Kaalam Ponnanadhu
From Kalyanamam Kalyanam · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- K. Vijaya Baskar
- Details
- Kalyanamam Kalyanam1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaalam ponnaanathu kadamai kannaanathu | Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight. |
| Kadhal kanavan bedhaiyaanal vaazhvu ennaavathu | If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life? |
| Hae….hae…..vaazhvu ennaavathu | Hey... hey... what will become of life? |
| Male | |
| Aa…..haa…. aanmagal enbavan rajavaipolae | Ah... ha... A true man is like a king. |
| Pennukku bayanthavan koojavaipolae | One who fears a woman is merely like a water jug. |
| Avan payar eppothum kanavanadi | His title is always husband, my dear girl. |
| Avanthaan rajanga thalaivanadi | He is indeed the leader of the realm, my dear girl. |
| Male | |
| Kaalam ponnaanathu kadamai kannaanathu | Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight. |
| Kadhal kanavan bedhaiyaanal vaazhvu ennaavathu | If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life? |
| Hae….hae…..vaazhvu ennaavathu | Hey... hey... what will become of life? |
| Male | |
| Appaavi aan pillai adimaiyadi | An innocent man becomes like a slave, my dear girl. |
| Adimaikku unnidam ennadi velai | What business do you have with a slave, my dear girl? |
| Avanukku nee oru selaikattu | You drape a saree around him. |
| Avanukku nee oru selaikattu | You drape a saree around him. |
| Adhupol nee oru vettikattu | And in turn, you wear a dhoti instead. |
| Male | |
| Kaalam ponnaanathu kadamai kannaanathu | Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight. |
| Kadhal kanavan bedhaiyaanal vaazhvu ennaavathu | If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life? |
| Hae….hae…..vaazhvu ennaavathu | Hey... hey... what will become of life? |
| Male | |
| Kann avan enbathu kanavan endraagum | The word husband comes from being the eyes that guide. |
| Kangalai maranthaval kaalangal pogum | She who forgets her eyes will see her time pass away in vain. |
| Kozhikku maelthaan sevaladi | The rooster is always positioned above the hen, my dear girl. |
| Kozhikku maelthaan sevaladi | The rooster is always positioned above the hen, my dear girl. |
| Kodhaikku kanavan koyiladi | For a woman, her husband is like a sacred temple, my dear girl. |
| Male | |
| Kaalam ponnaanathu kadamai kannaanathu | Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight. |
| Kadhal kanavan bedhaiyaanal vaazhvu ennaavathu | If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life? |
| Hae….hae…..vaazhvu ennaavathu | Hey... hey... what will become of life? |
காலம் பொன்னானது கடமை கண்ணானது
காதல் கணவன் பேதையானால் வாழ்வு என்னாவது
ஹே....ஹே.....வாழ்வு என்னாவது
Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight.
If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life?
Hey... hey... what will become of life?
ஆ....ஹா ஆண்மகன் என்பவன் ராஜாவைப்போலே
பெண்ணுக்கு பயந்தவன் கூஜாவைப்போலே
அவன் பெயர் எப்போதும் கணவனடி
அவன்தான் ராஜாங்க தலைவனடி
Ah... ha... A true man is like a king.
One who fears a woman is merely like a water jug.
His title is always husband, my dear girl.
He is indeed the leader of the realm, my dear girl.
காலம் பொன்னானது கடமை கண்ணானது
காதல் கணவன் பேதையானால் வாழ்வு என்னாவது
ஹே....ஹே.....வாழ்வு என்னாவது
Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight.
If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life?
Hey... hey... what will become of life?
அப்பாவி ஆண் பிள்ளை அடிமையடி
அடிமைக்கு உன்னிடம் என்னடி வேலை
அவனுக்கு நீ ஒரு சேலைக்கட்டு
அவனுக்கு நீ ஒரு சேலைக்கட்டு
அதுபோல் நீ ஒரு வேட்டிக்கட்டு
An innocent man becomes like a slave, my dear girl.
What business do you have with a slave, my dear girl?
You drape a saree around him.
You drape a saree around him.
And in turn, you wear a dhoti instead.
காலம் பொன்னானது கடமை கண்ணானது
காதல் கணவன் பேதையானால் வாழ்வு என்னாவது
ஹே....ஹே.....வாழ்வு என்னாவது
Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight.
If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life?
Hey... hey... what will become of life?
கண் அவன் என்பது கணவன் என்றாகும்
கண்களை மறந்தவள் காலங்கள் போகும்
கோழிக்கு மேல்தான் சேவலடி
கோழிக்கு மேல்தான் சேவலடி
கோதைக்கு கணவன் கோயிலடி
The word husband comes from being the eyes that guide.
She who forgets her eyes will see her time pass away in vain.
The rooster is always positioned above the hen, my dear girl.
The rooster is always positioned above the hen, my dear girl.
For a woman, her husband is like a sacred temple, my dear girl.
காலம் பொன்னானது கடமை கண்ணானது
காதல் கணவன் பேதையானால் வாழ்வு என்னாவது
ஹே....ஹே.....வாழ்வு என்னாவது
Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight.
If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life?
Hey... hey... what will become of life?
Kaalam ponnaanathu kadamai kannaanathu
Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight.
Kadhal kanavan bedhaiyaanal vaazhvu ennaavathu
If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life?
Hae….hae…..vaazhvu ennaavathu
Hey... hey... what will become of life?
Aa…..haa…. aanmagal enbavan rajavaipolae
Ah... ha... A true man is like a king.
Pennukku bayanthavan koojavaipolae
One who fears a woman is merely like a water jug.
Avan payar eppothum kanavanadi
His title is always husband, my dear girl.
Avanthaan rajanga thalaivanadi
He is indeed the leader of the realm, my dear girl.
Kaalam ponnaanathu kadamai kannaanathu
Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight.
Kadhal kanavan bedhaiyaanal vaazhvu ennaavathu
If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life?
Hae….hae…..vaazhvu ennaavathu
Hey... hey... what will become of life?
Appaavi aan pillai adimaiyadi
An innocent man becomes like a slave, my dear girl.
Adimaikku unnidam ennadi velai
What business do you have with a slave, my dear girl?
Avanukku nee oru selaikattu
You drape a saree around him.
Avanukku nee oru selaikattu
You drape a saree around him.
Adhupol nee oru vettikattu
And in turn, you wear a dhoti instead.
Kaalam ponnaanathu kadamai kannaanathu
Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight.
Kadhal kanavan bedhaiyaanal vaazhvu ennaavathu
If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life?
Hae….hae…..vaazhvu ennaavathu
Hey... hey... what will become of life?
Kann avan enbathu kanavan endraagum
The word husband comes from being the eyes that guide.
Kangalai maranthaval kaalangal pogum
She who forgets her eyes will see her time pass away in vain.
Kozhikku maelthaan sevaladi
The rooster is always positioned above the hen, my dear girl.
Kozhikku maelthaan sevaladi
The rooster is always positioned above the hen, my dear girl.
Kodhaikku kanavan koyiladi
For a woman, her husband is like a sacred temple, my dear girl.
Kaalam ponnaanathu kadamai kannaanathu
Time is like gold, and duty is as precious as sight.
Kadhal kanavan bedhaiyaanal vaazhvu ennaavathu
If a loving husband becomes a naive fool, what will become of life?
Hae….hae…..vaazhvu ennaavathu
Hey... hey... what will become of life?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaalam Ponnaanathu from the 1974 Tamil film Kalyanamam Kalyanam is a lighthearted yet commentary-filled track rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, with music by K. Vijaya Baskar and lyrics by Kannadasan. The song explores traditional marital roles and social dynamics, using playful humor to critique a man who surrenders his leadership within a marriage and becomes overly submissive. Through allegorical references to royalty, domestic birds, and traditional attire, Kannadasan weaves humor with moral advice on duty, time, and mutual respect in domestic life. The song highlights how crucial clarity and leadership are for maintaining happiness in a family structure.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Kaalam ponnaanathu kadamai kannaanathu”
Comparing time to gold ('Kaalam ponnaanathu') and duty to the sight of one's eyes ('kadamai kannaanathu') to emphasize their intrinsic value.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Aa…..haa…. aanmagal enbavan rajavaipolae / Pennukku bayanthavan koojavaipolae”
Compares a strong man to a king ('rajavaipolae') and a meek man to a lifeless jug ('koojaavaipolae').
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaalam ponnaanathu kadamai kannaanathu”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of words in the same line.
Eyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Avan payar eppothum kanavanadi / Avanthaan rajanga thalaivanadi”
Repetition of the ending suffix '-adi' across consecutive lines to create a rhythmic folk dialogue tone.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by K. Vijaya Baskar, a prolific composer who worked extensively in Kannada cinema as well as Tamil cinema during the 1970s. Lyricist Kannadasan uses satirical metaphors typical of 1970s Tamil social comedies to playfully debate gender roles.
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