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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaalangal Thorum

From Kungumam · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Suseela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kungumam1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa aahaa aahaa aahaaAh, aha, aha, aha
Oho ohoo ohoOho, oho, oho
Female
Kaalangal thorumThrough all ages
Thirudargal irundhaarthieves have existed,
Arivaayaa thozhido you know, my friend?
Adhi kaadhal thirudargalAmong them, thieves of love
Paadhi irundhaarmade up half of them,
Arivaayaa thozhido you know, my friend?
Female
Kaalangal thorumThrough all ages
Thirudargal irundhaarthieves have existed,
Arivaayaa thozhido you know, my friend?
Adhi kaadhal thirudargalAmong them, thieves of love
Paadhi irundhaarmade up half of them,
Arivaayaa thozhido you know, my friend?
Female
Vaasal thirandhaalIf you open the door,
Thirudan varuvaana thief will enter;
Manadhai thirandhaalif you open your heart,
Kaadhalan varuvaana lover will enter.
Female
Vaasal thirandhaalIf you open the door,
Thirudan varuvaana thief will enter;
Manadhai thirandhaalif you open your heart,
Kaadhalan varuvaana lover will enter.
Female
Kaadhal thirudargalThieves of love
Bayappada maattaardo not feel afraid,
Arivaayaa thozhido you know, my friend?
Kaadhal thirudargalThieves of love
Bayappada maattaardo not feel afraid,
Arivaayaa thozhido you know, my friend?
Andha kalvarukkendroruFor those very thieves,
Sattamum illaithere is no law at all,
Arivaayaa thozhido you know, my friend?
Female
Kaalangal thorumThrough all ages
Thirudargal irundhaarthieves have existed,
Arivaayaa thozhido you know, my friend?
Adhi kaadhal thirudargalAmong them, thieves of love
Paadhi irundhaarmade up half of them,
Arivaayaa thozhido you know, my friend?
Female
Thirudiya porulaeThe stolen treasure itself
Thirudanai virumbumfalls in love with the thief,
Nesathil oru pasathai vazhangumoffering deep affection in return for love.
Thirudiya porulaeThe stolen treasure itself
Thirudanai virumbumfalls in love with the thief,
Nesathil oru pasathai vazhangumoffering deep affection in return for love.
Female
Oruvarai oruvar thirudi kondaalIf two people steal each other's hearts,
Adhil mudivaedhu thozhiwhere is the end to it, my friend?
Oruvarai oruvar thirudi kondaalIf two people steal each other's hearts,
Adhil mudivaedhu thozhiwhere is the end to it, my friend?
Andha uthama thirudargal illai endraalWithout such noble thieves,
Indha ulaghaedhu thozhiwhere would this world be, my friend?
Female
Kaalangal thorumThrough all ages
Thirudargal irundhaarthieves have existed,
Arivaayaa thozhido you know, my friend?
Adhi kaadhal thirudargalAmong them, thieves of love
Paadhi irundhaarmade up half of them,
Arivaayaa thozhido you know, my friend?
Female
Aa aahaa aahaa aahaaAh, aha, aha, aha
Oho ohoo ohoOho, oho, oho

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful yet philosophical song from the 1963 film 'Kungumam' uses the metaphor of theft to explore the nature of romance and emotional intimacy. The singer addresses her friend ('thozhi'), remarking that while physical thieves steal material goods through open doors, lovers steal hearts when one opens their mind and emotions. Unlike common criminals who fear the law, romantic 'thieves' operate beyond normal legal bounds and with mutual consent. Kannadasan poetically emphasizes that in the realm of love, the 'stolen treasure' (the heart) willingly adores the thief. When two people steal each other's hearts, it creates an infinite cycle of affection and devotion. Ultimately, the song celebrates these 'noble thieves' as essential to the continuation and joy of human life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)

Adhi kaadhal thirudargal

Comparing lovers to thieves ('Thirudargal') and the human heart to stolen treasure ('Thirudiya porul').

Parallelism / Antithesis (Muran)

Vaasal thirandhaal / Thirudan varuvaan / Manadhai thirandhaal / Kaadhalan varuvaan

Contrasting opening physical doors to attract thieves with opening the heart to welcome a lover.

Refrain / Anaphora (Ebuyal / Repetition)

Arivaayaa thozhi

The repetitive refrain 'Arivaayaa thozhi' serves as a direct conversational device framing the song's philosophical playful narrative.

Oxymoron

Andha uthama thirudargal illai endraal

Combining contrasting terms 'noble' (uthama) and 'thieves' (thirudargal) to highlight the benevolent nature of lovers.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features lyrics by Kaviyarasu Kannadasan from the 1963 Sivaji Ganesan and S. S. Rajendran starrer 'Kungumam'. The music for the film was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and this track is sung by S. Janaki.

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