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Lyrics & meaning

Kaathadichuthu Ramayi

From Kuppathu Ponnu · 1982

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Kuppathu Ponnu
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
18 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
………………..
Kaaththadichathu raamaayi
Padaku kavizhnthu vittathu povaayi
Karai varumo thuyar vilagi pogaatho
Idhayam inimael sugam perumo
Kaaththadichathu raamaayi
Padaku kavizhnthu vittathu povaayi
Mullin melae paadham polae
Vaazhkkai yaeno poongaattrae
Mullin melae paadham polae
Vaazhkkai yaeno poongaattrae
Kanavugal kodi kalainthathu odi
Uravugal thedavae varumo vaazhve
Kanavugal kodi kalainthathu odi
Uravugal thedavae varumo vaazhve
Mayanguthammaa manam kalanguthammaa
Mayanguthammaa manam kalanguthammaa
Vizhi nanaiyuthae…oo…oo….ooo….ooo….
Kaaththadichathu raamaayi
Padaku kavizhnthu vittathu povaayi
Paadhai maari payanam ponaal
Oorum vanthae saeraathu
Paadhai maari payanam ponaal
Oorum vanthae saeraathu
Anaikkira kaigal padhaikkira pothu
Amaithiyum thondrumo alaiyae sollu
Anaikkira kaigal padhaikkira pothu
Amaithiyum thondrumo alaiyae sollu
: Mayanguthammaa manam kalanguthammaa
Mayanguthammaa manam kalanguthammaa
Vizhi nanaiyuthae…oo…oo….ooo….ooo….
Kaaththadichathu raamaayi
Padaku kavizhnthu vittathu povaayi
…………….
...
A fierce wind blew, Ramayi,
And the boat has capsized, Poovayi.
Will we reach the shore? Won't this sorrow fade away?
Will this heart ever find happiness again?
A fierce wind blew, Ramayi,
And the boat has capsized, Poovayi.
Like bare feet walking on thorns,
Why has life become like this, oh gentle breeze?
Like bare feet walking on thorns,
Why has life become like this, oh gentle breeze?
Countless dreams have shattered and fled,
Will life ever return to seek its loved ones?
Countless dreams have shattered and fled,
Will life ever return to seek its loved ones?
My mind is bewildered, my heart is in turmoil,
My mind is bewildered, my heart is in turmoil,
My eyes are filled with tears... Oh... oh... oh... oh...
A fierce wind blew, Ramayi,
And the boat has capsized, Poovayi.
If you take the wrong path on a journey,
You will never reach your destination.
If you take the wrong path on a journey,
You will never reach your destination.
When the arms that embrace tremble with anguish,
Can peace ever be found? Tell me, oh wave!
When the arms that embrace tremble with anguish,
Can peace ever be found? Tell me, oh wave!
My mind is bewildered, my heart is in turmoil,
My mind is bewildered, my heart is in turmoil,
My eyes are filled with tears... Oh... oh... oh... oh...
A fierce wind blew, Ramayi,
And the boat has capsized, Poovayi.
...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kaaththadichathu Raamaayi from the 1982 movie Kuppathu Ponnu is a deeply sorrowful track composed by Shankar-Ganesh and written by Gangai Amaran. Sung with immense pathos by P. Susheela, the song captures a woman's anguish as her life falls apart. She uses maritime and nature imagery—such as a gusty wind overturning a boat—to symbolize how sudden calamity has capsized her peace and stability. Throughout the song, she questions nature, the waves, and maternal figures (Raamaayi and Povaayi), lamenting how millions of dreams have vanished and comparing her daily existence to walking on sharp thorns. It highlights the pain of loss, broken relationships, and losing one's path in life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Padaku kavizhnthu vittathu povaayi”

The capsized boat ('Padaku kavizhnthu vittathu') serves as a metaphor for a life ruined by sudden adversity.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Mullin melae paadham polae”

Compares living through painful hardship to walking barefoot on sharp thorns ('Mullin melae paadham polae').

Personification

“Amaithiyum thondrumo alaiyae sollu”

Addresses the ocean wave ('alaiyae sollu') as an entity that can listen and speak about finding peace.

Alliteration (Monai)

“Mayanguthammaa manam kalanguthammaa”

Repetition of the 'M' consonant sound in 'Mayanguthammaa' and 'manam' enhances the musical rhythm and sorrowful tone.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kuppathu Ponnu (1982) features music by the iconic composer duo Shankar-Ganesh. Lyricist Gangai Amaran skillfully incorporates coastal folk motifs and dialectal vocatives like 'Raamaayi' and 'Povaayi' to ground the emotional grief in a authentic seaside community setting.

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