by the forest...
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields...
There is cotton from the opened pod
There are ways to dress and wear it
O..oo… oho…
சிந்திய வேர்வை நிலத்தில் ஓடிச்
சிறுகச் சிறுக ஆறாச்சு
ஆ.......ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆஆ.....ஆஆ.....ஆ.....
The spilled sweat ran upon the earth
And slowly, gradually became a river
Aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa…aa…
சிந்திய வேர்வை நிலத்தில் ஓடிச்
சிறுகச் சிறுக ஆறாச்சு
அதை நம்பிய பேர்கள் வாழ்ந்ததாலே
நாடு நகரம் ஊராச்சு........
நம்பிய பேர்கள் வாழ்ந்ததாலே
நாடு நகரம் ஊராச்சு........
நாடு நகரம் ஊராச்சு........
The spilled sweat ran upon the earth
And slowly, gradually became a river
When the people who trusted it lived prosperously
Countries, cities, and villages were formed
When the people who trusted it lived prosperously
Countries, cities, and villages were formed
Countries, cities, and villages were formed
காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு.....
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு.....
ஓடு திறந்த பஞ்சிருக்கு
உண்ண உடுத்த வகையிருக்கு
ஓ......ஓஒ.....ஓஹோ.....
There are fruits given by the forest...
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields...
There is cotton from the opened pod
There are ways to dress and wear it
O..oo… oho…
தேக்கு சந்தனம் பாக்கு மூங்கில்
தேங்கி நிக்குது பூமியிலே
ஆ.......ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆஆ.....ஆஆ.....ஆ.....
Teak, sandalwood, areca nut, and bamboo
Stand abundant upon the earth
Aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa…aa…
தேக்கு சந்தனம் பாக்கு மூங்கில்
தேங்கி நிக்குது பூமியிலே
இதைக் காக்கக் தெரிஞ்சு காத்து வந்தா
கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லே
காக்கக் தெரிஞ்சு காத்து வந்தா
கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லே
கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லே
Teak, sandalwood, areca nut, and bamboo
Stand abundant upon the earth
If we know how to protect and preserve these resources
There will be no need for debts or borrowings
If we know how to protect and preserve them
There will be no need for debts or borrowings
There will be no need for debts or borrowings
காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு.....
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு.....
ஓடு திறந்த பஞ்சிருக்கு
உண்ண உடுத்த வகையிருக்கு
There are fruits given by the forest...
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields...
There is cotton from the opened pod
There are ways to dress and wear it
காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு.....
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு.....
ஓடு திறந்த பஞ்சிருக்கு
உண்ண உடுத்த வகையிருக்கு
ஓ......ஓஒ.....ஓஹோ.....
There are fruits given by the forest...
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields...
There is cotton from the opened pod
There are ways to dress and wear it
O..oo… oho…
Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku…
There are fruits given by the forest...
Kazhani velanja nellirukku… oo…oo ooo
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields... oo...oo ooo
Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku…
There are fruits given by the forest...
Kazhani velanja nellirukku…
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields...
Odu thirandha panjirukku
There is cotton from the opened pod
Unna udutha vagaiyirukku
There are ways to dress and wear it
Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku…
There are fruits given by the forest...
Kazhani velanja nellirukku…
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields...
Odu thirandha panjirukku
There is cotton from the opened pod
Unna udutha vagaiyirukku
There are ways to dress and wear it
O..oo… oho…
O..oo… oho…
Sindhiya vervai nilathil odi
The spilled sweat ran upon the earth
Siruga siruga aaraachu
And slowly, gradually became a river
Aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa…aa…
Aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa…aa…
Sindhiya vervai nilathil odi
The spilled sweat ran upon the earth
Siruga siruga aaraachu
And slowly, gradually became a river
Adhai nambiya pergal vaazhndhaalae
When the people who trusted it lived prosperously
Naadu nagaram ooraachu
Countries, cities, and villages were formed
Nambiya pergal vaazhndhaalae
When the people who trusted it lived prosperously
Naadu nagaram ooraachu
Countries, cities, and villages were formed
Naadu nagaram ooraachu
Countries, cities, and villages were formed
Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku…
There are fruits given by the forest...
Kazhani velanja nellirukku…
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields...
Odu thirandha panjirukku
There is cotton from the opened pod
Unna udutha vagaiyirukku
There are ways to dress and wear it
O..oo… oho…
O..oo… oho…
Thaekku sandhanam paakku moongil
Teak, sandalwood, areca nut, and bamboo
Thaengi nikkudhu boomiyilae
Stand abundant upon the earth
Aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa…aa…
Aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa…aa…
Thaekku sandhanam paakku moongil
Teak, sandalwood, areca nut, and bamboo
Thaengi nikkudhu boomiyilae
Stand abundant upon the earth
Idhai kaakka therinju kaathu vandhaa
If we know how to protect and preserve these resources
Kadanum udanum thaevaiyillai
There will be no need for debts or borrowings
Kaakka therinju kaathu vandhaa
If we know how to protect and preserve them
Kadanum udanum thaevaiyillai
There will be no need for debts or borrowings
Kadanum udanum thaevaiyillai
There will be no need for debts or borrowings
Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku…
There are fruits given by the forest...
Kazhani velanja nellirukku…
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields...
Odu thirandha panjirukku
There is cotton from the opened pod
Unna udutha vagaiyirukku
There are ways to dress and wear it
Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku…
There are fruits given by the forest...
Kazhani velanja nellirukku…
There is paddy grown in the fertile fields...
Odu thirandha panjirukku
There is cotton from the opened pod
Unna udutha vagaiyirukku
There are ways to dress and wear it
O..oo… oho…
O..oo… oho…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaadu Kodutha Kaniyirukku is a deeply philosophical and uplifting song celebrating the rich natural bounty of the earth, self-reliance, and the value of hard work. Lyricist Kannadasan highlights how nature provides everything required for human sustenance—food from fields and forests, clothing from cotton, and timber like teak and sandalwood for shelter. By emphasizing that human sweat and labor built towns and nations from scratch, the song presents a vision of self-sufficiency. It concludes with the timeless message that if a society knows how to conserve and protect its natural wealth, it will never need to suffer from poverty or debt.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaadu kodutha kaniyirukku…”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in 'Kaadu' and 'kaniyirukku' creates rhythm in the opening line.
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Siruga siruga aaraachu”
The word 'Siruga' is repeated back-to-back ('Siruga siruga') to emphasize the slow, step-by-step accumulation of effort over time.
Metaphor
“Sindhiya vervai nilathil odi / Siruga siruga aaraachu”
Comparing spilled sweat running on earth to a growing river ('aaraachu') metaphorically illustrates the immense effort of labor leading to prosperous civilization.
Inai Monai (Consonance/Alliteration)
“Naadu nagaram ooraachu”
The 'Na' sound is repeated across 'Naadu' and 'nagaram', establishing a pleasant auditory flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in the 1963 film 'Needhikku Pin Paasam' starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi, this song was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan. The song was hugely popular among agricultural workers and reinforced MGR's screen image as a champion of the working class and rural self-reliance.
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