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Lyrics & meaning

Kathalile Tholviyutraal

From Kalyana Parisu · 1959

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
A. M. Raja
Details
Kalyana Parisu1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{Kaadhalilae tholviyutraalHaving suffered defeat in love,
Kanniyoruththi..ee..A young maiden...
Kalangugindraal avanaiShe grieves in distress,
Nenjil niruththi…eee…} (2)Keeping him enshrined in her heart.
Female
{Aasaiyilae paaththi kattiMaking a garden bed out of desires,
Anbai vidhaiththaalShe sowed the seeds of love.
Allum pagal kaaththirundhuWaiting night and day,
Payir valarththaal} (2)She nurtured the crop.
Female
Paasaththilae palanaiYet the fruit of her affection,
Pari koduththaalShe ended up losing.
Kanindhum kaniyaadhaLike a fruit both ripe and unripe,
UruveduththaalShe has taken on a sorrowful form.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song poignantly portrays the grief of a young woman experiencing tragic heartbreak. Poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram uses an extended agricultural metaphor to describe her emotional journey: she cultivated her heart with desire, sowed love, and nurtured it faithfully day and night, only to lose the harvest in the end. Left in an agonizing state between maturity and grief, she lives with her unfulfilled love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Extended Metaphor (Uvamai)

Aasaiyilae paaththi katti / Anbai vidhaiththaal

Compares emotional love to agriculture, where desires are garden beds, love is the seed, and care is the nurturing of crops.

Paradox (Muran)

Kanindhum kaniyaadha

Uses contrasting words 'Kanindhum kaniyaadha' (ripe yet unripe) to depict her conflicted state of emotional suspension.

Alliteration (Monai)

Kaadhalilae tholviyutraal / Kanniyoruththi

Repetition of initial sounds like 'Ka' ('Kaadhalilae', 'Kanniyoruththi', 'Kalangugindraal') enhancing musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kalyana Parisu (1959), directed by C. V. Sridhar, marked the historic debut of renowned playback singer A. M. Rajah as a film music composer. The soundtrack achieved immense commercial success.

Keep listening

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